Wilhell

I'm impressed by the technical ability of color portrait artists like Nikko Hurtado or Paul Acker, but a tattoo of Capt. Jack Sparrow or Catwoman, no matter how perfect, doesn't make me feel a thing.
But that's how I judge all art -- not by how well someone can paint something that looks "lifelike" (or, in the case of music, how fast Yngwie Malmsteen can shred) if it has no soul. I'll take a Neil Young solo any day.
I love how the best traditional tattoos can distill the essence of a thing with so few lines, and the more I look at tattoos, the more I can appreciate it. Strong, powerful images is what does it for me.
No one would ever say Picasso is a bad artist because his paintings are "simple" or don't look "real."
People can like what they like, but bashing traditional tattoos just makes the one saying it look kinda dumb or at least uninformed.

Done by Ed in 1979! GOD DAMN!!!!!!!

Looks like Ed Hardy is going to be at the London convention again this year!
http://instagram.com/p/050NHnivGU/

Mine goes in deep enough so that when I am standing normal, no empty butt crack skin is visible. That seems to be how Dana does all his backs. Also upon close inspection of my butt, I made the comment here that my wind bars are appropriately scalloped in that area. I'd rather not put my special collection of tattoo pictures on the internet. Just kidding I don't have any like that, but they're on my computer.
Regards to social comfort, it's very awkward, but if your guy just plays it professional, you'll both finish with dignity still intact.
Regards to body comfort, for me there were a few tweak spots where you can't help but twitch. It hurts as much as you'd expect, but it ends.
I wish this was a bigger picture. I don't actually have a nice one of the heal product, so I stole this from Dana Helmuth's website.

Essentially healed tiger head from Tim Lehi. Done at the Summit Convention here in Colorado.

new lil dude from Hector Fong at Tattoo 13 in Oakland :)

im flying to la to start my back with bryan burk next week, appointment got pushed back a couple times, but finally after hundreds of wasted airline tickets were doing it haha. hes flying out that night so my appointment got moved to 10am. oof. going to be dead tired and after have no where to go until my friend gets off work at 8pm hahah

Oh shit, it's the 5th already, and I haven't announced a winner yet! Sorry guys!!
The winner of Tattoo of the month March 2015, for the second month in a row, is my Norwegian buddy @Kai Eirik Espedal with bad ass wolf front by Marius Meyer. Congrats, once again, Kai!!

But since Kai has already won a shirt, we've decided to give it to the second runner up, which is @jvince1230.
Please PM @steve1461686340 with your shirt info (size and male or female) along with your address.
New contest will be up shortly!

I saw Chad Koeplinger while he was in town the other day for rose #4.

Done at Rock of Ages in Austin.

Appropriately posting this one on Easter. I got this one from Matt Arriola a few weeks ago at Spotlight. Photo stolen from his IG:
For reference, it's on the back of my thigh:

Marius Meyer started this one a couple of weeks ago. Gonna add more dragon next time.

Marius Meyer backpiece bonanza. Me and @Kai Eirik Espedal

Eddy Deutsche cover/blastover from a couple of weeks ago in Oslo (Marius Meyer studio). It was such a fun day, so cool! Also met the legend Carson Vester. He told us some crazy stories!
Who said he had lost it?
New:

Old:

Ed Hardy's TattooTime - Re-release - HM
Tattooing the Invisible Man (DETH) - HM
Tattoo City - HM
Sailor Jerry Collins - American Tattoo Master - HM
In a World of Compromise... I Don't - Bob Roberts (signed 720/1000).
Forever the New Tattoo
Tattooing From Japan to the West
Tattooing New York City: Style and Continuity in a Changing Art Form
Japanese Style Tattoo Art - Revisiting Traditional Themes - R. Melo
I Love Tattoos
Andon 87 - Japan Tattoo - Tattoos in Japanese Prints
Underway is the Only Way - Grime/Taki
Two Year Autopsy - Grime
Iron Will - Grime
Tattoo Artist Magazine 1-5, Volume One.
Tattoo Artist: A Collection of Narratives
Revisited: A Tribute to Flash From the Past
Norske Sjømannstatoveringer / Norwegian Sailors' Tattoos
Dansk Tatovering / Danish Tattooing
These Old Blue Arms - The Life & Work of Amund Dietzel
These Old Blue Arms - The Life & Work of Amund Dietzel, VOL 2.
1000 Tattoos - Hanky Panky
Vintage Tattoos - The Book of Old-School Skin Art
Tatttoos - JK5
HORIYOSHI III - The Art of the Japanese Tattoo/Japansk tatueringskonst
Others:
The Shunga (a japanese book with Shunga prints).
Tattoo Nation (the Movie) - DVD
Have just ordered and waiting for the "MICK" book by Alex Reinke and "Gods and Warriors": Horimana - The Work
of Chris Trevino

This is my frontpiece by Marius Meyer. We finished it about a year ago. Two sessions and a total of seven hours if I remember correctly.

Marius Meyer backpiece bonanza. Me and @Kai Eirik Espedal

Eddy Deutsche cover/blastover from a couple of weeks ago in Oslo (Marius Meyer studio). It was such a fun day, so cool! Also met the legend Carson Vester. He told us some crazy stories!
Who said he had lost it?
New:

Old:

If you try hard enough no artist in this world is hard to book..

If you try hard enough no artist in this world is hard to book..

Eddy Deutsche cover/blastover from a couple of weeks ago in Oslo (Marius Meyer studio). It was such a fun day, so cool! Also met the legend Carson Vester. He told us some crazy stories!
Who said he had lost it?
New:

Old:

Eddy Deutsche cover/blastover from a couple of weeks ago in Oslo (Marius Meyer studio). It was such a fun day, so cool! Also met the legend Carson Vester. He told us some crazy stories!
Who said he had lost it?
New:

Old:

Marius Meyer backpiece bonanza. Me and @Kai Eirik Espedal

Marius Meyer backpiece bonanza. Me and @Kai Eirik Espedal

Marius Meyer backpiece bonanza. Me and @Kai Eirik Espedal

Marius Meyer backpiece bonanza. Me and @Kai Eirik Espedal