SStu

Welcome.

. . . and show us your ink!

We are, indeed - a homely bunch. :rolleyes:

I haven't had one in 15 months.

Congradulations to you!!

Welcome.

Nice score with the Kostechko! I just posted a picture of one of his latest snakes, earlier today.

Where the hell has this thread been, anyway . . .

Nate Beavers

Tim Lehi

Nathan Kostechko

Sure hope you keep us posted with developments!

Thanks, I have been spending a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror. I am not sure how I feel about that.

Just re-phrase it. You're not "checking yourself out in the mirror", you're "admiring the artwork I commissioned".

motion carries . . .

Yeah I came here for advice that I will follow but I am still gunna get the tattoo I am going to get a smaller one and change the location I didn't want to cause anything by coming here I lurked for awhile and saw that people were giving other people great advice and I just wanted to see what advice you guys would give me. Again I reallly appreciate all of the input

You won't be sorry.

Your forearms will always be there for later if you decide 10-15 years from now that your eventual life emplyment will accomodate 'em.

And you don't necessarily need to go smaller. Just recommending that you don't put it in a spot where you HAVE to display it, yet.

Welcome!

I'm up in Houston and can't help you with CC but @Jennifer Stell knows what she's talkin' about.

So does @hogg. Several world-class traditional american tattoo artists in Austin, 2-3 of which are ot ROA.

Aside from that you'd have to head all the way up to Dallas, but no need for that.

Welcome, Jimbo!

I fixed the links below, I guess embedding insta pics won't work, or maybe I'm just not savy.... so I changed to links.

LOVE the sailing narwhal!!

A nice design - so hopefully the artist is up to it.

Honestly - myself, I wouldn't recommend anyone start with their 1st tattoo on their forearm - especially where the person in question is so far from knowing what kind of profession you're going to be in 17 years (a lifetime) from now.

How can a newcomer (like me) to the tattoo scene tell a good black and gray from a medicore or a bad one?

Just like anything else in life . . . spend some time and effort educating yourself to the history, the process and comparason of end results. Appreciation of art is an informed enjoyment.

This is all just a personality issue. I would have to imagine that a small minority of tattooists could get ass-chapped by this, but to me that would just be like getting involved with an overly-clingy friend.

1stly, your reason for getting a tattoo is not that unusual. Go for it.

Good that you're doing plenty of research.

I'm not personally a real fan of most tribal, but at least Pascal in that particular shop seems to be doing better than average.

A picture of the actual mark and scars would help the tattooists here make an opinion of how hard this might be.

Lastly, don't worry about "not being creative". That's part of what a good artist is being paid to do. Go with your ideas, references and deposit and discuss what you want in detail. He will draw something up and you two can tweak it if/as needed.

I do love how you came on here with this idea about getting your legs tattooed and then BAM amazing tattoo after amazing tattoo. That is how it should be done.

@else - grabbing life by the neck!

Skellyman, as in Skeleton-man?

Leprosy!

Second session here. It was finished a few months ago, but I can't find my pictures.

Fabulous. I remember seeing that some time back. One of my favorite crows/ravens.

Guess we'd better stop derailing this introduction. Apologies to @BAM773.

Pictures, please.

Evan Griffiths who co owns Tama Tattoo in Melbourne, Australia. Evan is well known down under but probably not so much elsewhere. In my opinion he is one of the most dynamic tattooist out there, his japanese is outstanding and his bio mechanical is world class too.

Chestpiece in the middle is awesome.

I'm getting some existing script cleaned up and made a little fancier. It's a good foundation but can be made a lot better and who better to do it? :)

I dunno, WHO?? :)