9Years

I have just two, from Chinese colleagues:
- Did you remember to consult a fortune-teller before deciding on the motive?
- Why isn't it a dragon?

First, I'd just like to say that this thread is hugely inspiring! The commitment, the imagery....man, it's all just so awesome! All being well, I would like to get cracking on a backpiece of my own in the next year or so.
I'm really curious about what the process was like for some of you that have pulled the trigger already. Did you always have a firm idea of what you wanted? Did you juggle a few ideas back and forth? Go to your favorite artist and say "gimme all of it"? An analyzed decision or a gut feeling? Did you start with an artist or a design in mind?
I realize that there are probably as many different answers as there are backpieces, but this sort of thing really fascinates me.
Anyway, please continue sharing badass backpieces! When the time comes, I'll contribute my own!

Finally got around to uploading a few pics in the ol' gallery.
Going in to see El Monga at Spider Murphy's tomorrow. Got a quick walk-in from him in Barcelona...I am super pumped for a longer session this time around. Like Christmas-eve-as-a-kid-pumped. Thanks again to all the regulars around here who helped set me on a really positive tattoo path.
Back to lurkin'!

to me that's the cool part of actually leaving the house, going to a shop and seeing what's out there. so many people are timid or worried about getting some "mindblowing" piece from someone who's got a waiting list and a ton of internet recommendations that they never take a chance. it's one of the coolest things about tattooing that so many people are missing out on. you'd be surprised at how many amazing tattooers have zero internet presence and are close by but it seems like many folks would rather do whats easier and safe.

I'm getting really pumped for this. It'll be my first year attending.
My wife's got some appointments lined up with a few of the Frith Street crew and I'll be fighting the urge to get a walk-up from about 20 different people...

I'm getting really pumped for this. It'll be my first year attending.
My wife's got some appointments lined up with a few of the Frith Street crew and I'll be fighting the urge to get a walk-up from about 20 different people...

I'm going to throw my Bert Grimm special into the mix this month. It's by Tim Pausinger at The Pearl Harbor Gift Shop in Toronto. It may not be the most complex or largest tattoo, but I think Tim really nailed it.

I'm getting really pumped for this. It'll be my first year attending.
My wife's got some appointments lined up with a few of the Frith Street crew and I'll be fighting the urge to get a walk-up from about 20 different people...

I wasn't sure if I should post this or not but I think my friend wouldn't mind. My other fave interpretation following the Hardy one. Any biters that steal this idea can get the gasface.

Freddy Corbin. Summer of 2000 done in the back of an RV transformed into a tat shack. Lousy photo. It happens.

Meeting a guy tomorrow who made a prowler for me. I'm not a believer in equipment as a 'silver bullet' to improve all your training.... But IMO prowlers come pretty close, for conditioning and body comp at least.

Robert Ryan. Outlines started. The head of John the Baptist as an oracle of divine prophecy.

Heading back to Berlin the first week of Oct. to (hopefully) finish off my rib-piece with Uncle Allan. Super stoked to see this thing come together!
I was planning on taking a little hiatus for a few months, but my loving wife got me a b-day present in the form of an appointment with Herb Auerbach which is coming up in a couple of weeks. Haven't made my mind up design-wise; I'm thinking moth or lady head.

Heading back to Berlin the first week of Oct. to (hopefully) finish off my rib-piece with Uncle Allan. Super stoked to see this thing come together!
I was planning on taking a little hiatus for a few months, but my loving wife got me a b-day present in the form of an appointment with Herb Auerbach which is coming up in a couple of weeks. Haven't made my mind up design-wise; I'm thinking moth or lady head.

Heading back to Berlin the first week of Oct. to (hopefully) finish off my rib-piece with Uncle Allan. Super stoked to see this thing come together!
I was planning on taking a little hiatus for a few months, but my loving wife got me a b-day present in the form of an appointment with Herb Auerbach which is coming up in a couple of weeks. Haven't made my mind up design-wise; I'm thinking moth or lady head.

Heading back to Berlin the first week of Oct. to (hopefully) finish off my rib-piece with Uncle Allan. Super stoked to see this thing come together!
I was planning on taking a little hiatus for a few months, but my loving wife got me a b-day present in the form of an appointment with Herb Auerbach which is coming up in a couple of weeks. Haven't made my mind up design-wise; I'm thinking moth or lady head.

Heading back to Berlin the first week of Oct. to (hopefully) finish off my rib-piece with Uncle Allan. Super stoked to see this thing come together!
I was planning on taking a little hiatus for a few months, but my loving wife got me a b-day present in the form of an appointment with Herb Auerbach which is coming up in a couple of weeks. Haven't made my mind up design-wise; I'm thinking moth or lady head.

Agreed. He was playing Blind Willie McTell when I got tattooed by him. Shaved me with a straight razor too, only time that's ever happened when I got tattooed. Pretty much everything about getting tattooed by Bob Roberts rules.

There was a thread about "dotwork" a while ago and I got fairly involved and possibly upset a few people. Check it out, I think I already answered the question posed by your thread title.
Also, the word "fad" is inherently insulting in modern usage - but you knew that already.
While researching tattoos, tattooing, tattoo styles, tattoo history and tattooers is interesting and probably fun. It's still kinda like researching swimming. Most of it's value comes from being involved, taking part, doing it, getting it done and having it be part of your life.
Then again... On a long enough time scale, ALL tattooing since Ed Hardy opened the first appointment-only studio is a fad. Sailors going to war, getting tattooed in Honolulu was a fad. High-Society Europeans shipping esteemed Japanese irezumi artists over to tattoo dragons on them in the 1800's was a fad. Internet forums will be seen to be a fad. Finally, tattoo customers stressing about being period-correct like vintage clothing aficionados will be seen to be a fad of the early 21st century.

Not completely sure what he'll be adding yet. My original idea was to put a Penrose triangle right below my other one from him, but he wasn't sure that it would fit well thematically (which I understand). He sent me a picture with a bunch of occult symbols in an attempt to generate some new ideas, and I pulled out a couple of my favorites and sent those back. We'll see what he comes up with, I can't wait.

I'm compelled to make this same post on a very regular basis. That or something along the lines of "I LOVE TATTOOS!" Sometimes that's all there is to say.
On a related note, I'm getting tattooed tomorrow, so I'll have some awesome stuff of my own to contribute. :cool::cool::cool:

Just got back from honeymoonin' on Vancouver Island. :cool:
We wanted to get some honeymoon tattoos and a we were thinking of getting cute little hummingbirds although we did have a running joke of getting "spirit eagle" tattoos on the drive out to the island. Then one night my wife says "YEAH let's get eagle tattoos, that would be more bad ass than a cute little hummingbird!" RIGHT?!? Can I get a HELL YEEEAH!
As fate would have it, we passed a Birds of Prey sanctuary on the way in to Victoria and met this bad ass dude named Manwe who solidified the plan:

We got some super-legit tattoo work at Government Street Tattoos in Victoria, BC. We called the shop they said come on down and let's chat, BOOM how does tomorrow at 10AM sound. Seriously such an awesome experience getting a tattoo from Chris David in this shop. So stoked on the results:
Hers:

Mine:

I'm super stoked on the placement and design of my latest and greatest tattoo. THUMBS UP

On deck for this winter (tattoo season)...getting a piece on the opposite shoulder/neck and starting the back piece. BOOSH

Yesterday by El Monga at Spider Murphy's....There's a better shot on his instagram, but you get the idea.

Yesterday by El Monga at Spider Murphy's....There's a better shot on his instagram, but you get the idea.

Zerchers for the win!
@Cork that is awesome!

Thanks for the compliment! Your El Monga is totally righteous! What's he adding to it?
I'm already *this* close to saving my other calf for another 'Monga...just not sure when I'll make it back to Barcelona.
@Wedge El Monga's instagram handle is elmongasasturain