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An update: Im dating a really rad girl that I've had a crush on for three years. I told her that I always try to get the people I date to agree to move to North Carolina with me. She said "where in North Carolina?" instead of no. "Asheville" I replied. "Oh. You mean where my parents live? Where I plan to move in a few years?" Little cartoon hearts erupted over my head.

But isn't it mixed with the tears of vegans?

omg you're getting tattooed by neutral milk hotel.

It's made from heavy metal and unicorn blood.

Man, I love my jackass husband, but sometimes LST is like a whole message board full of jackass husbands.

You guys. I may or may not have found out today that I will probably (knock on wood!) have the most exciting appointment ever for the MTL tattoo convention next month and I am so stoked it's not even funny. I am too superstitious to say it out loud just yet but IT IS GOING TO RULE.

I am digging these pictures that show more than one tattoo at a time. Good idea! Here are my arms. I plan to add to the right arm...filling it out to match the amount of coverage on the left. The owl is a little out of place. ETA: oh darn @Iwar...forgot to wear my fundoshis. I have several pairs. Pairs? Yeah next time for sure.

So I bought some fundoshi's off of eBay a while back, thinking I might use them when I start my backpiece. In hindsight I should have known that only japanese men with bodysuits can pull those off. Pale norwegian guys, not so much. Had to cherish the moment with a picture though. I hope you all feel privileged! :cool: - - - Updated - - - Only thing I made my mind up about pretty early on was that I wanted to go big on my front and back. Other than that I'm just randomly filling it in with different styles of work from different tattooers I dig. I guess my thighs and feet match each other, but other than that I just pack'em in there. I absolutely love the look of japanese bodysuites though, but that's not for me. I like too much from both worlds. Now let's see the rest of you in your fundoshis! If you don't have any laying around, all you need is an old bedsheet and a pair of scissors, and voila.

1 Shot Rib Tattoo (5.5 Hours) by Tim Hendricks at Gold Rush Tattoo .

I have become of fan of dry healing too, when i got my earlier tattoo's I was told to apply bephanten or something similar on it. It did work fine, but the tattoo's were always 'sticky'. When I got my first (full) sleeve last year I was told to 'just do nothing' :) And it went great, after getting home i washed it, and repackaged it for the night, but after that nothing. The first few days i didn't need to do anything, after that i got a bit dry on some places, and i put some (generic) lotion it, usually once a day was enough.. And like was said earlier, it's a wound, and needs to breath to heal, and not to be suffocated with some goey stuff. On another forum i frequent most members are keeping their tattoo moist, and 'brag' about not having scabs or anything.... no ofcourse not, they are rubbing everything off by lubricating the thing 10 times a day....

I resemble that remark! :rolleyes: - - - Updated - - - Finish Backpiece @ SOG Back of thighs done @ SOG Starting my front in January with Small Paul of True tattoo.

Vegans don't cry!!!!

I remember saying that but probably in a slightly different context. I pretty sure I didn't mean that because I chose not to part of 'normal' society that I feel any kinship with others who choose, at a cursory glance, a similar path. I choose my associates by different criteria than if we 'modify' our appearance or not. My enemy's enemy isn't necessarily my friend. When somebody decides to become heavily tattooed, I WILL judge them on their tattoos and overall appearance as I expect to be judged on mine. This does not mean that my judgement is always correct but I can make an educated guess that, for example; if someone has 99% crappy tattoos of whatever/every fad and movie-star tattoo of the last two decades that we won't be discussing the symbolism of Kafka and the spirit of Burroughs. Conversely, just because someone has mostly buddhist or various theological themes that we will have an enriching and enlightening discussion. Appearances can be deceptive but serve as an indicator or advertisement of our intent. I feel justified on reading the signals presented and making a judgement call to allow this or that person to take up space and time in my life. I'm sometimes wrong and enjoy the surprise but it happens so rarely that it won't make me re-consider. Kinda reminds me of being a teenager and meeting people with obscure tastes in extreme metal, only to be disappointed when that was the only interest we shared. Or that they liked it for different reasons. Sorry to derail the flow of a TV based thread. I just wanted to make it clear that I'm not a crusader for acceptance. Actually, I'm all for elitism and critical thinking (especially with regards to quality) when it comes to tattoos. The being able to 'back up' tattoos thing - I don't really care, it's not my argument but... I know I'm a tourist with regards to Japanese tattooing. I wear it, I do it, I'm not Japanese etc, etc. I love it but I'm still another foreigner dazzled by the 'exotic' nature of tattooing. I guess most of us are, just some of us spend a lot more time thinking up retroactive excuses for authenticity. I haven't seen any Ink Master since the first episodes of season one but I'm glad it exists. Friends, colleagues and customers of mine get to goof off and air their opinions on TV while still showing that they care about tattooing. One of them said to me that Ink Master isn't for 'us'. It's for people who want to watch reality TV. At least the judges, guest judges and host give a shit about good tattoos. They get to represent 'us' to the people who watch reality TV. I'm cool with Oliver, Dave, Seth Ciferri, Forrest, Jack Rudy etc etc representing 'us'.

Here is a little piece of mine :-) This dragon sleeve has been done last year by Bonel of Corazon Santo in The Netherlands, which is currently working on my other arm (and a Phoenix backpiece on my wife :-) )

Jeff Mangum is tattooing tebori.

As you can see, I have one arm completed and a start to the other. I'm feeling a drive to get more work done on my front. Saving the upper shoulders for one day when I get on to my back. I'm pondering whether to get large rib pieces that will leave a strip down my stomach, or go huge on the stomach and let the back piece wrap onto my sides. I feel really lucky to be at the stage I find myself in, and have a resource like LST to get inspired with great ideas! It sure beats the awkward moment when you get caught staring at someone's tattoos. (edit, spelling)

Ah what, the hell, I'll give this a try this month. This was done by Thomas Hooper in five sessions between October 2012 and June 2013, mostly at Saved but with one session at the Rochester Convention:

Hey, Just stumbled on the site a couple of days ago and I have to say it's good to know there's a website dedicated to everything tattoo related. Awesome! I just got my first tattoo a couple of weeks ago, a shoulder piece of a bowling ping style eagle and snake, and I love it. I'll attach a picture so you guys can see. I've already made an appointment to get another, I'm hooked! I dig traditional tattoos, I think their timeless. They looked good decades ago and will look good for decades to come. I look forward to meeting some cool people and seeing some wicked tatts! - Charlie - - - Updated - - - Here's the shoulder piece. I know that this is an initiation thread but I could really use the advice as I have an appointment in a weeks time with a guest tattoo artist. He's bringing some old school flash that I'll pick my next tattoo from and get it that day. I want to add to the bottom of the tattoo to make it half-sleeve length without taking away from the shoulder piece. I would go with a tattoo that goes with the same 'feel' as the eagle/snake, definitely traditional, and definitely colour. I was thinking maybe skull and crossbones, traditional devil face like the one on my profile, or a dragon wrapped around the bottom of the bicep above the forearm ditch. Any advice is much appreciated, Thank You. - Charlie

This is the view from my front door for the next 3 weeks. America. Fuck yeah.

shouldve tattooed hctibbmud on her

Guilty as charged.

Haha, dude, you're the best.

I can this starting off, I probably should stop posting while walking half-distracted on my phone in NYC. I also am much worse at wording my thoughts as well as you. (You also do a hell of a good job being clear). Also I did take that paraphrase from you out of context (you were referring to people who act confused/offended when they get heavily tattooed and people treat them different). I can absolutely agree with quite a few points you made. I did not get tattooed to become a part of some group and do not immediately associate myself with modified people just for the sake that we both are modified. That goes for everything (metal, cars, guns, etc). Sometimes a shared interest is a good starting point to a possible good interaction but sometimes yes, it is just one shared interest and nothing more. I can see your point on making assumptions in ones taste by looking at their tattoos, but I've also met some cool people and some good tattoo artists that have some pretty bad tattoos. So I guess it could be a good indicator but not always. I'd prefer if people only got awesome tattoos by great tattooers but I know in my case (my first tattoo) and in other's cases sometimes that doesn't always happen. It's not really about acceptance for me but more of me getting a bit annoyed at the constant negativity I see in most things (tattoos, metal, etc), when people could take the (in my opinion) better approach and try and educate people. This is why I am glad I am a part of LST, we give criticism to those who ask and steer people to get better tattoos. Hell it's how I got tattooed by you, and I am very happy that it happened. I've been on a few other tattoo forums before LST that was all negativity and promotion of bad tattoos. As far as the "back up" thing, it was in reference to someone's post here talking about being able to back up having a certain look.

Thanks for the welcome. My picture taking skills wouldn't do the tattoo justice but you can see it on Valerie's blog here Valerie Vargas Tattoo . It's the lady head under 'Blue is the Colour'. Hoping to book in with her again soon if I'm lucky enough to get a spot!

Holy shit these massive one shots are making this thread epic! I guess I gotta step up and get a one shot back piece

Agreed! I got some leg shots on my instagram. Here's one. Kinda crappy shots for the purpose, I'll throw these up for now till I get home. Here is my two thighs. I like the placement and some of the tweaks done to make it look good when you seem them next to each other. They at least to me compliment each other, while being by 3 different artists (Stewart Robson, Matt Van Cura and Regino Gonzales). This one you can see the "clashing styles" that I seem to think looks pretty good almost touching.

Stoney by Steve Byrne.

Can't really help you on that, guess you need to talk to an artist about it. Maybe something can be done by drawing the eye away from that spot in some way... or you could perhaps have the old tattoo (or a part of it) incorporated into the new, like instead of the V you make another logo on the hat

Welcome! Hopefully some one can recommend a better shop near you so your wife doesn't have that experience again, yikes!

All healed, now...on this Friday I've got 8 hrs more ! Luv it! ?

The best and most durable inks are still made with powder pigments and natural binders. I just made some last week. My mentors all use the same thing. I'll bet 95% of the tattoo that get the most 'likes' on this forum are made with these types of ink. The 'Newer' types of ink (pre-dispersed) are made with synthetic binders (plastic for lack of a better word) and are completely unnatural and have many many more allergic reaction problems with many clients. I could go on and on but he tech info isn't really what I'm trying to get into. Just trust that the powder inks we're talking about are still the best to use. Lets see if the skin candy dude pops up here in this thread to talk about that crap he pushes.

Interesting read. In the UK we have a different attitude to tipping than the US so the gift thing is the way I work. I don't have anything against tipping but I generally feel that artists price themselves at a rate that reflects their time/ability. I find that a piece of artwork or a bottle of (good or unusal) drink that they enjoy will be appreciated more than money as it shows that you have thought about it a little rather than added 20% to the amount you took out of the ATM. All that said, if I was getting tattooed in the US or by an artist based in the States, I would tip, subject to it being a good job, as that is the culture that they work in and I am a firm believer in respecting the morals and cultures of other countries.

Thanks! I have to agree, there is some badass vintage flash out there, it makes it all the more difficult to make a decision! But that's half the fun! The artist who did that piece is Mike Bialek from New Tribe. Cool tatts by the way. The one of your Dad in the army is wicked cool

You have pretty arms. Not just the tattoos, which are lovely, but the shape of them as well.

My friend was saying this at the bar last night. I had no idea what it was from, but it was pretty funny.

I think that it would be worth your while to explore more than one or two shops in the area; I strongly recommend Dan Lowell @7th st for a Japanese style sleeve. He has a lot of experience with that subject matter and has been tattooing for more than a dogs age. Hrs also a really down to earth dude, super nice guy. A sleeve is such a huge powerful tattoo that I would go with one of the most qualified in your area. If you're already committed to this artist I can understand that but it wouldn't hurt just to drive over and look at his work if nothing else just to meet artists from all over your town. Skip the web page and just go in.

When you drive an hour and a half in the rain just to visit a shop (and buy a T-shirt) when you have no chance of getting tattooed there. As @TrixieFaux & I did when we drove out to Cobra Custom in Plymouth, MA from my parents' house in suburban Boston. Then the next day Forrest called me personally to say he put me on the list in case he had a cancellation (he didn't), and that he might be able to tattoo me on his next trip out to L.A. So I just might get that tattoo after all...

I think we should turn this thread into people posting full body shots... reading how every one's tattoos are laid out is making my brain hurt. Picture books! Picture books! (sorry it's pre-noon, and I'm bored and delirious at work)

Hard to beat that hooper sleeve, but I got this little party cat from my buddy Chris Cotner from Austin. More people should check him out, he rules.

It may have been months since I been on this forum, but Ed is the G.O.A.T! I am glad I got to meet him back in 2010 at Taki's and Roman's convention.

One guy who I don't think I've seen much mention of here but who I've really been digging on instagram is Ishmael Johnson who tattoos in Fort Collins, CO. Some tattoos of his stolen from his instagram:

When I'm healing I have one bar of soap set aside for the tattoo and nothing else gets cleaned with that. If I was rich I'd hire someone else to wash the unmentionable parts when I'm healing a tattoo! :-)

"Does your mother know you have those?" (I'm 47 years old btw) Answer: "My mother's dead ma'am. Her skull is on my back." (not really, but i felt like messing with her) :D

a couple of days ago, some random douche, i mean dude at a local bar asked why i have so many skulls tattooed on me. i simply told him i love death and all dead things and that i'd wish everyone and everything was dead. he left me alone.

I wish all the bastards scratching up my 14-16 year old students asked themselves this question. I know it's a totally different issue than you raise here, but I'm so glad your ethics are in the right place.

wow that's quite a question.....perseverence from an early age.....tattooing is not a reason to start drawing in my opinion, drawing for the sake of drawing ,awesome....but I should hope that's not youre angle.

Hello! My Name is Bethany, I'm 22. I've lived in Irving, Tx like my whole live. I'm a single mom of a beautiful little ginger names Alice. I'm completely obsessed with Harry Potter and Bioshock!---I'm a Trekie.---LOVE horror and sci-fi. Freddy Kruger is the bomb! And love to read and love music. My favorite books include The Harry Potter series, 1984, Enders Game, The Uglies series, Animal Farm, The Count of Monte Cristo. My favorite music varies from Rob Zombie (playing at Mayhem this sunday!! woot!) to the Beatles and The Band Perry. I'm for some reason creepily interested in serial killers....and....Hitler....and the Occult and other wired dark things. Especially the plague....And other diseases and science. Like Eugenics. That shit's cool. I am not racist....or want to or have an urge to kill people but i think that people that do are interesting. I only have 2 tattoos right now. they're very simple. I'm wanting much much more but funds are tight and unlike other enthusiasts I'm not gonna live in my car so that i can have bad ass tattoos. Not that that's a problem. To each his own man! I want a phoenix on my back and an Alice in Wonderland sleeve type piece. Not really a sleeve but like across the shoulder to maybe top-mid top bicep. They will go with the 2 I already have. I want a Bioshock piece currently of the bunny mask with the Quote "I want to take the ears off!" Bc Sander Cohen is freaking boss! But when I'm done reading Rapture (the book that was written as a prequel to the video game) that might change my mind to something else. ummm if you want you can add me on facebook.......I just get on there to look at picture i don't really post stuff. My profile picture is the Star Trek equal rights symbol. Bc I love the gays! And its a running joke between me and my friends that i was a gay man in a past life.

I'm Stephanie, i'm 27 years old and i'm a single mom. I was born in Alaska, but raised in Utah while spending all of my summers either in Washington State or Montana visiting family. I went to school in Canada and now i'm working on moving to Chile. I got my first tattoo when I was 18 (it'll be 9 years on August 4th). I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, learning languages and new cultures. I'm the odd one out on both sides of my family and now including my sister in laws family due to being single, having tattoo's and a child out of wedlock so because of all of that when family get together's happen i'm either by myself or I stay home with my daughter, but I don't mind :D.