SnowyPlover

Geometrics or something ornamental by John Sultana!

This!! Seth Wood.

Full back was undoubtedly the hardest for me. I am able to sit for 5 hours, but was really surprised the level of pain - at points it was very intense. It probably doesn't help that I don't like laying on my stomach. At the end of one particularly painful session, I had involuntary leg spasms in one leg. I was anxious about having my ribs done, but it was not challenging at all. Everyone is so different, you might have an idea what it will be like, but you won't really know until it starts.

CaitlinBurnett10 - start at the beginning of this thread, there is lots of "boob info" there. Full back in three days, I'm wincing - power to you!

Amusing cartoon! I loathe the term "tramp stamp", but yeah, that was the placement for my first tattoo, back in 1991. It's covered now, full back.

I have a tip - you don't need a solid idea, you just need an idea. When you have a tattooer whose work you like, hamstringing them with your narrow artistic direction will not allow them to be an artist or fully use their talent/style. Why don't you just tell your tattooer what kind of placement and that you want colorful realistic moths (a couple pictures), possibly overlapping. People have a real hard time letting go of the process - you picked a tattooer because you like their style - let them use it. My best tattoos are a result from me finding the right artist and letting go; all the old ones I had, which I got all control- ly over are now covered. Edit - I just saw there is a similar post in the General Tattoo Discussion area - go read that thread http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/5829-need-advice-next-tattoo.html

Did you read the "Full Back Piece" thread? It's 147 pages long….lots to learn. Not following the advice of your tattooer is a preventable, yet classic and regrettable newb mistake - look, they just know more that you (or I) do. I think an 8 hour back session is a just "bit" optimistic, (unless you are Peter) - 4 might be more reasonable. Doing a full back over a few years of chipping away at it is fine. Maybe he had a bit of reservation talking to you because it takes a lot of dedication for both you and your tattooer to complete a full back and you have no tattoo experience, so can't really understand what it means. Lots of people talk the talk, but don't walk the walk… Good luck!

A possible case of "Never Nude"?

I remember saying never to being tattooed on my butt. Now it is partially done - a back piece that flows on to the ass should never be underestimated! I think my neck is very unlikely and face will be never.

I had an old pit type scar, about the size of dime, from a minor surgery tattooed over…you can't even tell it's there now. I hope the 9 months pass quickly for you!

Yeah, the unsolicited attention can be a bit much. I had a man inquiring about my about pain tolerance/threshold in a really creepy, sexual way; it was gross. I've had a man follow me, chanting a prayer. Some people have weird hangups and misconceptions regarding tattoos (esp tattooed women), other people don't know when to shut up or how to think before they open their mouth, other people are just disgusting specimens of humanity. The only thing I can control is how I react (which is usually exciting the scene very quickly). On the brighter side, a friends young son told his mom she should get decorated fancy like me.

Maybe a tsuzumi or kotsuzumi, it's a hand drum; I only know this one as it's common on kimono and obi. The charms are called takara or takara-zukushi (treasures). The link is about takara (although no mention of the drum) http://irebokuro.tumblr.com/post/23030936702/takarazakushi

For future reference Sean Sinha, no worries, most "40 year olds" can handle being told off; we don't have dementia yet and do not need to be treated with kid gloves because of our feeble minds (although I think in this case, you actually did get a 40 yo with seriously compromised brain function).

I've seen that too - that's what I'm planning to use when we start work on my front (the tape/bandages, not socks lol).

Okay, I found the article - this is what I do, like the women here (without the bouffant chignon hair) with the black drapey things, plus yoga pants. Bum and fundoshi and warning for the following link if you are at work. The gangster-turned-tattooist trying to end Japan's discrimination against people with body art | Mail Online

Definitely check out the ladies thread - lots of answers on what to wear. I have full back and partial buttocks and not once have been completely naked - yoga pants. They will most likely use screens around the table you are being worked on. Honestly, it was not as a harrowing experience as I imagined, don't over think or worry too much.

Hello and welcome I hope you don't mind this suggestion, but I think you should not design the tattoo yourself - that is what great tattooers are for. Instead of flat out designing, why don't you find references that you love, find a tattooer whose style you can't live without and let him or her go for it? Check out Gerhard Wiesbeck - lots of heavy black, but combined with lighter patterns and dotwork. Instagram

Hello and welcome - Dillon Forte does beautiful work!

I'll admit to scheduling around that time of month - I prefer longer sessions, so it is easier to concentrate on sitting like a rock if I don't have to worry/think about other things. Shoulders were harder than back for bra wearing (and I need to wear a bra). After the first 24hrs, I wore an older bra healing both - soft, a bit looser and had no issues. Also, the waistband of jeans bugged my back more than a bra healing ….so I wore smocky dresses for a little while. For back sessions, I made a very simple flowy halter thing out of a rectangle of fabric, so my entire front is covered, but the back is open and I wear yoga pants. I had part of my bum tattooed and there is only way to deal is to fold the yoga pants to where they need to be. For my thigh, I wore "boy shorts" and a smock dress. I think I might need some fundoshi…they look useful.

I feel that's part of the problem of you totally not getting it - how she reacted or didn't react to the sexual comment during a session is not up for our judgement! She was sharing her experience and handled it the best way she knew at the time. Your comment that "silence is consent" seriously gave innuendo that a person is asking for more comments if she doesn't say anything. Everyone is different, sure, maybe you would have said something, but stop getting all judge-y to those that don't. It's complicated, especially because it is sexual in nature and the person on the receiving end of the comment was in a vulnerable state. I think all woman have had some kind of sexual comment at some point in their lives. I know I have, however, I don't have a blanket policy how I react - it depends, where, the context, the comment, the situation. I've never had sexually slanted comment during a tattoo session and I've been getting tattooed since the early 90's. So if shit like that is happening in a shop, that is what's wrong, not how the woman responds to it.

Silence is not consent! I can't believe I am debating this! Just because one person would say or do something, doesn't mean some else in a similar situation would or could - that's ridiculous! Everyone has different coping mechanisms to get through a uncomfortable and vulnerable situation. She did the best she could, she did not invite those comments, nor is she bound to school that jackass about proper behavior towards women.

Wow, just wow. In a professional shop, it would be very safe and reasonable to assume that perving on clients is never, ever appropriate and never, ever funny.

I just want to put in a word for Bill Canales - I've seen quite a few of his tattoos in person and they are incredible! Plus, he is a super humble, professional guy. You could always check out the shop, it's in South Park and look at his book too. And if you're curious, Bill is in Marcus Kuhn's Gypsy Gentleman, Episode 4.

Haha Graeme! I would suggest somewhere in Orange County for that, maybe Newport Beach?

Full Circle in South Park, I think James and Michelle do walkins. http://fullcircletattoos.com Marcus Kuhn's Just Good Tattoos is here, in Barrio Logan! http://www.justgoodtattoos.com