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Cool thread! That first piece is killer, but her right hand and left arm looks a little bit strange to me. Maybe just the picture, or maybe just me... I don't know. The piece as a whole looks really bad-ass though! Most of you have already seen my front piece, but I found a better picture of it on Marius' blog a while back, so here's to those who haven't seen it already (sorry about the insane size of the photo)

Andy Moreno @ Sacred in Oakland. I gotta get off my ass and talk to Scott and Freddy about doing dueling pieces to fill in those blank spots on the sides.

Bryan Burk yesterday Dark Horse, Los Angeles

For some reason I see Tim Lehi in your future .

Going to get tattooed tomorrow by Josiah Laughlin | Facebook, @ Imperial Tattoo here in downtown Portland. He's a good guy and puts on a solid tattoo. He has some killer tattoos from Henning Jorgensen, Chris Trevino and Tony Hundahl among others and always has some good stories to share.

Aaron Coleman (not sure if these have been posted before or not?) Immaculate Tattoo - Home

I don't know if I would say you pissed anyone off, but your first post definitely sounded like price was your primary concern, while I think that most people on this forum would be concerned about quality first and price second. Further on in the thread it looks like you have money for your toys, but not your tattoo. Then this last post is about 100% turnaround from your first - you walk into the shop not concerned about cost. It seems like your story has changed quite a bit from your original post. Just my 2 cents.

Don't know how I pissed anyone off. Walked in to the shop, told them what I wanted, the guy drew something up based on a design I found, the artist said it will cost this much, I said OK. I got exactly what I was looking for and I love it. Here's the before and after. There was no cheap-ass haggling. He asked what my bugdet was, I told him, he asked if I could go higher, I said sure and it was on. Very cool guy. His name is Dale at Frontline Tattoo in Oceanside. I'm no expert, but I'd recommend him. Might even go back myself. Anyway, here's the results. I'm sure someone will critique it to death, but I am VERY happy with the way it came out. Took about 2 hours total.

last night in LA a colleague took @Barbie Doll and I out to Eva Restaurant and it was amazing! When I wake up thinking about the meal I had the previous night I know my stomach really liked it!! We did the five course chefs tasting which ended up being: 1) egg, cauliflower, mustard sabayon, regianno 2) a single live scallop, cooked on the hibachi, french butter, yuzu, black truffle (AMAZING!) 3) foie gras "torchon", smoked walnuts, pink lady apple 4) line caught john dory, english peas, almond milk, fried capers and for the fifth course they brought us out one of each dessert A) Lemon Souffle Cake B) Chocolate Terrine C) some cold apple soup (I liked this the best though the rest of the table only thought it was good)

I searched and couldn't find anything. What stuff has been blowing your mind lately? (other than the fact that there hasn't been a thread about this yet) Matt Mooney Ron Henry Wells Chad Koeplinger

just in case you missed it... this dude... wow. i JUST recently saw his work for the first time in the bloodwork bodies book. i might just not know my shit, but this is one artist i ran across where i thought to myself, "how the fuck have i NOT heard of this guy?!" Geordie Cole he also got a full backpiece from horitomo Geordie Cole Turns Japanese - THE TATTOOED HEART love this thread, by the way!

There are a ton of great tattooers in the bay area you are lucky. I would follow the advice of Blackheart for sure. In addition to Tim Lehi, I would check out Jeff Rassier's portfolio (also at Blackheart). Also in October the State of Grace Convention brings some of the top names from all around the world to San Francisco for a weekend, so in conclusion San Francisco is a great place to be if you want a tattoo.

Here's mine. When I was first pursuing an apprenticeship, I talked to one of the artist's at the best shop around. He invited me over to his place where we talked about it, mostly over his old Triumph. I drove him around for bits and pieces he needed to fix it up and by the end of the day, he had given me tips on presenting my portfolio of drawings and said he'd put in a good word for me...not schmoozing, just an organic conversation...then after all his wrenching and swearing, he kick started that bike. The look and sound had me hooked and hanging around at the shop after that when he'd pull up...I had to have an old Triumph. As it turned out, unbeknownst to me, he was moving. I was apprenticed to take his place. Having married young, there was never any money for extras (or three meals some days) but I worked hard for years, doing my best to be good to tattooing and it rewarded me. When I found this 68 at the right price, I jumped on it and when I see my bike in front of the shop, I feel like it came full circle.

This first photo is beautiful

Kaila, Love your intro and honesty about selection, wish I had more people like yourself entering my shop. You seem more educated of common sense and are polar opposite the more common patron with the beliefs of "what? No stars with the fancy cursive of the word TRUST on my wrist?" type. Glad you found this site and that you choose wisely and not shop for a tattoo like picking out or from the "Hot Topics" supplies of glass encrusted chrome plated crap. Your a minority among patrons of tattoo shops these days. This site has much of the most balanced of info and lends more to the greater good and "real" of tattooing. Your choosing to post proves here lends more cred to the site. Welcome and to summerize the above, "Yer cool and help keep it real up in here!"

I took a pic of a Japanese Version of the "ROA" it was a backpiece on one of the guys that works at Goodtime Charlies, in Anaheim, I can't remember who it was on, or who did it.. But it was badass... I saw this at the True Tattoo Grand Reopening while hiding out in the office avoiding the crowd.

I think any large scale Thomas Hooper work is mind boggling. Especially the large pattern work. I find my self wondering how many times was the stencil laid? How many stencils? If their were several stencil what parts did he draw in? And then once you have all that on, just make the lines right? Seriously amazing stuff.

This dude got Rubendall,Grez,& O'Donnell to do his back.. SAVED TATTOO

What's going on on your leg? Is that from the tattoo?

from bryan burk yesterday 3.5 hours

'Nuff said

this is hilarious just saw it in Raoul van Noorden's album

my bike

Anyone else using it? Some of my drawings are barely recognizable as what I'm going for, but if you want to play.... ovibrations.

I figured it's probably about time I delurked enough to introduce myself. I'm Kaila, from the Bay Area, 21, and a rather dedicated tattoo (and art) enthusiast. I love learning about the processes, seeing the art, and watching someone's tattoo become permanent. I have yet to get any, but that's mostly because I'm picky and would like to wait until I can be solid on what I want, and get an artist that I'm in awe of. Technically I'm a student, but I happen to be rather horrible at it. I'm definitely looking forward to browsing around and looking at some more of the awesome threads.

I found this clip of body-builder/power-lifter ,40 year old Johnnie Jackson dead lifting at Metroflex gym,Texas.

Two words: Black. Heart. Can't go wrong!

I just realized how much of a beer snob I am. A friend left some Killians Irish Red in my fridge from last night and I am pretty sure it will stay in my fridge for a long time. I didn't want to give him too much shit, but I didn't even know they still made that stuff. Funny if it was High Life or PBR I would probably already drank it.

Patent this.

that wolf head is where it's at! badass!

yeaaaah,now this thread can die........

Yea I did it for 3 months and saw great progress. I just need to perfect the form on the big lifts

I dont know about you... but my average is just under the normal consumption rate of African Americans.

@Barbie Doll in Istanbul at the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) wearing her LST shirt....

Sounds like a plan! I think my mom is planting squash soon... Im not sure though. Also, she started raising chickens in her back yard. Every time I visit its a new project.

That sounds like a mighty fine meal Loch.

The main large image on my back was done by one artist. I know you've seen the almost complete photos in the back piece thread. I am planning on getting some other tattoos around it by other people to fill out the space. Probably roses, each one from someone else. Or something along those lines. Like the others said just make sure you have a good idea of what you're doing before you start ! Oh, and post pics for us ;) How amazing would it be to have a black heart back piece ! Get one from each, Scott, Tim, Rassier and Juan! Then get Cody and Nick to do some bad ass filler like they learned at Inksmith !

I give my artists a 'vibe' (e.g. benevolent, spriritual) and a 'subject' (e.g. Tibetan skull) -- then I let them do their interpretation. I want my artists to feel challenged, inspired, yet comfortable. It's a tough sort of balancing act, but I think it yields the best possible result. When the artist wants to take a lot of pictures of the tattoo then I feel I got his best.

I don't think that i have ever seen any photos from Bob's New York shop (apartment). I wonder why he spelled it Spotlite then, and changed it to Spotlight in Los Angeles. No matter how you spell it I am excited to be getting tattooed by Bob in a couple of weeks.

Many many years ago a wise old motorcycle enthusiast of my acquaintance told me, "I like good-looking tattoos as much as anyone else, but I just don't feel like you're getting the whole tattoo experience unless you have some shit like your old lady's initials that looks like it was drawn on with a green crayon and the third letter is only half done."

CRAZY detail in that, tinnint1!

I love tattoos like that. I'd rather look at one of those over a 1,000 Bert Krak panther heads or Daniel albrigo Navajo blanket tattoos. Offensive tattoos, racist tattoos, religious tattoos, drifter, hobo tattoos, Political tattoos, obscene tattoos. Tattoos done in garages, motel rooms, Russian penitentiary tattoos, south African gang tattoos, british soccer hooligan tattoos, handpoked punk tattoos, facetats, poorly thought out names on necks. I've always loved ugly tattoos, and I always will.

i dont go for the whole "do what you want". they HAVE to tell me the things that they like. otherwise theres gonna be dicks and pussy all over the place

The first commandent says: You shall have no other gods before Me. It doesn't deny the existence of other gods; just that you can't put them before YHWH. So I'm sure the creation stories had a little from Brahma, a little from Tiamat, etc. Anyhoo.. got off topic for a bit. I'm an atheist. I'm covered with religious work; Tibetan Buddhism, Satanism, Hindu, Christian, Hebrew, Christian Mysticism.... you name it. I don't really think there's a conflict with religious imagery on a nonreligious person. Sure, having Hindu gods on my neck has led to a lot of conversations about respect and culture (the best being a Hindu friend defending me to her daughter- "if you love Lord Krsna more than he does, why is he not on YOUR neck!". Gotta love my Pushpa Dashwani!) and the Baphomet on my hand has led to more than a few fun situations but by and large... It's no different than having Peter Pan tattooed on you. Which I do. Hah.

My bike

if it isn't too big, we are open to host... the only problem is, i cook "regular" food...not so good at gluten-free, vegan BUT we can always get sol food to deliver...they have alot of vegan options...

Ien Levin from Ukraine. Waiting for him to make a trip to the states so I can get tattooed by him. Flickr: Ien Levin's Photostream

Ian Flower and Aaron Hewitt are some of the best tattooers in the UK/Europe right now. Ian: New Skool Tattoos Aaron: Aaron Hewitt – CULT CLASSIC TATTOO Nobody ever talks about these guys and I get puzzled looks when I mention their names. I love looking at their work.