ian

Really cool stuff! I saw this on the instagrams

Right on :D

I'll tell you what, it's not easy watching Ben tattoo your buddy and not walking out with something yourself :(

Me and my buddy J went and visited Ben Grillo yesterday @ Power Tattoo...

Ben added another little something to my buddy's face, he's already tattooed both of his cheeks so doing his forehead wasn't an issue

I was surprised how quick it went, maybe slightly longer than 2 hours? I'm not totally sure, time goes pretty fast over there, Ben's always a cool dude to hang out with.

Here's the finished product...

After nine sessions and around 55hours we have finished my back piece tonight. Healed pics to come....I am extremely happy with the end result and relieved to be finished.

DAMN YOU!! So jealous man, looks incredible!

This is the only time I'll say this to another man... lets see them cheeks!!!

Jorge? I mean, Ben's done damn near every other part of his face. :)

that's right, he's getting an image of Mary above the cross that Jack Rudy did...

headed to Power Tattoo tomorrow, I'm not getting tattooed but my friend is getting his forehead tattooed by Ben Grillo... should be a good time :D

Got this from Chris Garver last week at the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum pop up store (Sorry if the picture is really big. Posting this from my iPhone). Pic stolen from their instagram.

fuckin' Ivar man, you're a bad ass!!

I think that Ben Grillo has one of these as well. I love them.

Ben has one as does Drew Flores from State of Grace...

Damn. I'm so jealous right now! ^^

Welcome! At this point I'd look for a tattoo artist to work out the rough bits of the sketch. Even if you brought a more refined drawing to a tattooer they would almost certainly have to rework it to make it work as a tattoo. If you let us know where you live I'm sure we could suggest some excellent artists in your area.

This.

Getting some more work from Trevor McStay tomorrow. Finishing off my calf and possibly doing something on the knee. I don't know what to do on my knee, but I do know I want it to be quick.

he's here in the States right now? Where's he working?

Your butt muscles are too big to be relaxed. Try a horse tranq.

it is a big butt though... bulbous was the perfect adjective...

@hogg, @Pugilist, @kylegrey Thank you all! I will try to post more detailed and non-iphone pics once it is healed.

how many sittings is that?

art is the emulation of what is what was and what will be. sometimes you wanna test yourself against what pre exists. sometimes you want to test yourself and create something new. sometiimes you wanna test yourself and try to leave a legacy. and sometimes you have to pay the bills.

name one artist that has never copied something in there life time. try naming someone that has never made money from what preexists during their career.

this thread = moot point

I disagree completely. Using inspiration from someones work is one thing but a direct replica is another.

And of course the first argument made is, 'well that’s not pure, tattoos need to hurt.' Anyone who makes that argument--they don’t have to use the pain killer. I’ll tattoo ‘em straight up. Right? They don’t have to worry about the other guy’s tattoo. They can worry about their own."

This is my take on it, I use them occasionally and I'll say that the tattoo still hurts like a mofo, you're just in a more relaxed state to deal with the pain. If it's going to make it a little easier for me and much easier for my tattooer, I'm all for it.

As far as earning my tattoos, I've got plenty a sober tattoo in some painful areas so as far as I'm concerned, i've earned the right to get tattooed how I damn please.

The Family Business posted this tattoo by Chisaki on instagram today:

I thought it looked familiar because I've seen nearly the same tattoo done by Tomas Tomas. I found this picture of it on the internet, but it was also published in Marisa Kakoulas's book Tattoo World:

Pretty messed up, in my opinion.

Aren't Chisaki and Tomas Tomas married or something?

I know he did the patterns that cover her body so in this case I'm sure there was some permission or understanding involved...

Gotta get down on those ass cheeks Marcus!

Marcus was bummed, the guy wasn't into it...

Here's the next day, Marcus tattooing the same piece...

I got to hang with Marcus for a bit today, he said that the Japan episode was all set to air until they figured out that the Japanese Translation was all wrong. They're going back in and correcting it and he hopes it'll be finished around June 23.

Even more exciting is who he plans to film with next, I'll give a hint, they discussed it and this person agreed to do it while at the Paris convention...

Marcus Kuhn is in town guesting and he lat me snap a pic of a back piece that he's starting tomorrow. He granted me permission to post...

Went and visited my buddy at his shop today and he had cancelations all day so I asked him for a little foot tat, he gladly obliged :D

Called and I'm booked with Mike Wilson on August 9th for a gorilla head with dagger.

I'm excited.

I told you that you should call ;)

You just never know...

I would just give them a call or shoot them an email, that'd probably get you further than asking any of us ;)

looks like we have a winner for tattoo of the month :D

My back. Finished with Chris O'Donnell. Couldn't be more stoked on it.

am I the only one that doesn't see the like button in this post and the one following it?