9Years

Here's the result of my appointment with Scott Sylvia. Btw, Great Lakes Tattoo is a very nice shop.

Damn, that is a nice tattoo!

Why is everyone on the show so apprehensive when it comes to tattooing someones ass? Have they never seen a bodysuit before? Fuck.

To me this aspect of the show is the clearest indicator that there is a lot of scripting/coaching going on.

I really don't want to believe that these are rational adults that work with the human body every day but can't get past "OMG OMG A DICK!!!!!11!!1!"

You might also try goblet squats, as front squats are difficult for some beginners. Also, I hate front squats. :)

Awww, come on now...Don't hate, appreciate! Front Squats rule! (...so do goblet squats)

Stoney used to put some Come Back in his... that's all you can find readily as a non-tattooer.

My bank account will attest to the fact that the "come-back" seems to be working...

Wouldn't it be in the tattooer's best interest to use high-quality, non-dangerous pigments? Seems like a bunch of clients with skin issues or long term health problems isn't so great for business or your reputation...

One more reason to go to a professional.

To re-iterate what you already know: this is great. Go if you have the chance. The wife and I loved it all...the exhibit, the discussions, the people willing to show their stellar tattoos to total strangers, the catalogue etc etc etc x 1000000.

It was...moving.

Yes! Echo above: Greg Christian!

None! Not being macho, but the only stuff I took days off work for were my back and front, when I had lining done and didn't want my shirt and pants sticking to me (horrible feeling).

I agree lower leg tattoos bring swolleness and pain, but sitting at home with them would be overkill, IMO. Save those sick days for when you want to go surfing on the sly, or drinking beer.

Agree 100%...it's just a tattoo, you're not really damaged....

Has anyone else used the vacation approach or do they just go to the city, get tattooed, and leave?

My wife and I try to make it to the Roadburn music festival in Holland every year. Last year we went to Berlin ahead of time to get tattooed by Uncle Allan, then took a train to the Netherlands.

The tattoo I got was big (rib panel) so I was useless for about 2 days afterwards. We knew this going in and planned a day chillin post-tattoo, then the next day was just sitting on the train before megatons of RIFF.

So, I think as long as you are realistic about what you want to do during your vacation it's a great way to go about it.

Okay, here's the lowdown on the chants....

Check out the Gyuto Monks if you're down with chanting. I can't get enough of this stuff...

Ha! Alright then, here's my RH Wells from last year (march-ish I think).

@CABS thanks man! You've got a killer collection yourself!

Got a few buddies in from out of town. Our plan was to take a motorcycle trip down the coast this weekend, but it might be too ugly. Fallback plan might include walk-in at blackheart....

Also, I went to a Pallbearer show for metal homework.

YES! Was this at Eli's a few weekends ago? If so, I was there too. Pallbearer rules.

Yes, definitely waaay too many tattoos. Living beings should never be marked by the ravages of time, their environment, circumstance or human intervention!

Won't somebody PLEASE think of The Children!

I wish I was going...looks pretty outstanding!

Hi and Welcome!

I don't think handwriting is inherently masculine or feminine and ultimately you should get what you want. However, My personal opinion is that with a reaper that big, you're already stating pretty clearly what the text is trying to.

Let us know how it turns out!

If someone could make a Squid V. Eagle V. Dragon V. Snake V. Panther V. The Grim Reaper...

Ha ha, excellent!

@KBeee and I were just discussing this as a full body suit idea: you could have a whole suit of battles but stage it like a bracketed elimination tournament....eagle VS snake on the arm, Panther VS Dragon on the leg etc etc etc with the winners of each battle reoccurring in more prominent spots, culminating in a no holds barred battle royal center stage (on the back, of course) with the best of the best from several bouts....

TOTAL WAR!!!!111!!!

Got a consultation with El Monga Monday at Tattoo City.

Go back the next Monday to get the work done.

STOKED.

Not sure how it's going to play out exactly yet...I plan on tossing out the following and seeing what sticks:

SKULL

CANDLE

WINGS

LIGHTENING BOLTS

Yeah, @Cork I hate to say it, but I agree with what @Killercook76 said. In my limited experience (healed 2 tattoo sessions this way now) the adhesive can be pretty tacky when you're removing the dressing. It definitely has some pull. If I were in your shoes I would keep the 'derm on as long as possible to make sure the scabs are ready to flake off before removing.

Good luck!

First Tattoo Story:

I was 19. My college room-mate and friend-to-this-day from the Yukon had just gotten a tattoo of Yoda on his upper arm after a bunch of us put up $20 each and dared him to do it. It was/still is pretty killer.

After several weeks of us enduring his "hey guys, check it out, I'm drinking for two" jokes, we were sitting around the house one day. He was, as usual, admiring his new companion when he asked: "Hey man, if you were to get an impulsive tattoo, what would you get?". I hadn't really thought about it much, but as I was pondering my eyes rested on the massive pirate flag hanging in our living room. "I would totally do a skull and bones!" I said, to which he replied "......me too". Our third roommate came into the room around this time and asked us what was going on. We filled her in and she was way into the idea too. We made a blood-pact (or high-fived or something, it was a long time ago) and set out for the local shop.

We got to the shop right before closing. It was a Sunday night and only one artist was still there (it was a smaller shop). We told him we all wanted tattoos together. He asked what do you want? We all said "Skull and Bones". He was quiet for a minute and said, "well I'm about to lock up, but since you want something cool let me close down the shop and let's do it...if you woulda said something lame I woulda told you to come back later!".

So he locked up and we got tattoos! I went first and got a pretty straight forward skull n bones on my shoulder. Yukon went second and got a goofy looking skull and bones missing some teef on his biceps (his request: "can you make it look, y'know, shittier?"). Our third roomie got a mechanical/riveted skull n bones on the back of her neck. Pretty sure she was/is tougher than the rest of us!

While the other two were going, I went across the lot to the pub and ordered a bunch of food for everyone and brought it back to the shop. After we were all wrapped up and giddy we had a meal with our tattooer, bullshitted for a bit then went home. All in all, it was pretty much the best thing ever. Man, I love that tattoo and those people!

So I guess my first tattoo was a bro-tatty? Ha! What do you call it when one of your bros is a lady?

Lessons learned that day:

1) Tattoos are fun. The experience is a huge part of it.

2) Trying to cram literal meaning in tattoos is for the birds. Or at least not for me. SKULL N BONES now reminds me of great times and great people. And Fun (remember fun?).

3) Impulsive tattoos are really really great. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Thanks for listening...

Man....this thread is a total drool-fest lately. REALLY makes me want to start a big ol' backpiece like yesterday.

Here's my opinion:

1) It's been stated pretty explicitly that cost is not something to be discussed publicly here. If you're unsure, check out some other shops in your area and get a feel for what the hourly rates are.

2) Take the quote out: it's on the middle of your back (if I'm interpreting your sketch correctly) which you WILL regret later if you get into the whole tattoo-thing long term. That is prime real-estate. Also, the images you've chosen probably represent what you are trying to say anyway and the words will ultimately fall-flat in time (my opinion).

For what it's worth, I agree with the author of this article regarding text on the body (you might not!):

The Letter of the Law: Laws for Lettering and Tattoos | Occult Vibrations

2) I think both of the images could be stronger if placed elsewhere. I would put one on each upper arm. I think the kite-girl could be really cool in the right artist's hands, but I don't think the image is big enough to be a side-piece. Again, that's prime real-estate if you decide to get something larger in the long term.

3) Instead of feathers, why not something like a phoenix or bird-of-paradise or peacock? I think those animals tend to make for a stronger image.

Good luck!