Omar

Awesome pieces here!

I'll chip in with mine. Done by Markus Lenhard in Berlin, I'm a sucker for flow and asymmetry :)

Still work in progress.

I loved the experience, Markus is one of the most interesting and cool guys you'll ever meet.

My pleasure :)

I just had my second session done on my chest piece. 10 solid hours of actual tattoo time in two days. I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, since the first session (8hours in two days) turned out to be painful as hell. From minute one 'till the end. (a cursed like a madman when he went over my nipple)

This time however, and for the first time, I really got 'in the zone'. I was laying in the chair, eyes closed and completely at ease while the tattoo artist drilled away for 5 hours straight. We only took two 15min breaks. What worked for me was telling myself the whole time: 'I am completely relaxed, I can't feel pain. If I could feel pain, I wouldn't be relaxed'. A bit of reversed psychology. After 45min I was in a sort of trance. I could accept the feeling of getting my skin punctured a zillion times as something that wasn't pain but something I wanted. It sounds stupid, but it worked like hell.

On the really painful parts, like sternum and nipples it was all about breathing. Deep and slow breaths. Accepting the pain, not as 'pain' - with all the negative associations, but as a sensation I could control.

Anyway, it did the trick for me.

Well, here's my entry.

By Markus Lenhard - private studio in Berlin - work in progress

cheers!

Not that he's so difficult to get in touch with, but Victor Portugal's waiting list was +2,5 years half a year ago.

To get in with high profile artists depends a lot on your approach I believe. If you show you're serious and you give them enough creative freedom, it's not that hard.

Same goes for Markus Lenhard. I've contacted him about a month ago, and I'm in for september this year (Hooray!)

But I guess getting booked in with Guy Aitchison or Jeff Gogue will be another story.

Oh happy day - just got the news. I'm getting tattooed by Markus Lenhard from Berlin! Bio-organic insect wing on my chest :cool:

This is what I love the most. When you've made up your mind about placement, design and artist and you send the first mail to ask if he's interested. I tend to really put an effort in how i first approach an artist. I often rewrite my initial mail 3 to 4 times with some days in between. And when the artist lets you know he thinks you've got a cool idea and wants to tattoo you, it's party time :)

I can honestly say my tattoo means absolutely nothing. I just like the movement and colours.

Some people find that hard to believe/comprehend.

Finished my first tattoo 4 days ago. Second session was a nice 5hours of colouring.

Sort of a bio-organic thing :)

By Yliana Paolini

My shoulder is healing from a session 2,5 weeks ago. It peeled nicely but now i'm developing a mild rash around some places. And ow yeah, it itches like crazy.

Next session in 2 weeks :cool:

My first tattoo, done two days ago. It's a freehand piece by Yliana Paolini. Was an awesome experience. Well worth the 7hour driving trip to Brighton :) She's freakin' amazing.

Next session is in 6 weeks. Can't wait!

Hi there, you came to the right place. There are piles and piles of great threads to be found here :)

Cheers

Tnx! I really love her versatility and the way she incorporates colour into b&g.

I gave her very loose guidelines so she can come up with her own design. Can't wait :)

I'll def post a picture when it's done.

I just booked my first tattoo. Will be end of november with Yliana Paolini. Will have to cross the sea to Brighton but I'm super stoked.

Any of you guys been tattooed by her? Curious how the experience was :)

You're gonna love it! You can do whatever you want and don't have to agree or compromise with a travel partner. You are also much more likely to meet locals along the way, in my opinion. When traveling with another, it's so easy to just keep to yourselves, since you already have companionship. But when you travel alone, you are much more likely to meet and interact with people along the way -- and I have found some of the best detours by talking with people like this... either other travelers staying at my hostel, or locals in the bar/restaurant while I'm having dinner or a drink, etc. It can be really great.

I hope you enjoy it! :)

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to it. It feel kind of relieved to finally have taken action :)

I see you're goin' to India. Now that's an adventure!

Maybe not that spectacular, but I've booked my first 'all-alone' trip. I've always been fascinated by people who travel the world alone but was always afraid that I couldn't handle it.

It's just a 5 day trip (to Krakau, Poland, hooray), but it's a big step. And the fact that I'll be able to say hello to Victor Portugal, whose studio is 10' walking from the hostel, is a nice bonus :)

next month im flying out from germany to san francisco to get a rental car and drive down to san diego on my own.

the first day consists of driving to spider murphys and get sth. from stuart cripwell.

after that i just want to stop by and check out other shops like blacksmith and temple - any other recommendations on my route down south?

Damn, and I thought I would be travelling far (Belgium - Krakau). Sounds like a hell of an experience.

I'm in the process of booking my first tattoo, will be by Victor Portugal. Really looking forward to it. It's going to cover my lower leg from ankle to knee. I'm just waiting on the final confirmation and exact sessions dates (his manager told me it should take 4/5 sessions). The only downside is that he's booking now for September 2015. So it's going to be 2,5 long years. Sucks, but hey, if you want quality work...

Anyway, I'm thinking of getting something smaller in the meantime. Heard some good things about Yliana Paoline (Yliana Paolini) . And she lives in driving distance :)

Thanks!

Hi there,

A few things about myself: 26 years old dude, living and working in Belgium. I've always been fascinated by tattoos but only realized some 6 months ago that it's actually an option to get one (or more :)) myself. So I've been diving into artists portfolio's like crazy and trying to read whatever I could get my hands (or mouse) on about tattoos.

I'm currently in the process of getting an appointment with Victor Portugal in Krakau to cover my lower left leg. Although I'll have to wait until september 2015, I'm already excited. Since 2,5 years is pretty long, I'm currently deciding if I would get another one before that.

Anyway, I'm really happy I found this forum. It's not always easy to filter through the massive amount of (largely useless) info that's out there. I'm thankful that you guys are willing to share your insights.

Well, that's it. If you got any questions, shoot.