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Seems like we can expect a pretty weak showing this month (slackers!), so I'll throw my most recent tattoo into the ring. Torch + snake from Ron Henry Wells, done just before Christmas at Congress Street Tattoo.

By the lovely and talented Kim Saigh at world-famous Memoir Tattoo in Los Angeles, California.

yeah I assumed someone would post that before long. i can picture him burning through 5 cigarettes while doing that interview haha Old sticker made into fridge magnet.

Aaron Coleman, three sessions.

@Brock Varty wrote: This is an interesting subject IMO -- i.e., "what constitutes traditional Japanese?" -- and I figured it belongs here instead of the contest thread. I don't claim to be an expert; all I know is what I've found dicking around on the internet for the last few months and checking out a few books from the library. If I can back up for a second... There are plenty of artists out there (some on this very board!) who are pushing the limits of what we call "traditional American style." I don't think anyone would say, for example, that a Scott Sylvia rose isn't a "traditional" tattoo because he didn't draw it exactly like Sailor Jerry or whomever. But when it comes to Japanese, the "rules" are far more rigid, it seems to me, for a variety of reasons I won't get into right now. Yet a lot of people -- myself included – can get hung up on what's traditional Japanese and what isn't. In my own case, it probably would have been more traditional or "authentic" (whatever that means) if I had put the koi on my leg instead of my arm -- you know, the "clouds and waves" rule. But I wanted it on my arm so there it is. Judging from the bazillions of other koi tattoos I've seen, it seems like this is a rule that's "okay" to be broken. But maybe not. When it comes to flowers and what-goes-with-what, I think the "rules" are essentially based on what can be observed in nature, which is why you're not supposed to mix up the seasons in one tattoo. That's just common sense, but in the end it really comes down to what's pleasing to the eye (and the wearer), right? Meanwhile, there are plenty of awesome tattoo artists out there who are pushing the boundaries of traditional Japanese style -- Shige comes to mind -- and doing things a bit differently in terms of technique and subject matter -- e.g. color blending, sick giant skull back-pieces, etc. Hell, some people might think that using a machine instead of stick-and-poke isn't truly authentic. But then it's not as if there's an actual body of judges out there saying yea or nay on what's traditional and what isn't -- just a bunch of tattoo nerds on the internet (again, myself included). Then there's the idea that a traditional Japanese tattoo should look exactly the same as one from fifty or a hundred or a thousand years ago -- and it's not about the artist's individual style as much as staying committed to various rules, techniques, and philosophies. An idea, I think, that is very cool and certainly valid, and one of the things that appeals to me about Japanese-style tattoos in the first place. Anyway, the point I kind of want to make is that what is called "Japanese traditional" is, in a way, quintessentially American (or Western, if you'd like) in that Japanese images (and styles and techniques) can be found in the roots of early modern American tattooing. By which I mean: a lot of dudes have been drawing dragons for a f*ck of a long time. The art of tattooing has evolved over time, and everything is a bastardization of what's come before and blah-blah-blah. And even then Japanese tattoos are based on interpretations of all these ancient Chinese folktales. Which is why some Japanese tigers don't look like real tigers but the way they were imagined by certain woodcut artists who had never actually seen one, etc. I also think it's interesting how so many white guys and gals (i.e. not Japanese) are super into Japanese tattooing when there's all these Japanese rockabilly guys and gals in Japan who are getting traditional American one-shot tattoos and wearing three-hundred-dollar selvedge denim that's an exact replica of a pair of Levi's from 1950-whatever. But that's a whole 'nother can o' worms. Anyway, I'm rambling. Not trying to make an argument or disagree with anything else that's been said already. Just writing down some thoughts I've had recently. I'd love to hear what other people (ahem, @Stewart Robson) have to say on the subject.

Rap is like scissors, it always loses to rock.

It really sounded like somebody was writing an essay for school or something. It was a pretty rudimentary outline for a research-type essay, and was pretty poorly written. Maybe high school, or crap, even college. They probably chose the topic of Racism and Tattoo for their class, and then took shots in the dark at supporting the argument they had already proposed to the teacher. Personally, I didn't finish reading it, and didn't check out the mentioned blog, though. Either way, it was retarded.

Some weak shit this month... not

I guess I'll post my latest... by Johannes at Good Faith in Boston.

I love Seth, he rules so much.

To answer your question: it evolved from an outer arm tattoo which looked incomplete until we made it a half-sleeve over about five sessions in total. My understanding is that it's okay to mix maple and mums because they both bloom in autumn months -- unlike, say, mixing cherry blossoms with peonies. What I wanted was a "traditional" Japanese tattoo filtered through Kim's unique style -- and that's exactly what I got, so I'm super stoked on it. Next up, I'm hoping for a dragon by Seth Wood on my other arm -- but I've got to start saving my pennies!

If you don't go to hell for having tattoos, you are going for saying that :-)

Tux Farrar Tattoo | Tattoo Tux Has Devoted His Heart And Body To Art - Baltimore Sun

I love the contest when it is only two days in and the quality of tattoos are that which we love and seek! Keep them coming!!!...!....!....

For the record the first time I came across this thread, I thought @Delicious had lost her mind, until I figured out she was talking about some blog. I'm not even that old. I think the problem with blogs is even if you don't have to have any credentials and you can just act like an authority on a subject you know nothing about.

to everything turn, turn,turn... - - - Updated - - - Probably shouldn't even relate this one, but hey... So, what, maybe 32 years ago, young and running wild, had hair down to my shoulders, beard down to my belt, one of my Brothers asks me to help him move some furniture at an old ladies house. Okay, we go there-she was a lady from his wife's church, and turns out she's an artist, works in oils. We move the furniture, and before we leave, she's all agitated, asks me if she can ask me a question. Sure. "Our church has commissioned me to paint a picture of Jesus for the sanctuary, and I've always worked from life...would you sit for me for the painting?" Um...you gotta feature, I'm a shiftless scooter tramp, she's like 80 years old, all religious and holy and grandmotherly...what could I say? So, if you ever are in a little church outside Chicago, and you think the pic of Jesus in there looks a tad familiar...

Bad photo of my Easter Tattoo from a couple of years ago. - - - Updated - - - Your mom is like Jesus, everyone gets a turn. #yomamajokes

I would think that Jesus' knob would be a little lower than that.

I'm working on my Master's Degree in theology at an ecumenical institute that doesn't lean toward any particular Christian Religion. When you say most accurate, that opens a can of worms. Most accurate as in close to the original words, or the original meaning? Some words don't mean the same thing when you consider the context and time they were written in. They will not let us reference the King James version for class work and the preferred version of the bible is the New Revised Standard Version. I'm currently working on my Thesis and I can tell you that it's no wonder religions are so fucked up. You have a bunch of ignorant imbeciles who have never actually studied the bible reading a 400 year old translation of a translation and treating it like a text book that is to be followed literally. As one of my professors liked to point out; in John 10:9 Jesus says, "I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." Do they think Jesus has a door knob in his belly? After all, he said he is the door.

Thanks :) Haven't had anything to write about and I don't want to write for the sake of writing shit :P

LST will be offline for about 30-60 minutes next Tuesday evening starting around 10pm PST. Our web host is upgrading the LST hardware node. I'd say go watch Sons of Anarchy, but the season is over..

Hey there, my names Maria and i live in Blackpool in the UK. I'm really look forward to getting to know you guys...........:D

Well I did too, but I'm a diverse connoisseur of todays youth culture. Like tattoos, I'm trying not to show my age. I still don't understand Kesha, however.

SOA licks sack, I'd say go with the walk-in.

Sums it all up, nothing to add on that. I have still been waiting to see this tattoo in question, I know another user posted a picture of his, but still no picture of tattoo that started this thread. I guess it doesn't really matter at this point, but still want to see the finished product.

@DJDeepFried Save your peonies!!!

Shit, if you get a really big mag going on it, you'll be done in no time!

People who run into me at the beach treat me differently at work... they can't believe what a difference between me at work and out of work. One guy flat out told me years ago he was pissed that he knew me for years and had no idea. Rob

Ugh! I watched the whole thing. I feel every bit as judged by him as I did by that other site we've been discussing... except maybe even more so and worse because he pretends to be so un-judgey initially. Gah!

I have had pieces put on entirely free-hand, knowing ahead of time what it was that was going on, and roughly, how. That involved a whole level of trust that you just can't have with someone you haven't worked with, or someone who isn't a major, major tattooer. If you are getting a large piece done, a sleeve, a backpiece, whatever, I don't think it out of line to have the whole thing laid-out on paper ahead of time. Doesn't necessarily have to be a stencil, but I'd sure want to see the tattoo in it's entirety before I committed to getting it done. When I had my arm sleeved, I already had a decent amount of work on it. The tattoer that did it, Miles Maniaci, wrapped my arm in onion-sheet and traced the old work. A few weeks later he called me into the shop to see his design. I had given him some elements I wanted used, and he did the whole thing on the onion-sheet so that I could see how it looked on my arm. It was tits, and he started it the following week. About thirty-odd hours later, I had a sleeve that I'm still, ten years later, proud to wear. Trust is the key element. If you don't know what someone's ideas and thoughts are for your work before they start, trust is hard to come by. .02

@Hogrider I'm by no means an authority on this stuff, but I'm travelling along the same road you've just started... Part of the reason you can't find what you're looking for is because you're looking for literal or binary meanings. Most of the images you've seen tattooed are taken from Japanese and Chinese folk tales or religious stories. Imagine of you asked someone regarding western cultural art or tattoos: 1) "What does it mean when there's a guy hanging on cross with his arms outstretched?" 2) "What does it mean when there's a woman in blue holding a naked baby" 3) "What does it mean when the muscle-bound guy in the black mask overpowers the brightly dressed skinny man in the clown makeup. The answers depend on your level of interest/sympathy and how abstract or literal you want to be: 1a) It's Jesus. His father, God, sacrificed him to atone for the sins of the world. 1b) The wearer has faith in a religious power higher than himself and possibly feel kinship with or sympathy for the figure and character of Jesus Christ. 1c) The wearer wants to be forgiven for past wrongdoings. 2a) It's Mary, Jesus' mother. The baby is Jesus. 2b) She's a figure of worship because some people believe she should be revered because God chose her as the vessel for his earthly offspring. Her cloak is blue because traditionally goddesses were associated with the moon and night sky. Sometimes it has stars on it. Christianity adopted this symbol to make it easier for people who held older religious beliefs to adopt the new faith. 2c) The wearer may have sympathy or empathy with the concept of being the vessel for divine power or lineage. Also this symbol can have an added element of sadness because we know the eventual sadness and loss of a mother witnessing her only son be sacrificed for the good of mankind - possibly a greater sacrifice than Jesus, some might say. 3a) It's Batman, he's fighting the Joker. 3b) Batman is a symbol of vigilante justice. He works outside of recognised laws to bring justice to a world crippled by wrongdoing. 3c) This scene is a metaphor for the darkness of repressed homosexuality and it's power to overcome the sinister flamboyance of non-hetro feelings. etc, etc. In short, think about what you want your tattoo to 'mean' or 'say' - tell that to a tattooer who knows his stuff and let them find a story or theme that fits your idea. Or just pick one you like from a woodblock print. I try to tell people all the time that western traditional tattooing has just as much symbolism and poetry but nobody will listen. It's all sex, death and the struggles of humankind. Good luck.

I see a couple of people suggesting that its a bad idea to go the freehand route. sorry but that is false. if you go to someone and they cant draw a good design on you chances are that they wouldn't have drawn it any better on paper. I am not saying they don't use stencils and I'm sure they do sometimes but I personally have never seen Richard Stell, Troy Denning or Chris Trevino use a stencil. also I work with both Horizakura and Yoni Zilber who I watch draw on entire sleeves and backpieces that become the most beautifuly executed tattoos. So what im saying is its not the process/approach that is to blame for giving you an unsatisfactory tattoo it is the artist that executed it. I'd hate to see you go into a situation where youre gonna get tattooed by a Chris Garver or Horitomo and he says he's gonna freehand it so you get spooked and end up opting out of it because someone on the internet said that freehand is a red flag. also drawing on the spot is perfectly ok if the artist has the experience and skills to do so. if Gordon Ramsey offered to come to my house and make me dinner using whatever i have in my cupboard I'm not going to request that he figure out the recipe a week in advance because he's going to nail it.

Anybody that lives in a city and hasn't had a gun pointed at them at some time in their life, doesn't really live in the city. .02

Not hating lol. Grew up on Sabbath, zeppelin, johnny cash, Dylan. Now I listen to black/death metal. Just wanted to poke fun a bit

The name Maria reminds me of the Brooks & Dunn song...anyways...Welcome!

Oh to be young and think you know everything...

One of the best tips I have for preventing ingrowns is to exfoliate before shaving. That and some good old fashioned hydrocortisone cream at the first sign of redness worked wonders for me in the days before I switched to waxing my girly bits.

I don't think I said anything about gender?I apologize, I dont really rubberneck much,If I read that a blog sucks I probably won't look at it. I thought those were your ideas,Its easy to confuse old white people.hehehehe

The last two pages have looked like an issue of tattoo time. Seriously.

That would be the beginning of what is to tell, yeah. Still the most elusive tattooer as far as internet info, which I think is what he would've wanted anyway. Tux did almost all of my tattoos in the first 3 or 4 years of getting tattooed starting at 18. His influence on me still continues to this day. Everything I learned about Real Tattooing started with him. His shop was amazing. If you see pics of DeVita's house, that would give you the idea how Tux's shop & house were as well. The lineage from DeVita>Tux>Higgs is easily noticable in each of their artwork.

@irezumi can definitely drop some knowledge on Tux Farrar.

Grime, 2 more weeks :cool:

I don't think that naming names helps and I'd rather use this forum to talk about people putting on great tattoos and to try to educate people about what is a good tattoo and how to get one.

You know when you see cars with bumper stickers from past election campaigns? Imagine that's your face instead.

It works for me if I dont get shot.

rewatching arrested development in anticipation of the new season

Started watching that one evening, ended up watching almost two hours of it! You're right, it's addictive. I've driven by that place I don't know how many times, gotta stop in next time I do. What I always wondered, what would happen if this guy Gold didn't have all the security guys around? Used to go into the pawn shops that at one time were all over Chicago, there was actually one about next-door to CTC when they were at 922 Belmont, and it was always just one guy, maybe two...but you knew there was a shotgun pointed at you under the counter.

If you liked 'I am legend' then you might want to check out the recent anthology 'He is legend' by various contemporary SF and horror authors. Basically tribute short stories using various of Matheson's stories. So 'He is legend', for example, charts the events of world of 'I am legend' through the eyes of a vampire. I'm a huge SF nerd - Just finished re-reading Roger Zelazny's 'Lord of light'. Probably his best work. Quite elaborate, but essentially it's a SF novel playing with the idea of a pantheon of hindu gods who appear to rule over a far future human space colony. The 'gods' aren't really gods, and the protagonist that opposes them isn't really the Buddha, but Zelazny has a lot of fun with the idea that sufficiently advanced science can be indistinguishable from magic depending on who's observing it.

hard to take someone seriously who hasnt made a commitment to the trade