IAmMattLewis

I do love a good butterfly tattoo. I was talking to a guy who is planning to write a book on the history of tattooing and we got into a discussion on butterflies and masculinity. He laughed and told me that he thought a guy getting a butterfly tattoo in this day and age was almost asking to get beaten up. He is not particularly dialed into the scene. I rolled up my sleeve for him to reveal my SJ butterfly that I picked from a book of Jerry flash at my local shop. I love it and it has never for a moment posed a threat to my masculinity (however it is that I may wish to define it.) Edit: This was done by Glennie at The Pearl in Toronto. She has a much nicer pic on her instagram feed, if you were to scroll back the better part of a year.

Frank Carter, Frith St.
He drew this on in quite an awkward space between two pieces on my leg. Super nice guy, had fun getting this one.
First time in Frith Street!
And I robbed this picture from Frank's Instagram btw

Wow @RScott that sleeve is amazing!!!
And @Synesthesia that rabbit is looking so nice!
Here's the fox I got yesterday from Ron Wells, tough to get a good photo. Was supposed to fly in, get the tattoo, and fly back out last night but due to the snow storm I'm now stuck in NYC until tomorrow. So getting this little guy has turned into an unexpected vacation / adventure / chance to hang out with old friends.

Finished up this piece with Martin Lacasse at Olde City Tattoo in Philly. Based off of a Yoshitoshi print from 28 Famous Murders With Verse. Couldn't be happier.

Excuse the awful picture, I'm out of town visiting my boyfriend and had to use his phone to try to get a pic. I'll have to try to get a better one when I get home. Had this done yesterday by Jason Reeder. This is my second piece from him, it's on the inside of my right leg (he did an owl and mouse for me on the outside of the same leg). The ears KILLED and that was by far my most painful tattoo experience thus far; it might be hard to tell from the pic, but they creep up to the side of my knee and the back one almost goes into my knee ditch. I thought this would finish off my leg, but I have a patch of open skin on my shin and the back of my calf is still open, so it looks like I have some more work to get done before the project is finished. Probably throw some moths in some of that space, and Jason is trying to talk me into getting a bat, we'll see. :D

I've been on a long road trip across America, and on the way, I've gotten my first couple tattoos. The compass rose is from Cassady Bell at Sideshow Odditorium in Portland, OR, the banjo is Ryan McDonald in Nashville TN.
My friends definitely give me some shit for having a banjo on my arm, but I love it. Banjos are rad. :cool:

Got my walk in at Frith Street yesterday. Happened to get Oliver, he was an absolute gentleman, was a really nice experience overall. If any of you guys know the shop, Dante, Jordan and everyone else were hanging out joking, was so chilled. And I came out with a perfect tat :)

I got this from Josh Adams a few months ago. I love it but it healed up a little weird in one spot (between the hands). It's probably just cause I already had a dry skin patch right there and never noticed until it was tattooed.


I just set up an appointment with Frank William in a week and a half and I am stoked.

I don't have many tattoos yet but I love the ones I do have. New one done last month at Frith Street by Stewart Robson... (I hope it works)

not the best picture but i got this from Josh Adams yesterday while he was guest spotting @ Old Soul

Pure awesomeness ! Memoir is such a great shop I think if I won the lottery the first thing I would do , would be to book a flight to see Shawn Barber his work is just mind-blowing.
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Got my wife to take some photos of my latest tattoo all healed. The photos are a bit glarey cos of the flash. Tibetan Skull by Ema Sweeney at Custom Inc .

I got some blackberries, leaves, branches, and another rose added to my arm yesterday (Kim Saigh at Memoir).

As of right now (in no particular order):
Sigur Ros - Kveikur
QOTSA - Like Clockwork
Paramore - S/T
letlive. - The Blackest Beautiful
Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer
Deafheaven - Sunbather
Daylight - Jar
Balance and Composure - The Things We Think We're Missing
Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
The National - Trouble Will Find Me

Got this from Mike Aul in Ann Arbor, MI yesterday. Isn't it adorable?

Got this yesterday.

Just got these two from Dusto at Tower Classic in St. Louis as a Christmas present to myself

Got this from Kirk Jones yesterday, birds wing look distorted but it is just the photo.
Awesome guy, it is a shame I don't have another shoulder to get tattooed, easiest spot so far.

Some recent stuff:

this was my end of the trade with Olivia. We decided to use her birthmark as a nipple. :cool:

And then this was a medical illustration of a humerus bone. This is actually on a dude who is from the same town that I apprenticed in. It was pretty nuts actually, he told me that he had gotten work done at the shop I was at, and turns out he had a tattoo that I had drawn for my mentor to use. Small world..

I just got this from my friend Matt Brotka at Salvation Tattoo in Richmond, Virginia. However his full time gig is at Left Hand Black in sunny San Diego. Pic pilfered from his instagram
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Here is my latest. Done on Tuesday by Aaron Coleman (Immaculate Tattoo, Mesa AZ).
I asked for a crawling panther plus "whatever, as long as it's fairly traditional". Got a sword and some roses and I am extremely pleased of course.
Done in only 2.25 hours as I mentioned in the 'fastest tattooers' thread.

Horitomo cat from a few months ago ...
sorry for the dark picture

New one from Chris O'Donnell. Flaming traditional dragon head.

Hawk wrapped around my forearm by Timothy Hoyer

I got started on this tattoo by Ron Henry Wells last while he was guesting at Tattoomania in Montreal and we'll finish it at a later date. Sorry for the not great photo, it wraps a bit so it's tough to get a good one. As always, it was a real pleasure to be tattooed by Ron, and the Tattoomania crew were very gracious hosts. I love tattoos.

This fucking rules. Jesus.