9Years

Everyone already knows this but Marius Meyer seems to melt brains on the daily ( well, mine at least… ):

Finished up this thigh piece about 2months ago. Healed shot lifted from Tim Lehi's Instagram.
If you go back in the thread you can see the beginnings/line work. That leg is really coming together...only problem is now I've got this pesky knee-gap.

Finished up this thigh piece about 2months ago. Healed shot lifted from Tim Lehi's Instagram.
If you go back in the thread you can see the beginnings/line work. That leg is really coming together...only problem is now I've got this pesky knee-gap.

I have not been able to post in the upcoming tattoo thread in a while. But thankfully in a couple weeks my dude Dave Regan will be adding onto my arm. I'm super pumped.

I've been too busy/lazy to post these...... from the last 5 weeks:

Wrist and Left Ankle/Achilles - Jon Larson @ Harlequin

Couple little guys on the bicep- Lightning Bolt and Flying Eyeball - Tony Caporusso @ Lucky Monkey

Right Ankle - Greg Christian @ Tattoo Faction

I am in the consultation stage with this artist to get a hand tapped piece when we go back to Maui in May Mo'o Tatau | Polynesian-style tattoos
I know it's not the preferred style here,but it's going to be something in this area & style.
.

Never get confident! Always imagine that the next tattoo you get will be the worst pain you've ever felt! This way, if it's anything less you'll be pleasantly surprised. The worst thing is starting to think it won't be bad and then finding that it hurts more than you had imagined.

In the spirit of "fuck-it" I present my left leg. @gougetheeyes now we can feel weird together.
Snake/torch by El Monga last summer at spider Murphy's
Candle/Skull by El Monga March of this year at tattoo city
Cattle Head by Stefan Johnsson Jan of last year at California electric
Planning a panther on the knee at some point but it'll have to wait a bit. The other leg has some odds n ends on the thigh, but not enough coverage for me to feel it can hang in this thread yet!

I competed in first powerlifting competition and posted a 1000 lb total, which was my goal. Stoked to accomplish just what I set out to do!

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 !

No problem at all in my experience. I've done some tough workouts the day-of and been no worse for wear.

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.

Felt like I should sign back in just to congratulate you on a really awesome tattoo, I also love how your collection has grown since you joined last sparrow

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

Long before pinterest and instagram, we went to libraries, museums, flipped through art magazines. Hell I found a reference for my dragonfly tattoo from a magnet on my mom's fridge. I've found inspiration from old church stainglass, science/biology text book illustrations, art books from asian bookstores, logos, paintings, album covers, etc etc. Used bookstores are great. There is so much in this world that can inspire a new tattoo aside from other peoples tattoos.
We need to remember tattooers aren't mind readers.
I think you need to have a better understanding yourself as to what you want tattooed on you and define it for the tattooer...aside from the vagueness "i just want something beautiful". That conveys the message that you just want the tattoo for the sake of having a tattoo. What do you really want? Flowers? A skull? Hot Stuff riding a unicorn? A shunga demon? These can all be beautiful tattoos...it sounds like the tattooer you've chosen truly wants to personalize a tattoo for you. Which is great! There are other tattooers that will slap on whatever off the wall and do a great job, and that's fine to if that's what you're looking for.
You've got 6 months to really understand yourself what you want and figure out how to express, articulate and communicate that to your tattooer. Good luck!

Last weekend...
I recorded 8 songs by Arrabio and Adictox in my Canadian basement, two incredible punk bands from Cuba!
They are putting out an Eskoria tribute LP with the help of Solidarity Rock
it was an insanely hectic day trying to keep 12 people speaking spanish focused and keep the day on schedule, keep things moving. we had to get it done, it was the only opportunity.
8 songs...by 2 bands...3 drummers...4 line-ups...microphonic guitars, amps on the fritz, gang vocals in spanish, 3 x 26oz of rum and a couple cases of beer, someone with really stinky feet, a drunk bassplayer, and my wifes 6 saltwater fishies almost died in the process.
But we did it! we had one shot to this, as Adictox and Arrabio spent the past couple weeks touring Canada east coast to the west coast. They played with the legendary DOA in Edmonton last weekend. I split my head holding down the pit, it was awesome (how old am I again? not too old to slam!).
My old band Slates played with the legendary Eskoria in Santa Clara when we toured Cuba in 2010.. William Fabian was the og punk icon for the punkies cubanos. He was killed 4 days after we said goodbye and left for home. So this project hits close to home for both myself and my Cuban hermanos.
download the old Eskoria demo here it is a piece of history and with consideration of the conditions, climate and context this old recording was made in, it is one of the punkest things you will hear.
Eskoria - Al Fin Por Fin

Finished off my second rib panel today with Dave C. at PSC tattoo. I'll use the royal "we" and say that we knocked this out in three sessions starting in late September, about 8 hours total. I'm super stoked on it, the colour in the tiger really pops!
Dave is a great guy, and his work speaks for itself, seek him out.

3 weeks. No idea who. No idea where. No idea what. 3 weeks.

i know - but since this boards roots are in the us, the inflationary use of superlatives should be cool ;)

If you really dig his stuff, save up and take the trip!
But check out Austin Maples at idle hand in San Francisco.

Everyone already knows this but Marius Meyer seems to melt brains on the daily ( well, mine at least… ):

started today...finish next month...
can't go wrong w/snake and rose right? didn't have either...ScottSylvia's the best :)

Im in total agreement that pretty pictures on a screen can't compare to the real thing (although I sure love to look at those too). Here's my biggest jaw-meet-floor experience so far:
My wife and I had the opportunity to go to the opening of the Perserverance show in LA (she requested to go for her birthday. The things I have to put up with...). That was heavy.
At the reception before opening day there were a ton of people with insane suits and back pieces just mingling. I saw a few of Chris Brand's 108 Heros of Los Angeles backs and some suits from Shige up-close-and-personal. Holy shit: their work is on a different level!!
The next day in the auditorium they presented a seemingly endless parade of people with pieces that were featured in the exhibit. It was nuts. Total sensory overload. Pretty sure I needed a bib. I can say very confidently the experience changed me. Powerful stuff!
On the off chance that anyone involved with that production is reading this, THANK YOU!!!

Speaking of Gordon Combs...

I'm probably biased because he's a friend, but man, damn Dave Regan has been making stuff lately that makes me sit back and smile and then kicks me in the rear very hard because I feel so untalented.



Also, Gordon Combs. So good.

Showstoppers for sure.