Hands On

@shabashe i've mostly heard it called a Borneo star. Here's a starter link for ya! https://tattooartfromtheheart.com/blog/borneo-rosette-our-connection-with-nature-and-our-desire-for-security/

@shabashe i've mostly heard it called a Borneo star. Here's a starter link for ya! https://tattooartfromtheheart.com/blog/borneo-rosette-our-connection-with-nature-and-our-desire-for-security/

Just dropping in a pic of my almost finished Matt Collins full back for the thread. Home stretch now, it’s 90% done just got a few touch ups to go, maybe 29 hours work so far I think? Stoked!

Hey all, 
Know this thread has been a little sleepy as of late, but just writing to say how much it helped me prep for my first session with Tony Hundahl on my back. Had it a few days ago and I definitely psyched myself out. I traveled from Chicago to Austin so had plenty of time to let my nerves get the best of me. I went in preparing for the worst, and while it was definitely rough, the tips and techniques mentioned in this thread helped immensely. 
All in all, it was a wild experience unlike any other tattoo I've gotten. Sat for roughly 3 hours and he was able to get the whole outline done. The craziest part for me was that you never really "get used to it" like many other tattoos I've gotten. Every line feels like the first. But in doing so, your mind goes to some crazy places to help get you through it. The "stoke" definitely pulled me through. I finished the session with an incredible high and feeling of confidence that I really wasn't expecting. Such an incredible experience. 
Anyways, going back in a month to start on the shading, and then hopefully booking a few back to back sessions to really get the ball rolling. Can't (but totally can) wait.
-G
PS: Tony Hundahl is the man. Can't recommend the dude highly enough. Since I'm traveling, he wasn't able to trace my back, but he still managed to have a stencil that ended up fitting perfectly. Definitely feel like I'm in good hands.

I have several face tattoos, I get abit of oily skin and clean my face with cleansers etc but when I got my face tattooed I would just treat the tattoo like a regular tattoo, as for using the stuff on your face a few days before, maybe just avoid using them in the area you're having it, I had no problem using face cleaners even the day before but I don't know what products you use, after getting it I just cleaned the tattoo as I would a tattoo anywhere else on my body avoiding any face cleaners near it etc, just using mild or antibacterial soap on it & moisturiser, just basically doing the same aftercare for a face tattoo as one on, say, my arm, all of my face tattoos healed pretty quickly, I have 5

Just wear what you want to wear. My parents don't like my tattoos, either, but I don't hide them intentionally. If they see them, they see them. They know they are part of me, and they love me.

thank you so much — that’s super reassuring! this has never happened with any of my other tattoos so i was like “???”
 
and yes right! it’s like overwatering a plant because you think they’re thirsty lol

Hi! If you look at his IG from 8/13, you will see my arm!

I've got four sessions lined up with Scott Sylvia through the spring and summer to finally start my backpiece. We'll see if and when I'll be able to travel and SF tattoo shops open up though... Some of those appts may have to be moved back.

Garver next week....rounds 3 and 4! 

I got my first tattoo when I was 34. I had wanted to get a tattoo forever, but I felt really, really awful after I got it. I barely ate and I put on long sleeves (in the summer) so that I wouldn't see it. But I got used to it and it's just a part of me now. And I got four more after that and am planning another in December. I think it's just a big mental shift that you need to process, but you will and the tattoo will start to feel more and more like it belongs there.

get more! looks good. sleeve next?

i just thought of a hilarious mom tattoo! a realistic umbilical cord coming out of your belly button! dude.... dude.
ok forreal tho. it doesn't have to be a memory, but perhaps something that reminds you of her or is unique to her. a favorite bird, flower, or animal. a trinket around the house. a song she used to sing, a saying or phrase. I think @SStu just meant that it doesn't have to spell out MOM. 
btw, plenty of 36 year old men get hearts and birds and those kinds of things.
but also.. it's your body! if a realistic slot machine tickles your fancy, then doggonit, get a slot machine!!!
but i'm also saying... i googled umbilical cord tattoo and it seems to be unique as shit! 😜

i just thought of a hilarious mom tattoo! a realistic umbilical cord coming out of your belly button! dude.... dude.
ok forreal tho. it doesn't have to be a memory, but perhaps something that reminds you of her or is unique to her. a favorite bird, flower, or animal. a trinket around the house. a song she used to sing, a saying or phrase. I think @SStu just meant that it doesn't have to spell out MOM. 
btw, plenty of 36 year old men get hearts and birds and those kinds of things.
but also.. it's your body! if a realistic slot machine tickles your fancy, then doggonit, get a slot machine!!!
but i'm also saying... i googled umbilical cord tattoo and it seems to be unique as shit! 😜

Ok, then I will say it to you in italian (sorry for all the folks who don't speak it: I promise I will try to translate and convey the spirit of what I'm going to say if you ask):
 
Fottitene di quello che dicono le persone, in tutta onestà siamo nati in un paese già morto e dominato da una mentalità in cui il giudizio e soprattutto il pregiudizio avvelenano qualsiasi tentativo di umanità. Qui parliamo di un tatuaggio, che è una cosa comunque "piccola", ma è un ottimo esempio di quali spiriti e quanto odio serpeggino nella nostra società... se prendessi due italiani a caso e li mettessi in una stanza isolata, probabilmente nel giro di due ore troverebbero un motivo per discriminarsi a vicenda. Ormai questo veleno è proprio nel tessuto sociale, nella struttura stessa dell'Italia in quanto nazione, e probabilmente - se qualcosa la storia ha da suggerirci - c'è sempre stato, aspettando nell'ombra i momenti più propizi per esplodere in tutta la sua violenza.
Stando così le cose, io te lo ribadisco: fottitene di quello che dice la gente, o almeno cerca di imparare a fottertene, perché nulla di buono può venir fuori dal rancore, dall'invidia e dalla continua ricerca del nemico da odiare. Magari tutto 'sto discorso ti sembrerà eccessivo per un tatuaggio e ti chiederai se io non mi stia solo sfogando, e in effetti se fosse solo il tatuaggio il problema ti darei pure ragione... ma purtroppo questa è la realtà in ogni aspetto della vita degli italiani, e se inizi ad affrontarla nell'ambito comunque limitato della gestione dei pareri sul tuo tatuaggio stai già facendo un passo avanti per essere diverso e forse poter contribuire alla costruzione di un'Italia migliore, un'Italia da cui la gente come me (che oltre agli attacchi per il tatuaggio ho dovuto subire - per altri motivi, ben più gravi e radicali - letteralmente aggressioni fisiche e psicologiche) non sia costretta a scappare.

Thank you, really appreciate it 🙂 I'm Italian as well by the way.
I agree, my problem might be the fear of judgment (bad tattoo) from other people.
I hope I'll simply get used to it, feeling it as part of my body without overthinking it.

I want to say three things:

1 - It will "fade" a little bit over time, tattoo always do.
2 - It's a very nice tattoo if you ask me, but in any case you should try not to worry about what people think: it's your tattoo on your skin, and your opinion is the only one that really matters.
3 - Southern Europe and tattoos (or any other kind of body modification, for what matters)... I can empathise with you: as a person coming from the southest part of Europe (I'm from Sicily, if you're wondering), I know how reactionary and judgemental our peoples can be. Again, just try to ignore all the shit people will throw at you (explicitly or by just looking at you with disapproval in their eyes): your tattoo, your skin, your choice.

1) it will fade, but not in a week. It's not even healed!
2) It is a nice tattoo
3) If you're worried about what people will think, it's too late for that. This is why you think about the ramifications of getting a tattoo BEFORE you get one.

Thanks guys! I gravitate to old school stuff ... the 50s was my time haha. Here is a better shot I think.

I wanted to share the tattoo I got today from Bryan Randolph at Shangri La Tattoo. I think he did an amazing job. Great artists and shop there!
Yes, it's oozing a bit 🙂

I have another appt beginning Oct and will post it as well. I learned quite a bit on this forum about looking at artists work and choosing an artist/shop. Thanks to the forum helping educate this newb 🙂

the top half of fingers keeps ink pretty well,the palm side not so well, I just got my wedding ring on the top half for that reason, I got this on my ring finger and all of the first knuckle about 5 or 6 years ago and they have held up good IMO, the one love ones are a little newer, and after the tattoo is healed, don't worry about the sun.
 
life is short, get the tattoo.

Here's an update at around 20 hours. The outline took 3 sessions to finish, around 10 hours (so. many. lines.). But we've been making steady progress with relatively short appointments every 2-3 weeks, and the cover up is almost done. I'm loving the wildflower color palette and all the little creatures peeking out here and there.

long time no post 🙂
kinda lost track of this place, so here's what i've been up to over the last few years...work on my legs by the fantastic @Scott Sylvia

Got my back outlined by Scott Sylvia last weekend. East meets west style mashup of a reaper and koi. As usual, he FLEW through it and crushed. Lined the whole back and butt cheeks in 3.5 hours. 
I go back for two more sessions in June, then we'll figure out the next steps after that. 
I'm not really posting full photos anywhere until it's done, but will circle back here if I decide to post any detail or close ups. I have sent to people on IG, so if we're friends and you're curious, hit me up.