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A couple new flicks... By Richard Stell

Hey there, I'm Hunter. Live in Austin, TX. Full time artist trying to break into tattooing. I have about 30-40 hours in the chair under my belt, and currently in the process of completing my right leg with the wonderful Nathan Haynes here in town. Here is a shot of my leg so far to break the ice (sorry its an IG rip, it's all I got). I hope to contribute as much as I can, and thanks for having me.

new ones...

Goal of the year was to get in with Valerie Vargas, didn't think it was going to happen but managed to get a cancellation, can't wait :)

It's still pretty swollen, so the pictures are a little crappy, but my Banshee is finally finished!! (dislocated joints and tattoos don't go well together) I waited as long as I could for it to heal, sucker still gave me some problems at certain angles, but its done! Also did a Stencil of the chest piece we're gonna start after January :) She's gonna play with it a little to make things line up and flow together. So I'll post that picture (sorry it's instagram quality ;-p

I got tattooed by Frank Carter again a few days ago. We tattooed some dice on my arm as well to fill some space which led to us rolling dice to decide the price. I lost...

I am lucky enough to get in with Darcy Nutt by March or so for a full back piece. She is an incredible artist and one of the top in the industry. Her waiting list is 3+ years out and only taking on full back pieces to boot. Her work is not short of incredible and well worth looking up on Google or checking her work out on You Tube. On another note I am starting on my right leg sleeve thursday. I am in the process of sleeving both legs from the toes up. I have some pics of my left leg and the start of it. Thursday I am finishing the color on my left an starting a huge skull portrait on the right shin/calf. The idea on each leg is to display both good on one and evil on another, which describes my personality.

My right shin. Nathan Haynes @ Amillion Tattoo - Austin, TX.

some of my latest tattoos (huge pics incoming - sorry for that): jakub settgast - berlin, germany peter aurisch - berlin, germany erkan keser - mannheim, germany deno jr - madrid, spain seb winter - heidelberg, germany

Jon Mesa

watching the interviews sometimes make me dance in excitement before we post them up for everyone......welcome to LST Danceman

I also am heavily inked. I always found it funny that in my Marine Corps career that I was rarely judged because people realized that I was a respected Marine first. Now in the civilian life, I dont see much "to my face judging", maybe because I am not a little guy. I also live in Mormon alley and in my town it is obvious who drives the minivans and who doesnt. I guess I just dont care if any one does judge me. Married for 26 years, 3 kids graduated from college already, Chamber Prez, Rotary Prez, with quite a resume and still getting a bunch of classy body art. Although, I know that I have changed a few opinions and have done my job as shaking the "he must of been in prison" stigma. I am guilty of judging myself, but i feel we all go through life judging as it is instinctual. We judge clothes, shoes, bosses, cars, etc. and even people. The difference is that I treat all people with respect until I have a reason not too. I also think those of us that take tattooing seriously as an art form are a very special breed. We have each other and we need to remember that. There are very few people that don't know someone with a tattoo, whether its a hidden Hello Kitty or an entire sleeve, don't let them fool you or pretend they are better than any of us.. One more thing, there is also an entire camp out there that is just jealous but have that wife, husband, father, mother, job, etc. that just will not allow it. Good luck everyone. It takes money to join a country club, but it takes commitment to join our club.

Brutal Knitting by Tracy Widdess

This kills me , follow the evolution of a Bob Roberts Battle Royale backpiece complete with soundtrack ... The Battle Royale Tattoo by Bob Roberts

Todd Noble

Please tell me he's getting 'live laugh love'

Just saw this thread.. I'll share two quick experiences. The first, my lady and I tried a restaurant in the neighborhood we'd never been to. Our area is half young white kids, half old school Italian/families. This restaurant was an Italian spot and not one we knew anything about, just figured we'd try it. We sit down and our waiter had a pretty bad 'tude.. wasn't looking at us when we ordered drinks, came back for the food order and that was that. He ran the food and barely said a word to us. This was summertime, and we both had on short sleeves but in New York you don't even think twice about visible tattoos.. it's only when you go somewhere else (like when I go home to rural MD) when you notice people kind of staring. Anyway, a couple sat down next to us, kind of yuppie, dressed in khakis or whatever, not tattooed. Our waiter comes back out and gives them a whole introduction, talks about the specials, makes jokes and is all smiles, talking with hands and being the kind of affable that feels like he's making a point. Then he brings them bread! We were amazed.. We got no specials, no bread, no water refills... we flagged him down to get the check and our only conclusion was that he saw us and instantly figured we'd be bad customers.. so we were sure to actually leave a good tip. Still don't know what the deal was but we never went back. Second, is I was recently in small claims court and it was one of the few times I thought to myself, Man, am I glad I don't have any hand/neck tattoos. You can't control other peoples' snap judgments.. and when that person is a judge (ok, arbitrator) it seemed in my benefit to look as "normal" as possible. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to seriously consider some Everlasting Jobstopper tattoos... but for now, I just want bread and water refills like the rest of society.

got a few of these left from a recent convention. 16x16 or 18x18 don't remember. $30 and some shipping. my email and paypal: henry@tattoosbyhenry.com.....thanks!!

Just found this site and I'm happy that I did! What a great way to learn more about tattooing! I look forward to reading about all topics! Thanks Again! Danceman

Welcome to LST! Best site on the internets.

must wear spotted panther !

This is effing nuts! Love it

Does he have a panther on his chest? Because it sounds like he needs one.

Tattoo Convention in the Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh Pa in the Mid 90's Pittsburgh Hilton | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

print, sticker, t-shirt, hoodie, underwear, bong, you name and i'll want it!

My latest from David Corden

I have a private movie theater, and we can stream from youtube. I watched episode 1 last night on a 25foot screen. So so rad.

Seeing these guys this weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrysift2bRg

Throwing in my tattoo in the hat. This was done by Eddy Deutsche a week and a half ago.

Any art collector that hasn't considered buying some of his work is failing.

From Iain Mullen today. So happy with it! Had a great time and it wasn't as horrible as I had imagined going over the elbow.

I would say the subject matter they paint is very similar and the color palette as mentioned, but Conn's stuff has so much more going on and is looking for a much bigger effect. Cleen looks like he is trying to keep it simpler. If he was trying to rip off Conn, I think he would make his paintings a little busier, try to incorporate background elements that Conn uses. I think clearly Cleen has been influenced by Conn, but that can be said for pretty much this whole generation of tattooers. Same with Dan Higgs and even Aaron Coleman, I see a lot of these guys in the tattoos people do everyday, and I don't think people are ripping it off, they are just doing what they think looks cool.

I posted a crappy photo in the Latest Tattoo Lowdown thread a a few days back. I finally got a good picture of the progress on my backpiece. One more session to finish the two angels and tidy a few bits up and it should be complete. Tattoo by Paul Pearson.

this is my goal too. i am - i hope- in his waiting list

I have been trying to teach myself to paint over the last 6 - 12 months and these are probably my least crappy attempts so far. Still a long way to go but thought I would stick them here as I didn't realise there was a thread for this!

@Deb Yarian posted a scar coverup recently on her instagram that was nothing short of amazing. Which, I guess, proves the point that people have made here that you need to go to somebody good for this.

Don't overthink it.

What do you think about this guy's work...Travis Hulshizer in Fayetteville, Arkansas? Someone on LST recommended him, and I think his work is pretty outstanding...especially for a small market like Arkansas.

The good news is that when you get enough tattoos, you're right back at having only one.

Well here is my first tattoo. Done by Kore Flatmo at Plurabella Studio in Cincinnati. WE got around four hours done yesterday. I will be back right around thanksgiving to finish it. It was a great experience KOre was great to work with, he is a true gentleman, and a credit to his profession.

Yes, this is an original Aaron Cain/GRIME Big"G" #108, purchased from Grime personally just before the turn of the century, HaHa. I started to get my sleeve/chest plate from Grime when he was on a huge guest tour, and we discussed the purchase of the machine during my appointment. I ordered and paid, then agreed to meet up at a convention for me to receive said machine. Of course I ran the machine, but at the time, I was REALLY INTO the machines I was using, and I've always been that way, so I never made any tattoos with this machine. This has been one of my modest amount of collectibles, ranging from an original Japanese edition 5 Lion VOLTRON in the un-opened box, to an original **pristine** Vision GATOR complete..never even rolled on concrete. I only listed these other examples of my particular choice of collectibles as marks on the timeline of my life. So, while this must seem like blasphemy to some that I am selling this machine, I have my reasons, they are deeply significant to me, and it DOES HURT to be rid of this machine. For this reason, and MANY others, some very obvious, I would like to get the absolute top dollar that I can for the machine. I have been offered enormous amounts in person at conventions and from many local tattooists, and they showed the cash to back it up...but at those times, I had no intention of selling it. But a recent epiphany changed my perspective on "material possessions", and "tools of my trade" that made me really feel ready to part with it, albeit for the largest cash offer someone makes in a reasonable time. THE CONDITIONS.... I will make sure to the best of my ability that the buyer is an experienced tattooist, with an appreciation for exactly what he is purchasing here, and how special it really is to many...not just other tattooists, but those who collect, covet and or simply love and appreciate the body of work of the 2 great artisans responsible for its creation. I would like to correspond with the buyer at length,(in a friendly way, I'm an ethical tattooist, not a Tattoo machine "Nazi"). I'd just like to get acquainted with said buyer, and inquire respectfully about your desire to own this machine...and maybe your favorite color.??? As well, the buyer will assume any and all shipping costs including insurance which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! If anyone has taken the time to completely read this post, you might understand how much this transfer of ownership means to me. That being said, I hope you will also understand my wanting TOP DOLLAR, HIGHEST OFFER for the machine, without judgement or prejudice. Thank you very much for your consideration. I also offer the option of more discreet, private communication via email after our first correspondence. Again, thank you, and God Bless.

This post is most emphatically NOT about a legendary tattooist, but mayhap a legend of tattoing? So, many moons ago, when I was yet a youngster, we went to Walter's Barber Shop, out near Mannheim and Ogden. This was a real-live, old-time guys barber shop. You know, True Magazine, Esquire, pinups on the wall, racing sheets available, the whole drill. Walter was probably in his mid-sixties at the time. One day, I must have been maybe 12, I was in getting a haircut, and for the first time, it registered that he had tattoos on each arm! Actually, a sailing ship on one forearm, and a nekkid pin-up girl on the other. Both looked to have been done, probably during the maiden voyage of the Ark. Nice, even greenish ink, I"m sure you've all seen the stuff. Anyhow, I asked him about them, and he tells me "oh sure, I used to do tattoos right in the backroom here!" Well, I had to see it, and he took me back to his storeroom, and sure enough, he had all kinds of tattooing gear there. Machines, hand-needles, flash, all kinds of stuff that I didn't recognize but knew I wanted! "No, it isn't for sale, I guess I just like to have it in case I ever decide to use it again." That, and he didn't want my pops to come looking for him with a baseball bat, I'm sure. So as we talked, it turned out that he had tattooed in that area for maybe 15-20 years, pretty steadily, and had made a nice bit of extra change at it. Back then, in Illinois, you could get a tattoo as a minor if you had your parents permission. You can guess the rest. He did a full chest-piece of a sailing ship on a young lad who presented a note from his dear old Mither saying he had her blessings, and wouldn't you know the little rascal was only 14 and had forged it!!! End of tatttoing in LaGrange. Walter escaped any serious repurcussions, but had to hang-up his tattooing shingle after that. Still had the sign there, too! Don't know what his last name was, I'm going to do a little digging, see if I can track him through his Barber's License. Who knows what stories the man could have told, or what the equipment was?!

On my way back down to Philly from Brooklyn two weeks ago we hit a rest area on the NJ turnpike! The only people who said anything to me and didn't look at me like I was from outer space were a group of Nuns....they all smiled and said hello and even held the door open for me as I was leaving! :) I always remember.....I made a conscious decision to be the way I am fully knowing that society tends to not be very accepting of people who choose to be or are different! It's sad and unfortunate that this is how society is.....but I made the decisions and I have no problem living with the complications (and there have been many) of my decision! Just smile at society......it scares them! ;) Society has come along way in the close to 30 years I have been a tattooed person! It will eventually get there one day....and hopefully i will live long to see it! I actually enjoyed things the way they were back about 20 years ago when next to no one had visible tattoos other than me and a friend or two! People treated me different.....but then....I am different! :)

I had something similar happen to my friends and I a few years ago. Most of them are very heavily covered (hand, fingers, neck) and the waitress kept blowing us off. She messed up our order and got mad when we corrected her. Sucks that people judge, as most of us make pretty good money and are very pleasant people. I have had a recent run-in with both sides of the coin. A shop near me that I usually go to to fix my "beer getting car". The previous times I dropped my car off to them I was wearing my non-work attire (Cannibal Corpse shirt, shorts, tattoo showing etc) and they always treated me well, called before doing work as I ask since the car is not really needed. The last time I dropped my car off I was in full work attire (nice suit 3-piece suit, nice watch, etc). They were a bit rude to me and ignored me for the most part. When it came time to pick up the car they said they "had" to do $1300 in work (not true!) and "you can afford it, why are you arguing?". So I can say in this particular situation I feel that not having a tattoo/dressing up hurt me.

I finished this about a month ago. Just got prints made through Shirts and Destroy. Ron Henry Wells | Webstore

Tattoo flash painting isn't really painting even if you use a brush. It's "illustration colored with a brush". I mean people didn't even really consider Rockwell a painter. He was an illustrator and his paintings(illustrations) were far better than what 99.999999% of us are all putting out. Outside of flash, and flash style paintings I don't really do that stuff much anymore. I did it for years before I was a tattooer so I'm going the other way that a lot of people are going. I'm not branching into painting, I'm leaving it alone for more tattoo based illustrations. Weird.