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Forgive me in advance if these pictures are huge or upside down or something. I tend to mess up picture uploads, but I figured I'd post up some of what I have. Two friends and I left Philly around 9:30 Friday, made it to RVA for a late lunch, hotel check in, and a trip to the convention shortly after it opened. I had an appointment with @Scott Sylvia, but we had some time mix ups, so he asked me to find him Friday and we'd straighten it out. So I went over to the Blackheart booth and he told me he'd get me in second or third Friday night depending on whether or not everyone showed up. Long story short, they did, and I finally got into the chair at 9:30. He drew an insane rose and dagger on in about 20 minutes, then absolutely knocked it out in just about an hour and a half. By 11:35 I was done and beyond excited. I can't say enough great things about getting tattooed by Scott. He was funny, pleasant, easy to talk to, and all around fantastic. I was glad he was able to change up the schedule and get me in so easily, and I can't wait to get tattooed by him again. While that was going on, a friend of mine popped around to a few booths debating a walk up in addition to his Saturday appointment with Mario Desa. He ended up getting a nice little bowling pin eagle from Mike Fite and having a blast in the process. Before we left on Friday, my other friend left his number with Mike Adams (from Hold It Down in Richmond) about a walk up on Saturday. That morning we got some breakfast and lunch, and while we were waiting to head over for my friend's 3PM with Mario, Mike called. I drove them both back to the convention. Mike Adams knocked out one of his shadow Lucifer's on my friend, and the other got a nice folk bird from Mario Desa. Along the way, I saw a handful of other awesome tattoos. Seeing Blackheart, Rock of Ages, and Great Lakes Tattoo all in a row was pretty insane, and I saw all of the guys at those booths crank out awesome tattoo after awesome tattoo. Some of them are below. I'd never been to a convention, but all in all I had a great time. There were plenty of solid artists to get work from, it was never too crowded, and Richmond is a killer city. I hadn't been there in a few years, but I had a blast. My friends and I will likely head back to that convention, regardless of whether or not we get tattooed. Edit: I should also mention that another friend got tattooed by Danny Reed at Absolute Art (not their booth) on Friday afternoon. I kinda regret not getting over to their actual shop, and next time I'm in RVA I intend to do that. Tony Hundahl working on a set of hands and a friend's stomach. Murder's row. Scott Sylvia, Cody Miller, Steve Byrne, Tony Hundahl, Frank William, Mario Desa: Civ working on a backpiece (can be found on IG): Mike Wilson doing a panther rose, which I believe he put on IG:

Came to post this Sailor Jerry sheet: - - - Updated - - - Is that on the inside of your elbow? If so we are twins, and my friend got one at the same time (Mine from Mario Desa and his from Nick Colella) in pretty much the exact same location. Also notice the rose tattoo on the elbow and the cutesy folk bird near the armpit, I'm clearly concerned about my masculinity and being tough. Sorry about the terrible photo:

lady head by Valerie Vargas skull drawn on by Stuart Robson

I've tattooed plenty of cops, no big deal. Lots of cops have tattoos. To think that most or all tattooers hate them would be similar to saying all cops are dicks. I know it's not the case, I've met plenty of good decent people in an underappreciated public service with a through-the-roof danger rate. I appreciate the people that truly believe in their job. There are plenty of people that don't entirely trust or feel comfortable around police, whether it be deserved or not, but I know that's not new to you and it encompasses lots of people besides tattooers. Are there some asshole tattooers out there? Yes. Are there some cops out there that are bullies and abuse their power? Yes. We're all just people, and if you're a dick then that's just who you are no matter what field of work you are in. If you are not comfortable with your artists, then don't get tattooed there. I wouldn't want to pay someone that hates me either.

So the knee torture is finally complete. My knee/thigh demon by Matt Van Cura done at Invisible NYC.

Yes!!! I finally have an appointment for a NEW tattoo! It's been soooo long!

Made it a point to see more concerts/shows/festivals, and I am actually following through Testament last Friday Slayer Tomorrow at MSG Megadeth on Friday Also got tickets to see Gorguts in December as well as tickets to Suffocation and Pyrexia. The grand win of it all was getting my 4 day pass to Maryland Deathfest (which sold out in 2 hours). So many shows, so much hearing loss! Scoping out tickets to Black Sabbath, as apparently this is their last tour ever.

I am a man. I want a butterfly tattoo.

My two latest lowdowns! Cat-lady by Valerie Vargas at Frith Street Tattoo, and start of tiger and dragon thigh piece by Marius Meyer ( will post a better picture of this later!)

I love how this thread is turning into a discussion on masculinity and no women have posted yet except myself. Excellent. I just emailed Kings Ave to book with Kim-Anh Nguyen in May for a one-shot butterfly (woo!). I have a feeling she will have the design I desire :)

Does this friend also think that rose tattoos aren't manly? Because there is no tattoo more manly than a rose, and that's a fact.

no tattooer would be excited about fixing this. i would advise getting another tattoo from a good shop and if you can hit it off with the tattooer, he/she would be much more likely inclined to fix your old crappy tattoo. sometimes crappy tattoos are a great memory too. like that tattoo is a mark of being in iraq and of your buddy.

A fix-up shouldn't be too tough if you wanna keep the original framework. Where in CA are you located?

Yes, because us "artistically inclined" people really love to work for free. Go to a good shop. Show him/her your tattoo and discuss possibilities. This forum isn't really for satiating these kinds of questions.

ACAB is something that appeals to the young and rebellious , was it not originally something you got done in prison (I know it comes from an old oi! Skinhead band) ? Soon everyone grows up and realises that only Some Coppers Are Bastards ....

I do love a good butterfly tattoo. I was talking to a guy who is planning to write a book on the history of tattooing and we got into a discussion on butterflies and masculinity. He laughed and told me that he thought a guy getting a butterfly tattoo in this day and age was almost asking to get beaten up. He is not particularly dialed into the scene. I rolled up my sleeve for him to reveal my SJ butterfly that I picked from a book of Jerry flash at my local shop. I love it and it has never for a moment posed a threat to my masculinity (however it is that I may wish to define it.) Edit: This was done by Glennie at The Pearl in Toronto. She has a much nicer pic on her instagram feed, if you were to scroll back the better part of a year.

Been catching up on my comics. Started reading Brother Lono sort of follow up to 100 bullets . It's brutal. Waiting patiently to get the final installment of Locke and Key , possibly the greatest comic book series I have read. I have bought Joe Hill's novels on the back of it and will read them after Locke and Key has finished.

Been there before. Honestly one of the worst experiences off my life. I wish you goodluck and know that it will be out of your system soon, be it into the toilet. In other news, Last week I got told I was fired because the new owner of the cafe brought his own employees. Now he asked me if I would like to stay. Hurray for not being unemployed after all!

Welcome. The best thing you can do if you want a coverup is to find an artist and talk to him or her about it. Do you have any idea of what you're interested in stylistically? If you let us know where you live we can suggest some good artists around you.

Well, I had to pull my bandage a few hours early due to an early day tomorrow. had it bandaged exactly 64 hours. Feels amazing. Zero scabbing. Skin completely smooth. I've just never had a tattoo heal like this before. Usually on day 3 after being tattooed I'm full on in the midst of scabbing, harshing my skin with Dial soap, and obsessively washing, aquaphor, repeat. It was amazing to actually forget I had just gotten tattooed. I'm still interested to see how long the "sunburn" phase of the heal and how it heals completely, but I'm pretty impressed so far. I just wish I had this amazing healing experience with a better tattoo, haha. But this old garbage tattoo needed a little reblast... At least now I know for the future so when we go in to lay in skin tones I'll heal it the exact same way again, honestly I don't think I'll ever heal a tattoo another way. For those wondering, here's my exact protocol in one summary (sorry for all the dumb and very exact info, but people are gonna ask): 1. Tattooing ended at 7pm Friday. 2. Friday - 8pm - An hour after tattooed, scrap old bandage, wash, and air dry. 3. Friday - 8:05pm - Re wrap with plastic wrap, leave on overnight til morning. 4. Saturday - 5am - pulled plastic wrap, washed, air dried, and Applied Tegaderm, left on for 2.5 days (64 hours to the minute). 5. Monday - 9pm - Pull Tegaderm off (in shower under hot soapy water... VERY easy, not painful at all) 6. Monday - 9:05pm - Wash , air dry, and immediate begin "lotion protocol" for the next week or so. Here's a couple quick pics I just snapped 3 days and 5 hours after being tattooed (sorry for bad angles and quality, took these quickly with iPhone)

My sister gets a henna tattoo every summer, but it looks more bluish than black. I tell her that all the $$$ she's blown on those she could have gotten a couple of nice real ones. Then I get the blank stare... Rob

@Graeme I think he'd be suspicious of a rose tattoo. He was one of the first of my friends to get into tattooing back in the mid-80s. That said, we never agreed on what makes a good tattoo. We've drifted apart over the years. I ran into him this summer and all he could do was crap on my tattoos. He had just come from getting his baby's hand prints tattood on his chest. So, yeah. Chacun a son gout, I guess.

I just put a picture of the front of my thighs in my gallery i figured if I tried here it would be huge and my pastiness could scare the faint at heart

Kyle Sajban from Red Rocket Tattoo NYC. Back hurt A LOT more than I thought it would.

It's been a long time since I've added anything, and the competition is quite stiff per usual! Finally got this thing finished (for the most part). Chris Buckholts @ Webbworks Tattoo in Naples, Fla.

My mom was a vet for years before she was an RN, and she did the same thing. Her dogs all had butterflies, though.

This exists somewhere else on here but I'm stoked on this thread! Here's my left thigh from last year from Nash Hogan, great dude. I'll be doing something bigger on the other one soon! Soonish. When I can. So.. at some point. - - - Updated - - - I've also had a couple other things added around it on the knee and inside of the thigh but don't have a picture. Probably for the best, nobody needs to see all up in my business.

It is. A super gritty crime drama on a Native American reservation. Crime, drugs, sex, murder, alcoholism, gambling. What's not to like!?!?! Haha.

I also am working my way through Scalped...if any of y'all are Vertigo readers.

@Gregor Locke and Key is so dang good. I'm awaiting the final tradeback myself.

Call Big Gus and Tommy Helm !

A conversation I had with a co-worker. Girl: "I love the movies based on Stephen King books." Me: "oh yeah? What's your favorite?" Girl: "The Crow." Me:.........

YES!!!! AWESOME! Love her work! Wooohooo!!!

Flex your head!

@Lance yep. I'll be there. Maybe for a little bit before and after too.

is this what you have in mind: stole that from a fellow LSTer's blog Our Endless Days | A blog for traditional tattoo enthusiasts

This is some flash from @Perez, I thought it was super cool.

he could always make his own

Don't apologize! Can't wait to see this.

On a positive note, I was getting my flu shot the other day and this woman in line behind me was like, "Oh my GOD, you have to see her tattoo!" She calls her husband or friend or whoever over and said, "Well I want one like that!" Then the guy giving the shot also complimented it. It was my tiger on my left arm.

I just found this band...I'm not 100% sure yet

Pictures didn't take, here again Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk 2

I agree but that is with any aftercare ... For example if you say leave it on for 3 days they will rush home and peel it off dry after a day. Then complain that it's irritated and all red. Well......

Got to catch up with Austin Maples when he was back in town @ third eye, he squeezed me in for this fun little gap filler, if you are in SF he's at idle hands.

just patting yourself on the back for a job well done.

One awesome thing, we're also expecting. A girl, in February. :) And something I think is pretty darn cool. Shooting! I do it a lot.

Oneshot from Marius Meyer. Pretty happy about this one.

I guess I will throw my in progress piece done by shige this monday at diamond club tattoo into the mix

Armbands that connect are bad luck. Variation: Armbands that connect can cut off the circulation and your arm will fall off. Face/hand/neck tattoos are illegal. I always feel bad posting right after Stewart. He goes into so much detail that it makes my two sentence posts seem lazy. Perhaps by mentioning this fact it will add a little bit of 'meat' to my post and make it seem like I have more than a ten word vocabulary.