tc3500

OK, I'll play too...
- Would you rather get the tattoos you want as quickly as possible, or wait and spread it out over a longer period of time?
For me, I am kind of just going for it. I’m in my 40’s though and waited long enough. I feel that I’m off ot a great start with some great artists…..so just gonna run with it for now.
- Do you have a plan as to which areas you cover in which order? Saving the hands for last or getting the worst spots first, maybe getting the visible spots first and save back of the thighs for example?
Started with my calf, a nice out of the way spot and then did the right side of my chest. The front of my calf will be next and then gonna go for it with a ¾ to full sleeve on my left arm. I am more trying to keep general styles on certain areas for now. No real order though.
- If you consider yourself a collector, do you keep areas of your body untouched for fantastic tattooers to appear say 20 years from now?
Just kind of staying away from my back in case I decide to go for the epic backpiece someday!
- Anything else you would like to add or discuss
Not really, just so glad that I finally went ahead and got my first tattoo……will have 5 in the first 6 months and really enjoying it. Been lucky to have this site and other great resources for starting off strong.

In the shop there is a huge sign: Unattended children will be sold to the circus...
Why would a convention be something else..? As long as they don't run around and listen to the parents or artists I think it's fine :)

I'm glad I had a 6-month break last year, after joining this forum, buying books, getting super excited and getting 6 tattoos (from zero) in somewhat different styles over a year and a half (though not wildly different, mostly variations on traditional). I think I feel a little more unhurried and at ease now, like this interest hasn't turned into a passing one. I really need to get my shit together and plan a larger tattoo that isn't a one-shot, though. And to leave some room in more visible spots for people who might feel inaccessible to me right now, but won't always be that way.
@marley mission you have been on such a great tear recently, it's fantastic to see. I also really love what @taaarro said earlier in this thread. Lots of respect for people with large, beautiful and tasteful tattoos that are thoughtfully planned out, but I am so not like that. I already spend way too much time in my head; impulsive-ish tattoos let me tell my brain to fuck off.

I am booked for June 2nd in Eagle River, Alaska! Will fly from Juneau, then drive from Anchorage to Eagle River to get this piece from him, I am so honored!!

This April, Chad Koeplinger is embarking on a road trip to tattoo in every state. Who's excited about this?! Who's trying to get tattooed? I emailed him awhile ago and hope to snag an appointment in Portland.
Check out Chad's Instagram for more info.

I am booked for June 2nd in Eagle River, Alaska! Will fly from Juneau, then drive from Anchorage to Eagle River to get this piece from him, I am so honored!!

I have a different take on this. First, it's a free country and you can do whatever you feel comfortable with in regards to this.
My experience with getting tattooed at a convention is that I didn't really care for the children staring at me while I was getting a naked pinup tattoo on the inside of my thigh. Couple that with the weird positions that the male artist had to get into to do the tattoo on me (female) and it was just weird. I know that no one was doing anything wrong but I wouldn't choose to have children watching while a man is working between my legs.
Hindsight is 20/20; I won't choose a tattoo with adult subject matter or in an intimate place if I ever get a tattoo at a convention again.

I really wish I could get tattooed by him during this epic trip, but I have absolutely no idea what my life is gonna be like when he rolls through NYC, so I can't commit. Best of luck to all LSTers who contacted him, though! I hope you guys get in!

posted this in the 'upcoming' thread but worth posting twice :)
i am in for 4/13 @ tattoo paradise in marlyand
gonna pick from his flash basically
so not sure where or what
but it makes it that much more fun imo

Rad, I got in for Portland 5/30. Gonna pick something out of the book as well, looking forward to getting there early and flipping through designs!

OK, I'll play...
- Would you rather get the tattoos you want as quickly as possible, or wait and spread it out over a longer period of time?
Some of each actually. I don't want to go too fast- partially because I can't really afford it and partially because I don't want it to seem like I'm flaunting the extent to which I can afford it. I also don't want to be fill up the space I want to fill and then be done. Currently I am 43 and have nothing on my left arm. I'm thinking a 50th birthday tattoo could be fun.
- Do you have a plan as to which areas you cover in which order? Saving the hands for last or getting the worst spots first, maybe getting the visible spots first and save back of the thighs for example?
Working on a comprehensive left leg right now. Negative space, trad american style with full coverage from hip to ankle. It's getting there but will still take a while which is fine. I have some other thoughts for putting more on my right shoulder and everything will change if/when I ever decide to go below the elbow. I doubt I will ever do neck or hands or even back. I have one on my upper back and I forget it's there because I can't see it. I only have one tattoo on my right leg so maybe I will fill that up once the left one is done. Who knows. No plan really.
- If you consider yourself a collector, do you keep areas of your body untouched for fantastic tattooers to appear say 20 years from now?
Nah, not really. I've gotten some fun tattoos from cool artists and there are others I'm aware of that I admire so I suppose it could go that direction but serious collecting isn't really what I'm doing now. I'd probably be more likely to get a tattoo in a specific place on a vacation than to seek out a specific artist. That's how we found Great Lakes Tattoo. Had a trip to Chicago planned a few years ago and, after some research, made appointments there. This past week my wife and I went back and reversed artists because we had such a great time before. Obviously I'll research who and where to go if I am traveling and I suppose I could decide to get tattoos from people guesting in Minneapolis.
- Anything else you would like to add or discuss
I too am surprised at how much I have gotten into tattoos. One thing I have learned is that nobody gives a fucj about my tattoos. Maybe that's because I live in a city but no one outside of immediate family ever comments on them- positively or negatively. No one cares. Well, mostly no one comments. I did have an old woman at the state fair tell me I had the best tattoos she has seen all day. Also my wife likes them and my dad doesn't. But otherwise, nobody gives a fuck.

cool thread no? deserves some life support imo
gonna answer these OP questions right hur...
- Would you rather get the tattoos you want as quickly as possible, or wait and spread it out over a longer period of time?
i'm in high gear - i started late (my late 30s) imo and i know i want alot of coverage right now (45 soon) i'm getting there - approaching 30 decent size pieces and i estimate i should be getting close to 100 hours of tattooing time after i get these next two pieces
- Do you have a plan as to which areas you cover in which order? Saving the hands for last or getting the worst spots first, maybe getting the visible spots first and save back of the thighs for example?
sort of - i have several types of tattoo 'lists' - one focuses of locations of future tattoos - i like to go for tough spots - i think the more painful the spot is almost adds something to the tattoo for me - i have very vivid recollections of my ribs being done - my six hour session on the ribs i think was more challenging than any marathon i have done yet just as rewarding
- If you consider yourself a collector, do you keep areas of your body untouched for fantastic tattooers to appear say 20 years from now?
well i don't think so
I actually was diagnosed last year with a degenerative eye disease that may or may not blind me as i advance to the 'golden years'
this actually reinforced my attitude of live for today baby - not in a let's not be responsible type of way - more of a go for those things you really want type of way
- Anything else you would like to add or discuss
its the most ridiculous and awesome hobby I ever thought I'd get hooked on but here i am trying to get lots of tatts and enjoying every minute of it

Yep, no shortage of options to get a good or bad tattoo in Minneapolis. Your work looks nice @I Pray To Crom

Thanks man, I really appreciate it!

Can I third the recommendation for getting tattooed in the Midwest? I've only been to Tattoo Faction and Aloha Monkey and was/am frankly too new to tattoos/derpy because of nerves to fully appreciate either of them, but the people there are so friendly (coming from famously reserved New England) and you could get an amazing sleeve by picking flash off the wall with help from an artist at either place in terms of placement and whatnot. Going to a place with the history of Aloha Monkey and getting flash from a bunch of people who've been involved with it over the years could be a super fun way to approach this--Kandi Everett girl, Rollo dagger-stabbing-a-thing, etc etc. Plus the cost of staying there while you get this done might be lower than on either of the coasts.

SO Many Fantastic pieces being posted!!
Here is my latest (and second, lol) tattoo. It was done by Christian Buckingham at Revolt in Las Vegas last week. It's on the right side of my chest and took about 4hr.
The idea was basically a war style triceratops and I asked for it to be tough looking.....the rest was left up to the artist and I couldn't be more stoked with the results!
This picture is a quick cell phone pic from the day the piece was completed, maybe will upload another of the healed result in several weeks.

SO Many Fantastic pieces being posted!!
Here is my latest (and second, lol) tattoo. It was done by Christian Buckingham at Revolt in Las Vegas last week. It's on the right side of my chest and took about 4hr.
The idea was basically a war style triceratops and I asked for it to be tough looking.....the rest was left up to the artist and I couldn't be more stoked with the results!
This picture is a quick cell phone pic from the day the piece was completed, maybe will upload another of the healed result in several weeks.

Healed Ryuzu Kannon by Trevor Mcstay at Dynamic Tattoo.

by Nathan Kemmerer -

SO Many Fantastic pieces being posted!!
Here is my latest (and second, lol) tattoo. It was done by Christian Buckingham at Revolt in Las Vegas last week. It's on the right side of my chest and took about 4hr.
The idea was basically a war style triceratops and I asked for it to be tough looking.....the rest was left up to the artist and I couldn't be more stoked with the results!
This picture is a quick cell phone pic from the day the piece was completed, maybe will upload another of the healed result in several weeks.

SO Many Fantastic pieces being posted!!
Here is my latest (and second, lol) tattoo. It was done by Christian Buckingham at Revolt in Las Vegas last week. It's on the right side of my chest and took about 4hr.
The idea was basically a war style triceratops and I asked for it to be tough looking.....the rest was left up to the artist and I couldn't be more stoked with the results!
This picture is a quick cell phone pic from the day the piece was completed, maybe will upload another of the healed result in several weeks.

Yay another Minnesotan on here. We have a lot of good shops here, a lot of bad ones too

I had my consultation today... Jim Sylvia 2/19!

excited :)
2/21 Rob Ryan @ Electric in Asbury Park, NJ
4/13 Chad Koeplinger @ Tattoo Paradise in Wheaton, MD

Its been forever since ive been able to get in here so thought id start with a post here. Finally after years of just not being able to... im getting my raccoon thigh piece in feb and cant wait. I got pipes done back in may , on my right outter forearm and will get either my deer skull with arrows or ship being taken down by a kraken next ( either of those, comes down to where it would best fit as to which goes next. Theyre all part of a bigger project)
So needless to say.... im pretty excited.