Tsam

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. 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

A healed photo showing where I am currently, I'm back in the chair in about two weeks and I can't wait! Looking forward to those last traces of the old pieces disappearing. 
 

I am FINISHED yaaassss!!!!!!


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Another 4 hours for me today v nearly there


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Finished my back piece yesterday.
 
 

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

The first part of my journey comes to an end after 3 years. Chris Crooks finished my entire back today. Time to start saving for the front!

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

started the green!!

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

Greetings!
I'm still in the early stages of my back, but yeah, not a ton of fun to be had there generally. 
Welcome to the site!

Looking really nice man, Scott does great work. Also, I think the 3/4 sleeves look awesome! 
Looking forward to your next set of photos.

UPDATE: Well, today was the day!
What a long, but great day! It began a little before 11:00am. I was the first one in the shop with Scott (most of the day, there were 10-15 people there, and at one point six artists were tattooing simultaneously). He had been working on a few designs based on the sleeve length I wanted. Over the week between today and our consultation, I had decided to ask him to put the dragon's head somewhere on my arm instead of with the head in the more traditional chest area. I was a little worried to be asking for this, as Scott has a relatively new sleeve with the head in the center, and the last thing I wanted was for him to think I was trying to copy his own tattoo. Luckily, when I got there, he informed me that the last several dragons he had done had the head on the chest, and he was dying to do something new. Perfect! His sketches had just what I wanted. It was a really good sign.
However, getting it right took some time. Using thin paint brushes, he created the design over four separate layers. The dragon's head had to be moved several times, and the unique swirl of the dragon we decided on what difficult to get right without looking like the head was plopped onto the center of the body... but Scott is a perfectionist, and after a lot of erasing and revising, and then relining, and revising, etc... we were finally done with a design ready to be inked at 2:40. With only a few short breaks, it took a lot longer than I expected. But the result is something that works specifically with my body as opposed to just slapping a template onto my arm. I love it.
Here is a quick snap of Scott somewhere between layer 2 and 3 of sketching on me:

I haven't had a tattoo in nearly 20 years, so I had no idea what to expect from the pain, especially over so many areas. Tattooing in the ditch was no treat, but not as bad as I had come to expect from reading. The outside of the elbow lived up to expectations. But the worst was around my collarbone, where any wincing or tightening of my face would risk pulling the skin under his needle. And there was one spot on my chest where I could clearly feel the vibration on my pec, but the pain was in my neck. I could have sworn at the time he was tattooing my upper-middle neck.
Long story short (yeah, right), we finished up the linework a little after 5:00pm. I am absolutely thrilled with the result... and was getting tons of compliments on it by the many artists and clients in the shop throughout the day. Here is a front shot:

It is a little difficult to see from this angle and with only linework, but the dragon's body actually goes out the back of the head and swirls up and around the shoulders through the clouds and comes out belly showing under his head before turning again towards the end of the sleeve. It makes a little more sense visually if you can see the back. I also have the dragon clutching a pearl with his talons on the back on the sleeve and will actually be filling the pearl with a significant flower logo in the next session.
Overall, a fantastic day. I couldn't be happier that Scott got all the elements I wanted into the design, was able to keep it very traditional, but also with a great deal of uniqueness built just for me. If any readers are in Austin, Triple Crown Tattoo on Chicon Street (right around the corner from Franklin's BBQ!) is a must-visit.

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

Progress from a couple of weeks ago. About four hours here, next up is another half day to get the black into his body and get to work hiding that lower cover up. Can’t wait!
Shading was definitely a different experience from the lining, much more so than usual I thought. Had completely different hot spots as compared to lining day. Kidneys still leading the way for my least favourite spot so far though.
 
 
 
 

20 month after my first appointment, after 40h in 12 sessions, my back was finally finished a week ago. I'm so happy that I'm done for now but there are already some plans if and what possibly could be my next step towards an even more colorfull body....😋 Not sure if I'll first go for my right butt cheek and upper thights or if I'll start with my arms... But well, that's the future. Won't probably get anything new until end 2019 or even 2020. At least not until I was able to put some money aside to get it done in a foreseeable period of time.