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Instagram My new back....love it. Wanted it New England as fuck. I love Chad, Jason, Bill and Spencer at Congress st/ hobos. Sorry about the ASS shot....soooo much pain. We may add more on the ass later..uggghhh. Love it. Classic.

Just had this gem done by Mitch Love from Westside tattoo in Queensland, Australia. He was spontaneously in Melbourne for three days and I was lucky enough to get a spot. Sorry the photo isn't great. I will upload one once it's all healed and pretty.

Reminds me of this piece by Tilt edit: here is the full body shot...crazy

seems appropriate

Stopped into Cathedral Tattoo yesterday and got myself a spur of the moment birthday banger from the talented CJ Fishburn.

Being a big forum guy I have a suggestion that I have seen work wonders in the past, and I see it starting to get implemented here as well. As with a lot of times, newcomers sometimes skip the search or fail to find the answer to a common question or topic. To keep ideas flowing in a continuous thread stickies and "master posts" are created. Duplicate threads ended up spreading information all over the place and sometimes causes irritation to long-time members as the same questions/topics get re-posted a million times. I know that the edit button disappears within minuets of creating a post, which makes the idea of a "master post" kinda impossible, but maybe this can be changed. Example of a master post:

When I get back to the states we'll have celebration beers. You can buy them because you now hold a lucrative post.

Having watched this last night, this line comes to mind: "...See we like our Nazis in uniform, so we can spot 'em *snap* - like that. Once you take off that uniform, ain't no one going to know your a Nazi, and that don't sit well with us. So I'm going to give you a little something you can't take off." Lt. Aldo Raines Inglorious Basterds

While getting tattooed, my go-to buddy at Sacred constantly gets requests for face/neck tattoos. He always calmly and perfectly states that it is just not his thing and always recommends someone either in the shop or another shop that would be happy to do it. People usually respond with some kind of hostility towards him which I dont understand at all. Then again, downtown Oakland usually attracts some assholish mother fuckers.

Oh, I think he's still around.. mark my words.

This must be placed on your desk in case of @Bubbleberry infiltration

Being the nerd I am I popped into the code on the site and did some quick browsing through the vBulletin manual, and found the following. Date/Time settings are standardized using the "date" css-class, which is pulled from local server time then modified by the user's registered time zone (or default timezone which would be PDT "Pacific Daylight Time" for LST). You can modify this by going to "Settings > General Settings > Date & Time Options > *Set Timezone*". Source: https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/options_dateandtime Summed up: When you joined if you didn't select your timezone it would be put to PDT. If you changed it, it would be your local timezone. To change: Settings > General Settings > Date & Time Options > *Set Timezone*

I believe you are seeing things a bit out of context. In the first place, if we say as a fact that the Third Reich ended-up killing six million assorted peoples, then how is the swastika more of a "hate symbol" than the Hammer and Sickle, the insignia of the Stalinist regime that was responsible for the death of over sixty-million people? As for the "Black Power" movement, you should do a little research. There were a fairly large number-not in the millions, certainly, but a fairly large number, killed by those espousing it. Maybe read-up a bit on the Nation of Islam, see what their early teachings regarding the White race were...and to a large extent still are. Azatlan...now that's a real good one. The "Reconquista". Check that out and feel the love. Last but not least, I will reiterate two points. One is that many people used the swastika without ANY political or racial connnotations in the not-too-distant past. It was actually a very common thing for bikers, especially, to either wear it or have it tattooed on them. The second point is that if the work was done in a prison, it was quite likely to have been done in order to survive. Whites are a distinct minority in almost every prison in this country, and there are groups such as the BGF to name but one, who would dearly love to see that nminority erased. Once inside, many Whites band together for protection, and the swastika is a very common symbol of those groups. White Power, Black Power, Brown Power...I put them all on the same plane. A racist is a racist, no matter what color he is.

What would you tell him if he came in with a Clenched Fist over "Black Power", or a portrait of Che Guevara? How about "Viva la Raza"? Would those be racist too? Maybe a nice solid black Hammer and Sickle, is that hateful? If the man got the work in the joint, it was a statement he chose to make, and it took stones, and he had to back it up. It may also have kept him alive. Another thing to think on, the Swastika was, at one time, say, early sixties to late seventies, a pretty common piece, especially for scooter-trash. Didn't have a damn thing to do with nazis or racism. If he had the stones to get it put on, and you hate it, you should have had the stones to tell him to take a hike. .02

In my opinion there are no books that can teach these things with regard to tattooing. Most of what I learned is from some of the concepts from Art History (capitals intended) but throwing yourself into art history school won't help. For me the keys to learning anything in tattooing are getting tattooed by, or working with people who can do what you can't, or don't understand. Studying (not just looking at) tattoos and tattoo photos helps too. Many concepts that apply to music help with visual composition too, such as flow, dynamics, contrast, rhythm etc. Also alchemy: solve et coagula. Take apart what exists, understand it, then assemble it once more. In Japanese there is a similar concept: "Shu Ha Ri" Its a long-ass road. If your'e in Austin, see how Steve Byrne or Tony Hundahl lay out a tattoo. It can be a masterclass in composition for clarity and readability.

I have one son who has turned to the dark side as well.... I made sure he went into a good shop, knew how to get what he wanted and was a good client. How you conduct yourself before, during and after the chair time gets you on the good side of the shop. I see what they have to put up from the jackoffs that I witness, showing up late or not calling at all to cancel an appointment. CG

I love it! Thanks @steve1461686340.

Maybe he can get them touched up next time he's in prison. That shouldn't be too long!

@gougetheeyes !! He'll be joining the ban hammer glamour @hoog We'd like to thank Gouge for accepting the move from Community Leader to Moderator to help us try and better the forum all out of kindness and no pay. I know Team LST appreciates all you do for the site!! Plus we look forward to meeting you face to face on your visit out this way......

Hi all, I am from London and recently started my first tattoo, a back piece. I did for this part, 7 and half hours and the next day 7 hours. The next 2 sessions produced this after 6 hours and a 5 hour session. My artist has saved the detail of her hands and the seashell for the next 2 sessions. We will be doing my bum cheeks as well! I am having a full sleeve done in 2 weeks time by Dmitriy Samohen in the Ukraine and a thigh by Alex de Pase. Well that's my introduction :) Cheers Peter

@Lochlan, thanks for sharing! I definitely agree with maintaining a closed, clinical relationship, but hoping to bring some of who I am into the mix if it helps in any way. My fiance sees someone right now who will some times use personal stories to help connect or bring home a point he's trying to make. I'm hoping tattoos may function in that way.

Don't get me wrong, it took a couple of bad ones before i did what i should have done at the beginning - researched! Thanks for the warm welcome guys.

saw that on Hendrick's instagram today. pretty damn funny.

and THAT's the spirit!!! Congrats.

This will be heavily discussed upon your arrival.

Agreed! Also in reference to the original post. I think you might want to set boundaries for the future. I know most 2 artist I talked to will not do face tattoos ever and rarely will do hands/neck (never asked about content). I say only do what you want to. While doing your job means doing some stuff you aren't exactly thrilled with is one thing, doing something that you are really opposed to is another. I would say tell him you thought it over and you don't want to do it. Maybe point him to another shop/artist that you think wouldn't mind.

Just putting this out there for Mr. Sylvia and the other administrators. I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to interview all of these really talented tattoo artists and machine builders. You often speak in the videos about the level of exposure that tattooing has now. It is far more exposed and open than when you first got into the business. The number of scratchers is a lot higher. That being said for me personally, I believe that exposure to artists of the caliber that you interview is still rather limited. I'm currently a graduate student and won't be free of academia for some years yet. Your work on this site helps bring important aspects of tattooing to me, and I sure as Hell can't travel and see many of these people at this point. Tattooing right now isn't all sunshine and lollipops but you know better than I do that there are good, down to Earth people doing high quality work. Thank you, Jack

No he wouldn't.

Hell of an introduction!

So typical to start out w/such a tiny one. ;)

Intent is everything: ManWoman

I don't do that stuff, not because I'm half Puerto Rican which is the case but because I choose not to makey money on stuff that's in direct opposition to my conscience. You don't have to pass judgment to tell someone straight up that they're entitled to get what they want but they won't get it from you. I understand that it can be difficult for the first time it walks in the door and you're unprepared so get prepared. Determine your boundaries on how you choose to make your living and stay true to them. Everyone I work with knows what I will or won't do and respects my decisions. What I believe I don't push on people but I believe firmly enough that I never feel conflicted. A lot of us got into all of this because we choose to live on our own terms. I've never felt the need to trade that in for a day's pay.

Along with moderator approved photo verification of being tattooed. YES. or at least a card verifying their deposit to get their first tattoo. shit or get off the pot yo!

Oh yeah-don't misspell "Racist" if you tattoo it on someone.

"Obviously, you're not a golfer.."

Wow! If you're going full donburi, then it won't matter how you started. It'll be all about where you end up.

Reason #1,845 why I think you are the fucking reincarnation of @Bubbleberry.

I believe you're thinking of this backpiece Nick did.

shipping as fast as we can! up all night packing books and prints.

I agree. I see a lot more interesting threads (tattoo related) recently. For a while I wasn't posting on here as much. Honestly, the Thomas Hooper stuff that keeps popping up keeps me coming back. And the Firth street stuff per usual.

haha. She could have done much worse . . .

I think people who post on Last Sparrow should be tattooed.

Everyone likes exotic animals like tigers and panthers (as they should) or majestic animals like horses and eagles but I'd like to see some more conventional animals, pigs, cows, chickens, etc. A lot of those sort of animals really translate well in american trad.

did anyone catch this gem on their Instagram feed today?

@bongsau I don't know you, but with all that you're good in my book!

i don't know if she did the right thing, all i know is that there is no crying in tattooing.