Chris3000

Unfortunately, I can't have anything visible do to my job. I sell equipment to farmers and they tend to not be tattoo friendly. I go down in a few weeks to start the tiger on my other chest panel to match my dragon. Then we will start my back piece. Once I'm done with that, I will be don until attitudes change or I retire. It is kind of fun having large tattoos that people can't see, and wouldn't suspect from my outside appearance. It's like my own little secret.

Thanks Reverend1,
That means a lot. Honestly I would expect that anywhere in or around the armpit would hurt like a SOB. You might be a lot more tolerant regarding pain than you think. SO, don't avoid the ditch. My artist has a beautiful yellow dragon on his arm and it goes right through the ditch, it's amazing to look at. Just don't let the thought of pain stop you, I promise it's temporary.

I can't say for sure I have one tattoo at the moment. It covers my left pec, over the clavicle shoulder on to my back and a 1/4 way down my upper arm. with the exception of the area around my nipple and the area very close to my arm pit it wasn't bad at all. From the opinions of the folks here who have far more experience than myself, and I respect immensely the ditch hurts. a lot. You kicked ass getting your first tattoo there, whether you realize it or not. When you get a tattoo some where else you will probably sleep through it. Major props, seriously.

I'm in my forties, too, and am finding my tattoos just keep getting bigger. I'm not rich either...but since sessions on a bigger piece are spaced out, I can save the money needed for the next one in between. Anyway, I like your attitude-- you are thinking it over and I'm sure whatever you get, you will like. Your first one looks nice. It's just the more you get, the more you may want to get. You never know...

I just recently got a tattoo in honor of my grandfather. He was in the Navy and had brilliant Navy tattoos. Out of all of his tattoos I love his hinges the most and that's what a wanted but I'm a gal and I didn't want big metal plates in the ditch of my arm. So, I switched it up a bit and did an olive hinge with scroll work for the metal plates to keep it from being to masculine. I really look forward to hearing (reading) what you think, good, bad, or otherwise.
Chris

Hey I know a dude with that same tattoo done by the same dude.

@jacobyoung I think I saw Matt working on that off and on... a friend of mine was getting a rose on his hand by Albrigo, so I spent some time hovering that general vicinity.
Also, I got this at the same convention, from Ron Henry Wells. Photo from his Instagram...

Some amazing stuff posted here, wow!
Here's my entry, by javi Rodriguez guesting at frith street

Thanks, I have been spending a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror. I am not sure how I feel about that.

I LOVE that face!! I'd be talking to it all the time... "good morning Dragon, let's go make some coffee." ;)

Just for fun, here is my finished dragon by Kore Flatmo.


Its only eight days into the month and there are already so many amazing tattoos posted. Thats pretty awesome.

done by me

Tattoo by Chad Koeplinger done at Frith Street Tattoo in London, England
Filled up the spot nicely! (and quickly 2 Hours!)

What the heck, I'll throw mine in the ring this month...Got this one back in Janurary.
Done by Thomas Deaton at Twisted Reality tattoo

done by Nick Colella Chicago Tattooing Co. 3/2/2013

Got tattooed by Matt Arriola at the West Texas Tattoo Conv. Super pumped on how this came out.

Done by Cecil Porter. Douglas from the movie "Where the Wild Things Are".

Thanks everyone,
I didn't want to walk around thinking I had a good tattoo if I didn't. Don't get me wrong, I would still be proud but I would also understand the comments that people might make. I won't lie the ditch hurts, but not where you might think. The most painful part for me was the outside of the tattoo to the middle right and middle left, the inner ditch itself was not that bad. I think with all tattoos it's really worth it in the end. It's healing really well and has gone through it's ugly stages. I learned that the only thing temporary about a tattoo is the pain.
Thanks again,
Chris

Wow that sounds really cool, MsRad! You'll have to keep us filled in, I really want to see it when it's done! :)
Thanks about the new tattoo.. well, I say thanks, it's not like I did anything, lol. I always feel weird saying thanks when someone compliments my tattoos, it's like I'm saying thanks for someone else's work. But you know what I mean :) I love it. Didn't have a picture on my computer of my tattoo from Charlie, but thankfully everything's on the internet these days anyway. Hope this isn't too big...

I got my first tattoo almost a year ago! wow time flies! i feel kind of deja vu ish because i think i have talked about this tattoo in another thread somewhere but its my dogs names joia(no longer with me) and avelan(current) with a paw print. i thought about it for sooooo long and asked co-workers and friends what they thought and if i should do it, really whatever they said didnt matter because my mind was made up!

when i was twelve years old, i was riding the school bus to gym class. a guy from the grade above had flunked into our grade and i saw he had a stick and poke cross on his forearm. i thought that was awesome, and i learned how to do it and went home and put one on my forearm too. several stick and pokes later i turned 18 and when i got out of jail i got a job at the meat packing plant. when i got my first paycheck i went to the one and only tattoo shop in the small town i was in at the time. it was my first time in a studio and it was a little biker run thing. i didn't know what to get, and figured since my last name is Kelly, i would get something irish. the tattooer showed me a four leaf clover for 60 dollars. i asked if we could make it ten dollars bigger, because i had 70 to spend. he made it a little bigger, and i got it. i don't regret it, but after living in ireland for years, i despise irish things and don't care to have irish related tattoos on me, but shit happens.

I just recently got a tattoo in honor of my grandfather. He was in the Navy and had brilliant Navy tattoos. Out of all of his tattoos I love his hinges the most and that's what a wanted but I'm a gal and I didn't want big metal plates in the ditch of my arm. So, I switched it up a bit and did an olive hinge with scroll work for the metal plates to keep it from being to masculine. I really look forward to hearing (reading) what you think, good, bad, or otherwise.
Chris

Your first tattoo is on your elbow ditch!?

It's a well done tattoo. You're tougher than me, I don't think I'll ever get my ditch done.

Hi @Chris3000 Great 1st tattoo. I think it looks amazing. Kudos on going straight for the ditch! Welcome to the forums. :)