Pugilist

I totally agree with this and posted elsewhere that it is ironic that she accused him of sexism, because to me this smacks of classism, i.e. "how dare YOU, a lowly tattooer, give ME advice". I think normals might be getting tattooed these days, but they still see tattooers as some sort of savages who are beneath them, and certainly wouldn't have years of training and expertise that might just be worth listening to.
But mostly I feel annoyed that I got sucked into commenting on this at all, because it is indeed total clickbait, and so we are playing right into these idiots' hands. GAH.

@idyllsend WOW! that is really beautiful. I can't wait to see that finished.
Here are a few pics from my last session with Chad K. We are essentially finished but he does want to do one more session in November for some touch ups and stuff. For all intensive purposes though, here is my finished back! I am so stoked!!! It is so vibrant and bold and I think you can read the image from a few miles away :)
Chad put in some really neat little details in this last session. Not sure they will be visible in these "just finished" pics, but I will try to remember to post a healed pic. He did some really cool things with the tongue and the teeth that I am pretty pumped with.. LOVE the eyes as well. I am super grateful.
rob
attaching pics from gallery as that seems to be the only way for me to edit them from being sideways. If they look sideways at first, just click the pic and it should right itself.

I can't even handle how much I love your back, @cltattoing ! It all fits you so perfectly.

Alright folks, here ya go

Since we're sharing progress, here's what we did on mine last week. We have to put the greys in some of the water and then do the details in the faces and the tiger's paws and things like that but we're getting super close to wrapping this up.

I'll be there getting tattoo by Henning.
Looking forward to hanging out.

Picked up this cool little fella from Tomas Garcia while he was working a guest spot at Acme Tattoo in Staunton, VA. Tomas is a really cool, humble guy. Do yourself a favor and get tattooed by him if you ever get the opportunity.

I assume your stomach hurts with hunger? :)
@polliwog - I think they add artists 'til pretty close to the convention, since if some people who already said they are already coming cancel, they always have a wait list. But by now I'd assume that the bulk of the announcements are made.

Got confirmation yesterday of my appointment for the London Tattoo Convention on the Saturday, with Beau Brady of Invisible NYC! Stoked.

The 13th Annual Art Tattoo Montreal show is coming up in September. It is moving to a new and larger venue while the normal venue undergoes renovation so this installment is going to be even bigger than previous years, and from the artists who have been announced so far, it's going to be spectacular. The convention always draws so many great artists and many are returning--Henning, Mike Rubendall, Tin Tin, Todd Noble, Nick Colella, Ron Wells, Turk, Guen Douglas, James Tex, Ishmael Johnson (who I got a great tattoo from last year), and really far too many others to name--but this year there are going to be a lot of new attendees too: Steve Byrne, Katja Ramirez, Paul Dobleman, Juan Puente, Shawn Barber, Henry Lewis, Eckel, Wendy Pham, Jim Sylvia, and so many more. I have no idea who I'm going to get tattooed by because there are so many excellent choices.
Like last year, the convention is opening with a vernissage at the Yves Laroche gallery, and this year the show is new paintings from Turf One, Shawn Barber, and Mike Davis.
And, of course, if you're coming in from out of town, Montreal is a great city to visit and spend a few days in. I've organised LST meetups the past couple of years and I am totally up for organising a meetup again over food, drinks, or whatever, because it's always a lot of fun getting to meet and hang out with you folks in person. Who is in?
art tattoo montreal
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montreal-Art-Tattoo-Show/9786505473?fref=ts
https://instagram.com/arttattoomontreal/

@cltattooing - yes to the waist! I had like, a deep primal instinct to bat my tattooer's hand away. Like that's not supposed to be there.

@cltattooing - yes to the waist! I had like, a deep primal instinct to bat my tattooer's hand away. Like that's not supposed to be there.

Congratulations, @beez. That's wonderful news.
In other wonderful news, I'm celebrating with millions of others, today's historic USSC ruling granting marriage equity.

Congratulations @beez! So awesome to hear. Although I've never heard of a "401 fuckingk." Is this a new money saving method for tattoos? Do they match up to the first 3%? That could go a long way to funding some fillers for free. ;)

After 7 years of hustling, freelancing, not having my shit together, and then getting my shit together - I GOT A FUCKING JOB YO!!! AND A REALLY COOL GOOD ONE!! AND I'M A GOOD GUY/ WHITE HAT!!
Because it's for a large corporation I don't think I should say much more here in a public forum, but guys: I work remotely, full time, full benefits, and a 401fuckingk. I have not had these in my adult life!!! I AM STOKED!!!!
You know what this means, right? More money for more tattoos. :D

Lucky Strike Tattoo in Edmonton, AB hosted their annual summer slam party this weekend !!
It was a super fun time. Lots of tattoo show n tell, good tattoo talks with fellow collectors, jello shooters, moonshine, parking lot burnouts, picture machine flash jokes and got drunk with some new buds. I hadn't even cracked my first beer (4pm) and Scotty's like "it's a friggin tattoo shop take your shirts off".
Got to check out some wicked tattoos in the flesh...Lucas Ford fudo backpiece, Steve Moore backpiece, a bunch of Steve Batt tattoos, a Steve Byrne ROA in progress backpiece (!), Bailey Robinson, Koeplinger, OllieXXX, Smilin' Dave and of course lots of fresh and aged tattoos from the Lucky Strike cats of new and old (Sam Sheinin, Bobby Tripp, Miles Kanne, Scott Rusnak, Brent Smith, Chris Iwaniuk, Myke, Julie).
Anyway, got this super dope photo of Scott Rusnak and some fellow clients in the bodysuit club.

from L-R ... Steve(?), Scott Rusnak, Derek, myself. Too bad we didn't get a backside shot...
IG @ scottrusnak one of the most underrated young tattooers in Western Canada...he does really bright and vivid Trevino-esque Japanese style tattoos with attention to the details. Highly recommend him.
IG @ lucky_strike_tattoo great local shop, quality artists and a really fun place to hang.
some bongsau facts...30% of my tattoos have been completed at Lucky Strike, 40% if you include the Electric Tattoo days from 10 years ago!

Got this about a month ago from Jeff Zuck of Name Brand in Ann Arbor. Definitely going back!

Tipping conversations on the internet are the WORST.
@polliwog - feel free to ask the artist what they'd prefer re: shaving! I've only had one actually let me know upfront that I should do it myself, a couple have said they don't care either way, etc.

Ok DUDE. Here is the thing. When you post in a public place, just like when you have a public conversation in real life, people are allowed to criticize you. They are allowed to disagree with you, find you annoying, whatever. That is how freedom of speech works. This board does not allow for abusive language, but that doesn't mean everyone has to like everything you say. THAT IS NOT "GOING AFTER YOU". It is people reacting to the words you write.
You are also allowed to not like them and to criticize the words they say, so it's hardly unfair. I just find it baffling how on a tattoo board where dudes like to talk about how tough or whatever they are, they so easily complain if people call them out for anything, like the fact that yes, on a message board that literally has posters from around the world, maybe people find it kind of strange to post your local weather forecast and wonder what that contributes to the board.
No one is obligated to like your posts or think you are a good poster. That is just not how the world works. Toughen up, people.

Life will damage your tattoo!

This is my favourite thread.
I hereby nominate @cltattooing to make us all "Free Taco Wednesday" t-shirts.

This is my favourite thread.
I hereby nominate @cltattooing to make us all "Free Taco Wednesday" t-shirts.

@Mark Bee @Rob I For the Win is a gamer term that came from the advent of mmorpgs and is still used as a term of encouragement and approval among gamers and nerds. Among tattooers and bikers, the term has generally meant Fuck the World.
@Pugilist I'm on it!!! Say, it's Wednesday, isn't it... ;D

From last Saturday at Great Lakes Tattoo in Chicago

Nick Colella -big-ass eagle (chest)

Mario Desa - rose of no mans..tribute (ankle)

Frank Willian - pocket knife filler (inner arm ditch)
It was a good day.... besides getting 3 killer tattoos, I got to hang out and bullshit with Chad Koeplinger and Robert Ryan and the rest of the GLT crew plus it was Robert Ryan's "The Radiant Name" art opening downstairs. GLT is probably the nicest shop I've ever been in and everybody was super nice and fun.....

I was worried for a moment that I was the only person here who noticed that her ear piercing and your nipple piercing looked similar.