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Sneak peek of my first day. Convention lighting sucks balls.

Beyond happy with this rose from Chris Garver this week. Pic stolen from his IG

Bummer not seeing you, @beez, @Reyeslv, and @scott this year. I'll try to snap a few photos so it will almost be like all the LSTers are here.

I use to get reaaallly crabby for a couple of days after a new tattoo and that would sometimes make my husband sick :p Seriously though, I have never gotten sick after a tattoo but I could see how it could leave your immune system in an overstimulated or distracted state increasing susceptibility to the foreign invaders around you. For this reason, I have started scheduling shorter sessions. I find I don't get crabby or feel as exhausted/susceptible to getting sick. It also allows me to keep working out to some degree or another which I think is fantastic in helping tattoos to heal quickly. Side note...I think sleep quality is part of it too. I rarely sleep well the first couple of nights with a new tattoo. So on top of maybe the flesh trauma and neural load, your body's #1 recovery system can also be compromised. Just my thoughts @OnyxRose...and now that you suspect this may be how your body reacts you can move forward and implement some things to support your immune system pre-, post- and during tattoo. Best of luck!

What in the fuck is going on in this thread. Y'all are killin shit! *bows down*

Valerie Vargas? Aaron Coleman? Lady heads and lots of roses? Never heard of 'em! Welcome!

Got this print in yesterday as a gift from Taki, Molly, and Horitomo at State of Grace. What a great bunch of people! The cat was more excited about napping on the wrapping...

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

Duncan X.

Man, the all black and grey looks amazing! Stick with that theme for sure!

I'm posting my updated legs today. I've added a few since my last post in this thread. Visible tattoos: Cat, hot air balloon, hand of glory = Chad Koeplinger Skull with flowers = Bastien Jean Higgs flash, boxer, RCAF skull, Grimm reaper = Tim Pausinger Cowgirl, Higgs flash = Glennie Whittall Panther w/ dagger, bulldog, pineapple, Scorpion = Franz Stefanik Ankle band, Hot Stuff = Nathan Draper Dollar bill, fly = Kyle Hollingdrake Space torch = Mario Desa I think that's all of them. I've got a few more lined up that should appear in the next few weeks and months.

Oh how my leg has changed in just a few short months. I think my next move will be to cap my other knee. Then I need to work on the back sides. I'm too front-heavy. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I feel like it's good to have a super posi thread every now and then! @Graeme and I talk about this a lot - that being into tattoos has not only gotten us, you know, some amazing tattoos, but that it has also broadened our horizons in about a million different ways. This is thanks to the fantastic people we are privileged to interact with and the amazing knowledge and insight that they've shared with us. I had no interest at all in Japanese/Chinese/Tibetan/etc. art before we started hanging out in tattoo shops, for example, and now it feels like an amazing world of art has been opened up to me. Tattoos have also led me to learn more about Buddhist practices and indirectly influenced both of us to learn how to meditate. Basically it's turned us into goddamn hippies, which I am super down with. I'd be curious to hear about ways that getting tattooed has led you to learn and experience new things, beyond the joy of a needle in your ass crack. In the age of Inkmaster, I think it's worth talking about how rich tattoo culture is, and how connected it is to other amazing cultural, artistic, spiritual, etc., movements and practices.

I'll be on my way soon dudes.

That's incredible, @MoistTowelette. I was hoping you were gonna post in this thread. Thanks!

@Mark Bee, your sticks are looking great! Why are smoking reapers soooo cool?! I really love them!

If any of you are hoping for walk-ups, our bud Pierre, who co-runs Tattoomania in Montreal and the Montreal tattoo convention and is an incredible tattooer and super lovely human being, apparently had a cancellation that left him with lot of time! See his IG (PierreTM) for details. We (and the rest of the tattoo world) cannot vouch for this dude enough.

The only ill effects I have ever experienced post tattoo has been the over stimulation on the central nervous system after a long & gruelling session. At times if I have been feeling under the weather, as in starting to feel sick, I reschedule. Nothing worse getting drilled while you're crook.

@Lance I am so bummed, but I am not making it this year. Couldn't make it up for Shad this time, either. I am SOOOO BUMMMMED. I had hoped for some 11th hour magic that didn't happen, and I just couldn't swing the trip this time. I will be in SF in Jan/Feb for more tattooing though!! @CABS @cltattooing will miss seeing you guys this time around, but I'll catch up with you in 2015! Good luck on that Koji walkup. Also can't wait to see who gets what! @hogg that is a beautiful new Kaneko peony, btw! (sorry crossing threads here :p)

I've only had two, but suffered no ill effects. Still have the tonsils? That could be your problem. Little poison bags. Had mine out at age 5 while they were trying to kill me.

AND it's well done.

i like it because it doesn't scream "super meaningful tattoo"

I finished teaching my course on beer tasting and appreciation last night and it went well! People seemed to have fun and enjoy themselves, they learned a little bit about beer, had their horizons broadened a bit, and drank some good beers. Getting up in front of people and talking for three hours is tough though and I don't know how the teachers and professors here do it, especially since feeding people alcohol isn't generally part of the lesson. I'm going to be doing the same course in the new year, as well as a couple of one-off courses, one about stouts in the lead up to St Patrick's day, and another in May about summer beer, so those should be fun as well.

Heeeeey girl! <3 Don't be shy! Tell errbody you love Aaron Coleman and Valerie Vargas and how you currently have a soft spot for big, bold, beautiful, western traditional designs and roses! Lotsa roses! And ladyheads! Hey y'all, it's my sissy-in-law (once removed sorta :p )! <3...wait...did I just totally out you?! :eek: Anyhoo, dying to hear what ideas are brewing because I suspect you are barking up the right tree. I am a big fan of the Arizona-Aaron-Coleman-road trip idea! Welcome to Last Sparrow! xoxo

I should prefer a shrubbery.

Been kinda forgetful/lazy to post in this thread. If you follow me on IG, then these are not new. I've gotten these since the Rassier baby heads. Tuesday flash from Candi Kinyobi at Tuesday Tattoo in San Francisco, CA. Under the tutelage of Jesse Tuesday (who's a badass tattooer that's totally under the radar). Ultimate sad girl with sad heart from happy tattooer and fellow LST'er Carolyn LeBourgeois @cltattooing at FTW Tattoo in Oakland, CA. Tengu from Stewart Robson at Black Heart Tattoo in San Francisco, CA. Was able to nab a cancellation thanks to Ross "INSIDE SCOOP" Hogg. I unfollowed a bunch of tattooers on IG, so I totally wouldn't have known about this. Thanks again @hogg!

This fizzled out quickly. I think they interpreted my target salary as "fuck you guys" (it sorta was meant to say that) because they called me back the next day to say we were too far apart for them to make an offer. It was a long shot that they would be smart enough to accurately value my work but I'm more disappointed that I didn't get a chance to practice negotiating. I'm better off at my current employer with lower stress, 3 mile commute, and 50 days of time off.

Actually, I find the forum quite responsive on my tablet in Tapatalk. May be some things not there, but the basic ability to read and post work very well. Thru the ether from my LP2

@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???

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.

@Graeme @BrianH

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

@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.

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

I don't think I ever purchased any art before getting tattooed. I picked up two prints at the Montreal convention. I think I just have a much greater appreciation for creative things in general now.

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?

Tattoos also led me to Buddhism in a roundabout way. I had wanted to try meditation but didn't know how and couldn't find the motivation. Until one night @TrixieFaux & I went to a Jondix art show at this place in L.A.: Against The Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. I came back for their Wednesday night class and have been going ever since. It's pretty inspiring to sit in front of this at class – Aeons-Tulpa | A Solo Exhibition by Jondix – and I'll be bummed if and when they take it down. Now I meditate (almost) daily, went on my first silent retreat, and stopped using drugs & alcohol a little over a year ago. I definitely feel like I fit in there. There’s a very punk rock ethos to what they do there which does not feel hippie-dippy or bullshitty or creepy/cultie in any way. Noah Levine, who started the center, is tattooed head-to-toe by @Scott Sylvia, Eddy Deutsche, Freddy Corbin and some other heavy-hitters. He’s starting to become one of the most influential next-generation Buddhist teachers in America. I like that my koi and dragon tattoos have deeper meaning in the Buddhist tradition though that’s not why I picked those images in the first place. I mostly just liked the look of Japanese style tattoos and the stories behind them, but now they feel as much a part of me as my practice does.

It's taught me not to tolerate fools as much. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

@Pugilist what great thread! So great that tattooing has led you and @Graeme to meditate. Mainly, getting seriously into tattooing has led me to learn a lot about tattooing and there always seems to be more to know. Balancing having less space as I get more tattoos and more knowledge about them is really interesting. The experience of looking through Tattoo Time for the first time, and it unlocking a lot of mysteries about tattoo imagery was really exciting and kind of life changing. And as others have already said, tattooing has definitely also broadened my interests not only in tattoo art, but also Japanese and Tibetan art. Recently, I was at an antique shop and the proprietress was showing me and my wife an old kimono jacket, and I was amazed to hear myself immediately saying, "that's a great Shoki." Those words would've never rolled out of my mouth if I hadn't become interested in Japanese tattooing. The other big thing, in terms of iconography, is an appreciation for the swastika. Very recently, I would've balked at the idea of getting a swastika tattooed, but now I would. (I'm still not sure if this is good. I understand all the arguments about it being a positive image and wanting to reclaim it, but I still think about at what cost.) I'm also grateful that my interest in tattooing has lead me to discover this forum and, for the first time in my life, meet great people ( @hogg and @CABS), whom I met online first, in real life and share beers and tacos with them. Also, as an side, I think sometimes huge beer guts look amazing for tattoos. I think the best looking Japanese bodysuits are ones worn by Japanese men with huge guts.

I find that I keep talking about my blackwork as of lately but it's been so relevent as of late (even two years into process). But I decided to add to this little politically correct anarchy symbol on my knee cap with what's derivative of mursi tribe's scarification, mostly dots and lines that resemble the skin of the crocodile. It shows your strength as a warrior and spiritual dedication, around that we've begun to blackout from there down to my ankle. I've got a LONG way to go but at one point, I let two people (who sadly no longer tattoo) work on me at once and man, what a spiritual journey that was. I found myself at peace in ways I've only had during a cool down in yoga. My entire body was relaxed and felt my face melting right off my skull. Most surreal shit ever. Following this, I found myself obsessed with blackwork, swastikas, pagan spirituality, lots of introspection. Always questioning what is the peaceful way of thinking. How can I handle this situation in a way that will bring love to myself and those around me. It's really odd but I used to cover my legs and arms at all times. Now, the more blackout work I get, the more I want to wear hot pants and cut up my band shirts to show the world my confidence. I always have people ask me about them as well and the answers I give feel to me like I'm spreading that love. It's def some hippie shit but I was going through some emotional struggle with my wife, sat down with my machine, and began blacking out my arm with a frosty beer. right when I called it a night, I just wanted to hold her and tell her how special she was to me. It's things like this that inspire me to become a better artist and to continue to get tattooed. Granted, I've got inverted crosses and pentagrams everywhere so I guess I can additionally show people that just because I look like I'd sacrifice your cat, I'm more likely to hug you and tell you how beautiful your smile is today. Sorry for the fucking new age bullshit. I get carried away on this topic.

^ this. Tattoos have taught me a lot about being comfortable in my own skin, and comfortable with being myself in relation to the outside world. It's not so much an act of rebellion (which I think has kind of been taken away, to a degree) but an act of intentionally altering your appearance, in a way of your choosing. Making that choice is the liberating part to me. Also, like everyone else said, the number of super cool people I've already met through tattoos in some way is awesome. People from all walks of life, whom I wouldn't had made that initial connection with if it weren't for tattoos.

Tattoo experiences have got me into some cool music: Mastadon, The Dickies, Three 6 Mafia, American Me (soundtrack). But most importantly tattoos are teaching me how to own it, how to be confident being my own god damn self !

That tacos are the best food for discussing tattoos.

I think for ease, I'll divide this into sections: 1. History I've learned 2. New art forms I've discovered 3. Cool people I've met. 4. LST Although I got my first tattoo back in the very early 90s, it wasn't until about 4 years ago that I started seriously looking into the history of tattooing. Since then, I've discovered a rich and deep worldwide artistic practice. From Japan, to the American carnival, to Scandinavian sailors, I have learned a great deal about how different cultures have appreciated (or denigrated) the art of tattooing.I've seen WWI records of soldiers inductions, complete with detailed descriptions of their tattoos. Fascinating! A trip to Great Lakes in Chicago led me down the rabbit hole of tracking the post-war era of American tattooing, (Tatts Thomas, etc), which I quickly fell in love with. It must be the historian in me. 2. Originally I thought of tattoos as simply a mark on the skin. As I've become more and more involved in the tattoo scene, for lack of a better term, I started looking into how different cultures' styles developed and spread across the world. It also opened up a new way for me to understand complex cultural markers and how we relate to them and respect them. Tattooing has opened my mind to being ever more interested in how other cultures mark themselves and express themselves through art. 3. All the cool people. This cannot be overstated. I have met interesting, talented, funny, smart, people from all walks of life by spending as much time as I do in the shops and in the surrounding areas. I've met tattooers with amazing stories of travel and adventure, and tattooed people who share the same passion and fascination. This has had the benefit of getting me traveling more than I had been over the last decade. Montreal, Chicago, and beyond! 4. The LST community. 'Nuff said. You are good people.

great thread idea! as a result of wanting my tattoos to heal nicely i've gotten into eating significantly healthier and crossfit/weightlifting so my ass will look nice on instagram #tattooedmanbutt #instamanbutt #buttgram i'm more willing to travel if there are tattoos involved in the trip. visited nyc, austin, montreal, and burlington vt for the first time as a result of tattoo collecting. i also hangout with more canadians than i did prior to tattoos

This is my little lady, Blue. She moved in last summer when she was around 6-7 mths old. Couldn't ask for a better snuggle buddy.

oh ya ! this is my goof ! she is the love of my life, . .

Here's my left lower leg done with Matt Deverson from Progression tattoo in Adelaide Australia and the top of my right done with Matt (Dr Claw) from Diamond Club