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Finished up this thigh fight yesterday, from Nash at Thicker Than Water

He really is a great story teller. He told stories about the tattoos he has. He also showed me a ton of flash that he owns but doesn't have enough space on the walls to put them up. Everyone needs to get tattooed by Tomas. Awesome guy.

Got this from Tomas Garcia at Sid's in Santa Ana, CA. He has a special book of line drawings that he'd love to do. I had trouble deciding between two designs in particular, so he took both designs and made it into one. It was definitely a great experience over at Sid's. The entire crew is extremely hospitable. Very down to earth crew. I'm a fan for life. Tomas even drew up some hand made lettering for me too.

Countdown. 45 days. Last sitting with Mr. O'Donnell. Gonna try and sneak in an apt with one of the Daniels' (Trocchio or Albrigo)

All right, let me try to get the pictures right in here then. The work was done by Dutch Cooke, over at Immortal Ink in Clinton, NJ. As I said, I've always wanted tattoos, but could never decide on what I wanted. Getting the brewery started, along with a shift in the way I look at tattoos, finally got me decided on hop vines. These pictures are about 4 hours after the work was completed. I spent 2 1/2 hours in the chair to get this far, and have another session in a few weeks for color and shading. I'm really pleased with how it came out, and how he made my vision fit my body. I can't wait to see it done, but I'm really, really not looking forward to shading that collarbone! Freakin' ouch. It's still a little bruised up. But it seems to be healing well--no blood, and very little ink loss on the inside of my clothes. Comments are welcome. As it's my first, I'm still learning what to expect. -Joe

Thanks man! Dare I say, the thighs are a cake walk.. at least the fronts of 'em. And not so much when you get up into the "bathing suit area" where the tails go. Could literally watch how the skin change affected the line/color.. crazy.

It's okay @beez we all got into tattoos to stare at manass.

So we have tattooers who have brought so much knowledge and insight and richness to this board talking about how they don't post much anymore because there isn't much here to interest them, and then here we get reddit's leftovers because alt models, mediocre tattoos, and BOOBS. Well done.

I'm planning a trip to Austin, Texas in early May and I'm looking for suggestions on things to do, see, eat, and where to stay. ***I already have an appointment at Rock of Ages w/ Steve Byrne so I don't need tattoo suggestions :)

Greetings, all. Been a browser here for a while. I finally got my first tattoo (age 37) a few days ago, so I thought I'd introduce myself and share some pictures (I'm guessing the Latest Lowdown thread is the place to do it). A little more about me? Sure. I grew up in NYC (Staten Island, to be precise) and now I live out in the woods here in Long Valley, NJ. I'm a computer programmer by trade, beer brewer by passion. I'm hoping this year to make that passion a job, which was one reason I finally got the tattoo I've always wanted. Cheers! -Joe

Lango Oliveira

I haven't been doing much lately other than work and wedding plan (next week's the big day!) I have found time to get tattooed ( thigh panel by Scott Ellis) but the process has been moving slowly because I wanted to be healed for the honeymoon (beaches and diving and stuff). I'll be back in full post mode in a few. I know this is titled "where did the tattooers go?" not "where did the postaholics go?", but someone mentioned non-tattooers so I thought I'd chime in since I was around;)

If you can afford a tattoo, you can afford to wait and save more money to travel to get tattooed.

The first tattoo I recall seeing was in Brockville, Ontario, sometime around 1977 or 1978. I was about 8 years old, and I had gone into a convenience store and the old guy who ran the place had rows of pictures from his WWII days in the Royal Canadian Navy. He had a series of schooners down his arms. I remember looking at those pics and then at the man himself, recognizing the blued and now blurry tattoos down his arms. I thought he was the coolest old-timer I'd ever seen. I was not from the area, but whenever I was back in Brockville, I wanted to go back to that store. He was gone by the early 80's. but his tattoos made a huge impact on me. I can recall my mother wondering why I was so insistant that we go back to that particular store. Around that same time I found a magazine or book in my parents home that also captivated me. The memory is hazy, but there was a grainy picture of a guy, probably a WWII sailor, with his shirt off and he had tattoos on his chest - probably swallows. Birds of some kind. I wish I had the magazine still, but it has been lost for decades. At any rate, I always loved that look, and many years later, I opted to get very similar tattoos on my chest.

Sage advice.

Fuck this thread.

You can walk mostly where you need. 6th street and the warehouse district isn't more than a couple of blocks from either other. You can take a taxi but we have pedi cabs around downtown. I would only use a taxi if you want to go to the east side. It will be in the 90s maybe even 100 but May. Bring plenty of shirts and most clubs don't have a dress code unless you dress like a gangbanger or wear sandals/flip flops. Rock of ages is about 5 to 7 mins away. You can take a bus from downtown to them. Possibly take an one half to a full hour to go though the stops. If you want to go up to north Austin, rent a car. We have zip car and cars2go. Little smart cars that have there own parking at certain places. Barton Springs is good to go to. It is about 68 degrees year round and really chill and walking distance to a couple of restaurants. Some girls will be topless and if you have a dog you can take it to the dog area for it to run around in the walk or take it to lady bird lake. If you have anymore questions just holla. Also @fallingapartart lives in austin - - - Updated - - - Have you been to Austin?

perhaps to justify its characteristics.

Okay- i'll start my own morning column here. Ha ha. Thank you for the kind words

Nothing wrong with your posts being authentic. If people here are so soft they can't handle that, then this might not be the right forum for them.

Of anyone here, you have more right to be preachy. You, Don and the rest of your family represent the kind of authenticity that cannot be faked, styled or imitated. A beacon for us all.

Another frustrating part is trying to finish work in time for the photo shoots! I'm SO FUCKING STOKED to have been asked to be part of this. The exhibition will be amazing but the catalog will be on a different level. So much of what most modern Western tattooers and customers know about Japanese tattooing is because of Taki (Shodai Horitaka) - He has published invaluable books at affordable prices that we (Japanese tattoo lovers) have all benefitted from. He has also published books about other styles of tattooing that were awesome. If that isn't enough, he was also responsible for most of my favourite interviews in Tattoo Life magazine with some of my favourite American tattooers. Many of his books form key parts of a tattooer's library. They stand well on their own but also are perfect as jumping-off points to delve deeper into the subjects if you're that way inclined. I think the Perseverance catalog will do the same.

Thanks for bringing this up @Shannon Shirley while we've never met, people who I think are awesome tell me that you're awesome. Everyone here should pay attention to what this guy says. I still check the forums every day but I told myself I'd try to only get involved if I could be constructive in some way (even being a dick in a particular way can have a positive outcome). Lately there hasn't been much 'new' information or discussion where I felt my opinion would make any difference. Often someone else gets to the point before I do. I don't want every post I make to be a verbose "Me too." On the other hand... The more help or insight we give, the more help or insight we're asked for. Everyone likes to say they "Did their research" for their tattoo but that often just means looking at pictures in a Google search or checking Instagram. But what about the kind of research where you follow an idea that someone mentioned and find out for yourself? Learning and discovery is fun. Information discovered is more cherished and valuable than information that's spoon fed. Everyone wants a book or website recommendation where the mysteries of life and everything will be explained, with pictures. Explorers will eventually tire of conversing with tourists and consumers but they may feel nourished conversing with other explorers. (I use these terms with their proper, non-insulting intention) If more people try to be explorers (intelectual, spiritual or physical) this site, and the world will be a better place. I've said it before but I don't come here to help with tattoo questions. We have a phone at Frith Street Tattoo. Helpful people are paid to answer it and answer questions. Most tattoo shops work with a similar system. You can get a helpful answer pretty quickly that way. Even if you're in another country. International calls are not very expensive compared to the price of a tattoo. I come here because I realised that it was a place where professional opinion meant something. I only started typing when I knew that nobody better qualified had answered. The turning point for me was Bryan Burk's post about Japanese tattoo politics. Finally we had first-hand, sensible and interesting information or opinion from a reliable source instead of conjecture or wiki-regurgitation. I knew then that I'd beter keep my mouth (or keyboard) shut unless I was sure I could contribute something worthwhile. I'm aware this approach doesn't make for a lively forum but it was great to see it in action earlier this year when Bart Bingham put a halt to some whining about tattooers drawing directly on the skin with a simple, direct and thoughtful post. Sorry for the lack of links to threads and @ mentions. LST seems to be loading extremely slowly so I couldn't check where stuff was. Other that the fact that one of my favourite tattooers started this site, I still like it that real-world experience holds water over post-count here at LST. I also like it that the mods (well, the one's I've met) are heavily covered with genuinely great tattoos. That really makes a difference.

In 1973, I was 17, living at home, and very rebelous. My dad, was like Archie Bunker. One night A buddy of mine said "lets go get a tatto". And so we did. We drove to Long Beach, the 'Pike'. Saw a shop called Leroys. An old guy was standing outide the door and I asked him if he was Leroy. He didnt say a word, just rolled his lower lip down so I could see where he had tattoed his name on the inside. Chilling. So I got a Harley tattoo. Back then they would tape a gauze patch over the work for a day. When I rolled into the house, Dad flipped, "Jeeeezus Christ, Is that where you been shooting drugs?" It was so funny I started laughing, which didnt make the situation any lighter.

Was just pokin' around the internet and saw this on Yellow Blaze Tattoo's site. What a lineup!! I poked around the forums to see if anyone else had posted this yet, couldn't find any references but may have missed something. Apologies if there is any redundancy!

I am from the Chico area and the worst thing about Sierra Neveada is that they do not bottle and sell my favorite brews. It forces me to drive to the brewery and fill up growlers.

There cooler bars/venues on the Eastside- don't waste your time with 6th Eastside Bar Crawl - Photos - The Austin Chronicle Be sure and pick up an Austin Chronicle when you get to town- it'll help with the navigation.

This is largely how I feel about tattoos at all times! hahaha ;)

I would love to pop over to Frith Street, but I am only in town for a few short days to see my sister, and unfortunately our schedule does not allow it! It is on my list and I will absolutely get there at some point - just not this trip. :) I scored an appointment with Fred at Tribal Act tattoo for tomorrow!!! :) :) :) Your suggestions have been aces so far - thanks again! - - - Updated - - - I haven't heard of him - I'm glad to have a new artist to learn about though! Thanks @MoistTowelette! Googled it and it looks like the proper spelling is: stephane chaudesaigues. :)

I just wanna go to see Lucero. When the fuck did Pennywise get back together?

I feel like I shouldn't say anything about it. So I won't. Although, you havemade some damn fine choices for the remaining spots you have.

Hello from Seattle, Kahlan! LOVE the belly dancer. Can't wait to see it all finished. Welcome to LST!

@hogg I can't stop looking at pics of your backpiece (in non-creepy way). It's gorgeous. And just one of the many gorgeous tattoos I see on this forum and I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT FOR THIS EXHBIT! I seriously nearly wet my pants when I saw the flyer. I thought it was a joke or something - how many awesome tattooists can you fit in one show? (A shit ton, apparently). @Stewart Robson I'm super stoked that you are a part of this show too!:) (admirer from a far) (also in a non-creepy way) ;)

I'd like to but I'm not sure if I'd be tattooing if I visited for the exhibition. I hope to do the Long Beach show next year as well as the usual SFO convention in October. If you email me at [email protected] and let me know which cities you can get to, when I'm planning trips I can let you know. Thanks.

As an ex-force recon Marine, this kind of hits home a bit. In the last couple of years, marines have ween using German translation for normal English terminology. For instance,"teufelhunden". This is what has been translated for the term "Devil Dog." But in actuality, the proper use of the term is spelled as "Teufelshunde" In German grammar, a compound noun is always a single word, so using two words "Teufel Hunden" is grammatically incorrect. The correct German would be Teufelshunde in nominative, genitive, and accusative cases, and Teufelshunden only in the dative. In either form, the linking element "s" steps between the words. Either way, who's gonna argue? LOL. Its only an "S", but its kind of cool to offer the knowledge of them having a choice, if ya know what I mean.

Can't wait. Hey, @Stewart Robson -- any chance of you coming out to L.A. for it? I'd love to get tattooed by you!

Love them 80's heart shaped face girls that came of GTC this is by Mike Brown

Interesting History They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & Sold to the tannery... if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor" But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot... they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell... Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting Married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!" Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof... Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs." There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold. (Getting quite an education, aren't you?) In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat. Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would Sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake. England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive... So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer. And that's the truth....Now, whoever said History was boring

I've never been tattooed by him, but everything I've ever seen from Martin looks top notch. He just recently (within the past two weeks) opened an instagram account. Regardless, I'd doubt you'd be disappointed with anything from him. Philly's a very underrated tattoo city.

Thank you, @Shannon Shirley and @Stewart Robson for starting this thread and adding to it. I agree that part of what attracted me to LST is that some of my favorite artists posted here, along with other artists that I've come to be familiar with thanks to LST. And the passionate, knowledgable collectors here are unrivaled. I'd love to see more great tattooers post here. I know that Jojo Ackermann, Bryan Burk, Juan Puente, Mario Desa, Nick Colella, Doug Hardy (to name but a few) have posted here in the past, but don't much any more. I mention them by name not to call them out, but because I genuinely admire their work as well as their opinions. And of course, they all have great, great stories! For my small part as a moderator, I try to help LST be the kind of place where tattooers feel welcome and want to share their knowledge, tell some stories, weigh in with considered opinions, and of course, bust a few chops here and there. Non-tattooers can only benefit from that kind of community. I am very grateful to everyone else who has the same goal.

Hello everyone, this is my first post here on LST, I'm a tattooer from California and have been curious to come on the LST forum and see what it had to offer. I do believe a controlled and open-minded forum is such a great tool to educated and enlighten folks to some of the nuances of the tattoo community. As I began to read this post, I hoped, that I would find there are still tattooers with a voice contributing to this site. I find it absolutely refreshing to see that, not so far into this Post, a well respected and talented tattooer, @StewartRobson posted an articulate and well thought out reply. I look forward to 'exploring' the forum more and also contributing where I can. Thanks! Joe

Maybe things have picked up for them. Thank you to the artists that do i.e. you Shannon, take time out of their day to comment. There does seem to be a lack of quality lately on the forum of questions and answers. I don't think Stewart, Valerie, Mario, Dan, Bryan, you( Shannon), or who else that is a professional, wants to have their name on a thread about " I am new here and bought a tattoo kit off eBay" or " I am a vegan, that wants only tantric music playing while I get my tattoo of a reminder to not screw my neighbor that is an alcoholic because I pistol whipped him with my taser!"

Poor soul? No, that would be described as DUMBASS! Getting tattoos from unqualified kitchen-mechanics just isn't very bright.

Righteous work. Now all he needs to do is go back to the first place, bust up all his equipment, and do the roadhouse hop on the tattooers head.

Tony Nilsson at Blue Arms Tattoo in Oslo, Norway is doing incredible girl heads in my opinion. I just recently started paying attention to his work and it is very solid. I would definitely love to get a tattoo from this guy.

i like this mitch love ship/lighthouse/lightning scene flash/painting.. im def looking into get a whole ship scene like this, probably with a captains head too, before the year is out.. - - - Updated - - - and achor. i want to see how much naval shit i could shove into one peice..

@Petri Aspvik it doesn't spell 'Jesus' s such. It spells 2 initials of the Roman/Latin title of Jesus. I think it's the same symbol as the reverse of this coin: I can't find the exact source online but it was explained in detail in a recent BBC documentary on the history of christian art. Maybe it was the full version of this show: BBC Four - The Dark Ages: An Age of Light, The Clash of the Gods Sorry to derail this thread but anyone interested in history, art or symbolism should check out the BBC Four documentaries on BBC iPlayer. To keep this on-topic, in the apple itunes store there are many lectures and short docs on Japanese art in the iTunesU section - For FREE!

@goldocat Don't beat yourself up though, it's all part of the learning curve. Judgeing by your choice of artists I'd say you've got 99.9% of your research spot on. I must admit you've now got a really tough choice. My advise. Don't offend either book both of them. Sorted :)

i was 16 or 17. i got a small tattoo on my calve. back then i never wore shoes or socks. as soon as school let out the shoes and socks came off. so the day after i got it done i was in the kitchen and i had socks on(to hide the tattoo) and the conversation went like this mom "so letes see it" me "see what?" mom "the tattoo. dont play dumb" me "i dont know what youre talking about" mom "BS, youre wearing socks. youre hiding something."