abees

does not matter.
a good tattooer is a good tattooer and a good tattoo is a good tattoo.
the end.

Work towards starting a back piece. Then when it's finished if you're in the same job, you've got your legs to do. And on and on..

It seems like it kind of just depends on the tattooer and the design. I have had people draw stuff on me a couple of times but most of the time stencils were applied. There are a lot of guys out there that do amazing work and they choose to draw the design on in certain cases. However the term "free hand ", has become kind of a buzz word among some customers and a gimmick by people who need one in my opinion.

Here's another one that Eric's wife Bev posted on Facebook, she said it was outlined by Eric and colouring and lettering by Paul

Eric Inksmith's wife just posted this on Facebook
Paul Rogers on Eric Inksmith 6/8/1982

a friend of mine has this, by Nikki Balls.

got my hand done by Chad Koeplinger when he was in Chicago like 3 weeks ago.
this was taken that night. sorry for the crappy cell phone picture.

Always a great vibe at Frith Street Tattoos, London.


From Frith Streets blog.

Once I went to Smith Street for a noon appointment and they were bbqing out back and invited me to have a burger.

Just saw this on http://www.theboldwillhold.com/:

Wow.

color study for an in progress back piece...the tattoo is soo much better but no pics until complete.

Speaking of:
Sol Invictus « Occult Vibrations

I don't find this to be true at all. If the customer does everything you tell them to then maybe. I find that almost all customers think that once they leave they know better because their friend told them a better way to heal. I've seen people come in get a tattoo be told all the info and then I see them the very next day with the thickest layer of lotion and a cloth bandage to keep it moist, and all kind of other dumb stuff. I think giving the general public the idea that if their tattoo heals bad it's the tattooers fault is dangerous. I know sometimes it is the tattooers fault but I feel like usually it's the customer not listening to the instructions. I know, when I've had stuff heal shitty, it's been usually my fault.
I think it depends on the area of the tattoo as well. For example, I've only ever seen one elbow ditch tattoo that didn't heal kinda shitty.

You're already on the right track by referencing Valerie's work. Those are all great tattoos.
I'm pretty sure you could go to her (or someone of her caliber) and simply say "I want a lady head tattoo" or "I want an anchor tattoo" and you're gonna get something pretty bitchin'.
If you're going to a good tattooer, 99.9% of the time what they draw is going to look cooler than anything you imagine and layout in your head and (in my opinion) you're best off letting them create the design and ask you whatever pertinent questions they have.

There often aren't any official descriptive terms for decorative tattoo elements. Even if everyone in a certain area or country use the same terms, someone from elsewhere will call it something different.
Please don't use words like 'clouding' or 'rose work' etc, nothing says "I spend all time on the internet" like asking for some neo-trad clouding with rose work.
Don't try to make up names and descriptions. Just say what you see.

i have this from Chad Koeplinger (the picture is 'backwards' as i had to take it in a mirror) -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euu24Te1WKQ

You hit the nail on the head bigjoe.
I call gimmick.
I know some people who offer Japanese style tebori and one of them is Japanese and the other learned in Japan from a master. Outside of that structure it doesn't seem to make much sense aside from the points mentioned by David. Basically fake authenticity in place of talent, practice and hard work.
Real authenticity is hard to find but many tattoo clients look in the wrong places. I've seen too many white dudes with botched Japanese style work done 'with bamboo' in Thailand. I guess they think if it's done by any guy from Asia it's authentic, right?
I'm not sure how popular it is in the US or Canada but at conventions in Europe and the UK there used to be a few (mostly white) guys with facial tattoos working by hand, trying tattoo styles from the islands in the south seas. Even going so far as to sit cross-legged and stretch the skin with their bare feet.
Often they were working within spitting distance of a great tattooer who knew more about their field of 'expertise' but he wasn't wearing a sarong and was tattooing snakes, eagles and skulls all weekend, listening to Motorhead.

How to troll a dating website......

This will come into use for my ICP dating site.

How to troll a dating website......

This is where we have a great opportunity to not go the way other forums either started or went.....we hope LSTers will chose the respectful, educational, and positive path or just ignore the post/thread. Tough gals/guys, grandiosity, and attitudes need not apply to LST.....

Yeah, we are starting to get some members that are changing this forum from what it was,. But the good news is that it has just started and we can get it back in shape.