Blackcloud

My Scott Sylvia Eagle.

My back is in progress and last session I realized that getting one's back tattooed is like getting your ribs done all over again. I foolishly thought going into it... "At least my ribs are done. Nothing could hurt that bad." If I'd given it an ounce more thought and considered the anatomy involved I might have realized that ribs wrap from front to back... fucking duh! I told Scott we will be finishing this thing in 30 minute increments. What a cry baby I've become in my old age.

After a year and a half I have finally finished up my first major piece. Done by Horishow at Amitabha Tattoo in Fukuoka, Japan.

My Scott Sylvia Eagle.

My Scott Sylvia Eagle.

@Blackcloud seeing that eagle made me poke through your gallery. Goddamn, dude. Nice stuff!

My Scott Sylvia Eagle.

Healed pic of my Scott Sylvia (BlackHeart Tattoo - SF) roses from Dec 2013. Happy New Year, everyone!! :D

Here's a healed shot of the rose and dagger I got from Scott Sylvia at the Richmond Convention.

General tattoo news that's worth sharing, but doesn't necessarily fit in any of the existing threads (or deserve a new one)
Like this...
I checked out Black Heart's official website/blog today, and was suprised to see that it had gotten a big overhaul since I last visited. It looks really nice, and it had some pictures of tattoos that I had never seen before. Check it out: Black Heart Tattoo |Black Heart Tattoo | » Bad Ass Tattooery | Bad Ass Tattooery

I guess I will throw my in progress piece done by shige this monday at diamond club tattoo into the mix

I just youtubed this guy and I miss when having lots of tattoos meant you were in a band like this:

getting tattooed by robert hernandez on saturday, jeff gogue on sunday, and shige on monday at diamond club!!!! gonna the best week of getting tattoos for me!

There was a thread about "dotwork" a while ago and I got fairly involved and possibly upset a few people. Check it out, I think I already answered the question posed by your thread title.
Also, the word "fad" is inherently insulting in modern usage - but you knew that already.
While researching tattoos, tattooing, tattoo styles, tattoo history and tattooers is interesting and probably fun. It's still kinda like researching swimming. Most of it's value comes from being involved, taking part, doing it, getting it done and having it be part of your life.
Then again... On a long enough time scale, ALL tattooing since Ed Hardy opened the first appointment-only studio is a fad. Sailors going to war, getting tattooed in Honolulu was a fad. High-Society Europeans shipping esteemed Japanese irezumi artists over to tattoo dragons on them in the 1800's was a fad. Internet forums will be seen to be a fad. Finally, tattoo customers stressing about being period-correct like vintage clothing aficionados will be seen to be a fad of the early 21st century.

As requested here are a couple of photos of my Chris Garver tiger.

Finally have a new finished piece to enter the contest! Not expecting to win, but it's a good way to show off my finished tattoo by Kore Flatmo!
The pictures were taken in May by Kore when we finished up. Yay! :D

You're talking about this with your artist, which is what you should be doing. Soliciting advice from complete strangers on the internet is weird, and quite frankly, if you need to do that you probably shouldn't be getting tattooed anyway.

Might as well give this month a shot too then :o
From Xam at The Family Business, London.

Bristol Tattoo Club

mine are gay there on the inside and say kindness facing me. i have had them for 12 years or so franky orange did them when he worked at jinx proof god knows where he is now.. my favorite one is rootbeer which this chick named mary had in oakland and i was so jelouse i wanted to choke her

heres mine

Lost my LST shirt so maybe my tiger can help out.
Tony Hundahl - Rock of Ages Austin, Texas - one shot

ok mine is frome Chad Koeplinger!
done at invictus /Oslo a few days ago!

I guess I'll go first, but I already have a feeling that I'll be going up against some really tough competition this month.
Nick Colella formerly of Chicago Tattoo Co., currently going rogue until he makes an announcement about whatever he has in the works:

I'm a bit biased being an ongoing client, but I personally love Henning Jorgensen's tigers. I plan on getting one on my front right thigh soon as he finishes up my left thigh and the collaboration back piece he's working with Rubendall on. Check out the pics!