MGblues

It finally happened to me, in New York. I was walking around Park Avenue North running an errand for work. I was bopping along listening to Garbage when suddenly I realized I was a fucking outcast among all these business people for like, TWENTY BLOCKS.
I am going to hold on to that sweet moment for a few days.

wrapped my back up yesterday with max kuhn and it is a great feeling. 4 sessions total, around 13 hours.

It's how we used to kill panthers and gorillas.. before the internet RUINED TATTOOING.

Just because you got something stabbing through your head doesn't mean that you're having a bad time

And/or fire.

This is a really terrible picture but I got this cigar smoking frog from El Monga at Aloha Tattoo Barcelona yesterday. I am super stoked that he decided to attach himself to my leg because I think we're going to have some good adventures together.
@bongsau Really sorry for your loss, and my deepest condolences. Sometimes it's the silly little tattoos that have the deepest significance.

well. i did not get my touchups. but i did get a new tattoo which did involve a tear-out:

My pug. Winston. Riding the red rocket. Which was really hilarious. Until I got a call 3/4 of the way through the tattoo that my mother passed away. Shout out to my pal Ollie for working like lightning to finish the tattoo before my ride showed up to go see my family. So some more to add to the arguement that a tattoo is more than just a silly picture on your skin. It's not just about "what" the tattoo is of or the "why"...but the "where" and "when" and "who" of the experience is of equal importance. A colourful timestamp for this lifetime. And now I'm left with a lot of sorrow to deal with, a good laugh and a great tattoo. Laughter is the best medicine. And my Mom really loved my idiot pug. But I think my next tattoo will be little more serious and carry a lot more weight. Peace.

MACROPHAGE - "Me Again!"
Cracks me up every time :-)

From the Needles and Sins blog, a short video from TED. Really neat!
Needles and Sins Tattoo Blog | Tattoo 101: What makes tattoos permanent?

It rules that he has lots of empty space on his chest but none on his face.

I thought it was about time I posted my recently in progress backpiece, started end of Feb this year.
This pic is about 36 hours in progress. I am quite tall and also have a bit of extra meat around the "love handle" area so is a big amount of skin to cover.
I have been doing constant 3 hour sessions every 2-3 weeks with 2 x 6 hour sessions thrown in. Generally have been pretty good with each session but I have to say left thigh background shading for some reason sucked incredibly, probably one of the least favourite sessions of all my new work. Strange thing was the right thigh shading a week later (not shown in pic) was easy.
I just noticed btw the snakes body going across my arse does line up, it looks like it doesn't but must have been the way I was standing in the pic. It was taken after the left thigh shading session and I was not a happy camper. :)
Also just attached the outline after the 1st 6 hour session.

Rock of ages with a dragon added in! I'll probably post a picture on instagram after all the lining is done to see!

I just want to say that I read this thread now and then and my heart just sinks. I appreciate that this is a place where many of you feel comfortable sharing some of what you're going through, and I only hope that it offers you some measure of relief and comfort to know that many of us are thinking of you, and all of us are pulling for you

It's been around, but I didn't see it here on a cursory search. I wonder if they offer quantity discount?

I really have nothing to add but:


"

It's this blatant upstart attitude that earns you no respect, although please...don't beg, a dog does that when it loses all self respect.
I see what we have here though, another art collector rather than an enthusiast.
At one point, I might have been interested in the type of tattoos you have...the experiences you've had in street front shops...the understanding you have gained from this old time traditional culture...the networks you have established, the people who make this culture such a tight knit community based on respect, but I'm kinda guessing now you haven't. I have this feeling you have gained zero insight into how a traditional tattoo goes far deeper for some than just a picture, it's significant nature far beyond the lines you perceive as imperfection...mmm, but I'm not
See, we don't need to convince you of fuck all. You haven't earned it. You bumbled your own way into this, all on your own. Well done.

Dude comes on here, introduces himself as a scratcher, and we argue art with him? We can do a lot better than this, folks.

This would be so much cooler if LST was a bar, and some drunken idiot blurted all that out in front of the regular patrons. Hahaha.

Less than a month until I start mine, but I'm going to stop reading this thread because y'all are making it sound like tattoos hurt.

Couldn't resist booking a little one with El Monga while I'm in Barcelona. I'm getting a frog because I really love frog tattoos, and I really love El Monga's tattoos so it's going to be super cool and fun.

I hate outlining.
Hate.
It.
Hate.
Hate.

Got this one from Stevie Edge to top a good week of getting tattooed.

Rob Mopar is doing a guest spot at FTW through Saturday. Neither of us were doing much yesterday so he made these ladies for me. His instagram is @rwmopar if anyone is wondering.

Picked this up from Bryan Burk. He was a great guy, and I love the tattoo. My wife got tattooed by Adam Warmerdam, they both are both at Darkhorse in LA, and Adam was super cool as well. Darkhorse is a great place to get tattooed, and I highly recommend it to anyone that is in Los Angeles.

Today a little bit of everything has been done (in just 2 hours), red in the arrow, the glove, the shoe, the nails of the fox, even more red in the man's face etc.
Next time we have some small things to do (which we couldn't do today because it's in parts that were not fully healed from the previous session, and to tidy everything up.
I talked to my artist about the 'blank' part in the fox, and aked if he was planning on keeping it this way (as i think it looks a bit 'unfinished') but he gave me a firm 'yes' so I guess that's how it will stay :)