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Did the first session on my back yesterday with Dave Cummings. Really stoked on it.

Traveled from NY to SF this past weekend to skull and sword. Hungout with some of my favorite artists and what happened next is pure magic that only a stellar human by the name of Yutaro can provide. This is my Baku!

@deadsp0t @Mark Bee @Rob I @BrianH Thanks dudes! It went really well, I totally psyched myself out going into the session thinking that it would be so bad I would die but while it didn't feel nice, and some parts really didn't feel nice (hello where the ass meets the thigh! Hello love handles! Hello tailbone!), when it comes down to it you grit you teeth and get through it because it's all getting done sooner or later. Subsequent sessions will be the ones that kill me. Feeling pretty tender this morning, glad I wear overalls at work instead of pants.

Hey Kinglambert, As Graeme said, I'm getting my back piece done by Danny Rossiter at Rain City. He's been absolutely brilliant, a really sound guy with a super steady hand and a great eye for detail. As this is my first tattoo, I must admit I was a little bit nervous about it so needed to feel confident and comfortable from the start - and I'm a worrier! - Danny was so laid back and cool about it all it was clear from the start that was the guy to take it on. His work speaks for itself so nothing much more to say really... :p To be honest, everyone at Rain City are rather lovely! xccx P.S. This is where we are now, 10h in:

Today I got my kneecap done by Franz Stefanik at The Okey Doke. 1 down.

@BrianH @Mark Bee Gotta pay for these tattoos somehow!

respect for not calling in sick today.

Thanks for the comments, and while this maybe seems a little bit silly, thanks for the encouragement on Instagram when I was getting tattooed yesterday. It makes it a little bit easier knowing people are pulling for you. @CultExciter Animals fighting every time.

It is great to hear that I am not the only one who questions WTF did I start a backpiece. Only today I have finished a 3 hour background shading session on my left ass cheek and upper thigh. I now can look forward to 4-5 days of hovering over toilets when needing to take a sh*t and general discomfort of sitting anywhere. :) Doing a backpiece at the start seems such a great idea at the time but it can be a long hard slog. I am now into mine for about 40 hours and we haven't even started colour. For me it has been a great eye opener for people that are heavily tattooed. I used to always see large scale work in pictures and loved the look of it etc, but it is only now that I can appreciate the long hours of not only tattooing but the healing and day to day discomfort that the healing brings. I always thought the actual tattooing sessions were the worst but I am now appreciating that the week after each session can suck just as much. Not trying to put anyone off a backpiece as once done the results can be spectacular, I am just saying it can be a long road. :)

Ian Flower: Welcome Alex Reinke: Horikitsune – Official website | General Info

My new filler from Johnny Domus done on his guest spot at Dublin Ink today

I've been working on this painting for the past couple of months, and I think I'm finally calling this layer done and now I'll let it dry a bit and then glaze it. I'm really happy with this one, I feel it's the first painting I've done where I've felt like I'm starting to get a feel for oils and how they work and that I'm actually beginning to paint instead of drawing with paint, if that makes any sense. It isn't a great photo because of glare, etc., I'll try to take better ones when it's finished. It's 12" x 36" on canvas.

My prediction is, the tiger wins ;) That is just stunning dude. Congrats !

@Graeme this is the whole reason I got on today! Looks so good!! Perfect size, too, well done dude.

Oh man! Not even a day off?

Saw this on your instagram, but I'll post here as well - holy shit! That is amazing! How did the session go?

Fixed that for you...

Poster @xcatcatx is getting her back done by Danny Rossiter. Pictures here. @MrToby is getting his done by Ian Flower, I believe. - - - Updated - - - Poster @xcatcatx is getting her back done by Danny Rossiter. Pictures here. @MrToby is getting his done by Ian Flower, I believe. There are pictures of his back on the Full Back Piece thread.

Danny Rossiter is in Manchester and does really nice Japanese tattoos: Danny Rossiter | Rain City Tattoo Collective

Had my first session today (lines with machine) with Horitoshi I. Excited for shading and color by hand...

Really good! @Graeme Well done. Couple of my latest efforts Worked with Jake Arnett on this sheet, In my opinion his paint and tattoo work is so good, It was an honour he wanted to paint a sheet with me. This sheet will be hanging up in my house before to long.

It's 2014 and tattooing has come along way. What images have been the most tattooed? Where do you see the rest of the year going? What trends are you hating? Which are you loving, however reluctantly?

Thanks, man. It wasn't so bad because it was nice to get a break from lining now and again.

if you are in eastern PA you should check out the Pagoda City Tattoo Fest

@Graeme Speechless, as I said on Instagram. I'm rethinking every idea I had for my back.

Fantastic start @Graeme. Looks like it's going to be an incredible back piece!

Great job dude!!! That's a powerful back piece right there. Love it!

Love that tiger, Graeme! :-) xccx

@Graeme love that tiger! how is it feeling this morning?

Man that looks like a killer start!! Super nice!!

Welcome. Good luck narrowing it down!

Any story in particular stick out as inspiration?

Japanese Tattoo by Fil Wood Black Crown Tattoo Maybe in 5yrs.this guy can do a nice backpiece@ Instagram

These two guys are in Leeds... Instagram. Instagram Some guys in London@ Instagram. Instagram Instagram. Instagram

I love that.

Had this lady blasted on my shin today. Just one more sizeable piece on the back of my calf and then my calf is ready for fillers! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I found it. 90 minutes into a long trail run this morning. Hope to use it on Friday for session 9.

The client experience stories on Kian Forreal's website are a good read for anyone like myself who wants to read anything and everything about japanese backpieces.

I just remembered it's summer and I should give it a good hard thought if I want anything done on my legs this year due to the clothing sticking on tattoo problem. Made the mistake of getting my first leg tattoo in winter and then having to peel the clothing off my skin :( Or maybe I should just invest in some JNCO's and relive my early teen years. I mean, the 90s ARE ALIVE.

So I am now two sessions into my back piece. See the pictures on the other Full Back Piece Thread. Before we started the first one my artist said to me "Hold on to your hat." I thought he meant just for that start. Turns out that statement definitely applies to the whole process. In general it has been pretty good so far with 3 hour session once a month but certain moments my metaphorical hat has certainly been lost. That spot on the love handles... dear lord!!! Who decided that was a good part of the body to get tattooed? There have been some quite funny moments throughout the first couple of sessions. I was slightly amused by one of the other clients in the studio during my first session who was fretting over a 20 minute piece on the bottom of her neck between the shoulders. Now I know every tattoo hurts and I never want to put anyone down for being worried about it because I have had those worries and totally sympathise, but I was just lining up for the start of a back piece... the difference in the situations just made me chuckle. There was also the awkward moment when I was standing with a towel held over the key area and my artist was doing some drawing and the primary school over the road emptied out for the end of the day. I felt like there was something slightly awkward about parents picking up there 10 year old kids whilst I was standing in plain view with my ass on show. Again it made me chuckle because what else can you do.

Here is a healed up pic of the mushrooms. I think they healed up pretty well.

Had franz stefanik put me through some pain yesterday, he was really fast and just a really nice bloke to get tattooed by, very happy with it and it dosnt look out of place next to my Santoro gorilla, he also did a butterfly on my girlfriends leg which I got her as a birthday present, which is always a win win I get a girlfriend with tattoos n she gets a new tattoo Obviously stolen from his Instagram, we all know how hard knee pics are to take

Got this from Steve Byrne yesterday, super excited about it: Based on this World War I German propaganda poster about the dangers of Bolshevism that I saw earlier that day in a World War I exhibit in town.

A rose and a horseshoe. From Sukre One, in Superfly tattoo, Leon Guanajuato Mexico.

haven't posted in a while. my bad, dudes! hope you are all doing well. I recently got this guy from jason ochoa: and here's a healed photo of a higgs design I got from mark cross not too long ago:

Reallllly bad picture, but I got this lady from Steve Turner while he was guesting at Live Free. I'm super pumped on it.

little dragon foot by Chad Chesko at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo in Boston, MA:

been busy moving to a new flat, my instagram is now public. @slugggg if you fancy seeing alot of progress photos/snaps of mundane scenes in london etc. thanks

Haha. I quickly googled it. I'm a grown ass man, I suppose I am glad I had no idea who he was?

Also, nothing like three skinny half-naked white kids crouching in a cave to intimidate THE FUCK outta you.