Turquoise Cherry

People who enjoy shitty tattoos, it's usually because they don't know any better, and I leave that be because it will change nothing. However, in my group of friends I try to help them make a good decision, (telling them to stay away from the garbage in this town) but it's a bum feeling when that is perceived as cocky or pretentious. I don't care if you want a giant penis across your chest, at least make sure it's not a wonky penis.

Should have followed my strict policy to "never read the comments"...

Man this is so dope. I love lady head/lady tattoos.
10 hours in with Rodrigo Melo. Finally finished all the background. Entirely freehanded.

Started this Upper-back piece with Valerie at Frith Street yesterday, lines and half of the shading done, three more sessions to go:D:o

This thread is f*cking rad if you hunker down with a nice porter and read from the very beginning. So many good tattoos and stories. Made me fall in love with LST all over again.

Here's the little Bob Wicks piece I got from Ron Wells last weekend. The day before Stephanie Tamez lined my knee (ouch!). Hell of a fucking weekend. Photo from Ron's Instagram.

Hey everyone! Man. So much nice stuff in this thread. Here is a badly lit pic of my swallows by Tony Hundahl. The red one is about 6 years old. I asked him to match it with another after my second daughter was born ... I think he did a great job.

Anyway, most of you have probably already seen this, but for those who haven't, here's the picture from Thomas Hooper's instagram of my raven shaded. I'll probably hold off on posting pictures of the tattoo until it's finished but this gives you a taste of it. To give you an idea of size, the raven's head is around my upper bicep to shoulder and the bottom of its tailfeathers are about half way down my forearm. It is a bit of a mental adjustment getting used to seeing that much black on my arm, but I love it and find it to be so beautiful and powerful.

Got this one a couple of days ago from El Carlo @ Aloha Tattoos, Barcelona. Always a great experience getting tattooed by him, and the shop and everyone there is amazing.
Picture is kinda so-so and does not do it full justice, but you get it.

This is how it looked after the second session:



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This is how it looked after the second session:

Just had the third session on my Koi sleeve from Mo Coppoletta at the Family Business, lots of black shading done today. He reckons probably three more sessions to go.

If it's any consolation, this LST thread is now the first result in google for the phrase 'Paul Cramman Tattoo'
https://www.google.com/search?q=Paul+Cramman+tattoo&pws=0
..above his own facebook page..

Most of the bigger tattooed ladies I have seen (or tattooed) had something tiny done on them. I am personally not a fan of teeny tiny tattoos on anybody (especially if they're of the super girly variety or consist of microscopic text) because I believe that bigger is better... and I believe the same for larger ladies too. When I see a big woman with a tiny butterfly on her ankle I think to myself how cool it would be if she had a giant tiger or panther or dagger/skull or something. I love the look of people with great tattoos no matter how many extra pounds they might be packing. And I have no doubt that when I have more extensive work on myself, I'll feel a little more comfortable in my own skin.

You will look no more "ridiculous" with tattoos than anyone else! Get tattooed, get what you want, fuck the world. I don't tattoo so I can't answer your questions about working with skin and placement but I can't imagine it's that much of an obstacle.
@Shawn Porter posted a video a while back on his OV blog, an awesome awesome Dave Lum video, where his shop helper -- a woman -- was talking about how she hated her legs and her butt. How she was self conscious and never thought she'd get tattooed there, but once she did get some coverage on those areas, she loved them. Maybe the only big folks you're seeing with a significant amount of work have some not-so-great tattoos.. or maybe you're just freaking out cause you've only got one so far. But if you've got the itch, you've gotta scratch it, and everyone else can go to hell. Truly.
Apologies if this was too strongly worded.. I had the night off, some beers were consumed. The only people I don't like with a lot of tattoos are dickheads regardless of their tattoos.

World's funniest comedy? 'Airplane' nets most 'laughs a minute' | GlobalPost
This movie rules all.

As Mark Twain said, "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."

"This is a twat."

got a good laugh out of this one

Tough geezer .

I wanna see Elliot Smith again.