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I know how awkward it is for some artists to ask a client to undress, so I avoid that awkwardness by undressing completely before all tattoos, regardless of placement. Common courtesy, really.

GREETINGS FROM JAPAN LST!!!!!! I had my first session yesterday at Cat Claw in Kyoto (pics later) 6 hours of fun, which is now my longest session (not including breaks)．　2 and a half hours on outline..．　and then 3 and a HALF hours of hell shading underneath my upper arm．　i wanted to tapout so badly, but refused ;) I am now going back for second session.　only about 3 or 4 hours today, Horinao has a gig tonight I shall provide a better update later

I'd recommend against that. When not used to shaving that area on the leg it's very easy to put little nicks in it. Cuts (shallow or not) are bad thing for the area to get tattooed.

This excellent post is by irezumi from another thread: It got me thinking: beyond traditional Japanese sleeves, when did sleeves start appearing in the West? I've seen lots of old tattoos pics, but rarely have I seen full sleeves outside of sideshow performers. Lots of stacked pork chops down the arm, but usually 3 to 5 at a time. But since I know a lot less about this stuff than many of you, I thought I'd pose the topic for LST to discuss. Side note: to irezumi's earlier point, I recently saw a documentary on Vince Lombardi. Turns out that his dad had WORK and PLAY on his knuckles.

I like that my terrible drawings have become synonymous with bad tattoo slang....

Thomas Hooper

Or known as the Cliff Raven method to tattooing.

Yeah, I'm sure that Ed's clients were at the forefront, because he was always pushing boundaries. In my mind--and again, I'd love for someone who knows more than me to weigh in here--it was probably a gradual process that began with some variation of Japanese sleeves.

inkzilla would be a good slang name for a scratcher. just imagine "oh no, it's inkzirrrrraaa!!!!"

So looks like the skull might be only a small piece of a much larger tattoo. Called my artist and talked about what to add to it, which turned into "well we could add this, oh we could add that" now it is turning into an entire thigh piece....awesome! Will be posting first session pictures on the 9th

It's the cross you bear. "Shawn... YOU of all people will appreciate THIS" (insert shitty tattoo photo here). It happens with strangers too. "When I get older, I'm going to look like YOU" (I always retort "What, a dorky manchild?") "I haven't gotten it YET, but (insert long drawn out story of a tattoo I don't care about).." "My cousin has this amazing tattoo that (insert tattoo that I don't care about)..." You just smile. If they SHOW you a tattoo, respond "yeah, that's a tattoo alright". if they ask your feedback, respond "yeah, that could totally work". That or do what I did at the bar the other night: "honestly, I could care less. So. you want a drink?"

Yeah I have to admit I have cut myself shaving as well trying to save the tattooer the trouble. But I have gotten a little better and try to do a pre shave. I try to focus on the area where the bandage will be because it is a lot more painful if it's taped to my leg hair.

also sometimes it helps to put clothing or a towel over the tattoo and lightly slap it when it's itchy.

i got Mike Rubendall on friday! and matt shamah probably on saturday!.. its gonna be awsome! still hoping the get some more though.. to many artists and not enough time! (ore money) hehe.. anyone else got any appoinment booked for the conv?

"inkzilla"....would be a good tattoo...a godzilla shaved like a poodle with tattoos on him/her. Mr. Porter.......a drawing pls?

Got my dates for starting my backpiece - in the last week of September - and a hint of what some of the details of the design are like. Super-exciting. It's with Ching from East Tattoo in Taiwan. I gave him a fairly loose idea of the type of subject matter I was interested in, and specified that I wanted black and grey and something that was going to make a big visual impact (it was some of the backpieces featuring Buddha heads and Guan Yin figures that originally caught my eye from him).

i can't decide if i want this to be real or fake...

"Having said that..."

ATTN: Ursula

I wish I could get the russian stars for time served in the Mafia. Cool design, but dont want to be frontin something.

I'm just worried that if I dont stay fit and develop a beer belly/man tits, my entire upper body is going to look really, really dumb.

Appointment with Mario Desa a fortnight on Sunday. Can't wait

I have an appt in Oct in SF at the State of Grace show with Trevor McStay -- to do my leg

Just got a portrait of my pup from Ben Grillo...

Yesterday my mom thought she was the first person ever to have this idea when she suggested to me instead of a ring my dude could tattoo a diamond on my finger.... I didn't even really know what to say... I just went 'yeah i don't think he's gonna want to do that'

One of my oldest tattoos, from '96. I've got 2 of them in the usual swallow position pardon the beard

11. Virginity 12. Dignity