Lance

As usual, awesome. This series NEVER goes wrong with the music too! I always have to freeze the credits at the end to see what the music is so I can go searching for it.

I think I mentioned somewhere once that getting my butt worked on wasn't all that bad, well...I change my mind. That's over the top awful. Shading isn't bad, but having it outlined is horrible. Previously the artist outlined and shaded my right side for my backpiece, now she's starting on the left. This time I was squirming through the whole process. My body would just twitch involuntarily. That said it'll be nice when it's finished. It's odd walking around knowing you've one bum cheek completely covered in black and the other pale as the full moon ;-)

I'll be flying up Saturday and a portion of Sunday. Unfortunately, recent car repair bills will prevent me from even contemplating any new tattoos but I'm hoping maybe I can scrounge up for a new flash sheet or 2.

Thanks for posting. Saw this on Instagram too. I'll try to stop by for this one.

Next month I will be in Hawaii surfing and laying on the beach so time will tell. Hope people don't stare to much I need to lose some weight, Ha Ha.

My parents were born in Hawaii, so I've plenty of family on the islands and go back every few years. There are actually a lot of tattoo shops and tattooed people so I don't think you'll get any harsh stares. If anything, I found it interesting that the last time I was there I got more than a couple of head nods from Locals. And it wasn't because Locals are crazy nice either.

Enjoy your trip and be sure to have a "plate lunch" while you're there and if you find yourself in Maui, you've got to try "Guri Guri" in Kahului. It's a must have and everyone on the island will know what you're talking about if you ask.

Yeah, sorry about that. I grabbed as many appointments as possible before her leave. How many more sessions do you have on your back? I saw some updated pictures and it looks awesome.

Someone had to do it! And I'm glad someone's using her time to their advantage. If I didn't have other expenses tying me up I would have planned a couple more too. I've probably about 18-20 more hours left. I've a 4 hour session mid-September and another 4 hours Thanksgiving weekend. The latter might be cancelled if she feels like she's too far along. It's getting there. Can't wait to finish it. I'm already wracking my brain figuring out what's next. Ribs? Chest piece? My lower left leg? Then there's the Horitomo factor too.

Seems you've got it worked out. Good on you!

Third session on my back with Jill Bonny tomorrow. Then two appointments in October and two in November. Then starting my sleeves with Horitomo while Jill is on maternity leave. Also may have an appointment with an artist at the SOG convention. Crosses-fingers.

So you're the reason why my backpiece won't be finished before she leaves! Snatched up all of Jill's openings, did you! Ha ha, lucky! And Horitomo too! Lucky x2. And the convention! Dang! Someones been planning in advance! That's awesome.

Went to the party yesterday. It was cool. Some nice prints by Horitomo for sale. I was able to snatch a copy of the cat tebori print and get it signed by him. I'd have bought his Yoshitsune warrior print too but I couldn't figure out a way to bring it onto my return flight to LA w/o damaging it.

The place was busy w/ a lot of machines buzzing. So busy, that they were running short of tables to work on people. I got the back of my thigh worked on, and Jill finished up a namakubi there. I'm really digging it. Can't post a picture since I'm on my cell till I fly home. But it's on Jill's Instagram if anyone wants to check it out.

Great seeing all the guest artists and seeing everyone working. I briefly talked to a couple of them and they're some really nice guys. Also saw @hogg. Great seeing you and talking at the party!

I'll be there on Saturday. But no one will notice. I'll probably be behind a screen. I've a session and I'll be getting me bum tattooed again. Sssssigh...

No, seriously, there's some serious talent coming. This should be pretty cool so I hope I'll be able to poke my head out. Much congratulations to the SOG crew!

Quasi-related, is anyone planning on going to SOG's 10 year anniversary celebration this coming weekend (Sept 1-2)? It's looking to almost be like a mini-pre-convention of sorts w/ all the guest artists attending. Chad Koeplinger, Tim Hendricks, Ben Grillo, Chuey Quintanar, Eiland Hogan just to name a few.

I've got to fit in another session w/ Jill this weekend :-)

Relationship wise, my honey said to me the other day "there's something weird with your left elbow", me "What?!", "It's naked. I'm used to the other one. You need some work done, for symmetry". :)

Marry her! MARRY HER!!! ;-)

Wow...um, did anyone tell the Japanese that Koi symbolize homosexuality?! Maybe that's why there are so many koi back pieces out there. So when...

Sssssigh (eye rolls)...Some people, how do they come up with this kind of stuff?

This is my back. Can't believe its all done.

This is one of those times where one looks at this, knows they are conciously starring at man-ass but just can't take their eyes away from it nor do they care too. ;-)

Insane work! INSANE!!! Congratulations on finishing it!

I just got this. Pics soon.

I saw that yesterday and instantly thought of this post. That Sir, is awesome. Lucky Bastard x3!

So cool!

edit: I login to instagram on my laptop through followgram.me and you can just right click and copy images from there.

edit2: Just came across this by Jelle S.O.O.S.... he called it Pharoahs Panthers!

Thanks for posting the Hooper piece and instructions. Awesome Pantgers too!

Thomas Hooper posted an arm full of arrow tattoos on instagram earlier today. Pretty interesting/cool. Sorry I'd post, but no clue how to link from there. Maybe someone else who knows how can.

If one NEVER wants their tattoos to show even while wearing long sleeves, I'd suggest 3/4 length or shorter. Mine end about about 3/4" above my wrist bone and even with long shirt sleeves they poke out occasionally. It could be different for others though. For work I'm often pointing at things, whether it be a graphic on a computer screen, pointing at something pinned to the wall, or stretching across a table looking over a set of drawings during meetings. If you have to point go shorter.

Welcome to my world. I looked at all these before I even got my first tattoo and they blew my mind. I thought "Tattoos can look like that?! I want one."

Exactly! Try growing up as a little kid seeing this imagery. Then having to wait/spend 15 years to locate artists in the US capable of doing this kind of stuff (pre-Internet). Then wait another 8 years before you established yourself and made enough money to travel and get tattooed over multiple sessions. Agonizing :-)

I hate categories .

I'd have to say real traditional Japanese you would have to look at Kiku. Doesn't matter if they are Japanese or not, tebori or a machine.

Ssssigh, I ask a question and I never noticed the responses. Apologies. Probably the best attitudes and answers to have. Just get what you like, right? Doesn't really matter what others think, if you appreciate it.

It's interesting though. I had asked because over time I've actually heard in daily life, online, and even in tattoo magazine interviews the gamut written in my original post. People either criticizing or applauding artists who coincide with the descriptions.

The only problem that I found is, when you establish that relationship it is hard to go elsewhere because you don't 100% know what to expect. I personally keep going back to the same guy because I know what to expect (generally awesome shit) and I know the drill. At this point I just swing by and throw a few ideas out there and have know that awesome tattoos will be done.

You absolutely nailed that one! I'm in that boat. I'm 100% happy with my current artist and the idea of going to someone else still freaks me out with regards to making things work cohesively. Hell, it's hard for me to sign up with HORITOMO because I have faith in my artist's ideas. I mean it's HORITOMO! And he's right there in the same shop too. I'm slowly working on freeing myself from this mentality but it's rough. Excuse me while I go breathe into a paper bag now.

Sorry, I have to do this.

WOOHOOOO!!! I finally made it past 50 posts. Ex-Lurker no more!!! :-)

The beauty for us not being Japanese or having Japanese heritage (ok, the latter is a presumption on my part but lets go with it) we don't have to be bound by traditions and you can take a few little artistic liberties with your tattooer

Dang! I actually am Japanese! Well 4th gen ABJ so I'm sure some Japanese think of me as being a plain ol "gringo". But gringo-fied or not I feel like I have to at least try to get it right. If I didn't it'd be like getting kanji that translates as a dinner menu instead of meaning "courage" or "honor". On non-Japanese it'll look odd and garner a few laughs, on someone ethnically Japanese it'll almost be tragic.

Well, I was letting the geek flag fly for the references. Its Dungeons and Dragons and Magic:The Gathering are so it would be a bit of a shocker if they looked like traditional Chinese and Japanese versions of Onis and Qilin/Kirin.

What @Duffa said in his post and like I said, I'm just plain anal, so don't mind me.

Matt what ever you choose, promise to not use the references that @Hunter Morrow has posted. Yes, art is subjective - but that's not Japanese. Subject matter he's suggested sure, I myself have a Kirin (and a hannya, a koi, a chrysanthemum and a turtle and so on lol) but those images are pretty bad. (Just to be fair though, was anyone else thinking the same thing?)

Ditto. No offense to the art or Hunter, but I honestly tend to be an anal traditionalist when it comes to Japanese tattoos. And those images were...not. Even as examples of modern takes on the subject matter, I wouldn't have thought those were Kirin at all if I just saw the image. Just something for Matt to think about.

The pain of getting tattooed is temporary, the pain of a horribly placed tattoo is permanent.

Although for anyone with tattooed asses, pain aside, how is the healing process? In my experience each part of the body heals differently. With a tattoo your ass, is sitting on it for exdended periods of time horrible, (I'm thinking clothing can get fused with the tattoo.) Just worried a bit about the constant pressure on it.

I actually screwed up. After my session being tattooed on me bum, I went straight to a bar to hang out with friends all night instead of doing my typical post shower tattoo care bit. By the time I got home I didn't feel like a shower, actually left the shameful drunken trail of clothes from door to bed. Passed out, and the next morning forgot to be careful and didn't realize my boxers and butt became one. Needless to say I pulled out some of the ink and might need the side re-worked now. It really bummed me out. So don't do what I did and I think you'll be fine. You WILL be sitting lopsided for a couple days later though.