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Jersey Shore hair with facial tattoo doesn't match:

Brock Lesnar's phallic veiny chest dagger:

Pat, thank you so much for writing that comment, it was such a surprise and so nice to read! haha you wrote that comment about the sentence i started with and i knew, i just knew it would cause some people to think that or to skip over my little story but it still plays a part in my little history, so it has to be said, lol!! the little tattoo that i got is only my third and one that has no meaning what so ever, i got it because i liked it and it was so refreshing! Robin thats a good idea, im really enjoying the book so far and it would be really cool to meet Jon!

this is sort of getting off topic of post secret, but in a way, i suppose it's not. this is also going to be an extremely personal forum post (might should actually be a blog post), but here goes. post secret is an extremely, EXTREMELY important project dealing with the human condition and suicide prevention. most of you don't know me in real life on here, and most who do know me, don't know this about me, but i have struggled with anxiety, depression, and ultimately suicidal thoughts since i was a kid. at 8, i first began to understand the concept of committing suicide, and by the age of 10, i had already attempted it. sob story, whatever. point being that up until college, i was extremely embarrassed and confused about why i had these thoughts, and why i couldn't really control them. i felt lost and alone. everyone else seemed happy, why couldn't i? i dreamed of just being content with myself, just once, and to be able to live with the thought on a daily basis that i was ok. that as i am, i am enough to be ok with. i didn't think it would ever happen. then in '05, two things happened. i got my first tattoo, and i discovered post secret. i started to feel like my body was an investment, and that as shitty as it was that i kept having these thoughts, that my mind was part of my body, and that i could at least choose what i do with those thoughts. getting tattooed was, and still is, the biggest relief in a physically positive way for myself. it was a release, a way to alter myself, but also change myself in the way i wanted to change, to see myself change. post secret, on the other hand, allowed me to realize that i wasn't alone in my thoughts. that A LOT of other people were the same as me. and so, while i was changing on the outside, and beginning to not appear to be "normal", on the inside, post secret allowed me to realize that i was "normal" on the inside. that there are a lot of other people out there who are scared to talk about these thoughts and feelings, but that doesn't mean that they don't have them, and that they don't feel the same way. we just go about our daily lives in a way where these conversations never come up, and really, they need to. fast forward to february of 2009, and a good friend of mine, actually more like an older brother for most of my time through college, followed through with those thoughts. it was the first time someone i knew, someone i knew but didn't know was having the same thoughts as me, had actually died. that stopped me dead in my tracks, and it made me realize two things: 1) i will no longer keep silent on this topic, and 2)that i needed to invest in my mind just as i had in my body. i began seeking out different approaches to dealing with my mind, and finally, this last summer, found the right one. i can gladly say, that even with all the trials and tribulations that have occurred during the last year (my parents getting divorced, work being stressful as hell, etc., etc.), this last year has been the happiest year of my life. i guess if anything good could come out of a tragedy such as Marques' death, at least it made those around him more aware of their own lives, and just how (to sound cliche) really precious every living moment is. not openly talking about suicide and suicide prevention, due to the social stigmas attached to it, is actually cheating people out of their lives, and i refuse to do it. to bring it back to tattoos, if anyone on here ever sees me without shoes on or wearing flats (both are rarities), you'll see that i have two roses that are unfinished, with the words "never forget" on my feet. that tattoo started out as a pun on words ("don't forget your roots"), but the day i received the phone call about Que's passing, i was supposed to get them filled in. now they've become a reminder to never forget Ques and i'm not sure if i'll ever get them finished.

Today we added a new 'Like' feature - this is not tied to the Facebook like system, instead it gives us a way to tell each other which posts we like or enjoy so that other members can navigate to the popular content more easily. This will be the most valuable for threads that span for several pages. You will see the 'Like' link appear at the bottom right of each post next to 'share' when you move your mouse over the post. The forum home page now has a new section that lists the most liked threads. Once people start using this new feature, a dropdown menu will appear at the top of each thread giving you a way to quickly jump to the most popular posts in that thread. I attached an image showing what it sort of looks like. Try it out and let us know what you think!

For me I see a picture of a tattoo or a tattooer doing a tattoo of a certain image and sometimes they just stick with me. I almost get obsessed in looking at variations of that one image and love seeing peoples takes on them. So lately I have been looking at, watching, and searching for ship or boat tattoos. I tend to enjoy ones that stick close to traditional tattoos but enjoy many of the variations. So here are some recent ones that I have been enjoying and wishing the quality of the pictures for some were better so I could really gaze at them. Lets see your ship or boat tattoos and/or those that you enjoy looking at as well.... Snappy Gomez LST Tattoo Gallery- Ship Mr. Frog LST Tattoo Gallery- Ship back piece in progress Do you have any updated pictures of this? Erik Gillespie LST Tattoo Gallery- Ship, Anchor & Heart

Now with more (Tom Hardy as) BANE!

ANDY PEREZ FTW. I think I have to space out all hand/finger tattoos -- you thought you were on Britt's shit list before, just wait'll I come home with the sides done.

HAHAHAH DUDE!! this video coupled with the oncoming hell of my 48 hour voyage to Californa at 5AM tonight gave me the EXACT SAME THOUGHT!!

designing tattoos in photoshop and applying filters aren't good reference for someone doing the tattoo, I would bring in the original photo of you're wife or another design, v.s. making it yourself.

I'm now to this place and just wanted to share my new 3/4 sleeve that Marcus did on me Saturday. He tattoos in Maine and New York but comes here to Santa Barbara a couple times a year to guest spot. Because I might not see him until December or January, I booked 2 appointments with him this visit. The first session he completed the outline which took 4 hours and 45 minutes but with out breaks probably closer to 4 hours. It was a little rough, he's definitely not known for being gentle,but it was well worth it :D Here's the drawing done from the tracing of my arm... And the finished outline. It was done 4 days ago so it's a little scaly by now... I'll go back on the 1st to complete all the black and grey shading so it should look like a finished product until next time when I can get it colored in. Fortunately the guy works really fast, unfortunately it's 5-6 months in between visits.....

Goddamn, this just makes me want my EAST COAST script side-of-the-hand tattoos already. (Which I guess is pretty west coast.. maybe I'll get big stupid print instead.)

Cali kids....I'm offended! haha, I think kids almost everywhere though just my perspective and observations trend chase which is part of being a teenager for some. But on a more serious note though I don't think "serious" fits this thread but anywho....did any of the other fellow Oakland residents who are also familiar with helLA take note that homegirl says Oakland at the beginning but the video appears to be filmed in helLA. The brown street signs, the houses, fendi store, "Fairfax" street sign, .......

"We're like the Bratz dolls."

Im sure many people know about Post Secret but if not... Post Secret began as a community art project by Frank Warren whereby he asked strangers to write down a secret about themselves that they've never told anyone on a postcard and mail it to him. He displayed them at a show and then it morphed from there into a website and several books. The blog is now the largest ad-free blog on the web. The project has done more for suicide prevention and awareness than any other group in a long time. I went to one of their events last year and was very moved by Frank and his journey with this project that has turned into a global movement. Not all the secrets are dreary. Many are triumphant, funny, and uplifting as well. In the end they show people that they are not alone, no matter what they've been through and I think that is super cool. I try and remember to check out the new secrets posted on the blog each Sunday... this week had one that was tattoo related so I thought I'd mention it here... http://www.PostSecret.com I'll attach the postcard I mentioned as they change each week.

I love ship tattoos. Here is mine by Klem at Samuel O'Reilly's in Santa Cruz.

Wow. ..I'm not even sure who I'd be without tattoos.

I initially got a couple of tattoo's while i was in the Army. My Dad had a tattoo and I thought it was pretty cool. I grew up in a middle class area and NO ONE had tattoos except guys like my Dad who had served in the military. I thought they were pretty cool...I felt they represented something unique among these guys that otherwise seemed pretty boring and normal. I got a couple of (bad) tattoos. Well, they arent the worst, but I dont feel they represent me anymore. Its been a long time since I got them and my life has changed...I want art that represents my life now...I like how Kev put it, the outward symbol of an inward change. So fitting! So...fast forward about 25 years from my first tattoos and I finally feel comfortable with what I actually want to cover the old work I had done as a kid. I am so impressed by the quality of work being done by artists today. I've always wanted my upper arms covered completely. I am planning on getting a panther head on my calf like my Dad's in honor of him. I'm glad my tattoo "dream" is finally happening.

I can't take credit for it; I heard it from a much wiser person than me :)

you'd pay $2500 to watch me eat all of 'our' soup? SELFLESS.

Yeah. This is why I'm not a tattoo artist.

Alanna, you should see if Jon is coming to Toronto anytime soon. He's a nice dude and would probably love to hear that you were inspired by his book!

That's because your back is weirdly sensitive. Ever asked someone to rub your shin? Nope. But back rubs are awesome because your back has a million sensitive spots, all of which feel super fucking awesome when getting tattooed, especially the lower back. You already know that tattoos hurt, and you seem to be acutely aware that the back will hurt, too. You also know that you're already on this path (didn't you just get your hand tattooed?) and that the back is the ultimate canvas. you just need to figure out what you're getting and who's gonna do it, although something tells me that you have more than a few ideas in mind. While I did find the process to be painful (and expensive), I have no regrets at all about doing it. It was so exciting to see it come together, session by session. There's something about having a full back piece. It's something that I've always admired, but for years, I didn't think I'd be able to make the physical/financial/mental commitment to go through with it myself. Completing it was a big milestone for me, and I have a beautiful souvenir of the experience that I get to wear for life.

Alanna, this is really incredible! That you went from watching the TV shows, to seeking out a good tattooer, to LEARNING about the history and the trade, to actually being so invested to continue to get tattooed by great people and talking with such enthusiasm about Dietzel's desings -- amazing. I bet most people's initial reaction to that first sentence of your story was something like, "Here we go.." but you've just proved that nobody's own story is more legitimate than anyone else's. Truly, truly awesome.

as an idea, the concept is good... as an artist, i think i would prefer to work from the original picture. the original picture would have more read-ability. i would suggest bringing the original to your artist as well.

Haven't been on in a while.

I have a Scott rose right next to a Freddy rose. #luckyguy

I think I always wanted to do it, I always loved the old military tattoos that my grandpa and uncle had. I was kickstarted when a boyfriend who hated tattoos dumped me. So, I started getting tattooed out of spite?

Experimenting with decoupage-cold-press paper/liquid acrylic on stained pine with lacquer. Had some issues with things sticking, but not a total wash.

Skate design I did for TNS Industries

I'm new to the world of 'tattoos on the internet'...so here's one in a set. FLiP

This is my latest. Done by Chad Koeplinger last Thursday at Frith Street, London.

Facebook This thing is fucking great. I think that it is as perfect of a tattoo as I have ever seen. I know that Nick is on this forum so I hope that he doesn't mind me posting this link here.

I find this one appropriate for the tattoo forum... hahaha

I wish it wasn't an april fools joke...

Love, love, love this place. Such a goldmine of talent, knowledge and good folks. My one request is that someone turn the tables and interview Scott. Hell, I'd be willing to do it. The interview series is nothing short of fantastic, and while I realize that it's a lot of work, I'm sure I speak for many here when I say that I want more, more, more! There are so many incredible artists in the Bay Area alone, and they all have stories to tell. Thanks again to Scott and Lochlan for creating this place.

Yep, I find myself re-watching those every once in a while. And then an hour has gone by.

heres one i did for the Dia de los muertos show at Flying Panther. shitty photo, taken after framed.

Um, you do? Shows what I know.