Cork

Just got this from Scott Sylvia at the Elm Street Festival in Dallas

Background ribs done, lightning will be done last session (End of March/Beginning April) and left "cheek" done (those 2 stripes in the middle hurt as I've never felt before)

@SStu Hehe - we'll see! That part where the blade hits my back just a bit, I kept wanting to turn around and punch Yoni in the face. It was a surreal experience. That said, I'm hoping to start working on my back after this, once I settle on imagery (a battle royale of some sort).
That soft spot between the ribs and hip was super awful, which was (of course) where the majority of the session time was spent. I am one of those people who'd much rather have a long session on the ribs than those soft/sensitive parts. Yesterday was such a strange tattoo day. I was so spent after the session, I couldn't think, do simple math, could barely get home... Going back in January/February to finish - yay!
Good to think that the back won't be so bad if I can manage my ribs (again!) I figure, if both side panels are done before I do my back, I'm golden - hahahaha...

Today's work was intense, and we still have a bit left to go!
Yoni Zilber at NY Adorned.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-Cj6--MGq7/?taken-by=yonizilber

I've been too busy/lazy to post these...... from the last 5 weeks:

Wrist and Left Ankle/Achilles - Jon Larson @ Harlequin

Couple little guys on the bicep- Lightning Bolt and Flying Eyeball - Tony Caporusso @ Lucky Monkey

Right Ankle - Greg Christian @ Tattoo Faction

I just finished this on my back calf, with Rob Ryan at Temple. Having him do a Divine Mother in the presence of Freddy was a bet. Friends don't understand why I'd want this as an agnostic... shrug.

First session from my long and humbling journey with Horitomo, in August. Ignorantly assumed that I'd be able to schedule within 90 days and was sadly mistaken. Won't have my next appointment until July. It's probably for the better, I needed to pump the brakes.

My view on pocket watches is that I'd rather look at my phone or a wrist watch if I want to know the time.

My view on pocket watches is that I'd rather look at my phone or a wrist watch if I want to know the time.

My view on pocket watches is that I'd rather look at my phone or a wrist watch if I want to know the time.

My view on pocket watches is that I'd rather look at my phone or a wrist watch if I want to know the time.

Wrapped up my collaboration back piece with Henning Jorgensen and Mike Rubendall this past Tuesday. I posted up a ton of pics in the Full Back Piece thread. So happy to have it finished and amazed by the final product! Enjoy!

by George Campise

Each first time I see this Jeff Srsic snake & peonies back piece, my jaw stays dropped.

This series of backpieces by Chris Brand fits nicely in this thread.

@ironchef really happy for you man. I hope I have the pleasure of seeing it in person some day.

Well it's been a year since I've had my back worked on and per our usual fall schedule, Henning was in town and this time we FINISHED my back! Some of you might have seen the updates via Instagram. So happy with this collaboration between Henning and Rubendall being completed! WARNING, PIC HEAVY!!! Put your browser on FULL SCREEN!
The master himself, Henning Jorgensen. Such a great artist and humble man.

Filling in the phoenix...tail feathers, breast, head and a few touch ups here and there.

Such a pleasure watching Henning work. I was so stoked with the zebra/tiger striped pattern he chose for the remaining tail feathers.

Touch up on a tender spot...the spare tire.

Slowly getting there.

Details details details...

Close-up of the phoenix...beautiful!

Full view from my right side. There was poor lighting inside since it was dark out, so they propped me up on a table and surrounded me with lights.

A quick reminder of the work Mike Rubendall did on the lower half of this collaboration. LOVE his water!

Another angle of my lower half.

Here's the finished top half.

Finished full back in all it's glory. My back is a sea of colors! Hope everyone enjoyed my show and tell! (don't mind the feet on the left or right, hahaha)

According to a post on Instagram, yes. Tattooing at Studio 1 Tattoo.

Dave Fox is coming back back to Philly Philly.

You aren't allowed to post anymore. You've hit exactly 1,000.

Had planned a week long vacation for this, my first time to California as well... but life happens and that is no longer an option. But I already had an appointment booked, and couldn't bear to cancel that in addition to all the other fun stuff that already had to go away. So, I'm flying out the morning of Friday the 30th, getting tattooed that night by Stewart, then flying back to Kansas just after midnight. Before the doors open, I'm hoping to check out the Visionary Subversive show, grab some sushi somewhere, spend what money I have left as irresponsibly as possible post tattoo, before scuttling off into the night. Wish I had more time to spend there, but it just means that I have no choice but to go back and properly see the Bay Area as soon as I can!

Finally lost my cherry today. A great experience and I love my new tattoo.
By Bradley Tompkins at Frith Street.

Second session this month. Scales are now all done and every little thing we do is just making the whole thing pop a little bit more. Super happy.

@Faolan, I'm not sure about colors symbolism in general within the Japanese culture, but if you're looking at old school traditional Japanese tattoos the color palette was fairly limited due to the lack of availability of colors to be used. As for seasons really old traditional styles used 1 season from what I've seen. That said there are a lot of rules. Not every tattoo family had the same rules and for that matter a lot of regions varied in rules as well. I'd find an artist knowledgeable about traditional Japanese and discuss what you're looking for with them. These days "traditional" seems to be just a word and as @Cork mentioned some artists work in a traditional manner by hand (tebori) but their graphic style is contemporary while others work completely by machine but their graphic style is akin to old tattoo designs. Then there are others who work by machine, their graphic styles are contemporary, but they adhere to following the stories and pairings, etc. If you're looking for über traditional, think long and hard about what you want and find the right artist. Some subjects do not pair well with others, while some figures or animals or plants pair extremely well with one another.
Woops, I read Cork's response yet I pretty much just repeated it. Well I second his logic.

Thought I would also upload and share this dope action shot. Plus you can catch a peak at my backpiece that's about 5 months settled in as well as Len's great hair lol ;)

Another reminder that it is the tattoo experience as whole - that truly makes the tattoo. that's what matters. Tattooing is a very powerful, deliberate and permanent act and series of events.
Last Wednesday was an incredible day. My work in the morning. Popping into the tattoo shop to just to say what's up and casually flipping through Len's book - I have 3 tattoos from Len now and each one was a spontaneous act with permanent results. Going and getting a dope haircut so I didn't get a cheap $25cent razor fade (found a new barber, an older black gentleman, he shared his cool snake tattoo on his dark skin, he got in 1967!). My tai chi practice in the park. An encouraging doctor's appointment. The boys keeping the shop open into the evening to accommodate me (shout out to Champion Tattoo Edmonton). The stencil and re-stencil to get the placement just right. The first 30 seconds when I thought holy shit man, this is brutal have I gone too far? Bishops Green on the stereo. Tattoo talk with the boys. Sweating through the table. Feeling my nose about to get crushed sideways on the table. the post-tattoo newport smoke, the vulnerability and the satisfaction with the end result. The morning after when the shower water hit the back of my raw tattooed skin. Even today walking down the street, walking proud and tall with this new tattoo. Hearing the lady behind me in the crosswalk whispering out loud 'damn that's a nice tattoo' to herself. Seriously, I am really buzzing off how this one turned out.
The butterfly symbolism is pretty obvious.
But also this:
I dreamed I was a butterfly, fluttering about, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly. Soon I awakened, and there I was, myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man. -Master Zhuang
I became aware of this taoist quote the morning after receiving my tattoo, and I too had the butterfly dream leading up to this spontaneous tattoo. I found it very fitting, not just in the context of the rest of my tattoos, but in terms of some personal growth I have been making over the last few months. And here comes this profound tattoo experience from a simple design that carries some complex symbolism to me, providing enlightenment when I needed it the most.
Thank you LST for providing a medium to share the tattoo experience together !