scottyg

jesus christ, my only advice is do whatever your doctor tells you! after all, physical safety should trump aesthetics here!

@cdurrant I agree with the others: it'll never look as bold as the day it was done, you can always get it touched up, but that if this is on like your wrist area that's skin that rejuvenates a lot, so it might never look "perfect." I'd also add that the precision of the comma part of the semicolon (whatever you call the dot with the loop) is really impressive, assuming it's as small as it looks.

So ultimately, if you'd like it touched up, fine, but I think it looks great as is.

Enjoy. And cheers.

@Matej Haviar

Those eyes rule!

Thanks man, I can't wait either!

Well, that was brutal. Takashi went back over lines to bolden them, and damn that hurt. But the outlines are all done! June for start of tebori!

On 4/24/2017 at 3:45 PM, Matej Haviar said:

Session # who knows now, but coming to the end. 36 hours to get here. One more sit to finish a tiny bit of colouring we haven't done and to hit a bunch of the background to smooth things out. Scott wanted to darken the big wave over my ribs to something a little closer to the lower one. It's gonna be weird not having this to work on anymore, but at the same time I'm so effing relieved. Gonna be healed for summer and for the crazy shop party--boo yeah!

@Matej Haviar Completely. F***ing. Amazing. Look at those eyes! The lightening! Congrats!!!!

@iskander911

Because of Russia's proximity to Japan, there are a lot of really really really awesome Japanese-style tattoos in Russia. Here's one article:

https://www.tattoodo.com/a/2015/07/japanese-intensity-by-slava-starkov/

Search through Instagram: that's the best source for images.

I don't know about combining a tiger with god of death. Hmm.... In Japanese tattooing, natural imagery like tigers usually has very specific pairings. I doubt death would be a natural pair for a tiger.

A tiger can also be one of the four symbols, none of which mean death:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Symbols_(China)

Lastly, look at this page for descriptions of the death gods in Japan:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinigami

And @SStu is right, ask your tattooer!!!!

@Elcirigano

Looking amazing! Lu Zhishen is a great choice, really central character.

Keep us updated!

@Matej Haviar

Thanks dude!!! I wasn't sure where he was going with the size at first, because I don't normally see that in Japanese backpieces, but I agree this is badass!! Absolutely love what he did with the oni that Jikokuten is standing on.

Can't wait till the next session, which will be like patterns in the cloth and background (I love Takashi's backgrounds).

looks great. it's an impressionistic effect. would love to have my heart stolen by Vienna.

Part 3. REALLY getting excited about this:

@Matej Haviar Looking amazing bro!!!!

5 minutes ago, Ciel said:

Well I plan to apply a thin layer of some unscented antibacterial cream, covering that with some clean kitchen towel (to soak up the ink, blood and plasma), then wrapping myself in cling film.

Then the next morning, remove the cling film and jump into the shower, completely wet the kitchen towel and gently remove it and clean the wound as normal with some sort of non fragrant soap.

Good plan? I don't even have the design back yet! XD

Everyone's different but I'd go with what your tattooer advises and I think you're overthinking it at this stage. If you don't have a design yet...

I've found less is definitely more: less lotion than I thought I'd need, less washing, less attention. You want it to heal, so I think wrapping it might be problematic, but I definitely would not use a towel under the wrap. It won't weep that much. The towel would absorb the ink. Also, if you go that route, let the wrappings naturally slide off in the shower. Don't try to peel them off of your dry skin.

Cheers!

2 minutes ago, Ciel said:

I was worried about this. I find it almost impossible to sleep on my side or belly - I always find I roll onto my back... Do you think it'll seriously damage the tattoo?

I guess I've no problem sleeping on my side.

I guess it wouldn't hurt it as long as you try not to irritate the skin; it is an open wound. Soft old sheets I guess!

@Ciel I'm overly cautious so I avoid sleeping on my back for about a week. Can't hurt.

There they are. Amazing!!

@Acedia your pics don't seem to have come through!

@Acedia your pics don't seem to have come through!

Well, Session 2 went better: 

As @Matej Haviar said, I kept reminding myself that the stoke will pull you through. ha! That and I started an antidepressant/antianxiety that has the benefit of also being used to treat general pain.... so, I sat much better this time.

Looking forward to the ass/thighs in March!

@Matej Haviar thanks man! your's looks amazing; nice to see the lightening! and thanks for the advice/sharing the experience.

I plan to go to the knees, especially because this Buddhist deity is always pictured standing on the heads of demons (apparently held over from the Indian idea of dancing on the heads of your enemies).

But I am absolutely stoked to continue!

@Matej Haviar thanks man! your's looks amazing; nice to see the lightening! and thanks for the advice/sharing the experience.

I plan to go to the knees, especially because this Buddhist deity is always pictured standing on the heads of demons (apparently held over from the Indian idea of dancing on the heads of your enemies).

But I am absolutely stoked to continue!

@otisc thanks man! If you go to traditionaltool's IG you can see it with the surrounding sketch. There's going to be another say 6 hours of line work.... Like I said, I tapped out early.... But my understanding is that traditional Japanese back pieces are usually 2 hours every two weeks. Shorter sittings over a longer period. That suits me better: it becomes a discipline that way, a practice. Anyway, thanks again.

Well, that was brutal. I tapped out after an embarrassingly short time, but whatever. He was able to finish the outline for the face/head and flames, which is great. Eyes on the prize: it's a long-term commitment, a journey, so I'm not worried. I'm in it, now.

But goddamn that hurt: especially the left hand side of my back, for some reason. Involuntarily tensed up every time. Not looking forward to that. Also difficult is that he pushes down on your back the whole time, making it harder to breathe.

Music helps, and talking. Talking really gets your mind off things.

Well, even though so little was done, it looks amazing already, and next appointment's in a month.

Thanks!

@Guerillaneedles this is another great site, but hasn't been updated in a year or so, unfortunately: http://irebokuro.tumblr.com/

@Machcekborrach @GlaryMilberg that's cool; I've never seen it before.

@Machcekborrach do you mean baku?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku_(spirit)

http://irebokuro.tumblr.com/search/baku

this site is fantastic: http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/buddhism.shtml

Thanks for the reality check/confirmation @Hands On!

Takashi Matsuba's (traditionaltool) doing it. I've got another piece by him, and am looking forward to this tremendously. It'll be Jikokuten, the Buddhist deity/protector of the East and the heavenly musicians.

Reading these posts makes me less nervous: the sense of shared suffering.

Thanks again.