GraceAnnne

@Dominiccjs lol ...i can relate! i had myself psyched out about the pain from reading so much on this thread. Honestly, it sucks, BUT you can do it.
Drink LOTS of water and eat small snacks (fruit/nuts) on every break.  The healing process is a breeze. My back has healed better than any tattoo ive gotten over the past 10 years. 
Also, Dan Molloy rules so hard.  That Kali backpiece he did on his wife is unreal.  Dont stress, its all worth it. 

@Dominiccjs lol ...i can relate! i had myself psyched out about the pain from reading so much on this thread. Honestly, it sucks, BUT you can do it.
Drink LOTS of water and eat small snacks (fruit/nuts) on every break.  The healing process is a breeze. My back has healed better than any tattoo ive gotten over the past 10 years. 
Also, Dan Molloy rules so hard.  That Kali backpiece he did on his wife is unreal.  Dont stress, its all worth it. 

The first lines my artist did on my back were right on my love handles. I thought, I'm not going to be able to finish this! I got into the zone and got through it and then I thought, if I can get through this, I can get through anything. A couple years later I started working on my current piece that goes on to my stomach - a whole new level of pain for me.
My artist always says, just because it hurts isn't a good reason to not get tattooed. DOH!

Another session down; had to tap out after 2 hours as I've been sick and just exhausted lately. But, eyes on the prize!
 

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

Here is a shot of my back all healed and settled. Started and finished in 2017. Done by the one and only Eric Perfect in Philadelphia, PA.

I finished my back 9 years ago and it hurt like a bitch. I prefer the traditional look anyway, but they tend to go a lot quicker too. Which is always a plus. Richard Stell did this in only two sessions. The first one was about 4 1/2 hours and the second was 10. Picture taken 10 minutes ago...

@Hands On tmrw is the my first appointment for my back! ill be sure to share a photo asap. very nervous but excited.  

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

Here's the complete Stoney documentary for those interested. Such a cool video, I love all of his old sideshow flash!
Stoney Knows How

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

whoa, you folks weren't lyin! The back is tough! I was disappointed that I was only able to sit through 4 1/2 hours.  It was done by Ian Lutz who tattoos in Denver CO. He was in my hometown (Pittsburgh PA) guesting at a local shop, so we were able to start this project on my turf. Next sitting is in January at his shop, World Tattoo. LOTS more to go, but excited for the journey.    Also...the outline on the love handles?!?! HOLY HELL! I never knew pain like that existed lol i have my inner thighs/feet/chest all done and i didnt think pain could get much worse but WOW!!  i could have almost passed out when he was hitting those spots. I felt like such a baby!!!

As of yesterday!


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Last night, 3.5 hours, a couple of small breaks. Got home after midnight. This is round 3, maybe 1 more to go.

another session down, this time the background down my right side. here's a healed photo Takashi took of the left side:
 

@Hands On tmrw is the my first appointment for my back! ill be sure to share a photo asap. very nervous but excited.  

@Hands On tmrw is the my first appointment for my back! ill be sure to share a photo asap. very nervous but excited.  

Forgot to post this up last month!
Instagram Dennis_Kool
Hit the 'substantially complete' milestone on my Steve Batt backpiece tattoo!! A bittersweet moment. One or two maintenance/touchup sitting in the fall after I enjoy the sunburn season and let the pigments settle under the skin. I believe the plan is to re-saturate the blacks and likely hit the cherry red one more time. Also some more finer details to add the treads of the shoes to blend in the blastover. The last session (#9, for a couple of hours) began with some pen markups as Steve drew on the intricate flame pattern and planned out the blue and green gradients. It went pretty quickly however the tattooing was pretty tight so healing it was a bitch and the bruising was pretty intense. Steve also did the skin tones which is looking deadly now that everything is starting to smooth out. The only negative space in the tattoo is in the wind and water. The monk is all peachy skin tones and white ink in the pants and sleeve cuffs.
A few of you have seen the full-monty r-rated version of the ebb n flow of the water below the butt crack wave. Back, butt and 1 thigh took a swift 32 hours and 9 sessions.
This experience has taught me a lot, not just about tattoo, but overall life. Really pushed me to my limits. The importance of simplicity, consistency and routine, of good health, how to relax, patience, perseverence, confidence vulnerability and focus. Sounds a lot like kung fu which only makes sense with the subject matter I chose to carry. It has been a very intense journey. Shout out to Steve Batt, my guru and one of thee baaaaaaddest tattooers in the West. Made in Edmonton, AB.
So yeah, I am now 210hrs, 83% of my body tattooed, the illustrated man, the colouring book, in a full tattoo suit (minus some choicey open spots for future tattoos). Coming to a beach near you to frighten your conservative parents and intrigue your impressionable teenagers!
I'd say vote for me in the July 2015 Tattoo of the Month contest...buuuuuuut don't because a) I don't actually need to wear a shirt (or pants) anymore b) @CultExciter's robot tattoo is clearly going to be the underdog winner and c) maan how good are those Grez and Marius Meyer tattoos !!!
Set your goals, plan the work, work the plan, "cut the shit...and now let's all get ssssserious!

and post progress pictures, please @GraceAnnne!

@Stephanie your back rules! i love it! im going to steal some big tees from my brother this weekend! good look, thank you!
@thewitchhunter i agree with having my mind in the right place, i need to stop psyching myself out. 
& i can definitely deal with side sleeping for a few days.  i was thinking it was going to be sore for a couple weeks.
 

I've not had any back work, but my left shoulder is pretty solid color, and I'm a side sleeper. Rolled onto that side often even though I tried not. Even woke up 1st morning on that side. In my 60's and although cuts seem to heal slower, the tattoos seem to heal fast for me. I do think overall health and the care by the artist mean most. BTW, I wore a long-sleeved cotton tee for the first four or five nights. First night there was a little seeping and the shirt stuck. DON'T PULL IT OFF! Just stepped in the shower and soaked it off. Gave no problems at all.

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