Isotope

@marley mission Thanks! Chelsea Kotzur at True Blue in ATX. She stays really low key, but is really an incredible painter, in my opinion. She really got me comfortable with serious tattooing and I love love love her lady heads. So I asked her if she would do a big piece on me. I gave her the elements and let her go nuts. Means a lot more to me than if it was from a big name I was getting as a collector that I didn't have a relationship with. 

https://www.instagram.com/chelseakotzurtattoo/

Started this little fella: 

Thank you for sharing that! Awesome!!!!!

Today I learned that the posterior of my body is home to multiple portals to hell! Seriously, I kept expecting cenobites to show up and drag me off with hook chains.

Whoever said the butt crease is magical sure knew what they were talking about. But the most surprising thing for me (and for Greg, actually) is that there were a couple of spots near my shoulder blades that actually made me burst into tears instantly! It was the strangest thing...it wasn't like I just bottomed out and couldn't take it anymore, it was a huge surge of adrenaline and emotion that felt completely involuntary. And just in those spots! We tattooed well into armpit territory and it was honestly a relief after those other spots. So strange.

I would post the Instagram but I'm on my phone. :( it's on his page, though, butt crack towel and everything.

AWESOME!!! Greg kills it. One of my favorite tattooers right now, and on the proverbial "bucket list".

I also had a small spot on each shoulder blade that was exactly like that. The machine would hit them and I would groan like a dying toad.

You are a champion for making it through that much linework in one sitting! Especially from a heavy handed artist!

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Finished my full back piece last Friday. I plan to write something about the experience but need time to collect and organize all my thoughts.

by Mike Rubendall at Kings Ave:

HOLY BALLS! Congrats dude!!!!!!

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Kelly asked me for one last finishing session to polish off some details he wanted. It turned out to be MORE LINE WORK. :p

Who did this? It's fucking killer!

Thank you sir! Kelly Edwards from Element in San Antonio. Amazing artist, tattoo craftsman, and person.

Rib panels and sides are next on the large scale plan. But... my full back was a war zone from a known hard tattooer. Every inch down to the top half of the cheeks is covered. Each session was a challenge start to finish, no real comfortable spots, with some real electric places that were torturous. It has me wondering if everything is easier from here on out (except for rest of ass), or if my ribs and sides will be just as much torture.

BAM

One tiny little touch up/detail session left next month!

I try to bring BBQ, coffee, etc. And I tip every session.

Hell yeah man!

Left side of my chest was first introduction to what real tattooing pain could feel like. Then I got my collarbones done. That hurt a little more. Then I jumped right into full back from there!

So I think Kelly Edwards was having a little fun with me yesterday. He put the ink cap on the middle of my back... to use on the spot right below your tailbone, right between the top of where your cheeks start. Which so far has been like a rocket blasting off of pain compared to even the rest of my back.

"Now... as I tattoo you, remember, there is an ink cap on your back. A full one. Do...not...move... And I promise, doing this hurts me more than you..."

More progress... this session was at the Austin Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Convention. It was my first time being tattooed at a convention with so many people going through, I was nervous at first, but once the rubber hit the road, it was a lot of fun, and the distraction of all the people was a huge help.

Started mine yesterday evening with Kelly Edwards. It was amazing... and much more painful than I anticipated, and he tattooed for something like 5 hours with only a short break. I was actually genuinely surprised at how hard it was. Took my breath away more than once. He tattoos fast and hard, and I am humbled and proud to even be wearing this line work, sat like a rock. Next appointment will be in August for scales on the rattlesnake and starting to shade.

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Oh yeah, and did the left side, or one preferential side, hurt a LOT more than the other?

I love this thread.

Thank you everyone here for sharing your journey so far. So much incredible work. This truly is a crucible, and it has really been sinking in more and more just how special it still is.

Sorry to spam guys... but I am so stoked with how the scales are turning out (Eastern diamondback, Crotalus adamanteus).

Playing around:

Sorry, I meant next session. There is some red in the cloud shading, but it's hard to see in those pics.

I apologize if you already stated but who is doing that for you? @Isotope

Kelly Edwards at Element in San Antonio. He's ridiculous.

Time for color!!

Nice job, Isotope. I can see the moisture and mandatory pink ring, so it must be some damn fine brisket. My grandfather (passed away at 94 last year) was a brisket master. He was a Czech from Shiner, TX. We were lucky to have him so long, and his BBQ set the bar pretty high. I've traveled all over and ate at Kansas City's famous BBQ places, but they never came close to what I've had in Texas.

Damn, now I'm hungry!

Thank you!!!

As to your Grandfather...

Czech background? check.

Central Texas? check.

Yep. Definitely checks out as a Texas brisket king.

Hoy Stuff Swallow. Love it.

Thanks! Chelsea and Charley are the two who really got me into being tattooed, so I asked them to do my pair o' birds, and gave them free range. Chelsea drew up the Sailor Vern based kewpie, and Charley did the Hot Stuff/Texas Traditional inspired hybrid.

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By Todd Noble, at the Montreal Tattoo Convention. Sorry about the sideways view. Was right-side up when I took the picture. Anyways, you get the idea.

Love this. Noble's stuff has been on my radar a lot lately. Not sure if he's just getting more visibility, but his stuff absolutely slays.

Texas style devil sparrow, Charley Marquez at True Blue, ATX.

The girl figure bent into a skull.

Where did it originate? On a flash sheet? Does it have a specific name?

Little filler to pass the time between back sessions.

Chelsea Kotzur at True Blue in ATX.