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First session done! By Stewart Robson @ Frith Street Tattoo

started this yesterday! by Marius Meyer 4,5 h

I was fortunate enough to be in that book (as Jill Bonny's client), and even more fortunate to receive a copy for my participation. I echo everything you've said; it is without a doubt the most beautiful set of books I own. The sheer size of it is epic, and it really captures the magnitude and beauty of the work. I could look over both volumes every day for a year and never really feel like I took it all in.

Been jamming the NOLA album from DOWN for the last few days. Hell the album is as old as I am but it never gets old

I want these books along with many others but I need to save my money for my future scheduled tattoo projects... I wish I was wealthy... I would buy everything tattoo related and open a tattoo library.

Hi all - I mentioned in the 2013: The Bay Area Convention of Tattoo Arts thread that when I was all high on tattoo endorphins and adrenaline and whatever the frak else my body generates to get all loopy post-tattoo - that I impulse bought the "Bloodwork: Bodies" & "Bloodwork: Sleeves" set. All 30 lbs of it arrived yesterday. I don't know yet why I'm even writing this now, because I am still overwhelmed by it. So forgive me if I am late to the party, but: Oh. My. GOD. These books are...breathtaking. I'm not even talking about the photos yet. The production and design of the book sleeves, the binding, and even the boxes they shipped in - are incredible. And the photos. I don't even know where to begin. I actually had to stop looking midway through Vol 1 (and I only opened "Sleeves" enough to get my heart racing again before I had to shut it) because I was literally...I don't know...my heart was racing, my breath was short and fast, my body temperature wouldn't regulate, I got tunnel vision...it was like the tattoos and photos and presentation of the tattoos and photos all together caused me to have some sort of...something? I was hot and red and sweaty (and somehow this was NOT a sexual experience, hah!) and had the internal experience of being beset by a kaleidoscope of body suits (no drugs were involved, but this is what happened!). Internal because clearly I was not physically in the middle of said kaleidoscope, but I have a strong impression of that being my situation. It's beautiful. So beautiful. But i feel f*@king crazy. Has this happened to anyone before? Am I going crazy?? I feel very sane and whole etc in every aspect of my life, but this is sort of throwing me through a loop, it was such an intense experience. I had a similar experience at the tattoo convention but thought it was just sensory overload because I am not very good in crowds...but it happened alone in my apartment, when I sat down to begin poring over the photos. Anyway. I figured maybe someone here might have some insight. Or at the very least, having seen the books, understand my geekery/craziness/physical body reaction?!? ;p In any event - well done, Adrian Lee. Thanks for elevating my art experience?!

My name is Morten Marbel Loenning and I have been tattooing for almost 17 years now since I started my apprenticeship in 1997. I am 39years old and lives in Dietzels birth town of Fredrikstad, Norway, where I have a private studio. As for social media I do not have a home page, but are linked to both FB and IG. Many of the great interviews here I have seen via You Tube and now Im exited to get to know the rest of the forum content. The forum was introduced to me by a good friend. Thank you. Morten Marbel:)

I feel like getting tattooed is the coolest thing I get to do. I do not want it to end but its inevitable.

What the hell, I'll throw my hat into the ring. By El Monga guesting at Spider Murphy's in August. Healed shot.

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:

sooo many good bands playing maryland deathfest...fuck dropdead would be fun. saw them in 98. kick ass. birdflesh!!! swedens best band ever. unholy grave...ulver of course...alot of good shit going down! everyone in the US should go.

guy wearing tattoo sleeves, saw my arm and was telling his buddies, that his didn't hurt to get.. pull on ones like this... i mean, srsly, who wears these things???

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-tv-shows-documentaries-media/4760-horithoshi-i-full-documentary.html

I started out only wanting the work done on me to be strictly Japanese. The beautiful, big, intricate sleeves and suits really appealed to me and at first I didn't understand why people would get multiple small pieces in different styles that really didn't go together and too me looked odd. Over time though I really started to like traditional tattoos and after getting my first two traditional ones on the top of my feet I digress. It was a really great feeling to get something completed in one session and I really could care less that it was different then my other tattoos. I have some open space on my lower right leg that is reserved for some more traditional pieces. Do I care that it is going to be right next to an Oni? Nope, not in the least bit not anymore. Get what you want, where you want.

Sadly yes haha. At least once a month, generally every other week. Gotta finish two big tattoos!

@Dumpleton I love that!! The hard work is showing, you are getting visibly better with every painting.

I'm no expert. I defer to any artist or non who can lead you in a better direction. Traditional Japanese can be hard to understand because there are certain things only done in a particular fashion by a particular Family in a specific region. There are Family differences and regional ones.A good example might be how low the back piece extends or how much the chest is covered. Some extend just above the nipple, while others cover the whole pectoral. What might be right and proper in the south and for one particular Family could vary widely from say a Family located in the northern region of Japan. That said I really enjoy these books below (there are many more out there too): Bushido by Horitaka Studying Horiyoshi III by Jill Mandelbaum Horitoshi I by Roberto Borsi Bunshin II (about Horitsune II) published by Tätowier Magazin A History of Japanese Body Suit Tattooing (focuses on Horikazu) by Mark Poysden & Marco Bratt Horikazu published by Edition Reuss Also I haven't seen a copy yet but "Wabori" appears like it might be interesting. There was a post on a few days ago under the media section. I believe iron chef posted it. Horikitsune's books look like they might be worth an investment too. But I've never actually had the chance to see them. Sorry, too lazy to post the actual links. I'll have to let you do some legwork.

Kings Ave...more work on my back piece from Rubendall

@Rebushido ...just saw your belly. GODDAMN.

Turned my speedball dip pen trial into this.

Finished this today. Pharaoh's Horses is one of my favorite classic images. Overall pretty happy with it, just wish I had picked darker colors or left it completely black and grey. Luckily this is the first and probably not the last time I will visit this image.

[/img] Finally figured out how to post correctly.. Apologizes !! Tattoo by Chris Garver , Invisible NYC

Okey, this is my last try for a while. Done by Mike Rubendall in the end of September.

I will give this month a shot with my healed Fudo Myoo-girl done by Claudia De Sabe, at this years London tattoo convention! Yet another girl head in my collection and it's definately not the last! :eek:

You should go! It's hard to pass up such a great line up. I'm also really interested in seeing Ulver's first US apperance.

o cool man! yea im so fucking stoked on it! heres a picture

I think your first tattoo is a decision you will kind of have to make on your own. Are you researching excellent tattooers in your area? If you take this list in when you book your appointment you could see which one he or she connects with most, or is most interested to do. ....Ok even though I said you should make the decision yourself I vote for rattlesnake and rose.

@beez I have to thank you for using the word "frak." That is all. Please continue everyone...

Saw that on Instagram. So dope.

Actually December is my month off of getting tattooed. I will stop by for sure.

Yep or alex rusty cairns There are so many great tattooers in Sydney just got to want to find them.

Yeah they are definitely good books, no doubt. The presentation doesn't make it very easy to just flip through casually but part of what makes it so staggering IS the presentation. And how much it weighs haha

hey people, im having an exhibit of my work at "8 of swords" in brooklyn (115 grand st wiliamsburg 11249). december 13th 7-11pm. id like to so whom ever can make it. thanks for the support :) best invite ever? ha! seriously though i hope everyone can make it

I am super far from being knowledgeable about this so treat my recommendations with a good amount of skepticism, but I'd recommend Horitaka's Bushido: Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo to begin with. It's really focused on Horiyoshi 3 but I think it gives a pretty good overview of traditional Japanese tattooing, it covers the nomenclature of it, it has a lot of beautiful photos of Horiyoshi 3's tattoos, and it's pretty inexpensive and easy to buy. I'd also pay attention to Crystal Morey and Gomineko Books. She sells a lot of reference books for tattooers and publishes books herself. I am currently waiting to receive a book she published about Horiyoshi 3 and his relationship to Japanese Buddhism that looks pretty amazing. Crystal is also super cool and knowledgeable and travels around to a lot of conventions and is always super helpful. Her instagram is worth following too because she posts a lot of flipthroughs of the books she sells. She'll also sometimes offer sales on the books she publishes...up to 50% off kind of stuff...so they're really good deals.

KING MOONRACER right in the neck maaan tattoo made in Edmonton, AB by Shawn O'Connor @ Ink Machine

latest from Eli Quinters

We already have several threads about bad tattoos, could we keep these kinds of posts to those threads? There are a lot of places on the internet for laughing at bad tattoos, and very few places where people with real knowledge and experience can talk about, post pictures of, and give people advice about good tattooing, so let's keep the board mostly focused on that.

I did this Firefly Tattoo, and it has a moon in it. Figured it was relevant

So awesome, I love the work of the entire Horitoshi Family. I'm going to see if I can get something from Horimitsu next year, he's my favorite and his Instagram is like a guided tour of Japan!

I thought I'd throw up an old tattoo just go giggles, since I don't think I ever did in the contest. Regino Gonzales Invisible NYC

Before I have huge breakfast , etc (being clean goes without saying)afterwards I like a few whiskeys . post tattoo diclofenac to reduce the inflamation, one of those cool pack icey things that you get for injuries, and booze

Matt Howse did this on me yesterday at Fortune Tattoo here in Portland and yes it is right up in my business.

just got this dude last night pretty rad, a little oozy still, hard spot to photo

Hannya by Horimasa Tosui / Harpy by Chris Garver Pretty much healed up...

Last night had my entire lower leg(knee down) and foot colored....I should have known better as when I had the outline done I could barley stand for the next 4 days. Today I am sporting a very fat foot, a calf that I do not recognize and a saweet cankle.