KBeee

Honestly, as clear as you are about Horitaka...you should do it. NM really isn't that far of a drive (15 hours). Not for something like that. You can grab a like-minded buddy and split gas. And State of Grace is so awesome. Sitting in the little traditional room getting a Japanese tattoo from one of those guys, especially if you are into the history/tradition/evolution of tattoos in general...it's just really cool and sort of its own thing in a way. I can not recommend it enough if you have the hankering to do it. And then when you are done getting tattooed you can go around the corner and eat really yummy Ramen/noodle. You should call the shop tomorrow and see what his schedule is like....you never know.
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Oooh Oni tattoos are cool. If you aren't certain, wait until you find the right person. It's so cool when you wait for the tattooer that clicks with the idea and you end up with something that you love more than anything.
Have you considered heading to south of Austin for the West Texas Convention (hosted by the Trufant brothers http://trufantbros.com/convention/)? It's happening at the end of Feb.

Honestly, as clear as you are about Horitaka...you should do it. NM really isn't that far of a drive (15 hours). Not for something like that. You can grab a like-minded buddy and split gas. And State of Grace is so awesome. Sitting in the little traditional room getting a Japanese tattoo from one of those guys, especially if you are into the history/tradition/evolution of tattoos in general...it's just really cool and sort of its own thing in a way. I can not recommend it enough if you have the hankering to do it. And then when you are done getting tattooed you can go around the corner and eat really yummy Ramen/noodle. You should call the shop tomorrow and see what his schedule is like....you never know.
- - - Updated - - -
Oooh Oni tattoos are cool. If you aren't certain, wait until you find the right person. It's so cool when you wait for the tattooer that clicks with the idea and you end up with something that you love more than anything.
Have you considered heading to south of Austin for the West Texas Convention (hosted by the Trufant brothers http://trufantbros.com/convention/)? It's happening at the end of Feb.

Baby shed
Gosh, today the baby chameleon and I are hanging out, peeling.

I wanted to see it again too :) I love that tattoo.

It's in this loooong thread somewhere @KBeee, I was looking at it recently

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

need to post this reference to you profile images, please :rolleyes:

Thanks so much, @KBeee!
I'm definitely not bummed to have to look at them every day. :)
Thomas Hooper really knocked it out of the park, in my opinion, and I'm honoured to wear 'em on my paws.

Pretty sure that ^ belongs to @asradin who has lots of stuff from Stewart .

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

@ironchef
I. Can't. Even. It hurts my feelings its so good.

@ironchef
I. Can't. Even. It hurts my feelings its so good.

here is my finished panther and roses tattoo by Jebb Riley, done at Congress St Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH. (finished last friday)
I keep forgetting this is actually a coverup. The butt / thigh covers up an originally well done celtic knot that was touched up HORRIFICALLY by another artist after I moved from miami to NY in 1995. Lived with it for almost 20 yrs before covering. Not sad to see it go.
Very difficult to photograph as it wraps around my arm and starts at the top of my shoulder, ending below the ditch in my elbow. Jebb did a nice pic stitch so I stole this from his instagram. Still, with the glare, and the bleeding, this pic doesn't even come close to doing justice to it.
Started in July of 2013. Panther outlined right before my second and last session on my chest with Chad Koeplinger (he was running late, so why not?). Sessions were spaced very widely apart due to me starting my backpiece with Chad last year. Jebb has been very understanding. Total time on this is about 9.5 hours.
Jebb Riley is a super great tattooer and and even nicer dude.
Super stoked with how this all came together.

Aw man @marley mission, that tattoo makes me happy. Whyyyy are frog tattoos so great?!

Thank ya, @Lance! Sets may be my next thing for a bit. We'll see ;)
That and I am just realizing...I have no snakes :eek: ! I'm hardly a proper tattooed person!...must remedy this year...

Aw man @marley mission, that tattoo makes me happy. Whyyyy are frog tattoos so great?!

...and he always had some mighty fine wine...

sorry for the lame shiny pic
photog i am not
couple days into heal (tatt from wed)
so still irritated pre peal shot
matt dunn
rabbits den
milltown nj

Welllllllll....if it makes you happy get another one, right?! Went and saw Paul Dobleman at Spider Murphy's last week...please excuse the inflammation


Hope everyone is having a great New Year so far!

Welllllllll....if it makes you happy get another one, right?! Went and saw Paul Dobleman at Spider Murphy's last week...please excuse the inflammation


Hope everyone is having a great New Year so far!

Welllllllll....if it makes you happy get another one, right?! Went and saw Paul Dobleman at Spider Murphy's last week...please excuse the inflammation


Hope everyone is having a great New Year so far!

Heehee, lol! Yeah, I'm scraping up the deposit for Horitomo after I pay the Christmas bills this morning. Consult in April!