Joe Stratford

For fun, my peony by Wendy Pham done as guest spot at Red Rocket Tattoo in NYC

I am LOVING everything Tony Nilsson is putting out at the moment, He is the front runner for doing my chest eagle... also a parrakeet(?) for good measure

Ive just been to the Matt Lodder talk on Sutherland MacDonald. It was fascinating! Loads of interesting stuff, way ahead of his time it seems, and was blown away by the detail in the tattoos from the time. I'm looking forward to the book he is working on coming out.
Oh and just thought I'd mention Ed Hardy was there!!!
:eek::eek::eek:

Marius Meyer was kind enough to let me shoot some video while he put the finishing touches on my friend @Wilhell's back piece. Hope you enjoy it! (Sorry German LSTers! This unfortunately won't play in your country due to the licensing restrictions of the soundtrack)

You'll find you will be judged on your professionalism @TrixieFaux rather than your tattoos. I completely understand the testing of waters though.
I had a Nurse Unit Manager say to me the other day....the staff love it when you come on to the Wards Mick. Now they know you and have attended your training, they're no longer scared, they think it's cool when you bounce the Wards, talk and laugh with them and just be yourself.
On the flip but, I pick my kids up from the extra curricular activities from school rockin jeans and singlets, all the parents avoid me like I'm the plague. Until recently, a couple of them started striking conversations and shit. One mother asked me last week...so Mick, what is it you do for work. I said...oh, I work for the Qld Govt, look after mandatory compliance to assist in National accreditation reviews for 5 major Metro Hospitals. The look on their dials were like pure shock. I love that shit. Yeah, not just some no hoping, tattooed Harley riding thug you envisioned hey. I love educating the straights that we might have a brain too.

@bambi PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THAT TATTOO STUDIO, even a quick look shows up terrible work, this will be on you for the rest of your life. Do not be too hasty in making your decision. We are here to help!
I agree with the above, just some butterflies would look great without the stars in my opinion.
Are you willing to travel (1-2hours?) to get the work done? We can help point you in the right direction

@bambi PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THAT TATTOO STUDIO, even a quick look shows up terrible work, this will be on you for the rest of your life. Do not be too hasty in making your decision. We are here to help!
I agree with the above, just some butterflies would look great without the stars in my opinion.
Are you willing to travel (1-2hours?) to get the work done? We can help point you in the right direction

a rose and a rose bud.
or
a peony and a peony bud.
or
a butterfly and a smaller butterfly
or
a thing and another similar but smaller thing

Thanks @Joe Stratford I'll have a good look through
I'm getting tattooed by Steve Byrne, first time I've been tattooed by him and first tattoo in a few months, I can't wait :D

I am LOVING everything Tony Nilsson is putting out at the moment, He is the front runner for doing my chest eagle... also a parrakeet(?) for good measure

I am LOVING everything Tony Nilsson is putting out at the moment, He is the front runner for doing my chest eagle... also a parrakeet(?) for good measure

That unicorn's chest looks like an arse.

Got confirmation that Eli will indeed be able to tattoo my calf at the convention, so I'm starting to get just a little bit excited. My first leg tattoo - let me coverage begin!

@Jackrabbitt666 You have your location set as London, if that's the case phone Frith Street and book an appointment no?! You may have to wait a few months, no more than three I would imagine, maybe not. Keep an eye on the FST twitter. I got a cancellation spot and ended up with an awesome hand sized mermaid/seahorse combo the same day I enquired. I have never found it as hard to get an appointment anywhere as people make out on twitter/facebook/instagram (side note - if you are using these as your means to book an appointment, that's your problem - pick up a phone) Hope you get your tattoo! Eagle and skull, what's not to love!!

Bethenny, if you really want your back done then do it. We all might whinge about how bad a backpiece can be while getting but i promise that all who have finished a backpiece would do it again. I myself am about 1/2 way through mine and although it sucks getting the work and healing it the satisfaction of seeing perhaps the biggest piece of art you can do on your body is awesome. I dont look forward to my fortnightly sessions but once they are done I cannot wait to get home and see the progress. The end result is well and truely worth it.
Btw @Cork love the work, great detail and colours. I wish I was that far advanced with mine.
- - - Updated - - -
This fortnights update.
Most of work was done on right side arse cheek and thigh but shows how he merged the original 3/4 sleeve into the backpiece.

Haha cheers man, I've called and been into the shop a couple of times, just gotta wait until Valerie's books open up. I've checked out so many different artists lately but man Valerie's eagles are so rad, think I'll be patient and keep an eye out for cancellations!! By the way just seen your back and it's awesome! So nice, you must be stoked!

I have a beard and tattoos.......
WHY WON'T ANYBODY LOVE ME!
Oh... thanks daily mail. Very informative

I like traditional because it looks fucking cool.
Ask anyone on the street to close their eyes and name a tattoo, what will they come back with? Traditional! Japanese!
Tiger/Skull/Panther/Rose.
These decisions have been made over generations, there is a reason for this. There is an elegance and power in their simplicity, is it not harder to convey a message in a few lines and few colours? They hold up (BOLD WILL HOLD!) So when I'm old and saggy you'll still make out what tattoos I have.
When someone comes up to me and asks why I got a tiger/skull/heart and dagger on my arm? I get to say cool shit like ' it's a tiger,/skull/heart and dagger what else do you need to know!' Someone once said to me your tattoos look like tattoos. I thought that was awesome.
You can tell what my tattoos are from 5 feet away (back piece 20 feet, take that!) It's a tattoo, its on me, my bodies a temple etc etc but I ain't the sistine chapel.
All that said, I appreciate the technicality and application of portraits etc, still not sure how they'll hold up, hopefully very well and it'll prove a few cynics wrong, but it ain't my bag.
As for this forum, just a little more tact maybe...

I like traditional because it looks fucking cool.
Ask anyone on the street to close their eyes and name a tattoo, what will they come back with? Traditional! Japanese!
Tiger/Skull/Panther/Rose.
These decisions have been made over generations, there is a reason for this. There is an elegance and power in their simplicity, is it not harder to convey a message in a few lines and few colours? They hold up (BOLD WILL HOLD!) So when I'm old and saggy you'll still make out what tattoos I have.
When someone comes up to me and asks why I got a tiger/skull/heart and dagger on my arm? I get to say cool shit like ' it's a tiger,/skull/heart and dagger what else do you need to know!' Someone once said to me your tattoos look like tattoos. I thought that was awesome.
You can tell what my tattoos are from 5 feet away (back piece 20 feet, take that!) It's a tattoo, its on me, my bodies a temple etc etc but I ain't the sistine chapel.
All that said, I appreciate the technicality and application of portraits etc, still not sure how they'll hold up, hopefully very well and it'll prove a few cynics wrong, but it ain't my bag.
As for this forum, just a little more tact maybe...

I like traditional because it looks fucking cool.
Ask anyone on the street to close their eyes and name a tattoo, what will they come back with? Traditional! Japanese!
Tiger/Skull/Panther/Rose.
These decisions have been made over generations, there is a reason for this. There is an elegance and power in their simplicity, is it not harder to convey a message in a few lines and few colours? They hold up (BOLD WILL HOLD!) So when I'm old and saggy you'll still make out what tattoos I have.
When someone comes up to me and asks why I got a tiger/skull/heart and dagger on my arm? I get to say cool shit like ' it's a tiger,/skull/heart and dagger what else do you need to know!' Someone once said to me your tattoos look like tattoos. I thought that was awesome.
You can tell what my tattoos are from 5 feet away (back piece 20 feet, take that!) It's a tattoo, its on me, my bodies a temple etc etc but I ain't the sistine chapel.
All that said, I appreciate the technicality and application of portraits etc, still not sure how they'll hold up, hopefully very well and it'll prove a few cynics wrong, but it ain't my bag.
As for this forum, just a little more tact maybe...

I like traditional because it looks fucking cool.
Ask anyone on the street to close their eyes and name a tattoo, what will they come back with? Traditional! Japanese!
Tiger/Skull/Panther/Rose.
These decisions have been made over generations, there is a reason for this. There is an elegance and power in their simplicity, is it not harder to convey a message in a few lines and few colours? They hold up (BOLD WILL HOLD!) So when I'm old and saggy you'll still make out what tattoos I have.
When someone comes up to me and asks why I got a tiger/skull/heart and dagger on my arm? I get to say cool shit like ' it's a tiger,/skull/heart and dagger what else do you need to know!' Someone once said to me your tattoos look like tattoos. I thought that was awesome.
You can tell what my tattoos are from 5 feet away (back piece 20 feet, take that!) It's a tattoo, its on me, my bodies a temple etc etc but I ain't the sistine chapel.
All that said, I appreciate the technicality and application of portraits etc, still not sure how they'll hold up, hopefully very well and it'll prove a few cynics wrong, but it ain't my bag.
As for this forum, just a little more tact maybe...

I like traditional because it looks fucking cool.
Ask anyone on the street to close their eyes and name a tattoo, what will they come back with? Traditional! Japanese!
Tiger/Skull/Panther/Rose.
These decisions have been made over generations, there is a reason for this. There is an elegance and power in their simplicity, is it not harder to convey a message in a few lines and few colours? They hold up (BOLD WILL HOLD!) So when I'm old and saggy you'll still make out what tattoos I have.
When someone comes up to me and asks why I got a tiger/skull/heart and dagger on my arm? I get to say cool shit like ' it's a tiger,/skull/heart and dagger what else do you need to know!' Someone once said to me your tattoos look like tattoos. I thought that was awesome.
You can tell what my tattoos are from 5 feet away (back piece 20 feet, take that!) It's a tattoo, its on me, my bodies a temple etc etc but I ain't the sistine chapel.
All that said, I appreciate the technicality and application of portraits etc, still not sure how they'll hold up, hopefully very well and it'll prove a few cynics wrong, but it ain't my bag.
As for this forum, just a little more tact maybe...

There are too many great replies to quote, but @cltattooing, @mmikaoj, @suburbanxcore, @smiling.politely, and @DJDeepFried are killing it.
@Steele, to quote one of cinema's greatest characters, "That's like, your opinion, man." And you sound like a missionary trying to convert us. So stop doing that, stop scratching, and go get on Carlos Torres' waiting list.
PS You diss Ed Hardy, you diss yourself.

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.

Can't remember if I posted this here
Sundancer but Valerie Vargas, Frith Street Tattoo