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lol petri I made a funny here it is I need to get one of his pictures because I cant get the colors to show

Well, I've done 12 hours on my back in the past three days. Six the first day, then a day of rest, then six today. I went in with the mindset that the back is one of the most painful places to get tattooed, and specifically the love handles and ass (Valerie Vargas' posts re clients automatic reactions sunk in). Probably because of this I was a lot cleaner in the run-up to this week than for anything else I've done. Very little alcohol, lots and lots of sleep all week. The end result was that the first day actually felt OK, a lot better than I expected. To me it felt like towards the end it was beginning to bite more because of the time involved than because of the location. Today was a little harder, it started to get sore around lunchtime. I figure that whatever stock of endorphins I had built back up by resting yesterday just didn't go as far. At the four hour mark today I was feeling like throwing in the towel, but then Ching sat me up (I'd been lying on my stomach) and this totally pepped me up - it was weird, I was feeling nauseous but just the change of position made a huge difference. I actually felt like the last two hours were OK... Although then again I was also getting my upper back worked and I feel like around the shoulder blade was easier than lower down towards the love-handles / ass. In conclusion: I'm a convert to the no-drinking-in-the-run-up approach, and I reckon as much sleep as possible is important. The only other thing I came away with is that taking the day off between the two sessions felt like a really good idea. I have no doubt that going straight into it yesterday morning would have had me wanting to tap far earlier. My girlfriend has been watching anxiously, because she's got a pretty gruelling schedule planned for next year. Four sessions in two weeks in Japan. I think, after this week, that it is do-able. I feel like I could get tattooed next week (if I really had to).

Check this shit out! I guess this is what you get for tattooing both the back and front of your leg the same week... Notice how crazy the sockmarks are on my swollen leg, haha!

My stock response: "Sorry, they're not for sale."

I'm the guy who often approaches tattooed people and asks who did their work. Sorry! I always try to make sure that my tattoos are showing when I do ask so at least there's a chance they won't think I'm a total asshole. Case in point: I just spent the first half of the day with my daughter at Fisherman's Wharf, and I saw a guy with a really awesome hannya on his calf. I asked him who did it and he said, "A guy in London named Alex Binnie." I replied, "Oh, at Into You!" I think I surprised him. He went on to say that London has so many great tattooers now, and I asked him if he knew of @Stewart Robson and @Valerie Vargas. He said, "I'm a cab driver in London--I drive them to Frith Street all the time!" Small world, and I'm glad I asked him about his tattoos.

thanks everyone I owe alot to everyone here. I am still a noob but I feel like I appreciate art so much more and willing to go outside my percieved comfort zone because of the education I am receiving here. There is one huge downside, There was literally no pain so I fear that I will be spending lots of time and money getting alot more work at a frenetic pace.

Hot stuff on my foot by Manee Friday in Portland.

I like that one.

Love the black and the lightnings! ;)

just to let those that don't already know, Volume II is now available through the website. get yours Amund Dietzel

Welcome RockelWoman!

Rose on my foot, done about four days ago by Jaime at Black and Blue Tattoo, San Francisco.

@Scott R That's one of the best portraits I have seen, just superb.

Previous thread or no, I feel that the "non tattooer shop owner" would be a chapter of many found in a well researched study documenting "The exploitation of the tattoo culture during times of it's renaissance and rise into pop culture" as it would have to contain many different aspects of the rape of it's (tattoo culture) origins from aspects of psychology, media, internet, clothing fashion, influences in marketing, and the list could go on forever. Marketing for instance would have to illustrate, not to exclude the tattooed but to outline exactly how any one entity could achieve and extract monetary figures from organizing a host of popular designs and images produced by foreign labor and targeting an area of people who may not afford, obtain or desire a tattoo but will spring for a shirt, hat, purse, poster, etc.. A time I was leaving a truck stop comes to mind when I passed a couple who were seriously wearing the "imitation tattoo sleeves" pulled up their arms like nylon hosiery, they were victims of that targeted area and out of their personal desire to emulate an image that money minded moguls and investors discovered that they could cash in on no different than a purse with a peace symbol targeted for the 12 year old Beeber Fever target area that may have no idea or concern what the origins of the symbol may be other than the declaration of it's fashion. Ultimately, the fad will fade for Beeber but tattooing will always survive and evolve just as it has through its previous peaks in its history in time. It is a sad thing to witness when something so dear and personal to us gets taken away and used/abused and then thrown out when it's no longer profitable to some hollow/shallow agency/entity that's only concern and goal was for profit gain BUT actual tattoos will not be found on a yard sale table or thrift shop and the merch of the era of orange county choppers, LA ink, and "nylon tattoo sleeves" will be had for a nickel. Our photos of kinship, stories and literature will survive to some day take its place in history like the generations we researched before our times and our biggest hopes can be that we can honor the past by preserving and representing our culture as best we can for future generations. Just my 2 cents :)

I do love Baltimore a lot. I bet that sentence has been used exactly 6 times in history. All by John Waters.

Nah, different guy. He has a new sleeve from (gasp) Kamil. It's Jason from Friday the 13th. Let's just say it was not my cup of Earl Grey, if you get my drift. Still, a very nice guy, and it was great to chat with him.

the guy i work with saw them at a small theatre a couple years back and then a month ago when they opened for return to forever. didn't have the cash to go to either show but he said it was pretty incredible.

with a totally straight face, i tell people theyre birthmarks.

Got a hot stuff devil on my foot today and it sucked. I will post pics when I take off the bandage and wash it up, but that was no joke.

You did this to me when we first met and it was no big deal. Granted, you have that amazing Horitomo sleeve so I immediately figured you weren't some random tool talking to me about my sweet tatties brah. (It also probably helps we were a party of all tattooed people...)

You bring up a really good point. A good example is at the LST dinner last week I had never met @Iwar before in my life but there was no problem lifting up shirts and showing different tattoos and talking about different artists because we both obviously appreciate tattoos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTLfVBFynX0 http://www.vice.com/tattoo-age/trailer-mike-rubendall

I'm breaking my word and posting a pic from the end of day 1 of my backpiece, because I really like this photo, which I have borrowed from White Dragon Tattoo (the Belfast-based studio hosting Ching and Hua). So, we got six hours done yesterday. I'm resting today then booked in tomorrow for another full day. Ching suggested we do the outline and some shading for a little over half the back yesterday, and then get the rest of the outline and some more shading on the untouched side of the back on the second session. I will probably do another 2-3 sessions next year (not sure when or where, yet, depends on their convention and guest schedule). Ching and Hua were fresh from the London convention. They didn't appear particularly tired, but Ching explained he'd began another backpiece (a big Hannya) and done some sort of half-sleeve and a hand tattoo over there. He had the design for my back ready - a representation of Guan Yin against a bamboo background, with a bird. The bird is a traditional motif sometimes associated with Guan Yin, as I understand. I believe the story goes that the bird was orphaned, and subsequently flew to Guan Yin, who looked after it and taught it - and it became her disciple, basically. I'd sent over my dimensions so he had a stencil which appeared to work, with some adjustments for the shape of my back. I'm not going to say it was particularly pleasant getting six hours done, but I had deliberately slept well and not drank anything much for about 10 days - I think it made a big difference.

I work for a large corporation and lots of us have tattoos, but they're all covered by normal work clothes. While my company doesn't have a policy on tattoos, I keep all mine hidden for 2 reasons. 1) I have no reason to show them off to people I don't know. 2) Some of my customers might find tattoos intimidating (I don't agree with this view, but its my responsibility to represent my company and myself in the best possible way). I'll be happy when the generations of homophobes and tattoo haters die off and are replaced by people with open minds (if that ever happens).

And I nominate myself for the king of drunk posting.

@JAllen im so jealous man. I still can't grow a stash. It looks like I rubbed dirt above my lip.

Every time I read this to my daughter, I laugh: "So if you have a lot of ink...."

I like the pretty pictures !!

I'm relatively new to the forum and the tattoo world but I definitely think that Frank Carter deserves recognition. I've got three tattoos done by him and couldn't be happier with them. One of the tattoos was a walk in done about a month ago which he stayed late to finish which I thought was really cool. He's a good guy who does awesome tattoos and couldn't recommend him enough. Also Miles at Frith Street Tattoo is an amazing artist, got my first tattoo from him and it's incredible. He can do any style and has a ton of cool stories about tattooing and travelling. Sorry about the quality of some of the pictures, I'm no photographer. The top three tattoos are by frank and the bottom one is by miles.

I fuckin' love squash!

I want to punch the "sun shade" jackass

So far my worst has been my sternum. Shit was awful! Done by Jr Tubbs in Ashtabula Ohio. Don't mind the man boobs....

Its not finished yet, so no pics for you. Come back in two weeks.

i'd rather sit 3 hours on my ribs than 30 minutes on my palm. i got my second palm done yesterday with Lehi, scott did the other. what a nightmare, i can't believe i waited till after i got sober to do this one. the fucker is still on fire. haha.

i just got off the phone with my old friend and fellow tattooer Martin Robson ,who has recently relocated back to his home England, after living in America for probably 25+ yrs. he has helped me with my delemma,working for a non tattooer is never a good idea, its all business,no love.

I think the back piece is really one of my favorite things when it comes to meeting other people with lots of coverage... My tattoos on my back are my favorite, and it just sucks I can't see em... but that's what a photo is for right, so here goes... Top Chrysanthemums were by Casey Corklic Garland, TX, and the Jigoku Dayu was done by Doug Love, Santa Cruz, CA.. And of Course, theres a cover up or two. . .

I was about to say "How can there be no Judd Ripley in this thread?" and then saw that Perez had posted something awhile ago ;) so here is a bit more Judd Ripley

Zatoichi our eyeless cat, adopted from the wonderful no-kill, vegan animal shelter Freshfields in Liverpool (and Wales): Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre Damn, I love this ridiculous cat. I used to work at Freshfields and can guarantee that it is a great place and really worth supporting. If you are thinking of acquiring a beast I would urge you to give them a try.

i found this sweet dog(pug??) face tattoo in Valerie's gallery. i know it's not any of our pets, but thought it was fitting none the less (and very classy!)

I just came across this and wanted to post it! I miss my dog!

My dog Clyde...we were tired:

They certainly are. I started off with one, now I've got five. I couldn't agree more about neutering. Heres a typical evening with my wife.

my dachshund lucy and bert grimm.