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I got my third tattoo last Wednesday... the tattoo I always thought would be my first, a family tribute. I asked for suggestions on it here a while back and tried to put them to good use. I stayed away from heavy on text and went with something more graphic and symbolic. We all like the Pixar movie "Up" so I used that as a theme and added my wife's, daughter's and grandkids' first initials in heart shaped balloons with their birth stone colors. It was done by Jaimi Mullholand at Broad Wing Tattoo in Bowling Green, OH. I'm super pleased with it and ready for my next.

First post here at LST, just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences across this thread. I'm currently two weeks away from my first sitting on my Fudo Myo-o backpiece and reading my way through what everyone has had to say has been helping both fuel my stoke and nerves for it!

You are right, its NOT healthy. Don't hate me for saying this but why does it have to have some deep meaning? From what I see, it looks cool. I would invite you to consider exploring other areas of your world that may not be aligned...is this misdirected frustration at someone/something else? I would offer that a bunch of us have tattoos that break "rules". But hey, if you don't like it, you don't like it. It's not a bad tattoo though!

Well, tomorrow is my first session on my backpiece. I saw the design for the first time today and I'm getting seriously stoked, there are a ton of lines to lay down so it'll be a long one, but I can't wait to get started!

The story of Freddy Negrete and his sons.

That's a question for a competent artist to answer. I imagine it would be a difficult cover-up, given the size and placement. If it were me, I'd just start thinking about other tattoos to go around them. Were these done by the same artist? If you like that style, they could probably build a really cool cohesive sleeve from what you already have. Or just collect different tattoos around it - I honestly think they either way would look just fine.

I disagree. They all look good from here.

more red!

@Baboom I lit a candle and sacrificed a chicken under my desk for you. 🙂

What does "refuses to let me grow as an artist" mean? He won't let you tattoo customers? Unfortunately it's his shop and his rules. If your teacher really feels you are ready, they should talk to the shop owner. Can you bring in friends to work on? It would seem that if you bring in business and show that you can do quality tattoos, he'd have no reason not to let you work on walk-ins.

I’ve been getting hosed lately when it comes to tattoos. Siebert unfortunately had to cancel his trip to Portland. The Ghost Dragon original I bought from Hoyer was demolished in the mail and returned to him in three separate pieces and I had to cancel my trip back east earlier in the year to see O’donnell. In the wake is all this I’m hoping to have karma come back around. I’m hopefully heading back to California for a new project. I’ll keep you all posted. Pray for me haha.

I bid on a couple. Ended up with Todd Noble's dolls. Pretty stoked!

One week from my trip to Massapequa. I am so excited! I am trying to balance my excitement with the knowledge that knees suckkkkk.

This is true of me but only because it usually takes me like an hour to find clean socks that match.

It's your tattoo in the end, do what you need to to make yourself happy. If everyone else in the world hates it and you love it, that's all that matters.

This. My tattoos are just nice. I like tattoos, so I get them. They don't have to mean a damn thing. As @Hogrider said, you are not a good candidate for tattoos if you are obsessing, thinking, doing over, worrying, and creating drama over your tattoos. I get a tattoo, then I look forward to getting the next one. That's it. It's not world-changing. They are tattoos, they are optional, and I really think you should steer clear. It shouldn't be this hard. Honestly. The angst is unnecessary.

Tattoos certainly don't have to have deep meaning. If the curious ask you what they mean just tell them "It means I like tattoos".

Don't do anything. Of your original 5 tattoos, you've had two covered up and now you are looking to do even more coverups. This is just a recipe for disaster. Your skin isn't a piece of paper, you can't just keep erasing and starting over. Every time you tattoo, laser or cover up, you are traumatizing your skin and creating more scar tissue. I have two sleeves, back, chest panel and a piece that goes up my right leg to connect with my back/chest. Not a single tattoo has any meaning other than I like the imagery. Just my opinion, but a lot of that 'meaning' nonsense comes from watching too much LA ink and these other tattoo shows where people claim this big long sob story about why they are getting the tattoo. Take some time, a lot of time, before you do anything; otherwise you're just going to make it worse.

nice! nice work with a distinct style. good luck, and be sure to upload pics as you go!

hi there. Thanks for the compliment. I'm seriously glad to say that the regret is gone. It took some time and it was a bumpy ride but I really came to love my tattoo and I'm proud of it :-). I had to let it become part of me but the support of this group is amazing!

Hello! I hope that this is the right place to ask these questions - I've already read through the entire thread and found lots of excellent information, so thank you all for that! I'm getting my left upper thigh and half of my back tattooed in December/January, and I was wondering, if I'm not very hairy (I'm Asian so really just a tiny bit of peach fuzz), will they shave me anyway before my tattoo? I'm also wondering if anyone meditates to help deal with the pain? This is my first large tattoo (I have 2 fairly small ones already) and after reading through the back tattoo thread, I'm a little worried. I already meditate now and practice breathing techniques, but I want to be as prepared as possible. I have to travel for my tattoo (1.5 hour flight each way) and for my first session for the outline (6 hours scheduled), I have booked my flight in and out on the same day - was this a silly move? Last question that might seem really dumb - if the majority of my tattoo will be on my back, I imagine I'll be lying down on my front a lot so I was wondering if I should get a straw to drink water from?

Step away from the tattoo!

Summer's last hurrah. 4 days on the Florida coast, and the last time my naked feet will see sunlight not filtered through ink!

Brain tumor follow-up yesterday. The net is that it’s bigger which could either mean the radiation is working (yea) or that it’s still growing (boo). I’m doing the PMA thing and going with the radiation is working. The concern is around my facial nerve and balance issues. I’m already walking like a drunk sometimes but the facial paralysis shit freaks me out. The funny part of today went like this: Dr. Neurosurgeon: How’s your hearing in your left ear? Me: It’s shot. Dr. Neurosurgeon: How’s your balance? Me: F*cked. Dr. Neurosurgeon smiles at me, looks at my leg and says: Is that a ray gun tattoo? Me: Yes, Dr. it is indeed a ray gun to commemorate my radiation. Dr. Neurosurgeon: That is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen. (Note: the barrel isn't crooked...straight lines on curvy body parts, ya know) Grez at Pagoda

Also posted in the Pagoda City thread, but he's my one-shot Pharoah's Cats from Scott Sylvia.