piccalilli

@Oiocha one of the students at our kung fu school got a full colour turtleback from Tomo (at Silkneedle, he was travelling to Japan regularly). It was his first and only tattoo. The details and patterns are insane, got that velvet look. You're pretty lucky, enjoy the ride.
 

The ride is wild as hell the whole way but I know I will only ever get to have one back piece, I'm so happy that I could wait and make it count.  There isn't a single other person in my mind I could think of that I would want to do my back, at all, other than Tomo.  I have the rest of the skin real estate for anyone else but the back is special.  I'm saving my pennies and dimes for April/May;  I'm hoping the heavy hitters show up to Jacksonville for the Imperial Tattoo Convention again and maybe if I'm lucky I can go to the Bay Area Con just once at least.

Going to see Tomo next weekend and I'm ready to go.  I also haven't forgotten about posting my Daruma: its perpetually got something that wont let me take a clean picture.

Chicago is 5 hours one way.  I have to do 1-2 hour sittings.
Two  areas that are in progress
 

you're a boss, you got this man!!

This year at Redemption in Boston - Mike Shea. Right on the hip
 

It is the center of the compass that has to do with the Sword of Fudo.... Immovable... The place that keeps all things in their order.... I believe... The Book "immovable" is what we referenced... When we were drawing the piece up...
Weldon was the only person I knew Richard wouldn't be mad dogging the whole time.... Richard fell asleep on the shop couch.... I really love the piece. Never thought I would get anything above the boobs....
 

Had the tiger finished up on Friday night, 3 hours worth.
 

More red!
Green next time!
 

You won't forget. You'll never forget it. The thought of it will make you shudder for years to come.  But you'll still go. You'll dread every moment up to the session and despise every moment the needle is on skin. But that dread and despise will be mixed with excitement and stoke. Then, when you're getting that last wipe down of the session and checking it out in the mirror, all the dread will be gone and the stoke will increase exponentially. Enjoy it!
But then healing. 😐

Allright, you weren't joking. Had my first two days this wekend;  the back is horrific to work on. And outlining on the back of the thighs... the pain was near indescribable. Made the arse, spine and back part of the ribs pale by comparison.
All of you are utter beasts for doing this purely by machine. I cannot even fathom.
 
😵
Have a few months before my next session, hopefully I'll completely forget about what this weekend was like by then.

Allright, you weren't joking. Had my first two days this wekend;  the back is horrific to work on. And outlining on the back of the thighs... the pain was near indescribable. Made the arse, spine and back part of the ribs pale by comparison.
All of you are utter beasts for doing this purely by machine. I cannot even fathom.
 
😵
Have a few months before my next session, hopefully I'll completely forget about what this weekend was like by then.

Allright, you weren't joking. Had my first two days this wekend;  the back is horrific to work on. And outlining on the back of the thighs... the pain was near indescribable. Made the arse, spine and back part of the ribs pale by comparison.
All of you are utter beasts for doing this purely by machine. I cannot even fathom.
 
😵
Have a few months before my next session, hopefully I'll completely forget about what this weekend was like by then.

progress....
 
 

done - at least for a while - 
 

The story of Freddy Negrete and his sons.
 

And I'm back! Had my first session a few days ago, we went for about 7 and a half hours or so and got all the outline done. Was definitely a tough session, the kidneys, parts just below my neckline and the tailbone were all particularly unpleasant. I'm hoping the shading will go a little easier on me.
We're going to add some more at some point so that my ass is covered, probably flowers or some cool swirling wind bars. Next session is another day in about three weeks or so.
I couldn't be happier with how its looking currently, I just wish I didn't have the view intruded upon by the old pieces, still, they'll be gone soon enough! I can't wait to see how it all unfolds from here really. 

First post here at LST, just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences across this thread. I'm currently two weeks away from my first sitting on my Fudo Myo-o backpiece and reading my way through what everyone has had to say has been helping both fuel my stoke and nerves for it! 
 

more red!
 

Hey everyone, here's my most recent tattoo, done last weekend at the Bucharest tattoo convention by the awesome noayanni.
I'm extremely happy with how it turned out and how it ties to my other Ripley tattoo :)
Click for video

Well this will be something to experience, I was really hoping to hold onto ignorance.  I'm decidedly only getting something palm sized anyways, nothing too long or arduous.  I get my fill of long sessions with Tomo
 

My modus operandi is "questionable planning". Like almost all of my prior appointments it will be two days ~4 hours each then drive straight from SoG to the airport. Freshly wrapped but hopefully not leaking ink around the TSA scanners!

That is true. Choose your poison, red hot electric vibrating  butter knife or stabby-stabby-ow!

tebori is just a different kind of pain haha

My modus operandi is "questionable planning". Like almost all of my prior appointments it will be two days ~4 hours each then drive straight from SoG to the airport. Freshly wrapped but hopefully not leaking ink around the TSA scanners!