motsimus

Tuck this somewhere for fun.

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.

It got me travelling across the motherflipping US of A!!! And meeting good people along the way..but seriously I'm drunk again and pretty much everything @Mark Bee said.

@CABS: Oh, I see. That Cripwell suit with the legs, I guess? It's pretty amazing to look at. Who knows, it may wind up that way with my arms! I have so many mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, Greg is a great guy, he's nearby, and I'm totally thrilled with what we've done; it's fun to go in and flip through books of classic flash until we see something we like, and have him put together his take on it. It feels a little bit like getting a present every time I go, since I haven't known exactly what it'll be either time. I definitely wouldn't hate doing that indefinitely.
On the other hand, I'm so curious about experiencing how other shops and tattooers do their thing, and that's on top of admiring their tattoos (and I'm still discovering new tattooers all the time, since I'm a noob).
Tough choices! But, I feel lucky to have that kind of tough choice to make.

@Mark Bee @sighthound
Thanks people! Guy with hammer is by Simon Erl, patterned half sun is by John Sultana and Anarchist A is by two local tattooers from Stockholm Mary and Sebbe (first tattoo)

I cosign this. Getting tattooed led me down the path to go to art school, mostly b/c I was so encouraged by my friend (who is my tattoo hero) to draw. And well, yeah, here we are.
It's never too late to do something you want to do.

It got me travelling across the motherflipping US of A!!! And meeting good people along the way..but seriously I'm drunk again and pretty much everything @Mark Bee said.

@mmikaoj Looks great! I also really like the one with the guy holding the hammer. Rad.

you could always find an artist you like that does nice black and grey work and have them do a custom drawn version of that eagle, more dimension and depth to the bird might deter from the nazi comments your worried about

Got this Chrysanthemum from Alvaro Llorar at Barcelona Electric yesterday. Had a great time, very cool studio and such a gentle and funny guy. Very pleased with the result. Also very amazed that he drew this on my shoulder in like 20 minutes, masterful artist.

It got me travelling across the motherflipping US of A!!! And meeting good people along the way..but seriously I'm drunk again and pretty much everything @Mark Bee said.

It got me travelling across the motherflipping US of A!!! And meeting good people along the way..but seriously I'm drunk again and pretty much everything @Mark Bee said.

@motsimus, thanks! It's funny you should say that...we were joking around about it. I think after the rose appointment, we're gonna do an appointment for a funny little Dietzel dragon. I guess technically that's still a badass animal and a flower, though... :o

Awesome! @sophistre I would be so stoked if you just keep getting badass animals with badass flowers.

[Delete post, replaced by obligatory non-sequitur]
Italian Word of the Day: "Ebola"
"I pick-a Guiseppe for my bowling team because he Ebola perfect game every time."

I think for ease, I'll divide this into sections:
1. History I've learned
2. New art forms I've discovered
3. Cool people I've met.
4. LST
Although I got my first tattoo back in the very early 90s, it wasn't until about 4 years ago that I started seriously looking into the history of tattooing. Since then, I've discovered a rich and deep worldwide artistic practice. From Japan, to the American carnival, to Scandinavian sailors, I have learned a great deal about how different cultures have appreciated (or denigrated) the art of tattooing.I've seen WWI records of soldiers inductions, complete with detailed descriptions of their tattoos. Fascinating! A trip to Great Lakes in Chicago led me down the rabbit hole of tracking the post-war era of American tattooing, (Tatts Thomas, etc), which I quickly fell in love with. It must be the historian in me.
2. Originally I thought of tattoos as simply a mark on the skin. As I've become more and more involved in the tattoo scene, for lack of a better term, I started looking into how different cultures' styles developed and spread across the world. It also opened up a new way for me to understand complex cultural markers and how we relate to them and respect them. Tattooing has opened my mind to being ever more interested in how other cultures mark themselves and express themselves through art.
3. All the cool people. This cannot be overstated. I have met interesting, talented, funny, smart, people from all walks of life by spending as much time as I do in the shops and in the surrounding areas. I've met tattooers with amazing stories of travel and adventure, and tattooed people who share the same passion and fascination. This has had the benefit of getting me traveling more than I had been over the last decade. Montreal, Chicago, and beyond!
4. The LST community. 'Nuff said. You are good people.

Aside from the spiritual side of things, which could take a while, getting tattooed has made me a lot more conscious of not just external, but also internal health. A lot of focus is put on moisturizing with lotions, etc. However, just as, if not more, important is how healthy your skin is from within. Doing both will keep those tattoos looking their best.
I drink a lot more water and stay as hydrated as I can, as this aids in the healing process and overall epidermal health, which in-turn makes my tattoos look brighter and better :cool:. Also watch what I eat, less fried stuff more good stuff, etc.
I'm also very aware of any and all sun exposure I get nowadays. I used to want the nicest tan during summers and, and now I'm the guy wearing spf 70 and UV protective shirts when I go out haha.

Awesome! @sophistre I would be so stoked if you just keep getting badass animals with badass flowers.

I got this big ol cat from Luis Campos today at Empire tattoo in Asheville. Great guy and beautiful city. Also pic pilfered from his IG

Yeah mate finally made it, only just surviving New Orleans and Nashville... lots of good booze

Well, I'm officially inked. :o

This thing took 9 hours to bang out, I couldn't be happier. Jesse is so damn talented.
Already got the next 3 appointments booked, going back in on November 7th to hopefully finish the top half of this sleeve so we can start working on the bottom half in December.

Yeah mate finally made it, only just surviving New Orleans and Nashville... lots of good booze

got a little crazy with da crayolas...

Here's a pic of the line work, Will post a couple of pics of the finished product when its completed.

My arm by Joel Madberg, Salvation Tattoo Stockholm: