Dan

Post ritual will always involve me and a beer. One of them fancy "craft beers" haha.

I eat a good meal a couple of hours before the session. I usually try to keep it healthy. Lean meat and lots of vegetables. Afterwards I often pick up a large fruit smoothie. The last couple of sessions have ended with a meal and a Tom Collins while putting my feet up. So no hard and fast rules. I just try to be well rested, well-fed, and I'm good to go!

my "long" session kit is I bring skittles ,M&M's,a fresh banana,beef jerky,& several bottles of water.I like to keep my sugars & electrolytes way up during the work.
I eat a good meal before and take a 800mg ibuprofen or two.
I don't drink alcohol for a couple days prior to the work,lots of water,and I never drink alcohol right before or during.

LOL ya ! it did hurt like hell to take it off !

LOL ya ! it did hurt like hell to take it off !

*waves some cheerleader pom poms*
Yup, it's your skin so who gives a flying fuck. I personally won't criticise someone's tattoos for that exact reason. Also no matter how small and crappy one's may seem it was a moment in their life where that was awesome for them even if it was a random flash on the wall they picked purely for wanting a tattoo.

I am right there with you. I love my tattoos. They are not anything special to most people but they mean the world to me. Don't ever let anyone look down on you because you have placed your story and your character on your skin. I think that no matter how "simple", "boring" or "too mainstream" your ink is, it is special and unique to you. Own it and wear it proudly, those looking down on you are just jealous!!!

Nobody in the world cares about my tattoos. But I really like them.
I've got a bird friend on my shoulder who will be with me always. Poor little Squeaky, the real bird, died when I was away. I never got to say good-bye and now I don't have to because Squeaky is always there on my shoulder.
I've got a story of hiking a long trail on my leg. If I ever get Alzheimer's I will probably at least remember that experience since it's right there on my leg to remind me of all that I saw and did out there.
I've got big blue roses. Lots of color. I was hated and criticized mercilessly all my life for being ugly but now I have pretty colors on my skin to make me happy.
And finally, my butterfly. First time I went to a tattoo shop the artist there told me of giving an old lady a tattoo of a butterfly on her arm because she had always wanted one. There are so many things in life I've always wanted to do and it took me a while to realize that someday never comes. Do it now. And even though a barely-graduated apprentice did my butterfly, he cleverly mirrored the motif of the leaves of my roses and tied it all together. I feel like I carry a flower garden and a little bit of spring around with me wherever I go.
I claimed my body from those who had prior claims, defined it my own way, not theirs, and made it my own. Nobody cares about my tattoos, some people probably scorn me for them, and for that I even feel more grateful because against their disapproval, here I am, taking up space with my garden and my memories, just being me.

ramBo...first contact...


2nd contatct...from around 2:33 just slays me :)

A friend of mine found this and scanned it for me.
Since it's in Life magazine--in 1961--I expected it to be on some, "Well, thank American Jesus that's illegal now!" Instead, they seem to complain about the ban. "Effete civilization is smothering the 4,000-year-old art." I'm also intrigued that a Coney Island carney still counted his 59 tattoos, all of which had devolved into "purple pictures." About this "needles and matches" method: I assume the matches are to burn paper to create soot which gets mixed with water (or, you know, piss)?

I've no experience at all with this, I'm on a steep learning curve with little RL imput TBH. Am terrified of ending up with something crappy - I think it his work looks qualitative but, well, I don't have a clue when it comes down to it. Annoyingly I haven't met him and can't until my design and lining appointment. Any idea if that's odd?
So, yeah, nothing to do but over-think everything.
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Oh, hello Cork - x posted there.
I put a shed load of stuff in my first post that's stuck in moderation. They'll probably just vanish to mod again if I give it a second go...
Probably best described as a black and grey 3/4 sleeve (in the sense that an arm full of nicely placed flash is a sleeve, as opposed to a japanese sleeve), mainly based on some 17th century botanical drawings with some other stuff in there too.
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any critique of the chaps work (good or bad) really would be massively appreciated BTW.
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OK - trying again anyway. Am inspired by this sort of thing:



I like the way it ages:

Here is some random stuff by Bresler - I'm thinking his work will translate to proper lined and shaded tattoos really rather nicely but I can't be sure:
http://www.audubonart.com/00_imagedisp_sc.asp?stockno=BESD-0035-01-13&file=IMAGES/CATALOG/BESD/BESD_035_01.jpg&price=%20$3,800&returnurl=/02_gall_BESD1.asp Flowers at the bottom left and right
http://www.audubonart.com/00_imagedisp_sc.asp?stockno=OKBE-145-300-13&file=IMAGES/CATALOG/OKBE/OKBE_145_01.jpg&price=%20$600&returnurl=/02_gall_OKBE2.asp
http://www.audubonart.com/00_imagedisp_sc.asp?stockno=OKBE-101-300-13&file=IMAGES/CATALOG/OKBE/OKBE_101_01.jpg&price=%20$800&returnurl=/02_gall_OKBE1.asp peony 'cause it's such a known thing in tattooing so maybe easier to visulise translated. Possibly.

I've tried a few different methods and so far I use 2 depending on the area. My first for non ditch areas is to let it dry heal for 2 days while taking super hot showers 3x a day at least. After the 2 days are up I apply aquaphor every few hours and usually heal within a week. If it's in a ditch area I keep that shit wrapped up for 3 days with Aquaphor and plastic wrap while taking a minimum of 3 hot showers a day. It keeps it from getting real crusty and is less painful from my experience.

10000000% agree. A great tattoo is a great tattoo.

1 Shot Rib Tattoo (5.5 Hours) by Tim Hendricks at Gold Rush Tattoo .

Going to be flying down with my 24 year old nephew on the Friday (dang I feel old) just to have a good time and to expand our horizons. Looking at the artist lineup made me giggle like a school girl and it will be cool to share the experience with family.
Good times!

Oh yes, we have one of those, too!

oooh ouch! hahaha

You sir might be crazy, but that is one hell of a tattoo, and one hellva oneshot!

We got married last Thursday if that applies :D Wedding last thursday and my new larger tattoo started the sunday! good week eh! :D

here is one !

I don't do pictures very often. This was in February, right before we left to go get my cherry blossom tattoos. I'd been so-so eating better, so had lost some weight..which I've moo-latted and pasta'ed right back on.
Oh shoot it didn't show.
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maybe now?

Taken last year. No peeking!

I doubt it's all that awesome in the big scheme of things, but Molly (the Big Dug!) was looking pretty pleased with herself last week on the top of Cairn Gorm. Scotland's 6th biggest mountain, no less!
I was with her, for the avoidance of doubt. ;)

I get free samples of dog food donated to me from my local feed store and then when I see homeless people with dogs asking for help, I give them food for their dog.

hahahaha I do that to my husband all the time-"you wanna mess w/THIS?? Really?"
One day during lunch, some of the little boys were flexing their arms and giggling when I'd touch and go oooo what big muscles! So then I flexed and they were giggling and then stopped..."Miss Missi, your arm feels funny" hahahaha