Devious6

You have legal obligation to tell them why you left the apprentice previously - and they can't legally ask. As noted by Sstu, you can tell them you left to tend to a medical issue and leave it at that. I am glad that you've got everything under control and are moving ahead with your life again!

It looks great - and a smooth transition. I too am trying to find my way around the new layout - trying to find my uploaded pictures and where to change signature, profile pic, etc. Another challenge!!!

Just got my first about a month ago. My next will be an eagle design - still trying to figure out exactly what I want - on my right upper arm. I love the traditional eagle!!

Welcome!! I'm a newbie here and just got my first tattoo! Be warned, though....one is never enough. :)

My first tattoo. Now 1 month old (this pic was about a week after having it done) - I head back tomorrow to have some shading added. Will add a better picture.

It looks great!! No scratching - and don't over apply the salve or lotion. A little goes a long way!! I got a confirmation on my appointment for tomorrow to finish the shading on mine. Really looking forward to it.

I waited another 30 years to get my first, almost 31 since I turn 61 next Saturday. Over those years I learned time and again not to let others determine how I feel about myself. Enjoy that tattoo, enjoy life, love yourself for who you are..not what someone else thinks you should be. And post pics after that patch comes off! I'll be in the chair Tuesday afternoon getting some shading done so I will post pics too.

It looks fabulous! Love the wolf in sheeps clothing idea.

What tremendous strength and courage you have - thank you for sharing the meaning behind your design. My wife and I have worked with our local Childrens' Advocacy Center for years so we've witnessed the devastation caused by abuse. I have no doubt we will see that koi design some day.

You have to admit, it does look a little odd at this point. The gallery pic looks fantastic - can't wait to see it once it is healed!

Wow! That's a great start! It looks fantastic. When are you scheduled for the next visit? Will she finish it then or split the remaining work into several sessions?

I meet with my artist on Tuesday to gray shade around the lines of my first tattoo to finish it. I will be talking with him then to get the ideas flowing for this one! Excited!

It looks awesome! I can't wait to see more pics as you progress with it.

Looks like a great design and colors. Go for it! My next will be a traditional eagle and flag on my right arm/ shoulder. Have to keep that patriotic tradition going.

Right! Without pics, it didn't happen! Let's see the work!!

Looking forward to doing this for a few days! We head down to the mountains of North Carolina - love to pound my Z3 through the twisty mountain roads. Here is my Z3 - a first-year model 1996. 20 years old this year and going strong. This was taken about 10 years ago as we were making a run through The Tail of the Dragon - 318 significant curves in an 11 mile stretch. Heaven!

Lebanon!! Of course. The first tattoo. I looked at and kept telling myself I recognized it. Duh!! Marhabahn!! I agree that the quality of the work looks good - especially on the 2d tattoo.

I love your collection! Thanks for sharing. :D

Welcome. I'm new here, too...and only have one tattoo. It's just a month old and I will be going back in on the 26th of this month to have some shading added. I am planning on my next - probably in the fall.

My father had a tattoo - got it while in the Marines during the Korean Conflict. It was a traditional skull with a snake weaving through the eyes and mouth. But, since he passed away in 1997 and I was 60 when I got my first tattoo - just about a month ago - this wasn't a big problem. My mom is in a nursing home and I showed it to her the day after I got it. She asked why I got it, I told her and she smiled and said it looks good. End of story. :cool:

Thanks! I have some ideas but planned on letting him pull them all together.

Welcome and thanks for the great intro! I recently got my first tattoo - at age 61. I am a retired Army colonel and now president of a small college. Neither of those two professions - Army officer and higher education administration - were/are generally accepting of tattoos and certainly not exposed ones. My first (and it even has some tribal lines in it, was done because it has meaning to me so it really didn't matter if others approved) is fairly large but is still covered by short sleeves. It took me a long time to decide what I wanted - and to convince myself to do it. Once I did, though, it consumed much of my thoughts. I also had many, many 2d thoughts as the day approached. I am so glad I did it. It was just a matter of days after the initial work that I began to think about adding some shading to it...and I was disappointed when it turned out that planned vacation time makes me put off the final work until next Tuesday. Arrrgh! At the same time, I am already planning on the next. It too will have meaning to me and I'll be talking with my artist about it while I have the work done next week. With warm weather - and pool time - approaching, I will most likely wait until fall to get the 2d one done. For this one, my thought is to go a bit larger so that it will be evident with short sleeves. I've come to the conclusion that I've lived within societal convention all of my life. Sometimes, you need to step outside of those conventions and do something different. Who knows, maybe we'll see Harvard's president sporting some ink. For now, though, I bet there are not too many inked college presidents who also shoot in Vintage Sniper Rifle matches. :cool: I am looking forward to seeing your work - maybe it will even give me the confidence to go larger!!

Thanks for the advice and links! I took my wife out for dinner tonight to celebrate her birthday. During our discussion she mentioned that she was really liking my first tattoo...which gave me the opening to talk about what I want to do with the second. She was totally supportive - just suggested I wait until fall so we don't miss swimming time in our pool this summer. Now I will begin my research in earnest for the eagle and American flag ideas. I have an appointment with my artist on the 26th to finish shading my first tattoo. I will give him my ideas and some examples then and let him do the final design.

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome!