a1steaks

Jason's shop Artwork Rebels in Portland, OR literally exploded this morning.  A construction company working nearby hit a gas line which resulted in an explosion that leveled the building.  Luckily no one was in the shop at the time and there were only a few injuries and no deaths.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Jason and rest of the crew get back on their feet.  Any of you that have met him know he's a great guy.  Help him out if you can.
 
https://www.gofundme.com/help-artwork-rebels-tattoo-rebuild-2v2knyk

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Still chipping away at the front. Here's the latest on the right thigh.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjFMyVMVH7/?taken-by=horitomo_stateofgrace

Henning requested pics of my healed back with a black background. Believe it or not, it was tough finding large enough black material like a curtain or spool of cloth but luckily my local dry cleaner had something I could borrow. I had to email him LARGE files because he may publish the photos in something. Fun looking at all the details. Maximize your browser!

Well it's been a year since I've had my back worked on and per our usual fall schedule, Henning was in town and this time we FINISHED my back! Some of you might have seen the updates via Instagram. So happy with this collaboration between Henning and Rubendall being completed! WARNING, PIC HEAVY!!! Put your browser on FULL SCREEN!
The master himself, Henning Jorgensen. Such a great artist and humble man.

Filling in the phoenix...tail feathers, breast, head and a few touch ups here and there.

Such a pleasure watching Henning work. I was so stoked with the zebra/tiger striped pattern he chose for the remaining tail feathers.

Touch up on a tender spot...the spare tire.

Slowly getting there.

Details details details...

Close-up of the phoenix...beautiful!

Full view from my right side. There was poor lighting inside since it was dark out, so they propped me up on a table and surrounded me with lights.

A quick reminder of the work Mike Rubendall did on the lower half of this collaboration. LOVE his water!

Another angle of my lower half.

Here's the finished top half.

Finished full back in all it's glory. My back is a sea of colors! Hope everyone enjoyed my show and tell! (don't mind the feet on the left or right, hahaha)

We need to wear Last Sparrow pins or something.

We need to wear Last Sparrow pins or something.

We need to wear Last Sparrow pins or something.

We need to wear Last Sparrow pins or something.

The high speed face twitching was fantastic.

Some crappy phone pics of my Lehi tiger. He is being mean to a dragon.

No I have not died, just been extremely tardy/slack in posting updates to LST.
I am finally happy to say my Backpiece is finished.
We did the final session last week and it was almost a bitter/sweet session. Still trying to deal with the reality of finishing it. It has taken roughly 18 months(we started in late Feb 2014 and finished late Aug 2015) Initially not only was I booking in tattoo appointments but I was also juggling the laser removal/lightening of 3 seperate pieces on my back/thigh. There were some fun times in the early days planning enough healing days between removal and addition. :) While I am happy not to have to take days off work, travel around 6 hours and spend another week after the session healing, I will miss the sessions. I initially said my Backpiece will be my last tattoo. I then said I will take a year off from tattooing and look into more work.
Even after just 1 week of being finished my back I am already developing plans and looking at ideas/designs to continue to the front. I daresay after summer I will be booking a consult to start the front.
Whoever said that tattooing is addictive was 150% correct.
@Cork I love that post you did of the progress of your back. I am tempted to do the same. Was great to see in 1 post the progression of your back.
Cheers,
Jason.
- - - Updated - - -
That's gold, I think he is right. I thought my back was my last piece of work but about 1 week later after finishing my back I am already looking at designs to do on my front. I had always thought I don't have the pain tolerance to do my front. I am now thinking that I got through my whole back, the front can't be much worse. :)
Jason.

Chippin' away at the ol' front.
https://instagram.com/p/3pzXp1MVGD/

Chippin' away at the ol' front.
https://instagram.com/p/3pzXp1MVGD/

Chippin' away at the ol' front.
https://instagram.com/p/3pzXp1MVGD/

Chippin' away at the ol' front.
https://instagram.com/p/3pzXp1MVGD/

@ironchef - Hard to say. Outlining had some brutal spots for sure. Tebori doesn't hurt anymore in my mind, but it can be mentally trying when you lay there for 2 hours and then look in the mirror and think to yourself "that's all we got done today!"
One thing I will mention is that I highly recommend wearing headphones when getting tebori done. I found the squishing sound to be unbearable after while.