oboogie

Hey, otisc! I'm new here, too. Welcome! I got my first tattoo (a crappy piece of flash off the wall) by some random woman at a tattoo shop when I was in college. It was supposed to be a daisy, but my young niece thought it was broccoli! One of my professors thought it was a sprocket of some kind? A boyfriend at the time called it a "mutant flower, just like me." Flattering! I gave it zero thought, and it was badly done. About five years ago, just before my 40th birthday, I decided to cover it up with something I really liked — the barking dog by Keith Haring. Thus began my foray into tattoos! In the last five years I've gotten 30 plus tattoos, and I'm already signed up for more. I just can't stop! I started by getting them all on my lower legs (which are nearly covered now), but then I added the top part of each arm. One is a half sleeve, and I'm finishing the other half sleeve in May. I work in advertising, and I have facial piercings, so no one here minds my tattoos. If I ever have to go back to a more traditional office environment (hope not), I can remove the piercings, but tattoos are more difficult to remove. ;-) So I am sticking to half sleeves for now, but I'm sure that will change at some point. I get asked to show my tattoos a lot around here — there is one other creative here with full sleeves, and we are considered the wild ones, which makes me laugh. I'm a proofreader! I'm not particularly crazy. I just love the art of tattooing. It is addictive. Anyway, you didn't ask all that, but I thought I'd share anyway. Again, welcome! Look forward to seeing your new tattoos soon!

I always tip my artist, even if he's doing free touch-ups. The man is extraordinarily talented, and I think he deserves a tip every.single.time.

Here are a few more of my tattoos:

I find it depends on the size of the tattoo. Generally, they are bandaged, but if they are massive, clear wrap is used. They've all healed fine. I just tend to follow the advice of my artist for aftercare. He's never been wrong.

I think his tattoo looks fine, too. I don't really remember being so worried after my first tattoo, but maybe I was. ;-)

I posted this elsewhere, but I'll post again here ... getting tattooed by Richard Stell at the oklahomatattooshow in a couple of weeks time. Finishing off my right half-sleeve with Joshua Henderson at Brainstorm Tattoo in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in May. Those are my two scheduled tattoos at the moment.

Oh, my god. I love their work. Reminds me a bit of Chagal and Kandinksy sort of mixed together.

Yes! That's exactly what I use. I like Hustle Butter, too — it is mostly shea butter. Smells lovely.

I'll be happy to pass that along. Thank you for the welcome, SStu!

Whoa! Beautifully done.

I got all of these touched up last week by my artist, Josh Henderson. Next tattoo is scheduled with Richard Stell at the Oklahoma Tattoo Convention at the end of this month, then I'm finishing my half sleeve on my right arm with Josh in May. Looking forward to both!

Oops. Introduced myself as a tattoo collector in my initiation thread. Ah, well. The phrase doesn't bother me.

Hi. I'm new here, too. So much to read, and everyone seems really cool.

Thanks so much, marley mission. Really glad to be here!

I use Aquaphor or Bepanthen, then cocoa butter or Hustle Butter.

I'll be there this month! Can't wait.

Under my arm/bicep area. Holy shit, did that hurt. Nothing bothers me much or gets to me, but this one made me cringe and tense up more than anywhere else.