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Had the last major session on my backpiece this past Saturday. 8 sessions over 6 months, 25.5 hours and 2 tubs of Aquaphor later, it's basically done. Have to go back next week to get a few touch-ups and darken the blue up a bit, but basically done. I'll get some better pictures soon.

Stoked about my appts in Jan '13, Robert Ryan @ Electric Tattoo and Cris Cleen @ Saved Tattoo.

Spider in web, ARMPIT from @Lindsey Carmichael of Gold Rush Tattoo.

My wife has no tattoos. She has never had a problem with me continuing to get tattoos, except once when she asked, "Why another skull, don't you have enough" (answer: never can have enough). I always thought she was just tolerating my tattoos. But this past weekend she went from tolerating to supportive. When I found this forum I learned more about tattoos than I had learned in years of being tattooed. There is a whole nation of amazing tattooers out there and i have to visit as many as i can. So I told her I wanted to start traveling for tattoos. She said great, where are we going first? Life is good.

Hola, My name's Bart. I'm 32, I'm from NJ. I was told to introduce myself, so I'm doin' it. I don't tattoo but I do collect 'em for about 16 years now. I'm familiar with LST website/forum because I've watched some interesting interviews here. Have a nice day and happy new year.

Got this off Valerie Vargas at Frith Street on Tuesday, I love it! I posted it in the latest tattoo thread and someone recomended I put it in here, Cheers. P.S. That Head Eagle on the last page is bad ass :cool:

Getting the rest of my leg dawn up tonight!! Dragon, background, and who knows what else might get popped in there. Very excited to start the end of my first truly massive tattoo.

My latest, another torch. Done by Xam at The Family Business in London, last Monday. Healing up pretty good. Pic is fresh, as you can tell from the bloody paper towels!

Hi. I came across this site while doing a bit of research into my next tattoo. It will be a trad eagle done by Ross Nagle in Limerick Ireland. Some of you may have come across some of his stuff before, its only my second tattoo and hopefully it will turn into (at least) a half sleeve over the next few months. Anyway just a quick hello to introduce myself, keep doing what your doing, the site is fantastic! :D

If you are in Costa Mesa, you need to be going here. Artists « Gold Rush Tattoo Let's put it this way, If i was in the market for a tattoo, religious or otherwise in Costa Mesa this would be the place to go.

My advice find the person you want to do your Sugar Skull, Print out a couple examples of things you like in Sugar Skulls, and let them draw something up for you and be open to their interpretation. Don't overcomplicate things. I got one about six years ago, and that is how I went about it. Not that it matters, but I think the picture you posted looks good for the most part, but the stuff in the face that isn't outlined in black doesn't look as good as the stuff that was. The teeth really pop, but the flower on the top and bottom really just look like a blob of blue, the eyes are slightly better as they have some black shading in them, but why would you outline the yellow coming off the nose with black, but not the yellow coming off the eyes. I don't know overall it's not a bad tattoo, just could be better. - - - Updated - - - http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/crazy-tattoo-stories/12-traveling-shop-page8.html Look at post 74, that's how i would want a sugar skull done, what is in the skull can be whatever you want, but they way it is constructed is perfect, smooth lines clean shading, black outlines around all of it.

Hows everyone doin on the last day of 2012? My name is Andy and I live in Buffalo. Ive got 2 sleeves and im lookin around on here for ideas to fill the last spot i got to fill in my armpit. yea, ouch! haha!

As long as you keep 'em covered, who's gonna know? Nobody... I ran into someone I work with at the gym for the first time the other day. He had no idea I was inked, I'll have to see what a blabbermouth he is. Rob

Thanks for the welcome. No, that wasn't me the other night getting tattooed by Scott. I have an alibi. Promise.

Have you looked at the tattoo removal section here? Some people here have gotten and are getting really incredible coverups after some laser and there's a lot of great information here about that. Don't get me wrong, reapers are cool, but there are options other than blacking in your back. Hope this board helps you out, and welcome.

I have an appt with R. Ryan first week in Jan, it'll be my first tattoo by him.

I can relate. I've been a bit bummed out since finishing my back a week or so ago. Like you, no regrets or anything. Just feels weird having an endeavor so big in different respects--time, pain, money, et al.--come to a screeching halt. I should probably do like you and get the next thing going, but I want to enjoy having something finished on me for a while. I guess some people are never happy. Ha!

We'll both be getting tattooed for most of the day on the Monday, it would be cool to meet you!

Funny this question came up last night with some guy that was at the bar I was drinking at last night. He didn't believe that I work a corporate job with my tattoos. I then pointed out that if I put on my hoodie and even rolled up my sleeves you couldn't see them. I got a "yea I guess your right". Dude was a mid-50s guy that had a nice company rap sheet going back pretty far. He said that he never met anyone in the workplace that had tattoos, I told him yea because most people don't show em. I've even met a Wall St. guy who had a big backpiece, and sleeves.

Here's my latest and last for 2012! @Lindsey Carmichael at Gold Rush Tattoo.

This is the tattoo I ended up getting instead of a verse done in text. Hebrews 6:19-7:2 would be the reference. When I thought of it I didn't really realize that anchor tattoos were so common, but I realize it's a classic image so I'm glad I went with it anyway. Done by Chris Lombardi at Hand of Doom Tattoo in Buffalo, NY.

Well might as well since I finally have a worthy tattoo... Scott Sylvia, Guest Spot @ Kings Avenue Tattoo, NYC

Now, this isn't strictly speaking a serious entry, I just wanted to note how far this contest has come in the last year. Some truly outstanding work being displayed here! Congrats to all for the effort of both tattooer and tattooee in getting them! Thanks to all for sharing your pix, and thanks to Lochlan and the team here for making this site a must-see every day. Panther head by Dale Grande, probably 1974.

One of the better and probably most famous prison tattoos out there:

Hey, I'm Casper. I have been searching and searching for the past 4 months and finally I think I have found where I need to be. I am NOT an artist by any means but i am a collector and I have More plans than I can afford (seems to always be the problem) but I have been searching for inspirations on a few projects that I will be getting underway and hopefully I will find that here with new pieces and a much needed cover up. I am 29 and married to a loving woman who not only puts up with my need for art but inspires some of it as well she as well has some beautiful work, I look forward to insight and advice from collectors and artists alike!

Hi All, I'm Josh Michaell. I've been enjoying reading the forum posts for a couple of weeks, and i thought now would be a good time to jump in. I've been getting tattooed for about three years now, and it has been a wonderful and profound experience. I'm hooked. I've been tattooed by Thomas Hooper, Jondix, and Robert Ryan. Like David Bragger, I play old-time American music (guitar & banjo.) I've been studying Thai cooking for 8 years and can whip up a pretty authentic curry. I'm a psychotherapist by profession, but I also spend a good amount of time traveling and teaching workshops on Sanskrit and yoga philosophy. It's pretty random, but someone has to do it. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and say that I look forward to being part of the LST community.

Permanent Luxury Nuff sed.

My unit doesn't care if my tattoos are exposed as long as they're not "offensive." I only cover them when they're new because exposing my giant open wound around patient's is a poor idea. Most patients love to talk about them, whether they approve or not.

DeVita show would be a good call! I can't really do weekends but I vote for doing whatever works for most people.

I have been thinking about this alot lately. It has, over the years, become more and more acceptable for a woman to have tattoos, and to be heavily tattooed... In my community, lots and lots of young women get heavily tattooed (usually with garage garbage starting in high school), or they get visibly tattooed. it is considered normal. But, there still is a stigma to being a tattooed woman, even one as lightly tattooed as myself. With my grand total of three tattoos, when people see my chest, its ooh's and ah's and where did you get that done? but on the flip side, I've had people ask me, what will your children think? How will you look in your wedding dress? What man will find you, obese with tattoos, attractive? I, planning on becoming more and more tattooed (but never heavily tattooed, just not my thing), feel like in the eyes of the world, when we get tattooed, especially in visible places, we are surrendering our femininity in the eyes of our peers. My father and brother both said my chest tattoo was too big... though it only covers the front of my shoulder. Girls who get their chest plate done, a sleeve of tattoos, are all at the mercy of our peers, who degrade us for being "trendy"and not truly feminine. But isn't this decoration of our body seizing and controlling our sexuality and femininity? This has parallels, in my opinion, to the current contraception/abortion debate. Not that they are morally equivalent, but that each appears to be an attack on a woman's autonomy of her body and her own control of her sexuality. I get the impression, especially with my field of interest (Political Science), that tattoos are for people who are ok with being somehow "lesser", and for men. Lesser, in the sense that those who get tattooed come from a pretentious side, and won't amount to anything, or that they are low class. And that tattoos are for men, because a woman with an arm tattoo is a big "dyke", that a woman's tattoo is pretty and small and soft, but never visible. But men can get tattoos with impunity, for they have been the realm of men for a long time. Tattoos are becoming more and more common among the population in general, and more and more acceptable. But we are held back by what a woman is "supposed" to look like. This is one facet of the struggle of the modern American woman. She must be traditionally feminine, want a family, look the part... But with the rise of equality for women, now we are supposed to go out, get high paying careers, make our mark on the world, be as successful and intellectual as men... These are contradictory demands. We have this cult of ultimate womanhood, ultimate motherhood, that has no room for tattoos, no room for ugliness, no room for personal freedom. The ultimate woman in our society is a devoted mother, who is totally involved in every aspect of her children's lives, who looks pretty on the outside, with nothing deviating from the norm. No visible tattoos, a normal hairstyle, clothes that fit the contemporary mold. We are taught by our society we must fit into this womanhood, this being, in order to be a good woman. But now, we must both be what we want to be, and what society wants to perceive us as. It's a complex issue. Tattooing is becoming more acceptable, but, in my opinion, still held back by traditional values and norms for women.

At first I read that as "Hi from Mike Vallely." Welcome!

Yeah man, that's my leg. Uh, it was my idea, but let him run with it. You know, I knew I wanted Fenris lashed to a rock with a scroll in it's mouth riddled with arrows, but I knew he would push the boundaries on it. He's just that dang good.

head, throat, ribs, dick, nutt sack, upper theigh, back of the arms ,...it all hurt!!

I have been postponing working on my back (shit hurts), but committed to another session on Jan 24, the day after I get back from Chicago. I have not made any plans to get tattooed in Chicago, but I am sure I will get something. I also want to start one rib that same week, if the other session doesn't kick my ass too much. The wife will be in Chicago an extra week and a half, need to make up for lost time, and make some progress.

Third sitting with Chris O'Donnell in 30 days. But who's counting? Right?

Hi everyone. My names Jake. I'm 23 from a small town bout' an hour outside of London, UK. Ive been lurking the forum on and off for about a year now and thought it was about time i signed up. I'm not sure i'll have too much to add to the forum, your doing a great job already and I signed up mostly just to say thanks. This forum has taught me so much about what makes a good tattoo and has opened my eyes to some really great artists. Thanks to you guys i've finally got some tattoos that i'm really happy with and i hope to get many, many more When i get access to a half decent camera, i'll post some pictures of my tattoos but for now keep up the good work.

Thanks much. My kids are a trip, all of them. They can ride, shoot, wrench, fight...read, write, make a living, all that good stuff, AND they appreciate good tattooing! Tell ya what, I hate to say it out loud, but I'm proud as hell of all my kids, and love them more than I can say.

100% The best response. It is about the experience. You learn, you meet people, and you make memories that will last forever. You can get a great tattoo, words of wisdom, or just a good time. Few people understand what tattooers go through daily so it is nice to sit with someone that does and share it. You can get tattooed by someone twice your age or half your age but there is a common ground and bond. It is mind boggling to me that a tattooer wouldn't want to have these experiences. If you are in it, then be a part of it.

I've heard that one before!!!

nobody gets just one or two.

Got this one the other day not got my own pic yet I'll take one when it's healed

I have definitely been feeling this way looking at Virginia Elwood's work too, and more and more Robert Ryan. I hope to get tattoos from both of them eventually.

I work in IT Admin at a college and I had forearm tattoos when I got hired 13 years ago... Ive since done hands and neck to no comment so far except my boss thought my ewok hand looked cool...So far so good but I'm under no illusion that they will be used against me if they want to but knock on wood I do a good job and try not to fuck up

Bold will hold

This is not directed at any one member of this forum BUT , c'mon guys lets do our homework ! Don't post about supposed hard to find shit that is one click away on Amazon ,re-read old threads etc .When I first joined this forum I was so cautious to post in case I fucked up ,theres no shame in having humility and respect for other members or even being scared to speak/post .

Danny Trejo... that is one legit dude.

I have the Wu-Tang logo, back when I was 15 :P Some kinda needle/s was melted in a piece of plastic and the ink was the ink from a ballpoint pen. I got it in a group home, sitting in my bed while other boy tapped it in. Cant remember how long it took. 1 hour? I just realised its almost all worn out. Cant even see it. Had to look for it. Its "covered" with a bad cover up that didn't even cover it. Hate that fucking tattoo. Funny, the tattoo artist asked me "what the fuck is this? A puzzle piece?" I said yeah, yeah... I was too nervous to explain him that is a Wu-Tang logo, and what the fuck the Wu-Tang even is while Jimi Hendrix was blasting from the speakers :D

Or did you mean this?

For me, the thing that is the most frustrating is the notion that when a woman chooses to become heavily tattooed the majority of the public seems to think it is no longer necessary to approach heavily tattooed women with proper manners. I actually had a man tell me I had lost my right to privacy because of my tattoos. Honestly, if you're a stranger, what's going on underneath my clothes is none of your business and you're being rude. If you don't know me, why on earth would it be proper to grab, stroke or touch my tattoos? Again, you are a stranger and this is sheer rudeness, and inappropriate. What if someone approached your daughter/sister/wife in this way? Would that be okay? Highly unlikely. When approached in this manner, it is challenging to be nice to people. Although I do believe it's incredibly important to be as kind and patient with folks when asked about the tattoos. I truly believe anytime you can undermine someone's preconceived notions of what tattooed people are about it's a win.