Anisya

I just finished this yesterday. Two two hour sittings. Matt Brotka, Salvation Tattoo, Richmond, Virginia.

Think less. Get tattooed more!
Joking aside, although your point is very valid, it kinda doesn't matter. In my experience foreign cultures (i.e. any not your own, except Maori) don't really get offended when someone gets a tattoo influenced by their culture. I'm not sure, but this idea of offending whole cultures seems to spring from the days of usenet or early forums where there was more typing than tattooing going on.
I encounter variations of this question all the time. My answer usually is "it doesn't matter" think about everything else in your life and it's cultural authenticity. Think about the language you speak, the food you eat, the clothes you wear etc, etc. unless you are part of a tribe or Japanese, there's a good chance you live a fairly multicultural life without realising it.
But yeah, I'd say Japanese tattooing is one of the cornerstones of tattoo culture. Yes there is such a thing. To me "tattoo culture" is more interesting and valid than "tattoo lifestyle" maybe I don't act, socialise, party, work, fuck, drink, ride transportation, dress or eat like others in this culture but they still accept me as a friend, peer or brother when we meet, for the first time, or the hundredth time, anywhere in the world.
That's not to say having a sleeve will give you access to a global network of friends but 'tattoo' is a thing in, and of itself. Your Japanese tattoo won't really be a Japanese tattoo, it will be a Japanese style tattoo hopefully executed with love, effort, craft, and respect for its origins. Which is more than can be said for much of our modern lives.
Also, traditional arts and crafts are dying out in their native countries around the world. It's often foreigner's interest that keeps them alive.
With that in mind, the idea of offending a culture that allows its traditions to die through adopting some of those traditions seems a little redundant to me.
After all is said and done, I hope you get a tattoo, for you, that makes you happy.

no one else is using this? ya'll are so 20th century

Photo 2 by Chris Garver.
Photos 1 and 3 by Tim Lehi.

valerie vargas

That is one awesome tiger. I don't blame you if you get a kink in your neck starring at it all the time.

"I feel FAT"

He's all "well shit, I know I left my cock somewhere ... "

I was just reading Sboyer's response in the thread What tattoo designs can you never see enough of? and realized we have no Rock of Ages thread so here we go...
I remember when I fell in love with this tattoo design while working at Juxtapoz and we had just printed the Jason Mcafee Rock of Ages poster and just being amazed. For some reason that poster really sticks out in my mind. I tried to locate a picture of it for here but can't find it so if you have one please post.
While trying to find the image I did locate this video of Freddy Corbin at Temple Tattoo doing a Rock of Ages. It says it was done four years ago but guessing it has to be older as Scott Sylvia is shown in the background tattooing there as well??? It was posted by a user named xhooliganx and I know we have a user on our tattoo forum by that name as well so if it is the same, thanks. Since the video is labeled part one is there a second one that shows the tattoo or do you have a picutres?
Part One


Here are some other threads with Rock of Ages talk and/or pictures:
Was tattooing as popular 100 years ago as now?
What's your favorite tattoo on your body?
Full Back Tattoo Designs
Religious and Spiritual Tattoo Designs
Fastest Tattooers
New Tattoo Idea, Rock of Ages
Lets hear and see them......

I have observed that sometimes the Tattooers here at LST are a little cold to folks that join the community looking for feedback, tips, pointers, info etc etc...

Your drawings are really nice. You have a good understanding of light source. I would really spend some time looking at the classics, because once you get those fundamentals down and learn the mechanics, you'll be able to experiment with lots of styles. The obvious starting points would be Cap. Coleman, Huck Spaulding, Paul Rogers, Sailor Jerry, Stoney St. Clair, Hardy, Zeke Owen, Thom Devita. Then from their, Dan Higgs, Filip Leu, Timothy Hoyer, Grime, Richard Stell, Scott Sylvia, Lehi. And then dudes like Danny Reed, Andrew Conner, Will Lollie, Brian Bruno, etc. Immerse yourself in these people's work, b/c they know what tattoos are, and they know how to make them. All this hot shiny stuff that people are doing now won't hold up over time, so enjoy it for the art. A tattoo should look like a tattoo. But, this is just my humble opinion. I know there are many others.

You should check out this site, such good flash/art:
https://www.tattooeliteinternational.com/