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Was able to get a three legged money toad (Jin Chan) from Takashi Matsuba (IG: traditionaltool) last night.

The shading was done by hand (tebori) which is a first for me. Also the first piece I've gotten where the artist drew it on first as opposed to using a stencil. Can't wait to see the white all healed up and yellowed a bit.
That's also three tattoos in three weeks. Feels good to have a break and be able to plan my next pieces :).

was in sf last week got this from jeff rassier. super happy about it
reaper1
reaper2

I picked up both of these this week at Seven Seas Tattoo in San Diego. The girl head is by Thor and the panther head/rose is by Dan Pryor.

Done by Horimitsu at the Bay Area Tattoo Convention.

I've heard so many different things about tebori, but it was an awesome experience. So much that I'll ask Horitomo to shade my back by hand when we get that going.

Got this photo realistic elephant I once saw... spot on by Eli Quinters yesterday, at the Bay Area Convention.

Got this Rock of Ages from Bradley Tompkins last week when he was guesting at Frith Street. So happy with it and as an added bonus its started peeling already.

I had a fantastic experience at Diamond Club last night with one of my favorite tattooers, Brian Kaneko (truenaturetattoo on Instagram). I got this peony:

Shad, Junii, and Dr. Claw were there, too, which made it even more fun. But the best part is that @Iwar wanted to get something from Brian, but couldn't get an appointment. He asked if he could show up during mine, and I said, "Of course!" He walked in right after I got there, so I introduced him to Brian and Shad. They all started laughing, then Brian said, "By the way, I tattooed him earlier today. I had a cancellation." So now Iwar and I are not only banhammer bros, but we're botan brothers, too.

@CultExciter awwww shit gurl :o
So I know the Horiyoshi III thing had been dropped, but I've been blessed enough to see 3 of his tattoos in person and they are OUT OF FUCKING CONTROL. One of them is a peony on the forearm, want to know what sort of stencil he used? A square. Drawn on with a sharpie. Let's not forget that the man is in his 70s. Ahem, anyway
Tim Lehi is a great example of a very loose tattooer who delivers with power every time.
And also, to touch on the statement that Stuart Cripwell has gone the more wonky route when he could have been cleaner, I'll just say this. After a certain period of experience in tattooing, your style reflects your natural drawing. Your early years are largely about learning how to put the tattoo in, and then once you kinda figure that out, you can bend the rules of tattooing to suit the sort of art that you want to make. So to me it seems kinda silly to say "oh he could have done this but instead he chose to do this," when I think most of us are just trying to make tattoos that we think are awesome.

This thread really makes me only want to get tattooed by people older than me like Bob Roberts and Eddy Deutsche. I realize it wasn't your original point (I too am wary of the star culture in tattooing) but your misinformed dismissals ('there are limits'!) are so offensive to me that I can't get over it. In the end I realize it comes down to different sensibilities and what I'm looking for in tattoos is obviously very different from yours. BUT, if I can add my 2 cents as a person who's been tattooed by both Eddy Deutsche and Bob Roberts, Eddy is the most 'PMA' guy ever (if that's what you're after). If you're looking for an 'experience' or stories, Eddy and Bob have plenty. The flash at Spotlight has bullet holes. (The fact that the stencil is made from the original flash push pinned on the wall alone makes it almost worth getting the tattoo to be a part of the history.) Nothing 'soft' or 'squiggly' about my Bob Roberts tattoo. There's no question about Eddy's technical ability. I think every respectable tattooer would disagree with you on this point. I think people with 'perfect' tattoos look uptight--not what I'm going for (not interested in putting computer graphics on my body either). Any imperfections will add to its beauty.

What @Iwar said! I think what this is coming down to is a difference in what one is looking for in a tattoo.
I am not sure you are 100% getting what I'm trying to say, @mmikaoj . The reason I am bringing instagram into this is because:
1) that tiny format where you are zoomed in on the tattoo and so don't see how it sits on the body, how it looks in natural light, how it moves, how it heals, etc., means that ALL you see is any technical imperfections, which leads to people overvaluing the 'cleanliness' of a tattoo and undervaluing its, well, soul, to keep using that word. The most perfect tattoo is not the most beautiful one.
2) I have been tattooed by several people who tattoo in a "looser" style. This is definitely a matter of taste. What I LOVE about that style is how natural it looks on the skin, like it's always been there, like I was born with it. It feels powerful because of how it moves, how dynamic it is, etc. Social media CANNOT CAPTURE THAT. So all we talk about is shit that's "clean". Whatever. There is a reason why some really technically proficient tattooers choose to loosen up their styles, and that's because of how the tattoos will sit, move, age, etc., on the actual person, not on instagram.
That was my point about how we judge people. I am lucky enough to know a tattooer that got a beautiful Horiyoshi III tattoo in the past 2-3 years. When I look at her arm, I do not see any squiggly lines or jacked up shading. His work is so powerful, I just see this amazing tattoo that looks like it was meant to be on her skin. It's bold, elegant and stunning. You don't get the whole story when you look at instagram, and I sure as fuck don't get tattoos so that people can analyze their technical merits on social media.

Looks great. I really have to check out Trophy. I heard its a nice spot right by (under?) the new Crow's Nest.
I picked up a couple end of the season tattoos from Tim Pausinger at The Pearl in Toronto today. I'll post in three pictures. My left leg is really coming together now. I hope I can find good employment soon, because there is still a ton of work to be done!

Dave Regan added some maple leaves to the namakubi he put above my knee at the beginning of July. I apologize for the awful day after picture. I really can't sing Dave's praises enough. He's a talented and funny fellow that makes getting tattooed a joy.

Finally back at it. This one from Xam at Seven Doors, taken from Instagram:

My 2º appointment with Unmon at LTW (Barcelona)
Only one last session to go!

Got this chest eagle off Steve Byrne last week

Don't think I posted these either
Fudo of Stewart Robson

Leopard off Valerie Vargas

Scorpion off Valerie too

And this mad skull off Andrea Furci

Got this Namakubi from Pino Cafaro on Saturday at the London Tattoo Convention. Pino was a great guy and I'm vey happy with the outcome. It's on my chest so it was hard for him to tattoo given that there was no bench. Tricky to do in a chair.

I went up a few days early to get tattooed by Bert Krak at Frith Street the 'MUM' rose, attached. And went to the 'Miniature Ink' exhibition at Atomica Gallery that evening, where I bought the small works on sale by Curly and Alex Binnie.
The day after I went to the 'Time' exhibition at Somerset House, I definitely recommend it.
The first day of the convention I didn't do too much, went to meet Ed Hardy first thing pretty much. I bought the 'Nurse Mercy' lithograph, and he signed my copy of Tattooing the Invisible Man, relatedly - I was walking around later, and to my surprise - I saw Bill Salmon, so I also asked Bill to sign it.
Second day - got a sacred heart from Freddy Corbin, whilst my friend next to me had a very long sitting (6 hours?) with Mike the Athens.
Today I only went to pick up the lithograph and went home!
I saw a few LST'ers, but didn't want to bother anyone.

Got my first leg tattoo yesterday, at the London convention. By Eli Quinters.

couple of recent ones:

made by Dave Condon (who is also currently working on my stomach)

from Curtis Pettigrove

couple of recent ones:

made by Dave Condon (who is also currently working on my stomach)

from Curtis Pettigrove

Filler fun c/o Nick Oaks (from yesterday).

couple of recent ones:

made by Dave Condon (who is also currently working on my stomach)

from Curtis Pettigrove

Both looking awesome @misterJ and @Graeme. Love tigers in Japanese art and they make such a great center piece for a huge backpiece.
Sometimes I wish i had 4 backs so I could do a different theme on each. :) No wait I am glad I don't have 4 backs, not sure I could do it 4 times.
Another session today and I can safely say we have now started colour. :)
The severed head now is finished.
Jason.

Session three down. A lot of ass and thigh lining today. So brutal. Really loving how it's coming together though.

couple of recent ones:

made by Dave Condon (who is also currently working on my stomach)

from Curtis Pettigrove