HaydenRose

I'm feeling this way too. Big thigh piece scheduled in July and everyday I stress over how I'll save enough money and time off of work. Ueeggghhh.

Welcome! I picked up Madness Returns a few months ago in between new game releases and LOVED it! Such a fun game. Good luck with your upcoming tattoo!

If your artist is unsure about what's causing it, then go to a doctor. If I were you, I wouldn't put anything on it until you know what the issue is.

I saw the thumbnail for the medusa head and just knew it was Valerie's. Congrats on all your new ink!

Getting married next summer most likely, too! Congrats! I wanted to do a road trip honeymoon across the US, but the other half isn't as keen. Let us know how it goes! And obviously what tattoos you both get!

Checked this morning. Nowhere near NYC. But they're showing it in my hometown in Vermont. Weird. You would think NYC would be a prime location since it has such a rich history for tattooing and is a central city for the "tattoo nation" that exists today.

As a fellow American with some Swedish blood, welcome! Keep us updated on your new tattoo!

Damn, the 6th is my birthday and its going to be nowhere near NY. Sad :(

Always the case. I saw this and lol'd. WHAT A REBEL. SO SEXY.

If you want to get a sleeve someday and you like your artist, then I'm sure he could leave it in a way that could be continued down the arm later when you settle on an idea for a sleeve. As always, the never-fail advice is: talk to your artist. Definitely let him know you're not ready for a sleeve yet and talk about your options with him. The only useful advice you'll get on here is if some one has been through the same situation. But your artist will know where to end the tattoo and work within your comfort zone better than any one on here.

http://http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/259-old-tattoo-photos.html

I hope you don't think I'm trying to discredit realistic tattoos--as a former art major I see their merit and fully respect the style. Yes, they are tattoos, but I still think they draw a different crowd and subculture within tattoo collecting. If you study old flash and new flash as well as old tattoos (check out the thread on this forum-- not sure how to link it) and the traditional tattoos members are posting here, there is a clear evolution of style, execution, and design while maintaining the traditional style and elements. Perhaps you should watch the artist interviews on this site, as most of the tattooers talk about this bringing the old into the new. As for realistic tattoos, they have all the boundaries of an oil painting or drawing. While many, if not all, tattooers create their own artwork, designing a tattoo utilizes a wealth of different design techniques. Realistic tattoos are simply paintings tattooed on the body. The actual execution of the tattoo requires tattooing skills, but tattooing, to me, is about the design. And tattoo designs are very different from paintings and the like. Again, not trying to discredit the style, just my .02 on why I get traditional-esque tattoos.

My simple answer is no, I would not get a "realistic" tattoo. Not because I don't appreciate the art and what it's doing for the tattoo industry. It's more because realistic tattoos have stopped looking like tattoos, and to me, look like temporary body paint. The whole culture of tattoos and the evolution of designs is what I love about getting tattooed--being a part of that. These realistic tattoos are such a severe deviation from what tattoos have been and have become. This doesn't mean it's not something to be admired or respected. However, realistic looking tattoos have allowed consumers that never would have gotten tattooed to find something that they like. In some ways, it feels like its only creating this other tattoo culture where everyone in the world has at least one tattoo, but doesn't know what it means to be tattooed. They don't take on the burden of setting themselves apart and defining their own subculture. All because they don't want a tattoo that looks like a tattoo. They want something that looks like a photoshopped nature photograph on their ribs. Now I'm just getting biased and cold.... But I hope someone understand what's I'm saying. As for the tattoos lasting, I don't think any tattoo truly "lasts". I'm not expert as I don't have many and I'm not that old. I do have a almost 6 year old solid black outline which looks the same as the day I've got it done. But that's because I took care of it, SPF 50 always. If you take care of it, it will probably look better than some one who didn't.

^Agreed! Well, since I'm an idiot, and this is the correct thread... I'll ask a more specific question. It seems every one so far is referring to "imagery", but what are your thoughts on biblical text or passages? As an atheist, I view the bible as literature rather than a guideline for life (even though it has its share of positive models). Therefore, there is a lot of great writing. I wish I knew all the people that actually wrote the bible--sucks the prophets, god, etc. stole their credit... :)

That's nice! Whenever I go to Kings Ave, I pay that 4.5% NY tax regardless of cash or credit. Not a big deal, but it sucks when you forget about it and only bring exactly a $100 deposit... :mad:

Not at all. Red, at least for me, and many others, takes a little longer to heal. As long as its healing well and not oozing or looking scary, I wouldn't worry. Give it as long as it needs.

Like every one said above: we need apprentices underneath the quality tattooers. Unfortunately, with that comes apprentices under not-so-quality tattooers. However, the main reason apprentices must exist is because everybody dies... even tattooers. End of thread. ^_^

I just had a virus that sounds like your describing but, thankfully, lasted only about 24 hours. The downside was I was visiting family in Vermont, the plus side was it didn't hit until the night before I was planning on leaving, so I got to stay an extra day and have my mom take care of her adult daughter haha. Couldnt imagine having to heal and clean tattoos with that virus. Ick! Hope your health and tattoos are doing better, Beez!!!

They couldn't give her proper sized gloves? Well probably because 7 year olds shouldn't tattoo!!! *smh*

Can I throw out there how much I hate this stigma: "Look at the tattooed girl! She must be down for sex!!!" ^very literal translation BUT you get the idea. I get significantly more "cat calls" now that I have visible tattoos. I dread running errands in the summer (long sleeve shirts suck in NJ heat waves).

!!!! We should commission Scott to make a sheet of flash with LST bangers!

Nailed it!

I just had this problem... :( And I'm having it here so I will fill this up with 60 characters, darn....

I never bring people along... My tattoos and the experience is all miney mine. My future husband and I have only had one conversation about my tattoos and it went something like this: Him: "Promise me you won't get a sleeve, or tattoo your hands, neck, or chest" Me: "I plan on getting all of the above minus my neck and maybe my chest. You can leave me if its an issue." Him: "No thanks. Do what you want, I still love you forever!" If the conversation isn't that simple then run!!!!!

You bring up a valid point. Just getting a tattoo is giving up a big level of trust. For me, I stick with Kings Ave not because I only trust the people there, but because they also are guaranteed to bring in new tattooers and guest artists of a high caliber. The whole idea of "trust" is just an iffy word for the idea of getting tattooed. Rather, a client should trust THEMSELF to make good decisions when choosing an artist or a shop. As long as you know a tattooer is legit and does good work, then "trusting" them or a shop is a non-issue.