Leaderboard

Guess I'll throw in with my dragon head by Will Lollie at Empire Tattoo. One is my pic, the other was taken from his IG.

Saraswati by Adde Ramstedt, travelling swedish tattooer and great person. Had a lovely time together. The positioning is great on this one, if I bend my knee the face changes but still looks pretty. edit: forgot to include link: http://web.stagram.com/n/adderamstedttattooing/

All stolen from Dana Helmuth's IG.

This is from Henning Jorgensen. done at Royal Tattoo. enjoy!

I posted this in the latest tattoo thread, but I'll put it here as well. Done by Todd Noble at Right Coast in Fenwick Island.

Time to make it official then! Winner of August 2013 tattoo of the month is @Graeme with his jaw droppingly beautful Thomas Hooper sleeve Congratulations!! Thanks everyone for your submissions. Super excited to see what September has in store for us!! Please PM @steve1461686340 with your shirt info (size and male or female) along with your address.

I hope there are no haters .. but I'm going to post this tattoo again this month!! Haha Done by Tim Hendricks at Gold Rush in Costa Mesa , CA

okay sorry.. maybe i'll have something new in a couple of months.. - - - Updated - - - Okay here is one of my older tattoos. Not finished.. By Phil Szlosek at Kingsave NYC

hello! this is my amazing oneshot tiger from Henning Jorgensen! got it done at Royal Tattoo/Helsingör about 6 hours!

My wife is booked in with Capilli Tupou on Sat. the 14th, and I just saw that he had some cancellations that day. One email later and now we're both booked with him for the 14th. :)

Alright LSTers! New month means new contest. Last month showcased some incredible submissions, but I'm sure this month won't be any less great considering the rate that our members are collecting (and in some cases creating) insane tattoos! LST Monthly Contest The tattoo picture that gets posted in this thread for September 2013 with the most 'likes' for the month wins! The contest starts on the first of the month and ends on the last day of the month. Contest Guidelines Your tattoo picture must be posted in this thread (both tattooers and tattoo customers can win) in order to qualify. Include with your photo/post...tattoo artist name & tattoo shop. You MUST be the one who has the tattoo or did the tattoo. You can 'like' as many tattoos as you want. It can be a finished or in progress tattoo. To increase your 'likes' or to show off another's great tattoo share the link to the post in this thread on facebook, twitter, etc. - to get votes from your friends.. It's on!!

hello. my name is anthony. im a tattooer from rhode island. ive been tattooing for a little over 8 years now, but admittedly probably only halfway decent for about 3. im generally a little quiet and try to keep my ego out of other peoples tattoos, but like everyone will push the stuff i want to do if i think someone is receptive to it. what else... im from RI so im naturally a big fan of all things h.p lovecraft. i love heavy metal, horror comic art, science fiction art, outsider culture. im a pretty big outer space nerd. im pretty much just a typical artist who loves tattoos, doing tattoos, and watching other people do tattoos. i think that pretty much covers it. if youd like to see some of my art, tattoos, or just things i thought were picture worthy feel free to follow me on instagram at SPACED_INVADER and ill be sure to follow you back. i really like seeing what other artists are up to. ill also put some work up on my gallery here. thanks!

You paid how much????? I had my baby in a friend's kitchen for $20!

Picked this up from Todd Noble at Right Coast yesterday. Fun little vacation tattoo since I hit up the Maryland shores a few times a year. Edit: I mentioned this once before, but does anyone know why my image uploads are sideways?

My wife only plays dungeon crawler games with me and its been a while since a 2 player dungeon crawler was on the ps3 and not a Lego or Xman game so we are stoked to play diablo 3. We will play a little this fall but the nights of veg out winter cabin fever will be hours of diablo 3.

Was just looking at these photos of preserved, tattooed skin taken from (dead) french prisoners around the turn of the century. Horrid but strangely fascinating and beautiful. - - - Updated - - - I think those are nipples on that last specimen <shudder> Poor sods.

If you think that $100 an hour for a good artist is too much, think how much it will cost to cover up a cheap artist's work! Seriously though, this will be on you for the rest of your life; if your primary concern is cost, then you should re-think getting a tattoo.

I don't think tattoos are for you. edit to add something useful to my post: check out Great Lakes Tattoo in Chicago

IG folks already saw, but I finished my back yesterday. I love it, although finishing it was very bittersweet! Here is the photo that Stephanie posted. She did everthing but the map, which is an old tattoo that she worked to integrate into the whole thing. She is a great tattooer and human being.

Hi. This is probably my favorite thread on the internet. New here, and have got a thread up in initiation but thought I'd post a few of my recent pieces here. Feet done by Danny Reed. Dragon by Will Lollie. Both work in Asheville, NC.

I can't remember if I mentioned, I'm headed up to see GRIME for a session on my back Sept. 19, I'm rolling up with my boy @Iwar, he'll be starting his back with back to back sessions Sept. 20 and 21st!! Shit's coming up pretty quick now! :D

Hey guys I'm David! I've been gettin tattoos since I was 18 but started my traditional sleeve last year at Live Free Tattoo in Atlanta. This is a new shop owned by Jason Kelly who use to work at memorial tattoo. Lots of talent at this shop. Miguel Olascuaga, Brett Pundt, "Boxcar" Craig Chazen, Alan Berg and Cori James. Here's some of the work Jason has done on my arm:

I picked up Diablo 3 on my way home from work this evening. So, if @CultExciter doesn't mind, I'll borrow that excellent line and say, "Bye friends."

Even though I've never met you, I am going to miss you.

I'm currently playing mostly older games. They are just so much cheaper a bit after their release. Working on Dishonored, and finally picked up Fallout 3 today. Bye friends.

Oh crap!! Games over!! Hennings tattoos are so amazing!!

I think the problems you are running into here is that the primary purpose of this forum is to educate people on what a good tattoo is, not find them the tattoo they want at a lower price. As a rule it is preferred that pricing not be discussed (especially for specific artists). There are a number of reasons for this I'm sure, but foremost to me is that a person's first concern should be to find a reputable artist who does the type of work they want, and go get an awesome tattoo that will make them happy for years to come. If that means that you need to save up for a little while then that is fine. I think it's safe to generalize and say that the people who tattoo are just regular folks who live pretty modest lifestyles. The good ones spend a lot of time outside of just applying the tattoo to further their craft and make the customer happy. It's easy for some people to take that for granted when they think about what they are paying. The bottom line is that you can't put a price on a good tattoo. The people here care deeply about the art and work hard for it. Price haggling cheapens that experience and hopefully you can forgive those who are a little offended by that. P.S. I also work in ems, and I do it because I love my job. Comparing hourly rates to other professions will give you a headache. Should we make more than an ad executive or a drug representative? In the big scheme of thing, perhaps. But that's capitalism for you. You either accept that or go find a different job. Have a good day dude, I hope you find what you are looking for.

"Good tattoos aren't cheap and cheap tattoos aren't good." good luck with your bargain hunting.

Zerchers for the win! @Cork that is awesome!

Ha-ha. I don't think he's trying to reinvent the wheel as much as he's saying, "Aw, man. It's too hard to learn how to carve this thing until it's round. Maybe I can just charge twice as much and say it's punk rock to have fucked-up, bumpy wheels that don't roil."

I don't know if this helps at all but my first tattoo that I got 22 yrs ago is red and black. I guess the tone was basic red...like a "red" crayola crayon, not super dark. Anyway, the color stayed and didn't turn pink. The tattoo has blurred & faded a little, but the red part is still red today. No idea what type of ink was used, just wanted to let you know red can last!

FUZI is a great example of popular bad tattoos. I think I wouldn't hate that guy so much if he didn't charge up the ass and put his name in his pieces. I mean, fucking seriously? Way to claim ownership of someone's body who you'll probably never see again. Glad that they could be such a solid stepping stone, bro.

of course there will always be exceptions. Ny adorned comes to mind. but so do countless other hot topic outlet tat shacks across the country. The second example that cltattooing gave seems to be the norm. People worried about the bottom line and little else, well maybe what color vinyl sticker to put on their hummer so everyone knows they own a tat shop. I personally will never work for someone who does not tattoo. I dont see the point. What can you learn from them? The vast majority of new people in this business have a very long or very short road ahead of them. Its up to the individual if they want to take control of their career and push themselves to improve everyday. Or you could just get a "neck blast" and some sick "hand jammers" so everyone knows you are one of the cool kids and pump out mediocre heath ledger portraits till its time to get a real job. I read on Tim Hendricks instagram something to the effect of there is no room in tattooing for mediocrity. I agree wholeheartedly be it tattooers or shops. If you arent willing to dedicate yourself get the fuck out. - - - Updated - - - Im a very positive person and not trying to be an asshole but any thread about a reality tattoo show is bound to go there!

Of course art is subjective -- up to a point. But there's an objective aspect as well that has to do with technique and mastery of craft. General consensus has something to do with it, as does staying power -- works that stay relevant through the ages. Critics have their place in society too. The good ones can deepen our appreciation and understanding. They know their history, can provide context, etc. I think all that goes without saying, but here I am, saying it. Back to tattoos. I very much dislike this stuff: Tattoo - Fuzi UVTPK and here's a particularly bad example: Like, I "get" it. He's trying to be "naive" and outsider-y. This isn't just some scratcher I'm bashing; he's a well-known guy who commands a high price, is sought after by celebrities, etc. Now look at @embers gem from Bryan Burk: That is objectively better and you need not be a critic to see it, just a pair of functioning eyes. End rant.

Meh. It's some of both. The dude I work for doesn't tattoo, but has a strong appreciation for them. He mostly thinks that they're cool and just likes the lifestyle. He always makes sure that we have everything that we need, but as far as contributing to the legacy of tattooing, he has nothing to offer. One of my coworkers has a job at another shop which is also owned by a non-tattooer. They just worked a convention in the area last week, and his boss was down their throat the entire time, yelling at them for taking too long and not getting people in & out fast enough. All the while still making the artists pay shop cut, which at a convention, is robbery. Some people are in the business for the cash, some for the braggery, some for the image, and some for the love of the culture. In my opinion, tattoos are a personal thing that happens between the client and the artist. I really do believe that only seasoned professionals should be at the head of the shop for a few reasons. One being that a seasoned professional will be able to offer the very best for the client. Take a moment to think about who owns some of the world's top shops, or even the best shops in your city. Another being that a seasoned professional will generally hire only good artists. They will know exactly what to look for in work ethic, technique, personality, and skill. And most importantly, who has earned the right to have a tattoo shop more than someone who has been working in the business 15+ years? I think it's mostly like what Bo said, it really comes down to what you are able to give back.

I'm not referring to pop culture film critics, necessarily. Their job is just to move papers, get web hits, or draw television numbers. I'm speaking more towards criticism of fine art. If you look back, the names that have lasted have done so generally because their work was downright better than the works of others. Just like Ed Hardy was a far better tattooer than Royboy, Michelangelo was absolutely a better painter than Vasari. Hence, Vasari is known for his chronicling the history of art in his time and before, and Royboy is known for being a colorful character, rather than an amazing tattooer. I'm not saying that all opinions, especially contemporary opinions to the work being discussed, are unanimous. However, like I said before, it is an uninformed idea to say that any and all art forms are 100% subjective.

Finally got around to updating my gallery with the work that got added to the Sleeve of Science in January: Sleeve of Science It's almost done. We need some minor colour touchups/additions (more orange around the microscope so that the transition there looks better), and he needs to figure out what he wants to do right at the wrist where he left some space.

yea he is awesome! he even invited me to the 30th anniversary party! every tattooer that worked/guested royal is gonna be there! so im really looking forward to that.. Henning is a wizard - - - Updated - - - - - - Updated - - - doit dude! the tiger healed in 2 days.. almost no blood during the making ore after.. :)

"you get what you pay for." "good babies aren't cheap, and cheap babies aren't good."

I love Henning's work so much...that tiger is so cool! And he's such a great guy, too. I'm sure you had as much fun as you can have during a six-hour session.

No, this has nothing to do with what I think or like, and everything to do with the understanding that all art forms have limits, conventions, techniques, histories, people who have excelled with that medium, pushed boundaries, developed new understandings of it, etc. This is as true of tattoos as it is of photography, of oil painting, of heavy metal, or of any other art form you can think of and to just instead say that it's all subjective is lazy. I'd also say that this attitude that everything is the same as everything else and all that matters is that you like it/it's meaningful to you is a big reason why people get shitty tattoos.

You know that excited-anxiety feeling you get before a big upcoming session later in the day? More back piece progress incoming!

Haha. "What are you gonna think about that kid when you're 80?"

I read an article in I cant remember what magazine many years ago that pointed out that almost every question we get asked about our tattoos can also be directed towards a new teen mother example: "did that hurt?" "what do your parents think about that?" " you know you're stuck with that for ever, right?" "i cant believe you'd do that to your body?" "why would you do something so irresponsible?" etc., etc.

Now that my Todd Noble tattoo is done, I'm looking forward to my Grez appt at the end of the month. After that I have nothing on the horizon until tax return time. Haha.

My wife got more work on her sleeve from Timothy hoyer and then after he busted out a quick pharoahs horses filler on my leg. I love it. I need to ask him if I can post pictures out of respect cause I know he likes to control what is on the Internet. One more trip I oct for my wife's sleeve and it should be done. @Pugilist your back is great....we missed going to saved as well great place/people.

This is one of those threads that ends up costing me a small fortune on Amazon or ABE.

Yesterday by El Monga at Spider Murphy's....There's a better shot on his instagram, but you get the idea.

I got this from Matt Howse while he was visiting Portland a couple weeks ago :) I had the pleasure of meeting up with @David Flores for a beer while I was in town. Super charming and sweet fella that David ;)

Thanks everyone for the input and support! I just completed the sleeve this past Saturday. When I go in in a few weeks for the final final touch ups I'm gonna have him clean it up and tighten up the black around the edges as suggested. Here's a few pics of the final project....let me know what you think.