Vinn

There's mine completed in 2007ish. I now wish it were more detailed but at the time I wanted the biggest back piece with the least amount of time and effort and money. So it goes. <img src="http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=12254"/>

Love this! So bold and readable, great design.

I've been on both sides of this fence; tattooed as a very large person and tattooed at what "society" deems an average weight. Over the last five years I dropped about 100lbs. Not because I cared what people thought, being visibly tattooed and covered in skulls got me used to being judged. I got bad news and a stern warning from the doc that my single handed quest to keep the local microbrew industry profitable would result in my early departure from this planet. I was 275 at 5'10; not a result of lifting weights or the like but from drive thrus and numerous beers. And I thouroghly enjoyed every minute of it.

The media tells us what we should look like, especially for women. The pressure on young girls is sickening. Society sees us at face value only; very few go beyond the initial observation, but true friends and family will know the person not the packaging.

Get tattooed no matter what size you are. Wear them proud and own it. Being comfortable with yourself and not caring how those who don't know you look at you is one of the most freeing feelings there is.

I have 11 skulls, number 12 is being finished in two weeks. I can't really explain why, other than skulls make great tattoos that look like tattoos.

That's awesome @Vinn ! A good chunk of my work so far has been done at the House of Tattoo off of 6th in Tacoma. I'll have to make a point to stop by Tsunami here soon to check out the shop :)

I've been a customer there for about ten years. Solid work and really good people.

That is one hell of a powerful piece dude' date=' congratulations! Sorry if I missed it from one of your other posts, but who is the artist?[/quote']

Thanks! It was done by Tim McCarthy at Tsunami Tattoo in Tacoma WA. I went in and said I wanted a big skull and snake, he did the rest. He had total freedom in the design. It made it fun for both of us.

@Vinn - Awesome! Congratulations on a huge milestone. I am looking forward to saying the same thing - looking all that healing in the rear view mirror! While the whole thing is just great' date=' I love that blue rose - my eye just goes right to it. Beautiful color and placement. Congrats again![/quote']

Thanks so much! You'll be very pleased when your done, everything becomes normal again, no more sleeping in funky positions.

Finally finished. Ever since my first "off the wall" flash tattoo in 1989, I have always dreamed of a full back tattoo. It was a year long experience that I'll never forget. I'm happy it's done and really happy I won't be in a constant state of healing anymore!

Almost done. Just shading on the bottom and some work left on the sides. I've been at it for about 10 months, about 3 or so hours a month. It has been well worth the time, can't wait to be finished. By Tim McCarthy at Tsunami Tattoo.

Rad! Post a picture!

Posted in the latest tattoo thread

Then you will no doubt have an absolutely killer tattoo at the end of those 2.5 hours. Should be a good size tattoo as well, as Scott is very fast.

Your prediction was absolutely correct. I left with a large, simply amazing tattoo from his own hand painted flash. What a great experience too, a truly class act shop and I had a great time. Planning a return trip.

Almost fully healed now, leg skull/snake/flower by Scott Sylvia at Blackheart Tattoo.

Seems like the best place to put this question: I need advice about parking at Blackheart in SF. The night before my appt. I'm staying in Sacramento with friends after driving there from Seattle, so I'll be making the drive in the morning of the appt. I've never been in the city before (SF) and from what I can find it looks like street parking with meters.

Where I'm at you can not feed meters without getting a ticket, and I'm gonna be there for a few hours. I'm looking for the insider information here, from you guys who are spoiled to live in such a great tattoo city. Any tips on parking at Blackheart? Thanks in advance.

If you know that you like a certain group of images' date=' then you might want to just email him that and give him free reign on the actual design. It's an awesome way of getting a really great tattoo, especially if you trust the artist, as you mentioned that you do. He'll most likely pick two or three of the images and draw something rad. Do you mind my asking who you are getting the tattoo from?[/quote']

My appointment is at Blackheart with Scott Sylvia. I got lucky and got an appointment that fit with the time I will be in SF. Now if I could just speed up time.......the waiting part sucks.

I think this is the right place to put this question. I am going to travel about 800 miles for a tattoo in April (Seattle to SF). I made my appointment over the phone and placed a deposit. I was able to be fit in for two and a half hours on the day I could be there.

I was told I could email ideas and references to the artist but I said I would just show up early and pick out flash. I have seen numerous tattoos the artist has done and all of it is beyond amazing.

My question is would it irritate the artist to simply tell him when I get there that I like daggers, skulls, snakes, roses, etc. and tell him to do whatever he wants and can finish in two and half hours? I am really looking forward to the experience of being tattooed in that shop as much as getting a badass tattoo. I also have room on both legs above the knee so size/placement shouldn't be an issue.

I waited a long time to have my hands done. I guess it helps that my municipal job is outdoors and 90% of the time I have to wear gloves due to safety rules.

I kept mine covered for so long, it just got to be too much. I got tired of wearing long pants, long sleeves, and keeping my hands in my pockets. Your mom will always look at you and still see the baby she first held at the hospital; it's what moms do. Change is difficult for a parent to accept. I know I look at my kids and can't believe where the time has gone.

I went to my parents and had a very upfront talk with them about tattoos. I thanked them for raising me to be the person I am today, accepting and open minded. I explained why I do what I do. I think while they may not have wanted me to wind up heavily tattooed that they now understand it better. But a mom will always be a mom to her kids. My mom still pleads with me, "No more skulls".

If it had it to do all over again I would take time to enjoy the experience of being tattooed more. When I started years ago everything seemed rushed. I would get a tattoo and that would be that. Now I really like the process; anticipating the appointment, the social aspect of being in the shop, seeing the progress over several sittings. I definitely appreciate the overall tattoo experience more now than I did in years past.

But I would still have all the same tattoos.

When on vacation and your wife wants to spend the day by the pool...so you spend $200 on a cabana rental for all day shade. Not gonna feel the sun today, not even once.

For people that have already tattooed me' date=' I would choose Ashley Howell, because he is one of my best friends, probably the smartest guy I know, but has no formal education, can tattoo any style, has tattooed all over the world, and we can get a beer afterwards.

If he was off the table, I would have to say Matt Arriola, or Steve Byrne would be my choices because they are versatile as well, like everything they do and they create the type of tattoo experience I am looking for.[/quote']

I must get tattooed by Ashley. When Ross was tattooing me Ashley was working on a back piece and his work is amazing.

I'll try with this one. By David Wach at Flaming Dragon in Tacoma WA.

Look at the photo gallery for reasons!!!

Very true.

Trying to sleep last night with a fresh knee cap tattoo I learned something new..a cotton sheet can feel like it weighs ten pounds.

The back feels like you're being drilled on your spin or kidneys. No matter where you're being worked on. The pain gravitates to those 2 spots. Which doesn't compare to getting your ass done. That is the most unbearable of them all. Although I have never done knee caps. I have done armpits.

Wonderful.....Remind me again why on earth we do this to ourselves?

So far for me it has to be knee caps, but I start my back piece in a few months so I'm sure my perspective will change. I'm hoping my back will not be like my knees but from what I've been told it will be.

Just visited Portland and was able to score a walk in at Acme Tattoo. Ross Ferrie put a great panther head on my knee. Not only a great tattoo but a truely awesome time at the shop! I cannot speak highly enough of the great time I had there. A top notch first class shop. Will definately make a return trip.

Pic is in my gallery, IPhone not letting me put in post.