jimmyirish

I hate those things! They remind me that those people were cool because they didn't need tattoos to be cool and that I might be barking up the wrong tree with my obsession. Ha!
The thing about ideology/fashion is you can't see it for what it is when you're in it. Look at any photo of yrself from more than a decade ago. You look silly but at the time you thought you looked great. At the same time that's what's great about tattoos--you're committing yourself to something for life when it's obvious that nothing is "timeless"--it's inherently stupid and in bad taste.

Mines always been Valerie Vargas and Steve Byrne, they were the first people that when I saw their stuff on myspace I lost my shit. Chad aswell I just love how his style isn't constant you can tell it's his work but it dosnt always look the same as recent pieces,

I just wanted to address what you said above.
I don't like to share too much about my personal life, but I will on this occasion. I suffer from a mental illness, but am a fully functioning person who gets up and goes to work every day, shares a smile and laugh with collegues, lifts weights at the gym, and spends a lot of time with my friends. Not many people know about my mental struggles, and those that do it's only because I have told them. Mentally ill people generally don't look sick (yes there are cases where it's apparent someone isn't well by their actions). When we are ill we don't have a runny nose, or a cough. When I am sick, and when I am well, I still don't like to be touched by strangers.
Mental illness is surprisingly common. It still has a stigma attached to it, and I would bet money on the people who you think are mentally and emotionally stable, that there are a few of them who are sufferers, but you wouldn't pick it. I guess what I'm trying to say, is don't be so casual with flippant remarks regarding the mental health of people. You can't judge how they are doing mentally on whether they lash out at being touched by strangers. That is stupid.

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I had so much fun last Sunday having an off the wall tattoo slammed into the back of my neck, that we're gonna do the same this Sunday. Kinda takes me back to how we started...not sure what I want, just pick one on the day, maybe have a little custom piece drawn up over a couple of ales then drill it in.
Makes a nice change to big fields so planned out and executed. It's awesome how after all these years being tattooed that the buzz is still alive. :)

Couple more quick ones from Fergus Simms

Three absolutely great tattoos so far! will add this into the mix just for fun. My 3/4 peacock sleeve by Mie at Nine Tails Tattoo in East London. Its a cover up of an old black and grey piece that I had 6 laser sessions on over a couple of years. Final touch up finished last week.

Mark Cross Instagram

You are completely wrong that tattoo grabbing only happens to women, some drunk guy tried to lick my arm the other day at the bar I work. When I told him in no uncertain terms to fuck off he said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world 'I just wanted to find out if the ink has a flavour!'
As @growltiger says it's probly not worth arguing about some of your other assumptions. I think you've read too many of those pick up artist books my friend...

Man your tattoos are absolutely ridiculous, you don't need advice on taste from anyone!
I would definitely have a look at the boys from Smith Street tattoo though, I think (although don't quote me) that Eli quinters and Bert Krak are coming this year, it doesn't get much better for traditional American tattooing.
I'm getting tattooed by Steve Byrne at the convention, he might still have some spots and is another great option...

I think you'll find it has EVERYTHING to do with him being a creep.
I can't be arsed to critique the rest of your post. Musn't engage with creeps on the internet (unless they are extremely attractive, then they cease to be a creep and instead become charming. Hmmm.... Can you post a face shot so that I can decide?)

Three absolutely great tattoos so far! will add this into the mix just for fun. My 3/4 peacock sleeve by Mie at Nine Tails Tattoo in East London. Its a cover up of an old black and grey piece that I had 6 laser sessions on over a couple of years. Final touch up finished last week.

I gotta say Mick, reading that last post got me a little choked. Especially the stuff about your dad, i had the exact same conversation but in reverse i supposed. I remember sitting in a coffee shop with my dad, looking at him a year sober and saying to him 'how the fuck are you still alive you old bastard!' and we both stood up and hugged. It was almost as if in that moment all the anger and resentment about his behavior over the years fell away, and i was just happy to have him there, this old red faced bastard - my dad.
heavy stuff for the internet! Still its good to talk, and even better to listen. Thanks for that @Mick Weder

I just wanted to chip in to the conversation about 12 step program's. My dad has been in the AA program for about 6 years now and it has given him and his family something I never thought possible. It's not just about stopping the using (although of course that's the primary focus) but it's like Mick said, the drugs or the booze become so internal over years and years that suddenly relating it the outside world sober can see really difficult. There's an expression for that in the rooms which is a 'dry drunk' and I've seen it with my uncle who hasn't touched a drink in 20 years and hasn't smiled or laughed once in that time either.
Anyway I just wanted to voice my support @MadeIndelible, you've started down a road that really can transform your life - and it's a fucking brave thing. 'It works if you work it, so work it!'

Three absolutely great tattoos so far! will add this into the mix just for fun. My 3/4 peacock sleeve by Mie at Nine Tails Tattoo in East London. Its a cover up of an old black and grey piece that I had 6 laser sessions on over a couple of years. Final touch up finished last week.

Thanks for the input guys,
I would prefer not to have any more Japanese, just because i like the contrast between western and Japanese styles - do you reckon it would work
if I went for a traditional piece on the inner bicep and then filled up the rest of the gaps with little fillers and a few roses as suggested?
I just ordered 'These old Blue Arms- the life and times of amund dietzel' and was hoping I might be able to incorporate some of that old flash as filler.
Thanks again

Late answer:
@jimmyirish glad you're so into it! I am too, the more I look at it the more I like it!
We haven't decided on the day yet, I'll let them two decide and then I'll probably post in the London Tattoo Con-thread here on LST in case anyone else is interested.
@Iwar Thank you! Yes the plan is to have them both work in all the sessions. We are aiming for 4 or 5 sessions, they are both really quick. I just need to bite down hard and let them hurt me for long enough each time haha..

Three absolutely great tattoos so far! will add this into the mix just for fun. My 3/4 peacock sleeve by Mie at Nine Tails Tattoo in East London. Its a cover up of an old black and grey piece that I had 6 laser sessions on over a couple of years. Final touch up finished last week.

I gotta say Mick, reading that last post got me a little choked. Especially the stuff about your dad, i had the exact same conversation but in reverse i supposed. I remember sitting in a coffee shop with my dad, looking at him a year sober and saying to him 'how the fuck are you still alive you old bastard!' and we both stood up and hugged. It was almost as if in that moment all the anger and resentment about his behavior over the years fell away, and i was just happy to have him there, this old red faced bastard - my dad.
heavy stuff for the internet! Still its good to talk, and even better to listen. Thanks for that @Mick Weder

I gotta say Mick, reading that last post got me a little choked. Especially the stuff about your dad, i had the exact same conversation but in reverse i supposed. I remember sitting in a coffee shop with my dad, looking at him a year sober and saying to him 'how the fuck are you still alive you old bastard!' and we both stood up and hugged. It was almost as if in that moment all the anger and resentment about his behavior over the years fell away, and i was just happy to have him there, this old red faced bastard - my dad.
heavy stuff for the internet! Still its good to talk, and even better to listen. Thanks for that @Mick Weder

My arms are set up that way, too. I have a japanese half sleeve on my left arm and traditional flash designs filling up my right arm down to the elbow (another half sleeve).
I didn't really plan it out that way it just kind of happened. And my right arm wasn't planned out either, I just got designs I liked by artists I admired. It filled itself out nicely because if you go to a quality artist they will, by default, fit the design in with the rest of your work. Even though I went to all different artists, they still made it all come together seamlessly.
The symmetry is a little off just because of the contrast in styles but I don't mind it as much. Just express your thoughts to your artist(s) and be open to their suggestions because they'll know best how to give you what you want.

Hey all,
So i know there is already a thread on integrating different styles of tattoo into a collection, but I think this is a little more specific and I have been trying to figure it out for a while.
Currently I have a 3/4 Japanese peacock sleeve on my right arm and a great big eagle on my upper left arm. I have an appointment at the London tattoo convention with Steve Byrne, and I was
originally going to get him to do my eagle but I just couldn't resist snapping up a Valerie Vargas cancellation (I love her eagles!). I was thinking of getting Steve to do a clipper ship on the inside of
my right arm, I love his clean, bold take on traditional subjects and i'm sure he'd do an unbelievable job.
The only problem is that i'm a sucker for symmetry and i'm worried that it will look a little lopsided with a 3/4 sleeve on one arm and just two large tattoos on the other. I'm also not totally comfortable
with moving down to the wrist, I know i've gone half way down the forearm but it still feels like a big step somehow. So i'm thinking I could get Steve to do something on the inside of my bicep (a panther or
a girl head maybe?) and then get little filler pieces dotted around my upper arm so its kinda a 3/4 traditional American sleeve. Do you guys think that would work or would it just draw the attention
away from the eagle?
Sorry to be so long winded! heres a couple of pics to give you an idea of what i'm working with. Thanks very much for your help.

I would love to tattoo the crown of my skull with a happy dragon. But I am also very fearful of the pain...not from the tattoo but from the beating I would receive from my wife if I ever came home with a tattooed skully !

Here's another one by Franz at the Okey Doke.

I just wanted to chip in to the conversation about 12 step program's. My dad has been in the AA program for about 6 years now and it has given him and his family something I never thought possible. It's not just about stopping the using (although of course that's the primary focus) but it's like Mick said, the drugs or the booze become so internal over years and years that suddenly relating it the outside world sober can see really difficult. There's an expression for that in the rooms which is a 'dry drunk' and I've seen it with my uncle who hasn't touched a drink in 20 years and hasn't smiled or laughed once in that time either.
Anyway I just wanted to voice my support @MadeIndelible, you've started down a road that really can transform your life - and it's a fucking brave thing. 'It works if you work it, so work it!'