spookysproul

I think...and I hesitate as I form my thoughts, that internet images are fine for "jumping off " points, and sure people tattoo that shit everyday, but if we are promoting quality tattooing, then we need to discuss what should be ideal. Bring in something off the internet, fine, but also let your tattoo artist guide you in the right direction, to where the image is sourced from, to other ideas that aren't so simply printed from a 20 second Google search. If your tattooer doesn't know his/her history or has no interest in it, and is simply ok with just replicating what you bring in on a piece of 30# ink jet paper, then maybe that is a bigger issue. Quality begets quality. The opposite also applies.

My wife and I have my (now our) family motto in the theban alphabet on our knuckles, I have the first half and she the second.
Other than that, I've had 4 "bro tats" and 4 matching falling-outs with the other folks. All are either covered or have plans to be so.
Just make sure you've known the folks for more than a few months!

I often get a bit apprehensive in giving a large rib piece to a person not that experienced in getting tattooed. I have had a few nightmares in my years of people just not able to sit still and go with it. I recently got a full side panel from a co worker and amazing artists and although i did sit well for 2, 3 hour sessions, not moving or whining, It was the most challenging tattoo to sit through and im pretty covered. full back, sleeves, chest panel ext. The outline which normally for me is the most uncomfortable wasn't to bad but the shading session really took my breath away and was hard to surrender and go with it.
The nightmare first timers rib clients ive had make me inquire more about the person during the consultation now. Having somebody quit halfway through an outline truly sucks and depending on the design can be next to impossible to align the stencil to the half done outline and free handing isn't always an option for truly detailed and symmetric designs.
IMO 5 hours is a long time to sit on the ribs but isn't un common. you just need to know yourself and how you deal with pain and difficulties. My advice is DONT try to grin and bear it, don't clinch up thinking youll just squeeze the ever living shit out of a friends hand. this will only make the suffering worse and drain your energy. You will never make it 5 hours unless you learn to just surender to the experince and go to a comforting place in your mind. Focus on your breathing and total surrender to what is. most of the suffering from a tattoo comes from not be able to just accept it.
Good luck but i agree get the tattoo where you want but if you feel oits going to be too much re consider placement. IMO ribs are quite easy to work on as an artist so im not sure where you got that info from concerning the quality being compromised there. Stomachs can be a bitch but a good artist and client working together for a big stretch to me is a easy day at the office.

Anyone else prefer shading to lining? I always have the worst time on long lines, just draaaaaaaaaaaaagging that skin. Shading is kinda fun, here a zap there a zap everywhere a zapzap.

I don't think many of us die mid-tattoo.
That said, strangely not so helpful an idea when someone is drilling your ribs.

It's real smart guy logic. Why do a painful spot when you can do another painful spot that is way larger?
It's all getting done sooner or later anyways. I wish I had more than two arms.

At the moment I am booked for five sessions on my ribs in the new year, and I've been thinking that I want to do my back instead and I'm going to talk to my artist about that when we have our second consult in December, but this thread makes me never want to do my ribs ever. Thanks for scaring the shit out of me, guys.

Well, since you asked, here are a few of my recent concoctions!



I'm still getting the hang of watercolors, but I'm pretty happy with my progress.

Got a little bit weird with this one.

This is a not very good picture of what I've been sporadically working on for the past couple of months. When it's finished I'll try to get better pictures:

This is my first attempt at working with oils, other than a little bit of dabbling with it when I took art classes as a kid, but I don't really count that. I'm pretty happy with some things with this painting, but beyond my obvious technical limitations, it has quite a few significant flaws that have largely to do with me being too excited to start painting that I didn't properly work out a sketch beforehand and figure out composition, perspective, light sources, use reference, etc. My next one will be better.

Wait, so if you didn't get tattoos so people would think you were tough, then... why?

Do dental hygienist online forums get this same kind of thing?
"Long time lurker, first time poster. Just thought I'd join and feel this place out.
I bought my own tools, can someone tell me if I'm doing this right?"

He also removed his own appendix.

Self removal maan , this coud be darwin award material if you are not careful....

I'm really jealous of your appointments. Be sure and post pictures!

A little Samael from different eras.




brutal brutal metal

Well, I didn't expect to see this today.

I'd like to second the sentiment on avoiding skimping on the piece. I've got some tattoos I paid through the nose for, but I'm much happier that I did that than went for a cheapo.
Also, keep in mind that you won't be paying that all at once. You'll most likely have to wait to get your first session, then wait again for your second session, then again for your third, etc.

Well, I didn't expect to see this today.

I'd like to second the sentiment on avoiding skimping on the piece. I've got some tattoos I paid through the nose for, but I'm much happier that I did that than went for a cheapo.
Also, keep in mind that you won't be paying that all at once. You'll most likely have to wait to get your first session, then wait again for your second session, then again for your third, etc.

I'd like to second the sentiment on avoiding skimping on the piece. I've got some tattoos I paid through the nose for, but I'm much happier that I did that than went for a cheapo.
Also, keep in mind that you won't be paying that all at once. You'll most likely have to wait to get your first session, then wait again for your second session, then again for your third, etc.

A friend asked me to sign his tattoo...I agreed but only if i could put my initials...i transformed the J and the L into a small anchor shape so it didnt look so obnoxious ...then i tattooed a penis on him without asking....just kidding.

Don't mention the cancellation list. Make it for those dozen or so who are really committed! Also, when I saw the title of this post I thought it was about blacklisting names.. which I think is also a good idea. If you're a no-show more than a couple times, extra flaky or obviously having drug time in the bathroom, you get blacklisted. Like at Hop Sing's.

Yeah, as long as it looks good, who cares? I have a "They Live" tattoo and an "Edward Scissorhands" one. I don't care, I love them. I'm planning on another movie one too. I love movies. Maybe a Simpsons one, but it'd have to be really weird, nothing obvious. I've considered Star Wars ones, but so many have those so if I did, also, it'd have to be really strange/not obvious for me. Sarlac pit in my armpit or something. I dunno.
But yeah, as long as YOU like it and it's a good tattoo, go all out! Here's an idea: Hank's head with a scroll saying "THEY'RE MINERALS!" or "GOD DAMN IT MARIE!" and a blue bladed knife sticking through it. Or a Hector's bell with a scroll "DING DING DING!"

When I first went home after moving out, I was nervous about showing my mom my first visible tattoo (my first tattoo was inside my lip) - a zombie pin-up girl on my forearm (by Kahlil Rintye of Tattoo City, then of Mom's Body Shop). I decided on wearing short sleeves and to not bring it up and hope she wouldn't smack me silly.
She just looked at it and said "Well, at least you can't see her nipples."