BlownRealms

Since we are posting Hardy backs, this one is from the panther tattoo thread:

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.

Ok, about time I updated this and get the rest of my pics up.
First 3 are of the Gramaphone from Kim Anh Nguyen in Amsterdam, with the last two being healed/recent shots. Salon Serpant is a fantastic shop and I'm doing my best to convince the OH to go back there as I'd love a lady head from Kim, a man head from Guen Douglas and something weird from Susanne Konig!
All recent pics are taken off the phone by a hungover and less than cooperative OH so forgive the crappy pics!



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Script is from Kris Magnotti, done in NY Adorned in 2010. Went to NYC with our football team and we had a few hectic nights before I got this so I really was not in the right frame of mind getting this done on the ribs! Great shop and would love to get more work by Kris.

Inner bicep done by Tyler James Densely in Seven Seas San Diego, probably around 2007/8. Real nice guy. Tattoo wraps around the fron of the arm so hard to get a good pic.


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Last pic is of my 3/4 sleeve. Finished by Jani in Wildcat Dublin. I get the work started by another artist and really wasn't happy with the work so, in fairness to Jani, it limited his ability to put his own stamp on it. What I would do to turn back time and get a sleeve from Mike Rubendall!! Ah well...
Don't mind the ugly scar from my shoulder surgery.

I like to get tattooed by different artists but I usually get more than one tattoo by each of them. There's so many talented people in my city, I can't stick with only one of them, plus I like a couple styles of tattoos so I wouldn't get them done by the same artist.

The X man cometh go follow duncanxtattoos on instagram .

Got this lady head from Max Kuhn on Monday! Wraps a bit!

Well, we (finally) started - after almost 2 years waiting for him to move and cut down his list a bit.
Start of a full half squidpant. I wasn't going to post it yet - but he did, so I stole this image off of Thomas' instagram:

Hi everybody! I've been reading this forum for the last couple years and it's saved me from getting some really terrible tattoos. I just put down a deposit for an appointment with Steve Byrne in January. I'm really excited to be able to contribute to the community here and keep learning as much as I can.

UPDATE:
Two days of brutality on my back with Henning. This go around we started coloring in the phoenix at Kings Avenue Tattoo. 7 hours on Friday in Long Island, then 6 more hours on Saturday in Manhattan. Henning thinks we need one more full session to complete everything. I think probably 2 more including any touch ups.
By the way...I really really hate ribs...and spine....THE WORST. Enjoy the pics.

Thanks for the interest but... people have no problem asking personal questions on the internet huh?
But to be less abrasive:
Soap will be working at Modern Classic in Fulham, London one week each month... then we'll see what happens. There are myriad factors to consider after that but the long-term goal is for him to work full time eventually.
The "status" of Lab Monkey for the coming months is the same as it has been for years - it's open, with Soap and others (currently Adam) doing tattoos.
If Soap sells his existing shop isn't really anyone's business but his own. Same deal if he gives it to unicorns, another tattooer, or simply closes the doors forever. Whatever happens, Soap himself will give appropriate information.
Yes, Lab Monkey is the first shop I did a tattoo in. While I was still struggling to learn, without structured guidance and tattooing out of my house, Soap graciously offered to let me sit in at his place for a week. That was the first time I tattooed people that I didn't already know. I'd been tattooing for about a year at that point. I've tried to return when my schedule allows.
The information we've given about the shop is all that we've had the time to prepare. It's been a hectic 12 months preparing the shop. Especially hectic since the end of August when we got legal access to the premises. There's also been a bunch of conventions, visitors and regular work to do with Frith Street while getting our new space ready. - To answer another frequently asked question: Everybody at Frith Street knew about our shop since the end of 2013. They have all been supportive, interested and helpful with myself, Valerie and our new manager. Especially Naomi and Dante.
It's easy to leave a shop on sour terms. Not so easy to keep it sweet. Sometimes we don't get a choice. So Valerie and I have gone to great lengths to preserve our working and personal relationship with everyone at Frith Street. I will keep my Sunday appointments there for the foreseeable future.
Rest assured, we will make public updates with relevant information in due course, when time allows. Right now, we're concentrating on opening a street-level, regular tattoo shop that's practical and convenient for the people who work there and the people who want to get tattooed there.
Your best bet for reliable info is the shop Instagram, Twitter and website.
Keep 'em peeled!...

Got this from Theo Mindell while he was visiting Austin for a few days. The guy might be the straight up nicest dude I've met in a long time. And Paco Cendon at electric13 was super nice too and has an awesome shop. I very much underestimated the pain on the back of the thigh, just above the ditch of my knee. It's 3 days later and I'm still limping around.

Got this German Kaiser wolf today by Murray Sell at Flying Tiger Tattoo in CT. I love it and it's definitely unique.

Cover it up with a panther?

Gorgeous, could look at that all day

Cover it up with a panther?

I hate posting the same pic over and over again, but i want a LST shirt! Done by Shige. Pics do this piece no justice.

Started this last year at Kings Ave. Made progress at the Montreal convention then finished it last week at Kings Ave.

OK, I'll bite @ironchef.
My first leg tattoo. Got it at the London Convention. By Eli Quinters, Smith Street Tattoo.

Done by Curt Baer from Iron Mountain Tattoo.

was in sf last week got this from jeff rassier. super happy about it
reaper1
reaper2

got this one Halloween. A reward for losing 40 pounds. Kind of a spur of the moment thing. I had a couple ideas and really wanted to get one, but couldn't decide on one of the ideas I had, walked around for a couple hours while searching the internet for ideas and other designs, finally picked this one and walked in before I could change my mind. really happy with it.

the first one that my mother actually liked, kinda, she still hates tattoos.

Just got this guy at the yellow rose tattoo club by johnny tugboat!
SENT FROM MY LG G FLEX ON THE NOW NETWORK FROM SPRINT!?✌

got this wrapped up last week -- waiting for the healing to mellow so I can get a good / non-glare pic still. Super happy


artist: Casey Jones

I'm working on a theme of "awesome tattoos". Same theme on both arms, actually.
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But seriously though, I did start out with the idea of a theme on my left arm, but I've kind of relaxed it as time has passed. I'm kind of down to this:
Left arm - bright and bold. Right arm, dark(er) and bold. We'll see how my plan holds up as I get more coverage.

I've mostly been a lurker for a few years, so 'hi' everybody :).
As far as my 'overall look' goes, I'm covered top to bottom. Sleeves on both arms, my legs are covered, stomach, ribs, feet, hands, fingers, neck, even palms. No head or face tattoos and I try to avoid getting a face tattoo. I have to admit that I have never been a big fan of back pieces for the plain reason that you can't see it, but as I'm slowly running out of real estate I strongly consider getting a back piece. Since I'm a big fan of American traditional, I'd love nothing more than to get a badass piece from Judd Ripley at Sailor's Grave :).
It all started when I was 19 and I got a lettering (which is now covered) and a bunch of stars (not covered) tattooed. As the years progressed, I got about 1 tattoo per year. At the age of 26, I started my left sleeve. I made the common rookies mistake and impatient me made an appointment with a tattooer who had time the following week. I wanted to get a fullsleeve as fast as possible and so I had an appointment with him every other week. I didn't really have a solid idea for my sleeve (I just gave the tattooer the word 'music'...), so I wasn't really happy with the outcome. As I started travelling a lot and with Instagram popping up, I began researching and finding new artists and booking appointments with these artists. The idea to travel to get a tattoo from a great artist hadn't occured to me to that moment. And now , I'm here covered in tattoos from a bunch of different artists from all over the place and I couldn't be happier.
About 98% of my tattoos are just designs I really like. Panther, eagle, shark, Sailor Jerry designs,...some are music-related (lyrics, potraits) and maybe 2% have a deeper meaning.
I live in Germany, so people are a bit more conservative when it comes to tattoos than Americans. When it's hot outside, I never wear short pants or skirts. As an American friend, who once visited me,put it best:"The Germans have a staring problem." It really is a pain in the ass, even though I live in a big city. I travel a lot and sure, every time I'm in the US, people stare too, but it's just different. Usually Americans come up to me and say something along the lines of "I really like your tattoos". I like the sincerity.
I hope I didn't get too offtopic here. Sorry for the rather long post.