DeathB4Decaf

Scott brought out your drawing and we were talking about it, it looks awesome! such a cool idea. I actually asked him when you were starting because I wanted to try and stop in and see, but I'll be on a trip when you start. Look forward to seeing some pictures. I actually live in London so its not that bad of a trip for me, just under 2 hours.
@Cork - Thanks dude!

@DeathB4Decaf No he said it'd just turned up before he had to fly, il upload healed pics in a few weeks, mine is a battle royal which I've been after a while so very happy.

Went to the Calgary convention today and picked up a piece by Todd Noble and a bulldog by Shaun topper, both really nice guys, my partner got a native girl head by Todd and I can safely say it's one of the best I've ever seen in person, met a few other artists aswell and was good just to have a look around and catch some of the local talent at work

This isn't now but these were taken during my last session with Horitoshi I. The last pic was my view of the ceiling while getting tattooed.

Had an ass and back of thigh shading session yesterday. It wasn't so bad. The imperial stout helped keep my spirits up.

I was looking through a tattooer's pics on their instagram a while back and noticed a guy getting his back done in the background and looking like he was about to die.
I looked a little closer and realized that guy was me!
Here's the link to the pic. The account belongs to Jennifer Lawes, now tattooing at The Pearl in Toronto. I haven't been tattooed by her yet, but she is very good. Definitely worth checking out her work.
http://instagram.com/p/n02VwcuTNO/?modal=true

!!!

What a gorgeous start so far, @Kinglambert

Here's an update on my Mimi-Nashi Hoichi (Hoichi the Earless) back piece by Fil Wood at Black Crown. Second session and going strong

got this little herbert hoffmann-design as a tribute for my omma - which is a colloquial expression for grandmother (oma) in my area of germany///@alexwildtattoo

Yesterday. Sorry if it's too big.

A little snippet of my back done by Grime...

Awww - excellent! I'm psyched that this thread is being well-received, and thanks for the advice about Time 'o The Month. Friday night should be fun. Ugh.
As for what to wear for a back session, I wear a hoodie backwards so we can unzip it, and a fleece button-down backwards on top of that. It's been cold lately so I need the layers, and we can just do the top button of the fleece and it keeps everything together on the top. I wear yoga pants/sweat pants and sometimes a camisole all the way down around my waist for extra warmth if I need it it we're not working near my waist. It took me a couple sessions to work all that out but it works great for me. I might not need 2 layers with summer coming and the shop will be warmer. And everything goes right in the washer afterwards and so far only one spot of the pants have permanent stains. It's now all in my "tattoo bag" along with snax, DVD player, water, etc.

I'd say a tie up bikini to be your best bet. Tie up prior to sitting up and works for both top and bottom areas. But I'd love to see what other people suggest. Oh, and the infamous Rocky suit (sweats top and bottom) for after the session for max comfort. ;)

Hi all!
I have a question for you ladies who have done a full back piece..
How did you manage your front whilst being tattooed, did you use tape? I'm a 10E, so am trying to find a solution before I get to the tattoo shop and boob all over the place!
Also, with healing.. How long until you were able to comfortably wear a bra again?
I should note that I am not doing a short session.. I've booked my full back to be completed in three full days sitting (because the artist is only in NZ for a short amount of time, not because I enjoy that amount of punishment). So will likely be a swollen/bruised/bloody/inky mess by the end of day three!
Any advice would be appreciated x

@CaitlinBurnett10 Read this article by David Bruehl about tattoos and nutrition. I've found that some food at the right moment really gives me a good boost to get through tough sessions. Bananas are supposedly good for endorphins, so is dark chocolate. So much of pain management has to do with mental preparedness too.
@DeathB4Decaf I think we probably all feel like a wuss at some point. Tattoos hurt! I know that I always worry that I won't be able to handle it but I seem to do fine. Honestly, I didn't think that ass/back of thigh was as horrible as I was expecting. I even went to work the day after getting mine lined (it isn't shaded yet) and I was fine despite working a physical job.

Yesterday I went in for my second (and final) consult for my back. I'm so incredibly in love with what we are doing. But as I'm still trying to get all the rough drawing off my back/ass/and thighs this morning I can't help but be nervous as all hell. I'm not brand new to getting tattooed, been getting work for over a decade, but talk about jitters. We are doing full coverage (exactly what I've been waiting to do and kept the areas open for) and I keep thinking I'm going to tap out early often. I know I won't. Everyday I go in for an appointment I'll be driving 5hrs (round trip), so I'm hoping mill get my head right on the drive in each time. But so not looking forward to driving home after ass or thigh work. Again, jitters galore. I'm now just talking in circles and feeling like a wuss.
Anyways, kudos to all of you who have committed and started/finished the process. This thread rules.

A back piece in three days?! Best of luck. I've seen some too notch Erin Chance work in person. At least you know it'll be worth the back to back sittings.

I was at an educators' training today with my principal and a bunch of teachers from my school. Since it wasn't a thing where any students would be, I wore clothing that showed my tattoos. My boss sat down with me on a break and wanted to see all of them. He said they were beautiful. He has the attitude that it is up to me what I want to do but understands why I cover them at work. "People can be so judgy," is what he said. I'm still going to cover them at work, but I'm just glad to know he's cool like I had hoped. He seemed to especially like the Horitomo.

Here is my submission for this months contest.
My whole backpiece has been done in a 6-month period (just 31 hours in total) by Bonel from Corazon Santo, Arnhem, The Netherlands.

I also have a full size picture available HERE

I am slammed at work, yet I just read this entire thread. And I'm glad that I did, because there's some great back and forth in it. Thanks to everyone who posted something good here.
I don't count my tattoos, but I do keep a list of who has tattooed me. Two weeks from today, I'm getting something from someone who's been on my wish list for a few years now. He'll be artist #42 for me. Then again, I started getting tattooed 20+ years ago. Some of the names on that list are very well-known. Some of them are complete unknowns. One of them is no longer alive, two of them have since stopped tattooing, and three of them were shit on in the this thread's first post. ;) Not a single name on that list makes me better (or worse) than anyone else who gets tattooed. But every one of them is a part of a story--my story. Just as every tattoo I have comes with a story of its own. I love meeting people and sharing stories, which is part of what I love so much about getting tattooed and hanging out with awesome people like so many of you.
I'll stop rambling now, but thanks again to those of you who made this thread worth reading.

Fuck yes! I know @ShawnPorter is stoked.

I think you are very confused as to what blue collar is if you are associating it with being a high school drop out.

I think you are very confused as to what blue collar is if you are associating it with being a high school drop out.

I think you are very confused as to what blue collar is if you are associating it with being a high school drop out.