semele

Got this from Bailey on Saturday.

I got my third piece from Ron Wells Friday, and I LOVE HER:

& if anyone wants the link to my Grez back piece progress, PM me. I don't want my butt all over the internet before its finished--after that, I of course give zero fucks.

I can't sing her praises enough, and I am so, so, soooooooo stoked on this piece, so here is my finished leg by Stephanie Tamez. Such an awesome person, and I'm gonna miss spending so much time at Saved! Except for a couple details, everything here is healed. Definitely one of my favorite tattoos.

After five months or so of getting tattooed at a more or less sane pace, this month I seem to be returning to full-on insanity. Filled in the gaps on my chest with a pair of butterflies yesterday by Robert Ryan--I really love my tattoos from him, and I love going out to Electric, even if it means braving New Jersey transit.

Here's the little Bob Wicks piece I got from Ron Wells last weekend. The day before Stephanie Tamez lined my knee (ouch!). Hell of a fucking weekend. Photo from Ron's Instagram.

Came to Chicago this weekend and got this one from Nick Colella.

I got this from Ron Wells when I was in New York a couple weeks back. Had a particularly awesome time getting this one. Picture nabbed from Instagram.

I suppose I'll contribute to our collection of giant ass-flowers. Finished a few weeks ago by Grez!

Sixth session, almost done! By Grez. Said goodbye to my old and very odd lower back tattoo yesterday, too.

This is what I've had done so far. Four sessions; the rose and yet more black went in last Friday. By Grez at Kings Avenue.

Here's the little Bob Wicks piece I got from Ron Wells last weekend. The day before Stephanie Tamez lined my knee (ouch!). Hell of a fucking weekend. Photo from Ron's Instagram.

I had a tattoo healing nightmare the night after the first session on my back piece. I was being chased by a really slow-moving mob, but I couldn't run because every few steps my shirt would adhere to my back and I'd have to stop and very very gently pry it off before I could run again. Even in my sleep my priorities are fucked.

Neat thread to revisit. I haven't really changed my attitude since I first posted on here, though I have a lot more coverage than when I first posted. I'm about 45% covered now so I still have plenty of space, but it's enough that running out of space seems like a distinct possibility especially because I've only been getting tattooed for about five years. I have a young child now so that has forced me to slow down and it may somewhat limit the possibility for traveling for tattoos. I'm also much pickier than I was: when I was first getting tattooed I was overwhelmed by how many people there are making great tattoos and I wanted to get something from all of them. I'm looking for something else now, and the experience of getting the tattoo, of getting tattooed by the right people is almost more important than the tattoo itself. Consequently, my list of "musts" is much shorter than it was.
A couple of years of experience has also made getting tattooed into almost a duty. I'm committed to heavy coverage which is going to mean that the spots that are going to totally suck need to be tattooed so I kind of just want to get them over with so I don't have to dread them as much as I do.

haven't been on here in a while. I enjoyed seeing all the great work everyone has gotten recently!
Had an appt with Chad Koeplinger on 11/14. I thought I was in for one more painful, albeit short, back appt for some touch ups in case he felt they were needed. After taking a look at my healed back, he said some very wonderful words "rob, I think we are done". I emphatically replied back, "thank GOD!"
So, I had him do some filler on my wrist. He tattooed a flail and a fly and I am absolutely loving them both. I really enjoyed getting these, but I will admit, the ball of the flail, on the inside of my wrist was a bit more painful than I would have thought. Felt like it was sending electric shocks into my hand! Still, easier than the back for sure!
Included a pic of my healed back, and a photo off of Chad's instagram of myself and a seemingly GIANT Andrew Stortz . Andrew's back piece is insanely good.

This happened Saturday:

Went to see Delphine and Laurent in London, it was intense but completely amazing at the same time, those guys are the best! 12h in the shop, around 7h of actual tattooing simultaneously on both knees, ill admit it was rough. It was such a great experience though so we decided im just going to let them have the rest of my lower legs at least.
Pic is from Laurent's instagram (https://www.instagram.com/darkbabamaina/) and theres a bunch more on Delphine's https://www.instagram.com/delphinenoiztoy/

Trying to score a ROA guest spot session with Robert Ryan tomorrow . . .

My appointment with Hoyer was moved to this Sunday.
It's my first piece from him, most likely won't be my last. Have some big ideas to shoot at the homie on Sunday.
Sidenote::
Thanks to everyone who got back to me in Private Messages.
Your opinions and advice are a huge help.

Robert Ryan!

Alright folks, here ya go

I had a tattoo healing nightmare the night after the first session on my back piece. I was being chased by a really slow-moving mob, but I couldn't run because every few steps my shirt would adhere to my back and I'd have to stop and very very gently pry it off before I could run again. Even in my sleep my priorities are fucked.

Going to get some professional pictures of my back tomorrow. You know, with drapey fabric and all - the whole statue fine art thing. To capture it before I fry my tattoo in the sun. ;)

Last tattoo - 5 days ago. I finally finished my 2nd sleeve. Nothing cures my desire for a tattoo like getting a tattoo. I'm kind of tired of healing them. I've been working on three big projects, going almost monthly for the last several years so I'm really ready for a break.

Todays happy news is that I'm getting a hand size tattoo by Rico Daruma in London at the convention. It's going to be a good week end

agreed. and of the remaining likeable 1/3rd, I don't want to be around them 2/3rds of the time. and that 1/3rd of tolerable time with likeable people usually occurs after consuming 2/3rds of a 6-pack.

...I can't believe this thread has been dormant for 6 months.
Last night we went to a wedding. I wore a little black dress with thin straps so the top third of my backpiece showed. I had my hair up. Overall, I got positive reviews or no comments - it was very cool.
However, "Jackass" (as he was come to be called), came up to me at the bar. Picture 60 y/o paunch, light pink button-down, partially untucked - all the guys were all still wearing suit jackets. Partially in the bottle. So he is chatting me up and then sees my tattoo.
Him: Wow, I just saw your art. It seems like the entire back is a "new thing." The first time I saw one was when we took our son to a dude ranch in Texas and a girl had one. It was quite alluring.
Me: ::eesh::
Him: So this was probably more than one session?
Me: Yes, it was two. (Actually, it was 20).
Him: So, how is your Hepatitis C? Is it under control?
Me: Excuse me?
Him: You know, your Hep C. And your Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B?
Me (deadpanned): Everything is under control.
Him: You know, I ask, because you had more than one session, so there was more than one needle. So you have to keep it under control.
Me, (skeeved out and walking away): It's fine.
So I tell my friends, and we all get weirded out. Shudders. So anyway, later in the night, I want to go back to the bar and get a drink for me and the Hubs. But Jackass is there talking with another guy I don't know. But I go up anyway and talk straight to the bartender and order.
Him to buddy: There are a lot of women in those same little black dresses. They must all shop at the same store.
Me: ::Stars straight ahead::
Him (announcing into the air): Well, I guess no one heard that.
Me (walking away with my drinks): I'm sorry, it must be my Hepatitis C showing.
Him: Excuse me?
Me: IT MUST BE MY HEP C SHOWING.
Him (huffed up and offended): I was just being concerned.
?!? Super shudders. Eeeeesh. One of my girlfriends said I should have rubbed my arm over his and "gotten my Hep C all over him." But I was too skeeved out to even consider touching him.
I hate people who play these little word power games. I have to come up with a few more standard answers to assholes. Happily, I did get the chance to smack him back down.