Tornado7

They probably have something they put up for tattooing "exposed areas" that would require taking off an uncomfortable amount of clothing - most often drapes or a movable screen.

A whole lot of the tattoo community is SUPER non-judgmental. I don't think you're going to run into an actual problem. You're in your head about it. The tattoo is going to be cool, and you're going to have a good time getting it and maybe some day you'll enjoy taking your shirt off!

This side is kind of "done" because Tomas's dots cap it all off. The other side feels empty.

I have most of my upper arm done with tattoos that have the same theme, but not much to do with each other stylistically. I have the Tomas Garcia dots (color tribalism?) topping off my shoulder, but I still have gaps, and I still want to "finish" it into a "half sleeve" even though it isn't composed as one.

There is one more spot that's palm sized on my inner bicep, and a lot of fill in stuff.

Should I have one artist do the last spot plus the fill in? How does this usually go? 

Hail autocorrect 

OP - of course we are all probably going to die, but not of acne or tattoos, or tattoos on acne scars!

Please have an in death conversation with your artist. Acne and keliods are often related, and it is possible to make scarring worse. My son has been tattooed successfully, but he's not gone over many of his worst scars yet for exactly that reason. Anybody who will take the time to speak to you about the scars will not judge you for them.

Some artists won't do a tattoo while you're on the medicine. It is possible a test spot could be done to see how it works if you absolutely can't wait, but you don't NEED to have a tattoo done right now, do you? You really don't want to wind up with a problem tattoo that drops ink, or a keliod making the scarring even worse.

Where are you going abroad? Most (maybe all, but some are still clandestine) countries have tattoo shops.

Yeah, assholes don't tattoo me. I'd rather have a good day with a cool person than put up with that.

Every artist has been different, it is true, but I've never made it past the initial email / call to the shop / walk in phase with a total prick (and I've met them.)

If you can't deal with human customers, go art on something that doesn't think and breathe. Lord knows there are more than enough media that don't have feelings.

In the hair? It looks like normal peeling to me. Try not to pull those larger parts off. You could take ink out with them.

Aw, but it is such a good tattoo.

Why did you like the design in the first place? Can you get back there?

Let it sit. Wear long sleeves for a while. Don't rush into another decision that may not help.

Full exposure is a no go for me. I only have tattoos that I can cover with ordinary business clothes.

Spend the money for really great tattoos in such a highly visible spot. Russ Abbott has done some stunning neck stuff.

1 hour ago, Gingerninja said:

@Tornado7 Love it! I saw this on his IG! Did you hang out in Canonsburg at all?

We did. We went to see the chocolate castle. It was insanely busy so close to Easter. We are actually still here this AM.

I am so over the moon with this tattoo 😍

Tomas Garcia

Old Soul Cannonsburg PA

7 hours ago, soraya said:

So I’m curious. When your partner is untattooed, and you accept that, and everybody is happy with that, why do some of you still wish/hope that your untattooed partner will finally come around and get a tattoo?

Same reason I tried to get him to eat seafood. He hated it 15 years ago, to the point where I couldn't really cook it at home. Now he asks to go out for raw oysters, and he's picked out the fish we're cooking at the house all year.

Sometimes we encourage each other to grow, try new things, change thinking we've carried without understanding for years, etc. We trust each other.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Do whacha wanna

No grit, no pearl filler by Nick Kohlmeier @ Permanent Vacation Tattoo.

A little SG I picked up in Kansas City before a U2 concert. (on my U2 arm, 'a red guitar, on fire, desire')

Matching Navy tattoos with my son (he's a submariner). Mine is black & gray, his is color. By Nick Kohlmeier @ Permanent Vacation Tattoo.

As long as it is a 'street shop' that does walk ins, yes, you literally walk in. Generally most or all of the artists in house have times when they have a gap in their schedule and pick up a walk in or two, so you can score! It isn't a game for 'lesser' artists around here.

Typically you give your idea to the counter person, who can help match you up with the right artist, or show you a portfolio/flash sheet from the artist he's got in mind.

If you have no idea, check out the art on the wall, or on the artist's pin boards. They often have pieces they want to do on hand that they've drawn up during down time.

My drawing ability is stick figures. Thank goodness tattoo artists are artists!

I've supplied some reference before, like a picture of a specific flower, or a picture of my grandma, but my MOST favorite part of getting tattooed is watching the artist turn my idea into a picture.

I teach wildlife ID classes, and I have a lot of dead animals around the house. I display a horse skull, which is so beloved that I also have it in tattoo form.

I was diagnosed with a chronic illness in my 30s, and my whole attitude about life and death was deeply changed. I started getting tattoos, saying yes to experiences as they unfold, and saving a little less for retirement.

The only thing I  know for sure about my own passing is that I do not want freaking PANTS!

It looks good.

At six days, mine are unwrapped, getting plain lotion, and starting to peel. Lines peel differently than fields of color for me. You may not notice it if you are keeping the area clean, it may just peel off in the shower.

It will never look exactly like it did when it was an open wound. Your skin is healing over the ink, so you'll always look through a layer of yourself. That's what is supposed to happen, and it is a good thing. There can be some ugly / concerning / itchy phases getting there though!

I've asked to have stencils moved before. I did not, with my second tattoo, and the placement of it is not exactly what I wanted. All of the tattoos that followed on my left leg are shifted off to the left a bit because of the placement of that one tattoo. Lesson learned! That's the only time you get to move it if you don't like it.

Desert rose.

William Kasper when he was still in MO.

Is this gonna be the "cute" page?

Pls post more

2 hours ago, SStu said:

His portrait alone, without the car and background would fit nicely on your thigh - and wouldn't be such a commitment of space/money for an ideal that may not be as important to you 20 years from now. 

Just his face and doo rag - a very iconic and readable image, and a great size for a thigh.

It is going to move when you move. If you stand exactly the way you were standing when the stencil was put on, it will look exactly straight. This is going to change as you age and as your body changes shape in general.

If it bothers you enough in the years to come, put some more organic shapes around it. Organic shapes are more forgiving on our bumpy, curvy, changeable bodies.