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Thanks to everyone for the awesome advice & encouragement! I am proud to say that my back piece is now finished!! Woohoo! Did my full back in three days! Here's a pic for those interested :) Artist: Erin Chance, Guest tattooing at: Sacred Tattoo, Auckland, New Zealand

It's done. It's actually done. The last session was the worst one I've had to endure. Major touch ups to the wind bars/clouds, double lining, basically every soft spot got hit in one day. By the end I was definitely spent, but so stoked. Dana was very pleased with how this came out, and that makes me happy too. He wants me to show up to the Baltimore or Philly conventions and do the back piece contest. This took a year and a half, and it was an amazing experience.

That is a back piece! It's insane that you did that in three straight days. I'm going to say that you're one of the toughest posters on here.

Tim Lehi oneshot

@Graeme @Mick Weder @ironchef Thanks guys. It was only semi bittersweet, he sent me home with a print, a shirt, and a black light poster. Beware December Tattoo of the Month Contest, haha. It's too late in the game to try and take it away from that amazing Lehi piece on Wilhell.

Awesome @CaitlinBurnett10 awesome!!!

I'm sure yours is going well! Sending you vibes! I finished today, here's the final photo.. Hope it brings motivation! We did a final 9 hours today to finish up :) So happy! Full back in three days - boom!

I trust that you gazed longingly, @Cork.

Finished another session tonight. Just banged out the stripes. I am so psyched with how the face is coming out. Have black in the tail up top then color hallelujah ! Cork man you should be beyond proud of that thing it's awesome. Edit: sorry about the sideways pics

Can't believe a full back piece in 3 days. DAMN that is beyond props.

Holy shit, kudos to you! Tough as nails.

got a last minute appointment with robert ryan for december 9th while he's guesting at old soul. can not wait!

caitlin your back looks sick favorite piece i have seen on here wow wow wow good luck seasee with yours as well

@CaitlinBurnett10 holy shit I just saw your back on Instagram! Whoa awesome!!!!!!

Ok girlfriend, let our dual sessions begin! Suck it up and sit strong - you've certainly proven that you can!

@Wilhell holy shit this is so good, not my type of thing by a long way but for some reason I love it

Just wait to see what her post in http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/2961-thread-we-commiserate-about-healing-our-fresh-tattoos.html is going to be!

Day two finished! Here's a full progress pic! Erin Chance is the artist :)

Thanks all! It's definitely a large undertaking! Currently into day two, about an hour in.. Here is a photo taken this morning of yesterday's progress.. Excuse the undies & the angle - my friend took this photo when I got out of the shower! Will add more as I can take them, working on upper back today so can be difficult to get good action shots via selfie!

That yellow dragon back! I love the look of a fully healed suit. How it sets in and looks like it's always been there. Too good

That, and drinking wine from the skulls of your enemies killed in battle [emoji88]

Okay, we are six hours in of day 1 of 3.. Here are the first few shots. We're doing full back in three days, a third at a time, so we don't have to keep going over fresh ink from previous days :) Artist: Erin Chance, tattooing at Sacred Tattoo in Auckland, New Zealand

Devil worship

Jun Cha. Unfinished, ran out of time and had to run to the airport. 16 hour session. Reh, edited with better size & lost the likes.

@polliwog If you can afford nice decent sized tattoos like your Chad eagle, I would think that you could manage a backpiece financially if you make it a priority and like @Lance said above, are disciplined about your finances and can work out a reasonable schedule with whatever tattooer you choose. A backpiece is financially daunting and I'd be lying if I said that paying for mine doesn't cause me stress and forces me to choose between things I want. Right now I need to replace my computer's hard drive because it failed, but that's not really in my budget right now because of my backpiece. And that's fine, because beyond essentials like rent, bills, food, etc., tattoos are my priority. It sucks sometimes, but it sucks more not having nice tattoos.

@polliwog, if you're still a couple years out from starting, and you begin saving now, I think you'll have a good start financially. Discipline is key though. Skip a night out here or there, grand vacation ideas may become pleasant staycations, make food instead of eating out. All that junk. It's doable. Difficult at times, really difficult even, but doable. I had to change my mindset and ask myself what I really wanted. For years I wanted a tattoo but always lamented not having funds for anything. one day I realized I was actually wasting a lot of money on things that while entertaining or seemingly needed were non-essential. Also start mulling over a design now. You may find the perfect design tomorrow, or you may find yourself going through a few ideas. You may even think you found a great one, then change your mind a month or 2 later. Over time one will stick but you've plenty of time. Also some artists have long wait lists so depending on who you want to do it, you may actually have to wait a while anyway. Might as well get in with who you want rather than settle for second choices. Good luck! Back pieces are AWESOME!!!

Here's my progress so far by Diego Azaldegui. Got another session in a few weeks which should hopefully finish it off.

Session five yesterday, lining and shading background on the ribs and love handles. Goddamn the love handles are a shitty fucking spot. Next session we'll shade the background on my other cheek and thigh so we'll be going into the new year with a substantial chunk of the background done. I love how it's coming together.

its already on the site so i guess i'll throw this in from jeff rassier last week

Last minute appointment at Kingsave NYC with Chris O'Donnell

I don't even know why I read these contest threads anymore. All they do is give me ridiculous tattoo envy.

Front of my El Monga leg. Done at Tattoo City in March. Pic is from today (healed). Entered the back of it a few months ago, figured the front needs to toss its hat in the ring.

I wouldn't touch that one, let it stand alone. To add to it, I'd just get different pieces to fill in the space around it. Maybe in a similar style so that it all flows together. Just my opinion.

Why not... Horizakura peony/junco from last year:

@BrianH FUCK YEAH dude!!!!

Come on!!! Let's see some AWESOME tattoos!!!