Lance

He borrowed some numbing spray from my artist... I'm not sure the point of this story, cause I dunno what the spray was called....but maybe your guy already has some on hand?

... I almost tapped out a few times on my calf and that wasn't even the worst place I've been tattooed. I just couldn't handle the twitching.

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Was the spray possibly "bactine"? It supposedly takes the edge off. I'm not sure how much though. It's been used on me a couple times, but it still hurts.

And what is it with the calf and all the twitching. I think I mentioned it before but my artist had to put her full weight on my leg to try to compensate for the involuntary twitches. Seriously. The mind was more than willing but my leg said,"Screw you! I want off of this table. NOW!!!". It was almost embarrassing that it wasn't cooperating.

I'm planning on being there. No appointments but this year's list of artists is absolutely outstanding. I'm curious about Grime's or Gogue's lecture if space is available.

Would definitely love to meet up with LSTers too.

Ha ha! Of course I have no clue @hogg. Best leave it to the professionals.

Hey, speaking of museum talks do you know if this artist, Jun Chihara (junchihara on IG), has anything to do with Koji Ichimaru )kojiichimaru on IG)? Both reside in Europe, although different countries, but I feel they have similar styles.

Samurai woodblock motifs and green tea ice cream for me.

Noice! What are you getting?

Not. A. clue.

Actually I'm hoping Jill can help me narrow it down to what works best with what I already have. I think I'll go munewari style though. So far I narrowed it down to:

1) Paired Tennyo

2) Dueling Tengu

3) Myth of Izanami-no-Mikoto & Izangi-no-Mikoto (Shinto creation of Japan story).

4) Myth of the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto battling Yamata no Orochi (8 headed/8 tailed dragon).

5) 2 Deities. No idea which but peaceful soothing looking ones rather than aggressive Myo-o type. My Shinto/Buddhist diety knowledge sucks.

6) Pairing 2 (of 4) armor clad Heavenly Kings, buddhist protectors of the 4 directions. Similar to the Chinese dragon, phoenix, tiger, tortoise/snake idea. I already have a dragon (east) and a phoenix (south) on my arms so possibly Tamonten (Bishamonten), Guardian of the North & Komokuten, Guardian of the West.

7) A solitary Bishamonten incarnation as Tobatsu Bishamonten depicted in the 3 headed 10 armed version riding atop a lion but how that would work in munewari format, I'm not sure.

Of course I could just go full torso (but with no background) with Tobatsu Bishamonten or Yamato-no-Orochi. How cool would that be to have an 8-headed dragon chest piece! Boom!!!

There's probably one other idea I'm forgetting right now but after she rolls her eyes at my indecisiveness, I'm hoping Jill can say,"These work, those don't, I really like this one the best.". She didn't much like my original subject thoughts because she felt it would dilute the strength of my back piece subject.

I will be checking it out this weekend, I can't wait! I'm honestly a little ashamed of myself, this exhibit is like 40 minutes from my house and I've been putting it off till the last minute.

You better check it out soon. I think it ends sometime near the middle of next month.

It's worth a couple hours out to view the exhibit, grab a bite around the area, and people watching the odd costumed anime characters frequently walking around.

The Wabori book is excellent if a little pricey. I've borrowed Bushido from the local library (twice!) I wonder if Jill Mandelbaum and Jill Bonny are one in the same. Also the Perseverance catalog is a steal at 20 bucks from the JANM website -- and the exhibit is amazing if you can get out to LA!

Ha ha! Jill Bonny, Jill Mandelbaum, Jill Halpin, and Horiyuki are all one and the same.

Tattoo names, Japanese tattoo titles, pen/maiden and married names. Lots of names. But as she once said to me, though, people still manage to find and get tattoos from her.

Which btw, I just set up a new consult next week to start something new. Can't wait!

@DJDeepFried, looks like they posted the Q&A on YouTube.

Did anyone happen to go to the Chris Brand/Brian Kaneko lecture at the JANM yesterday (8/23)? @Lance, I'm looking at you. I couldn't quite rally myself to get down there, but I'm curious to know what was said.

I couldn't make it down myself either. I was busy running errands around town and missed out. I'm very curious about what it was about too. Was it just a bunch of guys shooting the shit or was there a format?

Update on second sleeve from YB Shige, went down two days ago:

Postimage.org / gallery - IMG 4084, IMG 4085, IMG 4106, IMG 4107, IMG 4108

Outline, 10 hrs.

another 7 to go, will post when finish in December,

Cheers

Very nice!!! By all means post progress shots too. That's going to be so cool when finished.

Wow @beez! You are a trooper! Can't say I've ever tried or wanted to try 3 days of consecutive tattooing. I bow to your stamina. It's all looking fantastic. I like how your tattoo has organically turned into a quasi-3-way collaboration piece. I knew you were going to get Shad to work on a snake but not Dr. Claw too (Or perhaps I forgot?). Was this part of your plan? Or did it just pop into your head one day? I dig his work. Really nice guy too from what I could tell, chatting briefly with him, when I picked up the Horitoshi book from there last year.

Drew's work is crazy good! Lucky you, getting to see him work on a Suikoden piece. He and Chris Brand are blowing my mind with their interpretations.

That skull is awesome too! Some good stuff there @cltattooing. Really good. Stabby indeed.

That is amazing @Eilin You have a fantastic collection.

Gospel! What Cork said @Eilin! What Cork said!

...outdated graphic design and not a tattoo?

90's Raygun Magazine LIVES!!!! ;-)

Yup, @cvportgee is correct! Horitomo shaded the monmon cats on my feet by hand. He outlined and shaded the black by machine. @SeedSea, I wouldn't worry about timing at all. Horitomo completed both tattoos in about 4 hours-ish w/ breaks. Thanks for the info too regarding how to book with him and about forthcoming prints. I need to start saving pennies again and get back into that shop.

The volume though...like what does it mean when you can see dozens (if not more!) really great tattoos every day? Do we get a better appreciation for the tattoos, or is it just that we glance at them for a couple of seconds, hit "like" or not, and then scroll down to the next one? There have been so many times that I've seen something really cool on instagram and I'll think of it days or weeks later and I can't remember who did it and I can't find it again. Whereas there are tattoos in tattoo magazines I have that I remember even though I maybe haven't looked through the magazine in a couple of years.

Personally, my phone has become a repository for screen captures for all the tattoos I am in awe of. I've spent a few lunch breaks browsing on my phone taking note of the amazing tattoos, tattooers out there and subjects that inspire. It's no substitute for a good publication with high quality photos though. But it's lead me to learn about or see more work from artists who are not published as much and also find out about tattooers from other countries who have never been published, in my case, in a US publication for example "kojiichimaru" who until IG, I had never seen published anywhere and "gasentat2" who've I've only seen published in a Japanese publication on backpieces.

BTW, I'm "lgoda" on IG.

Yup @DJDeepFried! As @hogg says, I'll be at JANM for Junii's talk so plan to meet with him before his appointment/Junii's presentation. You and @TrixieFaux should come over too!

Hey @bongsau. Sorry for your loss. My deepest heart felt sympathies to you and your families.

Your back looks amazing @Wilhell. Congratulations!!!

Congratulations @DevilMan!!! That's a beautiful and strong tattoo. And as others have said, very quick too. Cheers!

Ha! @hogg, not quite true. I've a pair of monmon cats as proof. I'll see you at the show. I hadn't signed up for Taki's walkthrough yet but might as well since I was going to check it out again anyway.

I'll also be checking Bryan Burk's IG page afterwards, to see if anything gets posted there just in case you need a third tiger.

I just booked my first appointment of 2014 (which is hard to believe): I'm getting an uchide no kozuchi (as referenced here) from Horisuzu at Dark Horse in LA on August 2nd. I'm also going to the Perseverance exhibition that day. I can't wait!

Sounds like an awesome day! Dark Horse is a cool shop and on my side of town too. It's a small wonder how I've never gotten a tattoo there yet. August 2nd is also the day Junii's down in LA for her lecture as part of the Exhibit so you've great timing. I've rsvp'ed for it so I'll be down there too.

Events | Perseverance | Japanese American National Museum

You need to scroll down a bit for her lecture info. It looks like Taki will be there that day as well.

Oh god why does no one lie to me!

Butts not really that bad. It's that base area where butt and thigh meet. Now THAT's an experience! Ha ha!

Btw, as been said these back pieces are all looking really good!

"Butt" that snake RULES!!!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Juvenile humor.

Seriously awesome back. Feels only like yesterday when you first began posting the start of it. So much progress made @Cork.

Somehow I just KNEW you were going to suggest that :D

Yes. I am both an "enabler" and the little devil on your shoulder saying, "Do it! Do it! Doooo it!!!"

I would do this for anyone wanting a new tattoo :-)