Latest tattoo lowdown.....

[LadySparrow]

Something a bit different than your badass pieces :) done by Bumpkin Tattoo, Trnava, Slovakia.

It was a free design that really spoke to my booklover soul.

Photo from the artists' Facebook.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[stiv]

CJ Fishburn. Knee ditch

[Patrick Bateman]

Not a tattoo but we just agreed to terms.

I'm buying a painting from Freddy Corbin. Once this buy goes through, I plan on inquiring on an appointment and going to Oakland.

it's like I never learn my lesson, I need my priorities in order. lol

[Guerillaneedles]

I got these two recently as gap fillers. Both pretty spur of the moment. Paul was guesting with us, I really wanted to be tattooed because I liked his work and I buzzed off him as a person, but didn't want to be tattooed just for the sake of it. Was flirting with loads of designs but then I saw the design (dagger and rose) and thought it fitted perfectly in an awkward spot on my leg. Fits like a glove, I was buzzing so hard off getting this one done, I was on a high all night!

The kittycus is just a cute idea I came up with after seeing similar things and I knew Sam would nail it. The pic is fresh but I can assure you it looks exactly the same healed. Solid. This is by far and away the cutest tattoo I have. It makes me smile everytime I see it!

[Devious6]

I absolutely love the dagger and rose! It does fit perfectly. Nice.

[Polly7]

Those are great!

[exume]

Knee zapper from Chad Koeplinger the other day in Denver

[SStu]

@exume I've had a nurse like that before . . .

- - - Updated - - -

@exume I've had a nurse like that before . . .

[Michaelshane]

Just got this by Marie Sena.Electric Eye Tattoo.

[joakim urma]

Many people have seen this all ready I guess. By Jondix, 11 days ago. Had such a great time. Stayed at the shop past midnight, talking and eating after the session.

Everybody should get something from him. Super good heart, attitude and knowledge of tattooing and art.

Wrathful offering of the five senses by Jonas Nyberg from last year.

[Devious6]

What awesome work!!

[bjbetts]

Many people have seen this all ready I guess. By Jondix, 11 days ago. Had such a great time. Stayed at the shop past midnight, talking and eating after the session.

Everybody should get something from him. Super good heart, attitude and knowledge of tattooing and art.

Wrathful offering of the five senses by Jonas Nyberg from last year.

One of the best all around human beings in the world. I'm sure it was an amazing experience.

B

- - - Updated - - -

Many people have seen this all ready I guess. By Jondix, 11 days ago. Had such a great time. Stayed at the shop past midnight, talking and eating after the session.

Everybody should get something from him. Super good heart, attitude and knowledge of tattooing and art.

Wrathful offering of the five senses by Jonas Nyberg from last year.

One of the best all around human beings in the world. I'm sure it was an amazing experience.

B

[Cameron Jose]

Just got this reimagining of a Rock of Ages by Aaron Hodges at Spider Murphy's. Stolen from his instagram:

[9Years]

Just got this reimagining of a Rock of Ages by Aaron Hodges at Spider Murphy's.

That is killer. Aaron rules. Spider Murphy's rules. Great life decision!

- - - Updated - - -

Just got this reimagining of a Rock of Ages by Aaron Hodges at Spider Murphy's.

That is killer. Aaron rules. Spider Murphy's rules. Great life decision!

[Cameron Jose]

Yea, Spider Murphy's is great! Of all the great shops in the Bay that I've been tattooed at, I think Spider Murphy's is easily the spot where I've had the greatest experiences

[zetroc]

Aaron Hodges is so damn talented. Everyone at Spider Murphy's is so damn talented. Very nice!

[Cork]

Pushed as long as I could with Johan Svahn to get this far. Will finish on Johan's return to the States. Had a great time at the Kings Ave in Manhattan, very cool shop. It was great to see @ironchef and his incredible tattoos in person. I know you guys want to see more, slightly blurry, ass.

[Graeme]

@Cork I got pictures from Ricky and you looked really chill for a guy who was getting his ribs and stomach blasted.

- - - Updated - - -

@Cork I got pictures from Ricky and you looked really chill for a guy who was getting his ribs and stomach blasted.

[Cork]

@Cork I got pictures from Ricky and you looked really chill for a guy who was getting his ribs and stomach blasted.

Would have taken a nap if it weren't for that annoying buzzing.

Honestly though, I was prepared for the worst. I was going in thinking it would all feel like the lower back, which is still by far the worst spot I've ever experienced.

[Pete tattoo freak]

so cool cork. johan is one of my favorites

[Hospitelli]

@Cork Awesome Kirin and can't wait to see it finished. Did Johan say when he'd be back to NYC again?

- - - Updated - - -

@Cork Awesome Kirin and can't wait to see it finished. Did Johan say when he'd be back to NYC again?

[9Years]

Super good heart, attitude and knowledge of tattooing and art.

Wrathful offering of the five senses by Jonas Nyberg from last year.

Dude. That wrathful offering is killer. So is the Jondix work too, but you knew that already. Very cool stuff.

- - - Updated - - -

Got this super-cool little moth from @cltattooing . It was a nice change of pace from the large-work I've got going on right now.

Pumped on this little guy!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEC8O07DEkE/?taken-by=handoftheforge

[Joey Ryan]

Finished up my chest piece by London Reese in Lake Forest, CA. Took 18 hours on my back to

piece together this dragon. Was inspired through various influences and references. London is a really cool and easy going guy. 10/10 would get tattooed by him again.

Vatican Studios is seriously wicked too. Rad artsy layout, with some seriously talented artists.

[Lance]

Awesome beginning @Cork! So would you say it's easier than getting a backpiece then? Also how long did you sit for?

- - - Updated - - -

Awesome beginning @Cork! So would you say it's easier than getting a backpiece then? Also how long did you sit for?

[Cork]

@Lance I'll elaborate on the story a bit, it was a fun trip after all.

I show up at the shop around 12. Like I said, I came expecting the worst, but I wanted to exceed the expectation and knock this thing out in one day. Johan shows me the drawing, and in my head all I can hear is Gob from Arrested Development, "I've made a huge mistake." So much hair and little lines, fuck me. So we spend the next 45 minutes or so with general setup and talking about placement as I reconsider my goals for the day after seeing all those lines.

All laid out, I assume the position. He starts low at the hip and works the way up in sections. The hip bone made my body vibrate, and the nerves radiated at certain times where I swear he put a line down my shaft, or up higher it felt like he ran over my nipple. Nothing worse than expected though. Nothing that made me break out in an instant cold sweat like when my lower back got hit. Just general "this sucks." so I was able to make it. @hogg recommended a focused breathing technique, and pretend to blow out candles from far away, well I blew out the equivalent of a forest fire over the course of the day. My lips were chapped and my throat was dry.

Anyhow, after almost 4 hours of lines, I was again reassessing goals for the day. This was about the point when I was feeling the worst. I was almost ready to call it a day, but I was actually looking forward to pretending to be tough in front of @ironchef, so I pushed on.

Johan and I had to be realistic about what was left, and what we thought we could finish that day. We opted for coloring the low hanging fruit; the horns, the belly, and the fire. Especially because we couldn't settle on body/hair colors.

So after the first strip of fire, Johan can tell I'm close to the end and I might not make it. He offers some vasocaine spray. At first I'm a little reluctant, but after some time to consider it, I take him up on the offer. He assures me that for most people, it takes away ~50% of the pain. Well goddamn if it didn't work for me. At this point, ironchef shows up, and who knows what he thought of meeting me as I'm able to hold a conversation getting my ribs worked on. A second wind combined with relief from the spray, I felt really good at this point.

We all talked and had a good time while Johan wrapped things up, and ironchef and I took obligatory nude pics together. I was out of the shop around 8 and on my way home for a shower and very restless sleep.