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Hi, I just recently joined! I currently only have two tattoos, with my first coming up on its 4 year anniversary and my second one only a day and a half old. 1st one (Day one and Healed) 2nd one (day and a half):

Sorry, no smoke-blowing here!

What's the difference between a large pizza and an avid tattoo collector? The pizza can feed a family!

Aw, don't do that, @Kracov. It's a very common question – and hopefully we gave you the right answer, which others can learn from too.

Call me a purist but I'd save up, fly out and get the real deal. Flights to Barcelona are going to be affordable in advance ( at least he's based in Europe). Can either make a trip of it- take a friend, get tattooed on the last day or go there and back on 1 day. Croatia is smack bang in the middle of Europe - everything is within reach. Perfect for starting a tattoo collection.

Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine...

To get the ball rolling and make an opportunity for a cheer up..if you are experiencing some miserable sh.t or otherwise... or have some material to help another member cheer up! The first joke is.. My favorite invention of the age of electricity is an escalator... drum roll please......, because when it inevitably breaks, it is still stairs!

Browsing around the board just now, I was struck by how often folks asking questions about tattoos they want to get or tattoos they have gotten end up getting similar responses, as their issues often correspond to a fairly narrow set that come up again and again. I thought it could be cool to have a thread where we list our generally accepted "tattoo advice" and wisdom in one centralized location. We could point people to it when appropriate. For example: 1. Thou shalt never haggle in a tattoo shop. 2. Thou shalt not try to force a tattooer to tattoo an exact replica of an image you've brought in. If you are going to a skilled tattooer, you will always be better off letting them turn your idea into an actual tattoo design that will work for this medium. 3. Thou shalt consult with your tattooer for questions re: design, sizing, placement, ideas, aftercare instructions and any touch-ups. 4. Thou shalt not stress about how your new tattoo looks until it is fully healed. 5. Thou shalt accept that flaking, scabbing, swelling, itching, and a whole bunch of other uncomfortable stuff is all totally normal when healing a tattoo. Thou shalt only be concerned if it doesn't get better after weeks, or if it smells or looks infected. Next?

i have a cherry blossom tree on the top of my arm and i cant figure out what to do with the bottom. please leave suggestions xoxoxshaysgotink

common initiation ritual and coincidentally the name of the collection of short stories I'm writing about pooping in foreign countries.

we like it too,we watch every episode, it's kind of fun for us since we got tattoos from Oliver in feb this year at fresno,and we have 6 hours of appointments with him in SF on 10/22 at http://bayareatattooconvention.com/ he's a kick to talk to.

@Kracov you clearly have a talent for art. That doesn't always translate to tattoos. Plus as @Charles.M articulated, you will be extremely unhappy with your tattoos if even the slightest detail is off. This is your artwork and it will be difficult to find someone to replicate it exactly and my guess is that you will find fault and flaws in details that may go unnoticed by others. Think about that. Really think about it. Do you think you would be able to notice slight flaws if someone re-drew your artwork on paper? Yes of course you would. Now imagine it permanently marked in your skin. Just trying to help. Btw- I like you artwork. I think it's really good. I can't draw worth shit, but i always admire those that can. It's a gift. One that few have.

As much as I enjoy tattoos, I honestly admit to watching this show religiously. I am happy to see artists I am familiar with on here this season too. now you can start making fun of me.

1st tattoo lion on the ribs! doing it right

I wouldn't get something that big for a first tattoo I believe. The art is really cool, but isn't it more sensible to start with something smaller? contact the mods to hide the topic

I've wanted to tap out about 30 seconds into each session on my back. I didn't of course, but the want was there

I have a similar tattoo. I'm doing option #2 as outlined by @Synesthesia. One laser session down and five weeks later my tattoo is about the same. I'm going to have to hit it at least 4 times to see a difference! Like someone said - it's IN there! Good luck. Oh, and +1 to all of the comments on white ink. The ones that I've seen are not holding up well.

I agree with mtlsam Get a new white sock and put your junk in there just before you start your session (in the bathroom), that way when you have to drop your drawers, you are covered where people will be concerned about modesty. I think people will give you a pass on a not tight but. A dude with his junk in a sock is completely harmless looking (not tough at all... lol). This technique is more common than you think, I did it when getting work on my full back... it works.

Somewhere in this mega thread, or the other mega backpiece thread there is talk of a "fudoshi" basically a long strip of fabric cleverly wrapped around the waist and legs to cover up Japanese style. Search for it and you'll find it. Otherwise I saw a fellow getting his whole back and cheeks done at the Montreal convention this year, as public a space as can be. He had a sock and a paper towel draped over the area. Was good enough for him. People at the shop will laugh it off or at worst be scandelized and have a great story to tell with their new infinity symbols tattoo.

I have a question about etiquette and covering during back piece sessions. I'm planning a back piece which will include my butt. There are several stations in the shop so I will be around other people of both sexes (I'm a male btw). Obviously that means that the lower half of my body will be exposed during the process. I'm comfortable with that, I'm not a prude. My concern is that I don't want to be "inappropriate" in the shop. When getting that part of the body tattooed I know I will have to shift positions, stand up occasionally, etc. and in the process "other things" could become exposed. I don't want to offend anyone or flash the whole place. Does anyone who has been through that have any suggestions on what to wear or cover with so that the back area is accessible, but keep the other parts appropriately covered? I had considered some sort of thong thingy, but hey, I'm in my 60s and those cheeks are not as firm as they were at one time, so the image of me in a thong is... well, I just don't want to gross people out, or have everyone in the shop laughing behind my back.

@Rob I I was just giving you shit in response to you're joke, but my humor can easily come off as snarky. I also think its pretty cool the way these tattoos were preserved for the generations(I couldnt do it either, though). I believe there is a museum of skin like this in japan. I think would be bitchin' to see one day. I love macabre museums. here is a link to more pictures of tattooed skin: http://www.cvltnation.com/dead-skin-living-art-the-museum-of-tattooed-skin/

"If Trump and Hillary were stranded on a cannibal infested desert island who would survive?" AMERICA America will survive

You shouldn't have changed it. I was just pointing out that those tattoos, and skin for that matter, are no longer his. I used to think it was pretty cool to have tattoos preserved for generations to admire and still think it's kinda cool to be able to see it but it's the one thing you CAN take with you to the grave. I can't imagine i would ever consent to it. Anyway, not trying to be grammar police. I was just trying to be funny. @Ducky15568

Thank you Captain Grammar! Without grammar nazis how would the peons of the internet know they made a simple grammatical error? I fixed it for you, and no you cannot look under the floorboards.

Here is tattooed skin from the 19th century, it belonged to a french soldier (hundreds of skins like this were preserved). The Top depicts images of a nautical star, a lady head, and 'D’amour' in script; which means 'my love.'

As of late, with my busy schedule I have been doing only bodyweight (prison) exercises. I run a 5x5 regiment regularly, but with these exercises and no gym; I needed to modify it. I have been doing squats, dips, pushups, lunges, walking (about 6 mi) whenever at work, and some advanced stretching (yoga). I workout 3-4 times a week and for approx. 30min. So far its worked very well, and saves money for more tattoos!

i haven't posted pics yet, but i did post about the first session here:

totally normal,I have tattoos all over my body,except my hands,and I have never swelled up on any tattoo, but recently I had my hands done and they both swelled up like crazy,no the swelling didn't hurt,and it went down in 4 or 5 days. here is my hand, swollen a day after, and then a month after and it's normal. and I started getting bruising in certain spots from getting tattooed that never happened to me before,but it went away , it should be ok,keep it elevated,or maybe ice it up a little,or try an OTC anti-inflammatory like advil or motrin(ibuprofen) or aleve(naproxen),keep it out of the sun.

Lets talk panthers https://youtu.be/dbhzMC2tjRU

Pretty excited that Gentleman's Tattoo Flash is now selling my work! https://www.gentlemanstattooflash.com/node/1406

No competent artist is going to try and abandon their style just to try and reproduce your style instead. I made this very same mistake back in the '70s and '80s. Now they are all lasered.

A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client. If you want a tattoo, go to a TATTOO artist to have an original piece created. I don't call a doctor when my toilet is backed up and I don't go to a plumber to have a will drawn up. You may be an artist, but you aren't a TATTOO artist.

I am an aspiring apprentice, still working on my portfolio and trying to build up the courage to go out and find someone willing to teach me. Someday..! ;) So here is some of my 'art'.

Thanks all for your advice. The idea of having the entire tattoo in white came after I saw a lady with a full inner forarm in white. It almost looked like lace embedded in the skin (very delicate IMO). You are right I should just remember the point in my life at having it but I would like to maybe enhance it if possible as I see it a lot on myself. Appreaciate all the advice.

Hi and welcome,do you mean you regret not having the whole tattoo done in white ? because if you had it would look like total crap by now,personally I would stay away from white other than used for highlights. anyway,IMO any good artist could easily enhance and renew that tattoo by adding some to what's already there,re-hit the black a little,maybe add some small color flowers and a little bit of feminine vines. my wife has an ankle tattoo that didn't look just right and we went to a better artist and she added some cool little things to it and retouched the color and it looks great now.

Hi there. The skin in that area is quite thin and delicate, and that tattoo is in there. There isn't really much to be done unfortunately. You could try to find a skilled artist to re-outline it in white, but that will not likely accomplish much for you. A shadow in white will just make the whole thing seem bigger still. I recommend you just accept the tattoo as a reminder for where you were in life at the moment you got it, and move on to the next one.

I met a girl, we talked tattoos, she's from az, shows me her legs done by roper, says they're friends and she can text him and give me a referral. Looks like I'm saving some money and flying to Arizona sometime this year. !!!! Also naturally me and this girl have been seeing each other. Life is cool sometimes.