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Here's a couple I've gotten recently: Dagger/rose by Charlie Roberts Greg Irons SNCL skulls by Candi Kinyobi Three wishes by Chuco Moreno Lady head/peacock/rose/name by Freddy Corbin Surfing Mahakala by Eddy Deutsche

Got this good lookin' little guy yesterday from Ron Wells.

Going to Tokyo in a couple of weeks! And I booked an appointement with Bunshin Horitoshi. Really look forward to getting some tebori.

Any shop can set up their pricing any way they want. Once you've determined which artist you want to proceed with, your discussions with the shop manager should only be when you can sit in front of that particular artist (and what the cost would be). If the shop is trying to tell you that they are going to decide who is doing the tattoo then you are right to walk away. If you want a consultation with a particular artist, and if that artist is popular - you may have to make an appointment to get just that part accomplished. Not all artists do walk-in consults.

@SStu @Rob I @zetroc @ChrisvK Thanks fellows! I have a bunch of tattoos from Ron because I hold him in such high esteem as both an artist and as a person, but this tattoo is way beyond my expectations. It also means that I'm going to be wearing pants in the summer for the rest of my life because, let's face it, I have a vagina monster on my lower leg, but if your tattoos don't bother polite society, you're doing it wrong.

I'm assuming this is your first tattoo - maybe not though in any regard this would be why I don't think its a good idea for folks to get their first tattoo on their wrist because your expectations that this tattoo is going to stay 'sharp' and perfect are not realistic I dont see blowouts and I think you should enjoy the tattoo but yeah - as time goes on - the tattoo will take on a 'lived in' look - some people - including myself - love how tattoos look as they age - but they age alright - thats why big and bold designs are the way to go - but anyway - try not to obsess about this tattoo as it heals - and enjoy it

I've always liked these for keeping my tattoos dry:

@Graeme i just realized Ron is not that far from jersey :)

Saw this one on his IG, and on the blackclawneedle page as well. absolutely stunning man, congrats! When i zoom in on it I can see what Ron ment about the needles being amazing

And to think that I sat down to read this thread without my popcorn. I'll get my secretary (read husband) to fetch it for me. Good luck with the tattoo!

Next stage of my Japanese dragon sleeve was completed today. 5.25 hours of black and shading for the background. Artist: Scott Ellis, Triple Crown Tattoo, Austin Texas.

I don't ask price anymore,when I get an appointment for what I want with the artist I want,I expect a deposit,but I really don't care and don't ask what the price or hourly rate is, and yes,I always make an appointment for a consultation.

totally unrelated, but your LivedinTattoos takeover was amazing!

Slightly less 'wearing a onesie full of mosquitoes' feeling this time around, but...not by much. Not...by...much.

I've never seen a healed wrist tattoo in person that looked perfect but plenty that looked good regardless.

Ron is such a solid dude, and a real perfectionist. Two of the better traits of a good tattooer, if you ask me.

So far the heal has been great, actually. It was only outline and shading (and Grez is very light-handed), so it wasn't blasted too badly. It's actually sped up my interest in getting the second one done.

Fortune teller by Marina Inoue There is also an image on her IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFpjEQFigYn/

guys - this is the latest lowdown - somebody throw down an awesome tattoo and get this thread back on track please

5 days into the dreaded hand / wrist heal. DRY HEAL N PEEL OH YEAH

Now that we have settled into the new house how about we have a new contest? Could be fun.

I sit here, sore, swollen, in a daze... but I have to share my story. I am an apprentice tattooer and have been in my apprenticeship since September of 2014. I have always had a deep respect for tattooing, but it has now been solidified even deeper. Last year at the Lady Luck Tattoo Convention, my teacher was asked to receive a traditional Samoan tatau by Sulu'ape Si'i Liufau of A-Town Tattoo. My teacher has known Si'i for about 10 years through the convention circle. We were sharing a booth with A-Town, so I was preparing for a pretty close view of the event. As they were preparing, Si'i came to me and told me that he only had his apprentice, Genesis, available to stretch skin for the tatau and they would need my help. I have a previous post describing the experience, so I won't elaborate further on it here, but it became one of the biggest honors of my life to be involved in that tatau on my teacher. Fast forward to this past weekend: We were working the Lady Luck Convention again and had a pretty slow schedule of clients. My teacher intentionally did so, because he wanted to hopefully help stretch on a tatau. It is a huge honor to receive a tatau, but it is an equal honor to assist in one. Saturday night, we are all in the bar, relaxing and having a good time. It was a group of about 20 tattooers from all over the country. Talk of the process of tatau began and I took the opportunity to interject and publicly thank Si'i for asking me to assist on my teacher's tatau. I told him it was one of the biggest honors of my life and I would never forget it. He nodded to me and said, "What are you doing tomorrow?" I said, "No tattoos, just working our booth." He said, "I should give you tatau tomorrow." Without hesitation, I stuck my hand out and said yes. We shook on it and he went over to discuss it with his apprentice. They were making gestures around the lower thigh area and kinda laughing a little. I jokingly said, "You guys are laughing too much! You gonna fuck me up tomorrow?!" Si'i responded, "We're gonna try something new on you, Nate. You're not gonna like it... but you're gonna like it." The next morning, I went over to the A-Town booth and Si'i had me remove my shoes and put on a sarong. Without discussion, he started shaving my knee area, all the way around. He drew on a couple reference lines, where he then called over my teacher and told him he would be assisting his apprentice with stretching of the skin. I've already written a lot, so I will skip along. It took 3 hours of, by far, hands down, the most painful tattooing I've ever received. Almost my entire knee, and all the way around back, through the ditch. At the end, I was congratulated. I didn't move. I didn't squirm. I made no sounds. Inside my head, it felt as though they were cutting my leg off, but I knew I had to show my respect and gratitude by being silent. It was incredible. To be a part of my teacher's tatau and for him to be a part of mine has bonded us even closer. We are both so humbled and blown away by it all. As he did a final cleaning of my leg, I asked Sulu'ape Si'i what I needed to pay him for this (I was actually kind of worried, because I'm a broke apprentice). He said, "Meaalofa. It's a gift for you. You earned my respect when you sat for hours and stretched for your teacher last year." He also said, "Now Nate, this tatau has the ending placement of a traditional Pe'a, so when a Samoan sees it coming out of your shorts, they are going to question you. When they do, you tell them it was a gift from Sulu'ape and if they have any more questions, they can come talk to me." I'm still in awe. I look at my leg now and it is so much more than a tattoo. It is history. It is honor. It is respect. I just wanted to share my story. Thanks to all that read it. Here are some pictures of the whole thing. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

My artist gave me an estimate when I had my initial consult with him. I made my appointment and put down a deposit - when he did the work he was just about perfect in his timing estimate. When I went back in for a quick touch up and to add some shading, he didn't require a deposit and then didn't charge me for the shading - he got a great tip though.

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Most good artists are too busy to have someone popping in for a consult. Make an appointment. You aren't a special flower, so don't expect an artist to drop what he/she is doing and come over to meet with you.

This must be your first tattoo, or you'd know that you need to wait until it heals to know what it is going to look like. Too early to tell. Just don't worry about it.

Enjoy it! Then start planning your next one...

@graeme Just noticed your new piece made Grime's blackclaw page, too.

you are doing it right

Fuck weight loss. Get covered in tattoos. My husband has a beer belly and I am trying to persuade him to get his belly covered ( and i dont mean as a way of hiding. It just looks bad ass and he is a big hairy angry looking bastard) . They look awesome! And who cares if you did lose weight after getting tattooed. Our bodies change over time anyway. Best to get the tattoos you want regardless of how our body may change down the track right? Also. I want photos. I may or may not be a perve. Its the internet. You decide .

You should ask that question to the shop and not us. We don't know. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah! I spent a few hours with Ron in April but we aren't done yet. Don't wanna steal his thunder so I'm holding off on photos until it's finished, but I'm very excited. That looks great!

INSANE!!!!!! @Graeme The placement is so great too! Ron is amazing.

awesome @graeme!

Yeah, he's killer. I can't wait until it's done. Not until July, which feels like a fucking eternity to finish. Once it's done I think I'm immediately going to book to have him do my other knee in the fall. There is usually decent street parking, particularly a few blocks north, just kinda above Market. But if you're patient you should be able to find something within a few blocks, particularly during the day (lots of bars so it's hectic as fuck at night). If not there are lots and garages around. As for food, here are a few of my favorites in the area. Tons of good spots, though. - Right next door, The Khyber does good Southern style type fare. I don't drink, but I believe their beer and booze selection is solid as well. - Eulogy is a Belgian beer bar nearby that does awesome mussels/frites, burgers, etc. They have like 300+ beers available as well. - Amada is fancier but has dope tapas. - Han Dynasty is killlller Szechuan right around the corner.

Finally (mostly) healed from last month's Houston Convention, done on the wifey and I by Sam Storey who was down from Edmunton = his and hers voodoo dolls:

by Robert Ryan - Electric Tattoo - Asbury Park NJ

it's coming out wonderful. I like it. Also, confirmed consultation date earlier this week. June 4th with Tim Hoyer.

Got this dragon head from Greg Christian when he was at Congress St tattoo! I have always wanted a dragon head from him and I absolutely LOVE this one. This was done on Saturday 4/30. The very next day Jason Scott finished up the background on my left arm. Super happy with the results of that as well and I will post those pics soon. It was super annoying to heal two arms at once, especially considering the Greg Christian piece is almost my whole inner forearm, and Jason Scott's work was from my elbow up to my armpit and shoulder. It was all worth it though in the end. Greg recommended using Tegaderm to heal the dragon head. Jason Scott had a roll of it, and between him, Greg, and Spencer Scott, they managed to get it on really well. I guess the stuff wasn't cooperating at first and it took a few tries (painful tries... put it on, take it off....) and a few different hands to get it on in the end. That stuff seemed to work like a charm. I've included a mostly healed pic as well. I say mostly healed because you can still see a few flakes of the second peel in that pic. I would definitely use it again. I healed Jason's stuff the normal way and that turned out really good as well. Very relieved and extremely happy as I find healing tattoos pretty stressful all around.

by Robert Ryan @ Electric Tattoo in Asbury Park NJ

I have a fat gut and my entire front (including one nipple, one armpit and bellybutton) is tattooed. And it's probably the area I get the most compliments on the (the artwork, not the huge gut)

you should have throat chopped her

Getting tattooed by Nikko (I know, I know) and Carlos Rojas collab June 10 at the shop and a Timmy B and Andres Acosta collab in June also at the Lake Tahoe show

@Gemini Well done and congrats! Here's to any more hours of tattoo time. Oh, and this is thread that people need to read when they ask if tattoos hurt.

My appointment for Koeplinger's 50 state tour finally came! I cannot say enough good things about Chad and my experience. He was open to my ideas and excited to make some changes to his original drawing to give me exactly what I wanted. We talked about all sorts of things (from our travels in the Middle East to vintage TV shows) and time just flew by. And he is ridiculously fast!! This 8x10" piece on my thigh took 1 1/2 hours from stencil to finish. I would definitely get another tattoo from him and will be watching his schedule to see when he is next near me. Wildcat

Original poster here. It went well, with no passing out! [emoji6] I ate a big rice chicken bowl for lunch right before the tattoo. The first bathroom break I felt drunk and tried to remind myself that it was my body coping with the pain, and all the advice I had gotten here. I drank LOTS of water during, sat and stood up very slowly, and scarfed a chocolate protein bar when the artist went to get more ink. So thank you! I have to go back to finish the tattoo because we ran out of time, but I am feeling much more confident now! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your weight should have nothing to do with your tattoos, and vice-versa.

This one from Tim Hendricks? full size:

I saw this one in person recently. It's on Christian Cervantes of Spotlight Tattoo, and yes, it's incredible up close:

What is this "neo" you speak of?