reverend1

Courteousness is key. It shouldn't matter who you are, how many tattoos you have, what you're getting, etc., you should be treated with courtesy. There are so many great tattoo artists out there that I can't be bothered by getting tattooed by someone who is rude or is a dick.
It's also bad business sense. A couple of years ago my wife @Pugilist emailed a very good local tattoo artist about getting a tattoo (for what it's worth, it wasn't the easiest tattoo request) but instead of just saying that he wasn't interested in doing it, he sent a really assholey reply...though, curiously enough, he didn't actually say he didn't want to do it. It was probably good in the long run that he did that because that got her looking into travelling for tattoos, which led her to Stephanie Tamez at Saved who is completely amazing both as a tattooer and as a human being, and who is now doing a full back piece on her. There's a few thousand dollars that the first guy potentially deprived himself of.
Obviously, that courteousness goes both ways. To me, that means appreciating the fact that tattooers are often busy and might not respond to my emails as quickly as I'd ideally like, that appointments often run late, that when they suggest something it's often to make a better tattoo, and so on and so forth.

Aaron Bell

Carlos Torres

this one from greg christians instagram today:

I love this piece by Matt Hart at Inspirations Tattoo Studio, Leeds, UK

I love the soft colours and full coverage of it, think it looks ace. When I get my chest done I would like a bit more symmetry personally, but still think this is the bomb!

I'm doing the same when I go to see him in February! I'm getting a sleeve done though, so it shouldn't be too too bad, save for the ditch and elbow. Good luck!

Already posted this in Latest Tattoo Lowdown but I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring.

100 Years of Solitude rib piece
Artist: Matt Brotka
Shop: Salvation Gallery

Definitely start with the first book if you decide to read them. Although they did a great job with the show, there is a lot that is left out.

Kinda like bare-backin' a bunch of Craigslist 'hos that have the clap... but by the 3rd show or so, you KNOW which one has the clap. From there, it all comes down to the luck of the draw.
Rob

Am I the only person who thinks this?

LOL! I am glad to see that I am not the only Modern Family fan on LST

Great stuff!

This guy.

But I will amend the above and say that the first 10-15 minutes of any tattoo tend to suck. I always liken it to jumping into a pool. At first it's freezing, and you can barely stand it. Then the feeling normalizes a bit, and you acclimate. But if you get out of the pool for a while and jump back in, it feels cold all over again. For me, it's the same with taking breaks during a tattoo.
Good luck, and definitely report back!

Got this from Antonio Roque today @ Black Label Tattoo Co.

Some really great work this month! I thought I'd throw mine in as well.

Tony Nilsson
Blue Arms Tattoo
Oslo Norway
Tony did a great job! I couldn't be happier!!!
Here's a link to Tony's work via....
Instagram

My wrist tattoos are my sons names and were my firsts, and the second pic is my unfinished wings just after getting it done (a few weeks ago now). Ill have to take a better picture now, but it looks great!!

Howdy

I have been really digging kitsune (Japanese foxes/mythical foxes with up to nine tails that shapeshift and make mischief) lately. I am thinking of getting one myself and in general think they are a beautiful subject for tattoos, but I am having trouble finding great examples of them! (Warning: if you google "kitsune" you get a lot of weird furry shit. I do not recommend it.) I know they must be out there, so please post awesome examples of kitsune tattoos and art that you have come across here.
Thus far I really love, of course, the backpiece that Shige did on Uncle Allan:

Source

Source

From a En guest spot at IN2U .

Shige!!!

Shunho - Horitoshi Tattoo Family .

Chest panel isn't bad at all.

Bonus shot sent to me by someone who saw my finished tattoo on my instagram and commented that they took a pic while I was getting tattooed.
This is what they texted to me :D

AND his friends are now jealous . . .

Awesome! I bet he's glad he waited, that's a great tattoo.