cltattooing

i've heard it called the bent back girl or bent back skull. first time i saw it was in this animation called "The Devil in Denim."

oldest reference i've seen is from Milton Zeis, Tattooing As You Like It.
there are some awesome versions of it. this DETH version tickled my fancy, so i copped it. can't remember the title of this piece at the moment, but i'll track it down.

Little filler to pass the time between back sessions.

Chelsea Kotzur at True Blue in ATX.

Jay Thurley (@jaysoos on IG) put this panthernator on my shoulders yesterday. These neck tear-throughs are tough to photograph, didn't get one from above my head to show the whole effect.

i might have to wear my FTW shirt tomorrow!

Official notice that I will be attending Saturday only and will probably be hanging out most of the day. Super down to meet up with folks for food/drinks. If knowing what I look like makes things easier, there is a picture on instagram @handoftheforge

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

Official notice that I will be attending Saturday only and will probably be hanging out most of the day. Super down to meet up with folks for food/drinks. If knowing what I look like makes things easier, there is a picture on instagram @handoftheforge

Official notice that I will be attending Saturday only and will probably be hanging out most of the day. Super down to meet up with folks for food/drinks. If knowing what I look like makes things easier, there is a picture on instagram @handoftheforge

1 more week! I can't wait!
I think I have a session with Jill Bonny before the convention on Friday. Hopefully I won't be wiped out too bad by the time it starts. I should be there all day/night Friday and Saturday. For now I plan on going Sunday as well but may opt to get a short session in with Jill again before my flight in the evening.
I'd love to meet up with everyone. @CABS, @cvportagee, and I tried this great Japanese place down the street last year. It's well worth it if anyone is interested in meeting for a bite or drinks.
Feel free to introduce yourself if I havent met you previously. I'd love to meet other LST folks. I'll be a pudgy 'Steve Aoki' with glasses. Likely wearing dark colors. Black/grey sleeves.
@MoistTowelette, are you working a booth this year?
@beez, did the Shad appointment happen?

We need to wear Last Sparrow pins or something.

You aren't allowed to post anymore. You've hit exactly 1,000.

@DavidR Amazeballs ? congrats!!

Finally lost my cherry today. A great experience and I love my new tattoo.
By Bradley Tompkins at Frith Street.

Thought I would also upload and share this dope action shot. Plus you can catch a peak at my backpiece that's about 5 months settled in as well as Len's great hair lol ;)

Another reminder that it is the tattoo experience as whole - that truly makes the tattoo. that's what matters. Tattooing is a very powerful, deliberate and permanent act and series of events.
Last Wednesday was an incredible day. My work in the morning. Popping into the tattoo shop to just to say what's up and casually flipping through Len's book - I have 3 tattoos from Len now and each one was a spontaneous act with permanent results. Going and getting a dope haircut so I didn't get a cheap $25cent razor fade (found a new barber, an older black gentleman, he shared his cool snake tattoo on his dark skin, he got in 1967!). My tai chi practice in the park. An encouraging doctor's appointment. The boys keeping the shop open into the evening to accommodate me (shout out to Champion Tattoo Edmonton). The stencil and re-stencil to get the placement just right. The first 30 seconds when I thought holy shit man, this is brutal have I gone too far? Bishops Green on the stereo. Tattoo talk with the boys. Sweating through the table. Feeling my nose about to get crushed sideways on the table. the post-tattoo newport smoke, the vulnerability and the satisfaction with the end result. The morning after when the shower water hit the back of my raw tattooed skin. Even today walking down the street, walking proud and tall with this new tattoo. Hearing the lady behind me in the crosswalk whispering out loud 'damn that's a nice tattoo' to herself. Seriously, I am really buzzing off how this one turned out.
The butterfly symbolism is pretty obvious.
But also this:
I dreamed I was a butterfly, fluttering about, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly. Soon I awakened, and there I was, myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man. -Master Zhuang
I became aware of this taoist quote the morning after receiving my tattoo, and I too had the butterfly dream leading up to this spontaneous tattoo. I found it very fitting, not just in the context of the rest of my tattoos, but in terms of some personal growth I have been making over the last few months. And here comes this profound tattoo experience from a simple design that carries some complex symbolism to me, providing enlightenment when I needed it the most.
Thank you LST for providing a medium to share the tattoo experience together !

would I be a total jerk for pointing out the irony in this design?

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash.
greywash:

opaque grey:

That Mike Tyson pidgeon is fuckin DOPE
Anyway, I can't find it within me to hate on Jon Boy. I mean for all intents and purposes it's not like they're bad tattoos so at least there's that, plus I'm sure the dude is making a fuckload of cash so I can't really hate on that either. It's just that as a tattooer, I cannot possibly imagine how that is rewarding work in any capacity. I like doing small tattoos as much as anyone else, but when there is no challenge to progress and do better, where is the gratification? I'll take my fairly short wait list and Oakland prices over that shit all day long.

@marley mission dude!! Epic! Was oogling that on ig yesterday, figures :roll:
@Iwar thank you! Hey, anything you want from the convention this year?

Hi, just joined LST and thought i'd share my latest tattoo.
Done by Tony Hundahl at the London convention, great guy who does awesome tattoos.

awesome stuff from Robert Ryan @ Electric in Asbury
good times good times