Isotope

Not intending to be confrontational but,
I don't care about having "earned" my tattoos, the easier the experience and less trauma caused by the end of the tattoo the better for me.  If I can get my tattoos bright & bold with a quarter of the pain and have them heal twice as fast then I'm going to take that.  I get the "you earned it" thing I'm just not huge on it; I'm happier to earn my tattoo by having the money, time, and commitment instead of the pain threshold, adrenaline, and healing factor.
This all being said I'm still likely to get a Chad tattoo, just not as quickly, because his work and lifestyle both bring to mind the folk art feel that tattooing has to me.

Chad is fast and heavy handed, but his stuff heals fast and good(atleast the two I already got from him). He did my elbow and forearm, and it wasn't a problem at all. No reason to shy away from him.

got a chest tattoo from chad - it didnt hurt more than any other tattoo i have gotten
except my ribs - ooh the ribs

I have a lot of hours under VERY "heavy handed" tattooing (I hate that phrase), including one full rib panel (in progress) and a full back piece (finished). All I can say is that it's temporary, the stoke will carry you through, and it's worth it. You know you earned that shit. Don't let it scare you off. Tattoos are supposed to hurt!

I have a lot of hours under VERY "heavy handed" tattooing (I hate that phrase), including one full rib panel (in progress) and a full back piece (finished). All I can say is that it's temporary, the stoke will carry you through, and it's worth it. You know you earned that shit. Don't let it scare you off. Tattoos are supposed to hurt!

My Grandfathers' WWII service serial numbers on each tricep after my first grandfather passed. They each pretty much raised me. 

My Grandfathers' WWII service serial numbers on each tricep after my first grandfather passed. They each pretty much raised me. 

My Grandfathers' WWII service serial numbers on each tricep after my first grandfather passed. They each pretty much raised me. 

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

Progress with Chelsea Kotzur... color next. 

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

Hey, fellow woman with an untattooed partner!  It's cool that it's working out for you guys. 
I tease my BF pretty often about what an ideal backpiece back he has (broad-shouldered, perfect skin).  If ever a back were made for a violent tengu slaughter, or a battle royale...

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

It's not really nudity if it's fully tattooed.
 
Which is my excuse for dropping trou in public places to show people my back.

@Intomyskin You will be fine.  I am a brewer which is a physically demanding job (on my feet all day, lifting 55lb malt bags, climbing in and out of brewing vessels, many many flights of stairs, etc)  and I was working the day after many sessions without issue.  It was nice if I could get tattooed on a Friday or Saturday to have that weekend off but it's not necessary.  The day after one session I took a five or six hour train ride and, again, it was fine.  Same thing with aftercare.  The day after my final back session my wife went into labour and my child ended up in the NICU for a couple of weeks so I healed my back sleeping on hospital couches and maybe taking one shower a day.  No problems with healing. You're overthinking things.

dont stress (easy to say when its not your tattoo) - you know in the end it wont matter - it'll heal and be just a small part of some tattoo awesomeness
but i know how you feel - when i have healed forearm pieces those are the hardest because you see them constantly and analyzing every detail becomes a part of the healing ritual 
it'll be all good

BAM

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!
- - - Updated - - -
HOLY BALLS! Congrats dude!!!!!!
- - - Updated - - -
Kelly asked me for one last finishing session to polish off some details he wanted. It turned out to be MORE LINE WORK. :p

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: 
 
 

@Isotope when you described your idea to me, I have to say that I was thinking, hmm...okay. That worked out in the best possible way. The weird thing is that the roses just might be the toughest thing about that tattoo.

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". 
I am a wreck this morning kids.

Link to video: