trill

Just got an appointment with Eli Quinters for next week and my appointment with Tron in April is getting closer and closer :). Getting a dagger w/ a rose by Eli and thinking about a lady head snake dagger thing from Tron's book

Just got an appointment with Eli Quinters for next week and my appointment with Tron in April is getting closer and closer :). Getting a dagger w/ a rose by Eli and thinking about a lady head snake dagger thing from Tron's book

I've done it and I think one of the super fun things about tattooing is walking into a shop not really knowing what you want and getting something that feels right at the moment. I'm thinking of trying to get a walk-in somewhere next week when I'm visiting my parents. Spontaneous tattoos rule.

I'm am sure the guys at Absolute would have zero problem tattooing someone who is 18 years old. I'm curious where you heard that misinformation?
But to answer your question, it depends on what style your son wants. Does he want a traditional tattoo, black and grey? Definitely have your son explore the various tattooers portfolios so he can figure that out.
Personally, I've only been tattooed at Absolute Art and Salvation Tattoo (I love the work of Mike Rennie, Brian Bruno, Dave Boiseneau, Matt Brotka, Josh Autry, Nate Moretti, Katie Davis and Fred Pinkard). But I like the work of tattooers at Hold It Down Tattoo, Max Wetzel at 212 Tattoo, and Tony Talbert at River City Tattoo. But there are many tattooers in Richmond and it all depends on who you want to work with.

I have had pieces put on entirely free-hand, knowing ahead of time what it was that was going on, and roughly, how. That involved a whole level of trust that you just can't have with someone you haven't worked with, or someone who isn't a major, major tattooer.
If you are getting a large piece done, a sleeve, a backpiece, whatever, I don't think it out of line to have the whole thing laid-out on paper ahead of time. Doesn't necessarily have to be a stencil, but I'd sure want to see the tattoo in it's entirety before I committed to getting it done.
When I had my arm sleeved, I already had a decent amount of work on it. The tattoer that did it, Miles Maniaci, wrapped my arm in onion-sheet and traced the old work. A few weeks later he called me into the shop to see his design. I had given him some elements I wanted used, and he did the whole thing on the onion-sheet so that I could see how it looked on my arm. It was tits, and he started it the following week. About thirty-odd hours later, I had a sleeve that I'm still, ten years later, proud to wear.
Trust is the key element. If you don't know what someone's ideas and thoughts are for your work before they start, trust is hard to come by.
.02

My first real post and another reaper for the page:
Got this today from Kapten Hanna at Idle Hand in San Francisco.

Took this from her IG.

Got this namakubi from Koji Ichimaru today at State of Grace. That's one off the bucket list!
Stole this from his Instagram.

Sorry, there's a little wrap around. He's actual pointing at my chola!
Miguel "Uzi" Montgomery guest spotting at Tattoo 13 in Oakland, CA.
If he were local, I'd get tattooed by him all the time. Anyone within driving distance to Long Beach needs to get tattooed by Uzi. Such a nice dude.
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@dooktruck that Rassier tattoo is so good. He's on my short list of local tattooers I still need to get tattooed by (Jeff Rassier, Scott Sylvia, Jason Phillips, etc.)

Got this one done by Tony Nilsson aka Tony Tox at Blue Arms Tattoo in Oslo! On the biceps.

All I know is if I had gotten every single tattoo I wanted when I was fifteen, I would have a shitload of garbage on me that I would probably be super bummed on. Right now I'm covering up pretty much a full sleeve of tattoos of stuff like Shaggy from Scooby Doo and bongs and shit that a guy got when he was 15. It's not the moral and societal issues that worry me, it's the subject matter that a 15 year old might think is bad-ass that might not seem so so badass to a more mature young adult/adult...

I'm getting tattooed by Chad Kopelinger this month. Super stoked.
I'm still not 100% sure what I want from him; there's so many things that he does well, it's a tough choice.

I think Tony Nilsson at Blue Arms Tattoo here in Oslo needs to be in this thread

I really like Sean Baltzell's tattooing. .@seanbaltzell_tct (seanbaltzell_tct) 's Instagram photos | Webstagram - the best Instagram viewer

Thank you so much Tron!!!

Dan santoro did this for me as a walk in a couple of days ago! Waited 7 years so feels good to have waited and finally got it done.
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Also I finished my torso very recently so here's a photo of it

Wolf head from Mike Aul, pretty killer
capture

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.

Alex Zampirri at Heart and Soul Tattoo isn't doing too shabby.

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

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

Most people don't appreciate barnyard art... was thinkin' of getting maybe a "lambscape" done at some point.
Rob

Last night a girl asked me why I had a butterfly tattooed on my hand, I told her "Because when you're an actual tough guy you can get whatever kind of girly tattoos you want."

here's one mark cross did.

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

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