cltattooing

I think about this stuff too. Just use your best judgement and don't compromise your beliefs for money. If you're not going to lose sleep over it, go nuts.

Just my observation, but it looks like you are still learning how to draw and paint. Which is fine! But I think in order to properly execute these designs, you should study more and work on your technique. The best way to go about that is to trace and re-paint 100 sheets of flash. Don't take any artistic liberties, copy them exactly as they are so that you can gain insight into the craft and process of those who have a good handle on what they're doing. You will be amazed at what you learn! Start with the basics and the old masters, and work your way forward. Not only will you learn a ton, but you'll have an awesome volume of work to show people.

Finished up this thigh piece about 2months ago. Healed shot lifted from Tim Lehi's Instagram.
If you go back in the thread you can see the beginnings/line work. That leg is really coming together...only problem is now I've got this pesky knee-gap.

reactivating this thread with my Thomas Hooper piece:

I like this thread.
Right leg: what, who, where
Lady head - Herb Auerbach, California Electric
Boar/party-pig - Bryan Randolph, Spider Murphy's
Flower thingy - Capilli Tupou, Sacred Electric
Weirdo-anthropomorphic-walking-compass-bro-tat-guy (can't really see it): Job de Quay, Salon Serpent
Bottom of the well: Theo Mindell
Left Leg:
Start of something killer: Tim Lehi, Blackheart
Insanity: El Monga, Spider Murphys/Tattoo city (guesting)

It's really hard to take a picture of your own legs (especially when you're apparently too stupid to remember to set the camera on a timer). A year ago I had no leg tattoos and no plans to get any, so it feels like they're filling up fast - though of course I have tons of room left.

I'm posting my updated legs today. I've added a few since my last post in this thread.
Visible tattoos:
Cat, hot air balloon, hand of glory = Chad Koeplinger
Skull with flowers = Bastien Jean
Higgs flash, boxer, RCAF skull, Grimm reaper = Tim Pausinger
Cowgirl, Higgs flash = Glennie Whittall
Panther w/ dagger, bulldog, pineapple, Scorpion = Franz Stefanik
Ankle band, Hot Stuff = Nathan Draper
Dollar bill, fly = Kyle Hollingdrake
Space torch = Mario Desa
I think that's all of them. I've got a few more lined up that should appear in the next few weeks and months.

I thought I'd post a pic of the knees (both done by Franz Stefanik at The Okey Doke in Toronto.) The demon is still finishing up its heal, so its not a perfect pic.

Only got a couple little guys since this thread started. Tackle my right thigh or save up for my move...? I CAN DO BOTH, RIGHT?!
I'll add this little moon mamma I picked up from Antonio Roque at Black Label in Frederick, MD. Really liked that shop and had a great experience with Antonio.. can't wait to go back when I'm visiting my folks who live about 15 minutes away. Also, not only do I love Antonio's tattoos, his paintings are so CLEAN. Lots of nice work hanging up there..

Here's my left lower leg done with Matt Deverson from Progression tattoo in Adelaide Australia and the top of my right done with Matt (Dr Claw) from Diamond Club

Little bit of knee action

Got this Shishi Lion from Alix Ge at the London convention yesterday (pic nicked from her instagram):

When I arrived, Alix was still drawing. She told me we couldn't put the tattoo on the side of my thigh like I had asked for because for that I would have to lie down and she only had a chair. Well, alright then. When I came back from a short tour around the convention she had obviously done another drawing which was much bigger than the first. She thought the animal had to be rather large to be nice, good with me. But she didn't think we could fit peonies as well, would I be happy with cherry blossoms instead...? Bummer...what? Noooo...! Oh well, so we agreed to put on the lion stencil and see then. Stencil went on, peonies were added freehand. No problem, all fitted on there nicely....but...that was gonna be a looong session. If I was a strong woman, she asked. Ermmmmm, well, I bl**dy hoped so...what else could I say? She looked at me particularly sceptical after she found out it was only my second tattoo....
Obviously, we made it, yippie!!!
Six hours on a folding chair with two breaks. Even though I got some odd looks and remarks for running around with a pillow under my arm, I was well glad I had brought it because it made the chair way more comfortable! Apart from that, getting tattooed at the convention was actually surprisingly good as there was so much to watch and get distracted by. I could openly stare at all the tattoos walking by and quite a few people gave me encouraging smiles and words. That was really cool.
Alix is super lovely and I kinda felt a little bad for her having to sit on her small suitcase for hours. Towards the end she told me that she wouldn't be able to do what I did and that she'd never get a tattoo that takes more than one hour herself. I doubt that's actually true, but it was a sweet thing to say anyway.
Suffice to say I'm super chuffed but also glad it's over!
And this morning my 3 1/2 year old greeted me excitedly with "Mummy, I have a tattoo, too!". Turns out the entire family has tattoos now, some of them of the temporary type, some rather not ;-)

Dan Higgs black heart done by Josh Brown (Josh changed the color scheme some). Forgive the wonky photos; I realized this wasn't the easiest spot to photograph.

Finally got some half-way decent healed photos of my Hooper musician leg.
On the other hand, trying to paste together such a single photo is near impossible, at least for an old geezer like me.

I'll reactivate the squidpants thread by putting this there, too . . .

Awesome weekend at the London Convention. There were some awesome tattoos walking around and being created, not least on some LSTers. Congratulations to everyone that got some work. Everything I have seen so far looks great. I didn't get anything big or dramatic this weekend. Just this little guy by Len Leye at Clan of Tusk in Belgium. Really nice guy and fun time getting tattooed. It you don't know his work then check out his instagram.

Here's mine from Friday at the London convention, done by Tony Hundahl. So unbelievably happy with this one!

Nicked the picture from Tony's instagram as my camera is broken

Been ages since I posted on this forum, don't really know why since I have been lurking every now and then. Guess i've been more into real life outside world thingies and started university again.
Anyway a friend of mine put this on my leg. Just to get some panties in a twist: this was not done in a shop, but in a bedroom.

edit: It's about 2 months healed

Session two with Dave C. Got a lot done in about 2 1/2 hours. I was nervous going into this sitting as we had just done the outline last week. I was a little worried my psych wouldn't be there, but in the end it went pretty well. Glad not to have more ribs after this though.

Yes, hips...They don't lie, 1 more to go..

Man, this is a good discussion!
So from the standpoint of a tattooer, tattoos are far more necessity than luxury, if not even investment. Because not only do I need to be heavily tattooed to be taken seriously by both clients and colleagues, but also so that I can relate to people as I am working on them and assure them that I know what they're going through. And even additionally, you learn so much on a technical level from getting tattooed. So the way I see it, I need to keep getting tattooed so that I can be a better tattooer and continue the success of my livelihood. Even at this point, I have so much open space yet I'm in the process of getting one of the largest tattoos a person can get, but even then the need will remain afterward!
I think the term luxury is very relative to the individual circumstances. Also, in general, people do not consider the psychological and spiritual merit of goods and services. Does anyone publicly discuss necessity and luxury in terms of what the soul needs? Because we all know how transformative getting tattooed is, and I think many of us on this journey can say that, without a doubt, getting tattooed has improved the overall quality of our lives. Did we not need that, did it not help us learn how to be who we need to be? Perhaps it did, and perhaps it didn't, but the answer to that question will tell you whether your tattoos are a necessity or not.

well, got some bug tattoos and made the paper:
photo by Shaughn Butts, Edmonton Journal

Alright folks, here ya go

Right? Where's my castle at?

I know Jason Kundell at Artwork Rebels has already been mentioned, but everyone else at the shop is fantastic as well. Josiah Laughlin, Gordon Combs, Jeff P, and Ross Carlson are all completely epic tattooers.

Right? Where's my castle at?