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I had a fantastic experience at Diamond Club last night with one of my favorite tattooers, Brian Kaneko (truenaturetattoo on Instagram). I got this peony: Shad, Junii, and Dr. Claw were there, too, which made it even more fun. But the best part is that @Iwar wanted to get something from Brian, but couldn't get an appointment. He asked if he could show up during mine, and I said, "Of course!" He walked in right after I got there, so I introduced him to Brian and Shad. They all started laughing, then Brian said, "By the way, I tattooed him earlier today. I had a cancellation." So now Iwar and I are not only banhammer bros, but we're botan brothers, too.

Done by Curt Baer while he was guesting at Dark Age Tattoo in Seattle. He is a big man with a sexy beard. Sorry for the shiny pic!

Two of the tattoos me and my girlfriend picked up at the calgary tattoo show, stolen from Todd Noble and Shaun Toppers Instagram , can't take one of my Noble piece because my arse has gone purple with bruising haha, and it's really hard to take a pic of your own bum

You forgot to mention the part where you made fun of me for knowing when @hogg 's appointment was and being on like, PEONY WATCH 2014. All of that to say: you lucky dudes!

Not gonna touch on the OP or the thread, but I just wanted to say: cancer-treatment radiation targeting tattoos get MY vote for toughest tattoos, full stop. A bit tongue in cheek, this, but:

Sure, though there's a world of difference between somebody who has received cancer treatments asking for advice in getting tattooed (answer: consult with your doctor and an experienced tattooer) and a tattooer asking about the specifics if tattooing somebody who has received cancer treatments. And honestly, I don't like the OP and I think we've been far too kind to him. A ton of scratchers read these forums, some have created accounts, I'm sure that far, far more are lurking and glean whatever shreds of information they can get from here, and whatever, everything here is in public and that's the way it goes and why people should be conscious of what they put on here. Here we have a dude who comes on here and says that he supposedly had an apprenticeship where he didn't actually do any tattoos, and he currently puts on shitty tattoos out of his house, and we should treat him any differently than we do any other scratcher? And who, not for the first time here either, wants to talk technical stuff about tattooing. If you're going to come here and be disrespectful, you can't expect respect in return. So I revise my original answer: this friend of a friend should go to a reputable tattooer because they've been through enough as it is and don't need a shitty tattoo on top of it all.

Got this Rock of Ages from Bradley Tompkins last week when he was guesting at Frith Street. So happy with it and as an added bonus its started peeling already.

I am cracking up at

@hogg It's funny because when I saw Diamond Club post a Brian Kaneko peony on their instagram yesterday I mentioned to Anna that you got a really beautiful one, then she told me that you hadn't had your appointment yet. Of course it was on @Iwar. His botans are so gorgeous.

Corey that sucked

I'm noticing a few second delay after clicking "Like" before the like registers. No big deal but this is going to slow down my productivity.

@Graeme and @Pugilist We need to up the LST ante and make a west coast trip, get monmon cats from Horitomo and peonies from Kaneko! What say youz???

^ was just going to mention this. this is a medical tattoo consisting of a couple of dot-marks. Versus tattoo-work that could cover a bigger surface area of skin. I joked with my Mom about hers, suggesting she get a panther coverup after the treatment. She rolled her eyes and said the tattoo hurt! And couldn't understand why/how I could have gone through so much. <3 Really, talk to a doctor to understand the implications on the immune system and complications that a tattoo (i.e. putting stress on a compromised immune system) may create.

Need to crush him in our head to head tattoo collecting battle!

Had an ass and back of thigh shading session yesterday. It wasn't so bad. The imperial stout helped keep my spirits up.

The first time I travelled to Asia was in 2008. I was very privileged to have my Sifu (Master, RIP) take me along with his family to Foshan, China to learn about the roots of Wing Chun kung fu and experience Chinese culture. Then we would spend time in Hong Kong to train Ving Tsun with his Master (my Sigung, grandfather teacher). We had some free time and went to explore the street markets one evening. We had been in the area the day before and I noticed the big blue “TATTOO” sign on the busy street. My curiousity had me drawn to it and I wanted to see what it was all about. I would say I was still inexperienced at this time, 5 years after my first piece (maybe 50hrs in?) however tattoo culture was becoming something I had become very fascinated by. If you wanted to see pictures of tattoos you would muster some courage, suffer through the intimidation of ~actually going into~ a tattoo shop; you could see what your punker friends had scratched on each other; you would sneak a peak at the BME website (the internet! Oh my!). I went off on my own at night time to find this mysterious tattoo shop. I had split off on my own, away from my group. My time was limited to explore. I found the building underneath the big blue sign, went up several flights of a dark dingy stairwell. And there it was “JIMMY HO TATTOO”. Just an apartment door framed with classic tattoo flash pasted to the wall. So I rang the buzzer… I thought maybe it would be cool to get a tattoo in China…but I was also very hesitant. Did I have enough time? My group didn't know where I took off too and I had to meet back pretty soon. I was uncertain about the safety of the needles and ink. Healthwise it seemed risky. China isn't exactly the cleanest place in the world. How was I going to heal a new tattoo being in the hot sun all day and then training (contact) the evening? Afterall, my focus in Hong Kong was Ving Tsun. ...I remember being so nervous when I rang the buzzer. Shaky. There was no answer. So I waited for a bit, my curiousity had brought me this far. But what the hell was I doing here? Sketchy. And then a head suddenly appeared through a gap in the flash covered window. This older gentleman opened the door, poked his head into the stairwell to see who else was around and waved me in. I was pretty mesmerized. Here I am a younger, naïve kid, swept up in the energy of Hong Kong at night. Here I was in a sketchy, dimly lit building in an old man’s apartment studio. Old timey flash, certificates, photos, a lot of tattoo history covering every square inch of the 300 sqft apartment. What in the hell was I doing here? “Tattoo?” He said. That was about the only English he knew and would speak to me. He motioned at my long sleeve shirt, I didn’t have any of my tattoos showing. So I took off my shirt and showed him the work I had amassed at that point. Both my arms fully covered. Some leg tattoos. A big dragon on my ribs. He gave an approving half smile and motioned for me to sit down. I think this man knew that I wasn’t there to get a tattoo from him that night. However he made my curiosity feel welcomed in his studio. Looking around the studio it felt like a risky place to get tattooed and I felt I wasn't experienced enough to think otherwise. Not very sanitary by North American standards (but probably cleaner than some of those tattoo conventions haha). The bench pillow was covered in ink and blood stains. I couldn’t see an autoclave. The ink bottles in the corner looked a little crusty. The older tattooer gentleman didn’t have any visible tattoos and there was a serious language barrier. He gave me some his photo albums to flip through. It wasn’t a portfolio. It was more like family photo albums. Very old pictures of some American-classic tattoo designs he had made on people - eagles, panthers, daggers, hearts. There were pictures of him with groups of shirtless Chinese men, dragon and tiger backpieces and sleeves on display. Photos of this older Chinese gentleman with who I would assume to be elder American and European tattooers (I would be to naïve to have named at that time in my tattoo journey…I’m pretty sure there was a pic of him with Hardy, I think Pinky too? I really can’t remember). The whole experience was very surreal, I was nervous and awe-struck. I was going to have an amazing story about meeting Jimmy Ho, but would anybody really believe me? Or care? Afterwards, I did a bit of research (in which there was and still is limited info online). It turns out Jimmy Ho was the son of the late James Ho, who opened up Rose Tattoo, one of the first tattoo shop in Hong Kong back in the 1940s. My mind was blown that I had just had an exchange with a man from tattoo royalty. The next day I was exploring and ended up checking out another tattoo studio “Star Crossed Tattoo”. It was run by two friendly UK ex-pats Ross and Julia. I spent the afternoon talking with them about HK life, punk rock, tattoos, watched Julia tattoo and confirmed a few things. Yes, I had just met Jimmy Ho. He was tattoo royalty in Hong Kong. Hygiene standards were very questionable in Hong Kong/China at that time. Very risky, healthwise. The HK tattoo scene wasn’t regulated by the health board. Later on in the trip I would venture back to the area of Jimmy Ho’s tattoo shop. I didn’t take any pictures inside his shop, I was too distracted by the reality of the interaction - a human exchange about tattoos that happened in spite of a language and cultural barrier - and I didn’t want to be disrespectful towards a man that had let a stranger into his studio apartment. But I wanted to get a picture of the big blue TATTOO sign from the street during daylight. At that time I realized that I must have been a batshit crazy kid (even if I did know some kung fu!) to take a back alley into this area at night time, as there were a bunch of strip clubs, bath houses, massage parlours and gambling going on in the area with Triad looking Chinese (dragon/tiger halfsleeves) working the doors on the block. Not a place a young white tourist would want to find himself alone at night time. No guts, no glory I guess haha. I didn’t get a tattoo on the trip. And I have no regrets about that. But what Jimmy Ho did give me was an incredible memory and experience. Another story to go along with all the pictures I wear on my body. Thank you for reading :) PS If anybody has any further info about Jimmy Ho, James Ho, Hong Kong tattoo history please do share, love to learn more about it. - - - Updated - - - I did find this https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.ho.7127/media_set?set=a.292623604111543.71717.100000917175393&type=3

When will those elegant white tips strike next? WATCH OUT!

I should have got a peony. I fucked it all up!

Best Peonies out there!

Just from a non-tattoo artist standpoint, they use tattoos to permanently mark reference marks (although small) for radiation therapy, which is often done right after chemo, so...

@Graeme @BrianH

I'll be there Sunday at 12 too with Rubendall. Maybe we could get a beer after.

@BrianH, if @ironchef can do it so can you. Also it is still hilarious to me that you got peer pressured into this. It will be worth it.

1 week until I spend 2 days questioning my decision making ability.

Agreed, he's created more heat than light, but he did provide a pretty great example of a "worst ever" lion that a "dingleberry" friend of his got. That counts for half a point.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, you rule @Graeme

About to start with Curt Baer.

I understand that there could be trade secrets involved, but I think it's very appropriate for anyone to share health related information or experience related to post chemo and getting tattoos without crossing the magic line.

This is most of the collection. A few are not shown but nothing major.

This board is so heavy on the bromance.

Booked in with Max Kuhn when he's coming to London! Really looking forward to it!

This is my main man, Rufus, probably falling asleep in the this picture, one of his favorite activities.

@BrianH - If you can identify the high end of the going rate in your field, go straight to the top. Since you've been gone for a while and they need your experience, DO NOT let them negotiate off your old salary. That old salary is out the window. It is not a starting point and don't let them use it as one. And be straight with them if they try to do so. Get them to ID your responsibilities (even if they are the same) and negotiate based on those responsibilities and what the market will bear. And then add some because you are already "up to speed". Good luck!

Tuck this somewhere for fun.

A grave stone with your initials,and the date you were born with a question mark after that...And a reaper floating behind it with flames surrounding everything.

Welcome to LST. And get a skull. It works thematically and always looks rad. You can never go wrong with a skull.

This is a little more technical in nature, but I think it's kinda cool to share. My mentor(s) have really had me focusing on the craft of tattooing lately. Making needles. Making pigment. Tuning and rebuilding machines. It's something that we take for granted with the ease of pre-made and disposables. But it feels good to know that I'm gaining the skills the old timers relied upon.

it's hard to feel sympathetic about this when you're working on such a cool back piece.

Nah, sometimes I start writing and crazy shit comes out. I've seen dead deer on the side of the road driving home from sessions, but no hobbling dogs.

During, good idea.

Look at this bromance developing. @CABS I'm hurt.

Welcome! A skull would indeed be perfect. Or a reaper. - - - Updated - - - Oh yeah, and yes please to photos, we love love photos :)

Curt Baer is guesting up in Seattle this week. Question: calling out early on Tuesday so I can get a panther from him. Good idea? Best idea?

Even though I'd said earlier that piercings aren't my thing, I got a helix piercing earlier today with some friends in Northampton, MA. My friend also got a stud in her ear and her badass 15-year-old daughter got an industrial (and handled it with barely a sniffle). I appreciated that the shop was woman-owned and that the owner's very active in the Association of Professional Piercers and has helped to set the standard. Overall a really positive experience that gave me a respect for the profession and will always remind me of the time when I did this thing with 2 generations of amazing women.

Just got this from Eli yesterday. I think I have Smith Street fever!!

I think the only question here is are you making fantastic life decisions or are you making marvelous life decisions.

My appointment with Henning at the end of the month has evolved into a 2 day event. This is going to be a fun challenge.

My arm by Joel Madberg, Salvation Tattoo Stockholm:

Authenticity is overrated.

I've gotten kind of obsessed with stone litho--I didn't even know what lithography WAS a few months ago and now I basically live in the print shop. I'm still figuring things out, but here are a couple pieces I've been ruining my back with this spring, both editions of 11 on somerset and BFK printmaking papers. I'm going to learn to etch copper plates next, I think.