Brady

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling".
He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls.
Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments!
It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling".
He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls.
Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments!
It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

My first sighting was my dad's tattoos. He's (t-shirt) covered in underground tattoos from the days before he met my mum.
It must have been so annoying for him but bless him, he never stopped me! At night I'd curl up behind him in bed and "play" with his full back Battle Royale, walking my feet up and down it, pinching the snake's nose, pulling, punching, twisting their faces... never thought till now how much patience my dad has! Any time at school when we had to draw our family, our hero, in fact any kind of "grown up"... that's right! A dodgy stickman dad with big circles for muscles, big scars on his face and every single tattoo I could remember till the page was filled with monkey faces, womens names, dice, skulls... my teachers must have had a scream!
Speaking of this, I've recently decided that I'll get my own Battle Royale in tribute to his. I'm not gonna tell him, just turn up with the outlines, hopefully a bit of colour at that point and let it speak the words I struggle with.
Have a good day!

No re-wrapping for me - despite the tattoo artist advising to do it for best results, and knowing people who have done it and healed great. I burned myself once (as in flames) and the "burn victim treatment" did not work. I don't know the biological reasons for this.
I've browsed and lurked for a while and though I reckon lots of folk know, I've not seen it mentioned -
My lifestyle is largely intense weight training so when it comes to healing, at the forefront of my mind is nutrition. Don't worry, I'm not one of those tedious protein-shakers. In my mind my skin is the same as the rest of my body. If I hurt it, I give it what it needs to mend itself. Anyway - here's a couple of foods to munch on that'll help you heal...
Salmon - the fats are really good, also the protein for healing skin (and everything else).
Carrots - lots of vitamin A.
Chillis - Good for skin (vit E)
Olives, olive oil - fats. When I say fat, of course I mean the healthy ones!
WATER - I go through almost 5 litres a day and have done for around 15 years. Essential for life, essential for skin health. You don't need this much, but remember cells need water to do their ting.
I know enough about nutrition to know that people just don't want to hear "healthy eating nonsense", so if you want to find out all about the vitamins etc go look it up. These aren't fancy foods, I tried giving some examples of everyday foods that folk may not appreciate for the magical foods they are. Always nice to know you've long been doing something great for yourself!
Remember also that protein is very important for your immune system - been years since I've researched all this, but I think it's around the first 20g of protein you get in your tummy goes straight to work on your immune system.
Don't dweeb out on the diet plans, just reach for the stuff that isn't in smiley face format or crusted in salt and flavourings.
You'll still want your creams, ointments or whatever - my post here is to help address the wound from the INSIDE.
Have a lovely day all!
John

I think I'm in the camp of laughing-at-the-dodgy-imitations, but tbh it'd get to me if someone ripped my work off, whatever it was. I've actually been worrying about the whole thing for a long time as I've been totally in love with several images but of course didn't want to copy them.
I booked in my Day of The Dead girls (well, the first one) on Tuesday. I took in the crumpled pictures and notes I've carried for ages and had my speech ready about "not wanting to rip off exact images" etc, despite how it may look.
The tattoo artist didn't even consider that I'd want exact copies of them, despite my annotations scrawled all over - "LOVE THE EYES!" "SHINE ON LIPS IS PERFECT!" etc, sounds weird but I KNOW the thought didn't even enter her head. It felt like I'm pointing at a red room gushing how much I want mine the same, she offers to paint mine blue - it was the brushstrokes stoking my fire all along, she knew it from the start. It only really dawned on me then that godjam, I'm paying for this lady's incredible talent, not just her experience and skill in sticking me with ink. Can't wait for the session (105110 mins and counting! Online countdowns are torturous!).
Love to all
John

I'm a bloke and I completely agree with you, Beez! To be honest I'm looking forward to being the silver fox patriarch with the tattoos!
What'll I do when I'm 90? Probably still be in the mirror, admiring my fabulous hair...

I know @peterpoose shared this on another forum a while ago, but damn that is some impressive work for only a year of tattooing! Her name is Line Mariëlle Kloosterman

That is one bad ass Shoki!

Not to mention, some of us work out and stop partying and find ourselves in better shape in our forties than we were in our twenties...imagine that?!

but you're not REALLY cool until you've done both at the same time!

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling".
He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls.
Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments!
It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling".
He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls.
Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments!
It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling".
He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls.
Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments!
It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

If you want to be able to hide a tattoo putting it on your head is one of the worst places you can choose.

No re-wrapping for me - despite the tattoo artist advising to do it for best results, and knowing people who have done it and healed great. I burned myself once (as in flames) and the "burn victim treatment" did not work. I don't know the biological reasons for this.
I've browsed and lurked for a while and though I reckon lots of folk know, I've not seen it mentioned -
My lifestyle is largely intense weight training so when it comes to healing, at the forefront of my mind is nutrition. Don't worry, I'm not one of those tedious protein-shakers. In my mind my skin is the same as the rest of my body. If I hurt it, I give it what it needs to mend itself. Anyway - here's a couple of foods to munch on that'll help you heal...
Salmon - the fats are really good, also the protein for healing skin (and everything else).
Carrots - lots of vitamin A.
Chillis - Good for skin (vit E)
Olives, olive oil - fats. When I say fat, of course I mean the healthy ones!
WATER - I go through almost 5 litres a day and have done for around 15 years. Essential for life, essential for skin health. You don't need this much, but remember cells need water to do their ting.
I know enough about nutrition to know that people just don't want to hear "healthy eating nonsense", so if you want to find out all about the vitamins etc go look it up. These aren't fancy foods, I tried giving some examples of everyday foods that folk may not appreciate for the magical foods they are. Always nice to know you've long been doing something great for yourself!
Remember also that protein is very important for your immune system - been years since I've researched all this, but I think it's around the first 20g of protein you get in your tummy goes straight to work on your immune system.
Don't dweeb out on the diet plans, just reach for the stuff that isn't in smiley face format or crusted in salt and flavourings.
You'll still want your creams, ointments or whatever - my post here is to help address the wound from the INSIDE.
Have a lovely day all!
John

This is becoming something of a habit for me to say, but..........
Here is something a bit different to what you regularly see on this site.
I know it isn't going to be to everyone's taste, in fact the artist has a bit of a love/hate style.
The only tattoo that means something to me as it represents my working life. (most of my tattoos are simply because I like them).
The artist is Gray Silva who is based in Nottingham UK.

This was my second tattoo, after a crappy Taz that I picked off the wall when I was 16.
Took around 50ish hours in sessions between 3-7 hours and around 18 months to complete due to financial restrictions and various other reasons.

I've never been tattooed with a rotary, so I can't really compare the sensation between the two machines. All I know (or at least feel) is that the sound of a coiled machine is such an integral part to the tattoo experience. I can't imagine going into a tattoo without the artist setting up the machine, running it and adjusting the voltage before asking if I'm ready to start. I need to hear that sound!

As a kid I always had low self esteem and no self confidence.
That has carried over into adult hood and it's a constant battle with myself.
When I started getting tattoo's I always kept them hidden. For the first 8 years of my tattooed existence I could cover them all up by wearing a tank top.
No one knew I really had any and always assumed I was the type of person who wouldn't have them. I often enjoyed letting them in on my little secret and watching their face change shapes.
I had always wanted a full arm of tattoos but never could decide on something. I knew it had to have some sort of meaning and it had to encompass who I was. It was going to be my first full view piece. I was so scared of what people would think. What they would say. Would I be treated differently? How would I like myself with a large tattoo showing. Up until this point my tattoos were all hidden from the world.
It was a HUGE deal for me.
I kept envisioning this work of artwork on my arm and wishing for the day I could look in the mirror and gaze at it.
I kept wishing for the courage to say "F you" to the world and just do what I wanted to do with my own body and not care.
I have spent my whole life worrying and caring what other people thought about me. Letting their negativity shape the way I felt about myself.
I came across a Jeff Gouge piece and instantly knew.... that was my reference piece. I finally found the look and feel I was going for.
So I contacted my artist and we started tossing ideas around.
I was sooo scared to take the plunge. October 13th 2012 I sat down in the chair and we chatted and drew out the whole image on my tiny arm. I looked at all the marker lines and smiled. I gave the go ahead and the line work started. I remember that feeling of the first line on my forearm. There was no going back. I was ecstatic.
I remember looking in the mirror after the first line session. I remember thinking that it didn't look right on me. I didn't think I looked like it belonged.
10 months later and we have mostly completed 3/4 of it. We still need to do my inner bicep area and I have decided to continue down to my wrist (we stopped 3/4 originally).
I now look in the mirror and see it as part of who makes me, ME.
I take pride in my artwork and who it has helped me become. I am now much more confident with who I am.
I am not concerned with other peoples thoughts anymore. I did something for me, and me only. I am proud of who I am becoming and how this tattoo has helped it happen.

"I'm an artist so...."
douchiest way to start a sentence?

I stutter sometimes, but more in languages other than English. It's gotten better over time.
Why not get a Porky Pig? :)

The only long term effect will probably be looking awesome.

Also btw if its less than a year old it will be a long long time before it begins to break down if it was done well.
Applying lotion or sunblock every day several times a day is pretty tedious, esp if this is a life long plan to keep them looking 'new' or fresh or whatever. That will get old real fast. The sun is really the biggest problem. A well applied tattoo can be vivid for a very long time if it doesn't see much sun.
I might also want to just give my opinion that a tattoo that has 'settled' into the skin looks better. That means it won't look brand new anymore but it looks a little more natural for lack of a better word, particularly with ink made without synthetic binders.

My handlheld mirror gets a lot of work. :-)
I'm working on a back piece, trust me, you'll look at it plenty!

When I met my husband, he had just a couple of tattoos but planned to get much more work, while I was untattooed and planned to stay that way. We were both fine with that situation, and it didn't figure into our attraction for each other. A few years after we married he confided to me that although he was still fine with my lack of ink, he did find tattooed women to be very attractive, and sort of sheepishly and politely asked if I would consider getting one. This was not something I wanted to hear, but I love him, so I asked him to tell me more. He said that he always found tattooed women to be extremely attractive, and sexy. I could see that it was something he really wanted. I asked him what what he would like for me to get and where, and he said he'd like something feminine wrapping around my upper arm, sort or of a quarter sleeve. I really had no interest in getting a tattoo, certainly nothing that large, and especially not in such a visible location.
But we discussed it. I heard his desire, and he listened to my objections. I understood that he would find a tattoo on me to be attractive, and he understood that I was very, very reluctant. He said he would accept a "no" if that is how I felt. But I told him that I would think about it. I gave it a lot of thought and decided I wanted to please him if I could. I examined my tattoo objections, and realized that it was the visibility that bothered me. After a lot of thought I decided that I would be willing to step out of my comfort zone and get a tattoo, but in a “non-public” location. We compromised, and I got a a tattoo on the front of my hip where it would not be seen even if I was in my normal one-piece bathing suit. It made him very happy, and I was happy to be able to please him. Most importantly, it was MY decision and I did not feel forcibly coerced into the tattoo.
And just to show you how things can go unexpectedly: He soon extended his tattoos slightly into fairly modest shoulder/sleeve caps, and surprisingly decided that he was finished, and didn't want any more tattoos. For me, it turned out that I loved my tattoo – so much so, that I now have eight, with no further prodding from my husband, including two including two half sleeves! In the end, hubby got the arm tattoo on me that he originally wanted, and much, much more! I am now planning a full back piece, and I'm sure I will get more after that. And now I'm pestering him to get more ink, because I think it is pretty attractive on him too!
I think that now if, heaven forbid, something were to happen to my husband, and I were to settle down with someone new, he would have to be tattooed. It is big part of my existence now, and I have come to find tattooed men to be very attractive. I don't think an uninked man could truly understand or appreciate me now.

no carez. no everz.
but seriously. and only because it's late. sure, don't rip a tattoo. it's bad form. but, ideas are ideas are ideas and nothing is new or original.
sorry, girl heads that you draw look like the girl heads that chris conn draws that look like girl heads that mucha drew.