Graeme

Well, hello to you too. Also, given that there isn't actually a lunar eclipse tonight, maybe you should spend more time on your computer learning about astronomy and when eclipses occur so you don't come across as a total butthole.

I don't understand the idea of a "secret tattoo" on your head. A full bodysuit is literally more concealable.

Live with the tattoo for a while. Spend some time around here, watch the artist interview videos, read through the Latest Tattoo Lowdown thread, through the What Makes A Good Tattoo thread, learn about tattoos. Get on instagram and see the kind of work tattooers are doing. Do your research, get more and better tattoos. Eventually lose the dandelion and birds in the background of a backpiece when you're ready.

@Intomyskin You're absolutely right to consider the feel you get from the artist. The artist, the experience you had while getting the tattoo are all in there with it. People maybe can't see it, but it's there. A back takes a long time, so you're going to be spending a lot of time with your artist so you want somebody you get along with and can relate to in some way. As well as the time spent on it, it's an intimate process, you're vulnerable and in pain in front of somebody you don't know that well so that personal connection is critical, and it's not something you can get from looking at a portfolio. Seems like you have a good handle on things. I'm excited for you.

I'll take your tiny bee and raise you my well settled in micro Baphomet.

I don't like small tattoos. I don't like tattoos that are self-consciously tasteful. Tattoos should be large, bold, and at least somewhat obnoxious.

I had a weird interaction last night. I was parking my car on the street and found a pretty tight spot between a car and a no parking area that I just managed to fit in. Some neighborhood guy was watching me park to make sure I wasn't in the no parking area because my neighborhood is full of people who sit on their stoops or hang out on the sidewalks making comments. Anyway, I parked, and the guy was eyeing my parking job and giving me running commentary about how it was okay. Then I got out of the car, the guy saw me, looked a bit surprised, and said "you're tattooed, it's good" in the kind of tone like don't fuck with people with tattoos if you know what's good for you. That seemed super weird to me. Where I live I'd say more people have tattoos than don't and it's the sort of place where you see face tattoos daily, so any kind of comments about tattoos are rare, and especially the kind that I got last night. Probably the guy was just a weirdo though.

Yeah, that's fine. I've had some tattoos start to peel as soon as a couple of days after getting tattooed; some have taken up to a couple of weeks. It depends on the spot, the artist, and a whole bunch of other factors. Keep on following the aftercare instructions you were given but I don't see any reason for concern.

...and "if ever" ended up being less than a year for you.

There you go, fixed your post for you. Got pictures of the new tattoo? We'd love to see them.

I wouldn't get tattooed by him, and the red flag for me is the tattoos themselves. Get the tattoos that excite you, but recognize and have realistic expectations of the longevity of certain kinds of tattoos.

Relax about the tattoo. Yes, how well you take care of yourself and your body generally, especially with regard to sun exposure, is going to have an effect on how the tattoo looks over time, but a lot of it also comes down to how the tattoo was made to begin with. Not moisturizing every day isn't going to make your tattoo fall apart.

As far as I know, facial moko is traditionally an identifier: the locations on the face that are tattooed as well as the different motifs in the tattoo tell about the wearer's social status and rank, family, where they come from, what they do, and so on. I don't know if yours is based on somebody's moko or whether it's cobbled together from different reference sources, or just elements that look typically Maori, but it's possible that you have essentially somebody's signature (an example of this can be found here) tattooed on your arm. Personally, I think that's pretty goofy.

Your clothes aren't going to rub off your tattoos.

My suggestion is to start learning about art so that you're not going to be inclined to go along with suggestions that you ultimately aren't into. Go to the library and start learning about art history, go to museums and galleries and look at art, take drawing lessons at a community centre or given by a local artist not so that you'll be able to draw your own tattoos, but rather so that you can understand how drawing works and so you'll be able to articulate what you do and don't like. Listen to lectures about art history on iTunes U. Watch the video interviews with tattooers on this site. Don't just limit yourself to tattoos either, look at art in general, and I don't just mean visual art here either, and look for art everywhere: on book covers, in comics, on skateboards and album covers, in architecture and nature. There is a relationship between the effort you put into getting tattoos and the tattoos you actually get.

That thing is wild. - - - Updated - - - That thing is wild.

Great introduction and welcome! Scott Ellis has worked the Montreal convention and he seemed like a really nice guy, and his tattoos look great. I think you made an excellent choice artistically, and I think that especially for large, multi-session tattoos, getting along with your tattooer is really important. You're going to get a great tattoo. Pre-tattoo nerves is normal, especially when you're going onto visible spots for the first time. You're changing your appearance permanently in way that's going to invite looks and judgement, both positive and negative, and it can be a weighty decision. I had a lot of feelings about going on to my forearms (before that I had tattoos above the elbow that couldn't be covered by a t-shirt, but forearms still seemed like a big leap) and in the end I'm super happy that I went all the way down to my wrist, but it was a hard decision. Can't wait to see the pictures, and, most importantly, have fun.

Go see Tom Yak at Electric Tattoo in Asbury Park, NJ. He can do everything, including folky tattoos (some are included in his portfolio which I am linking to here) plus his tattoos are going to look good forever because he knows how to properly make a tattoo. He's also a fantastic guy and is very gentle, which is always a pleasant bonus. Home

If you go big and bold it's going to look fucking rad. Tattooed flesh looks better than non-tattooed flesh. Fat doesn't figure into it at all.

@Cork I got pictures from Ricky and you looked really chill for a guy who was getting his ribs and stomach blasted. - - - Updated - - - @Cork I got pictures from Ricky and you looked really chill for a guy who was getting his ribs and stomach blasted.

The one mercy of when I got my back lined was that Dave decided to fill in the tiger stripes in that first session so I had some breaks from the liner. Not that shading doesn't still hurt, but it at least doesn't feel like giant heated knives are being dragged slowly through your flesh. You win, not just for sitting strong on a tough session, but also for making a quality Hellraiser reference. - - - Updated - - - The one mercy of when I got my back lined was that Dave decided to fill in the tiger stripes in that first session so I had some breaks from the liner. Not that shading doesn't still hurt, but it at least doesn't feel like giant heated knives are being dragged slowly through your flesh. You win, not just for sitting strong on a tough session, but also for making a quality Hellraiser reference.

I vote for a Jesus head with a dagger through it.

@sophistre Multiple portals to hell, yes, but you did it! Looks like a great start! - - - Updated - - - @sophistre Multiple portals to hell, yes, but you did it! Looks like a great start!

I have very limited experience with the -derm products but I do have a full back's experience with getting a backpiece. All you need to heal a backpiece is soap, water, time, and patience.

Welcome and good luck on beginning your journey!