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@jacobyoung I think I saw Matt working on that off and on... a friend of mine was getting a rose on his hand by Albrigo, so I spent some time hovering that general vicinity. Also, I got this at the same convention, from Ron Henry Wells. Photo from his Instagram...

Just started my historical figures sleeve this weekend (by artist Cecil Porter)

This is really awesome, I saw this reposted somewhere but the idiot did not credit the artist, I am so glad I know who painted this now, I just emailed him inquiring about a possible print. FYI, Freddy Corbin has been drawing black pin-ups for years, another reason to love Freddy.

You are correct about that! Turns out Mario desa will be there so I just emailed him about an appt. If I'm lucky enough and rich enough I can get both to tattoo my thigh. That's be a great vacation

Got this out of the Revisited flash book, done by Lee Brooker, Classic Tattoo, Red Deer, Alberta

That's what she said! Rob

New one from Erik Bartholomaus

Some amazing stuff posted here, wow! Here's my entry, by javi Rodriguez guesting at frith street

Just for fun, here is my finished dragon by Kore Flatmo. Its only eight days into the month and there are already so many amazing tattoos posted. Thats pretty awesome.

Appt booked with Tony. Guess well see what kinda tiger I get

I'm in Central Texas until the end of May... I'm seriously considering setting something up with Tony myself. I know, I know... I said I was "taking a break"!!! But, if I put it off until close to the end of this contract that's still "a break" right?

Finally got an updated photo together - this is after two treatments: My business partner has been extremely busy with 5 month old twins so our schedules never seem to sync up, I'm hoping to get a 3rd treatment this weekend.

To end the debate all over the internets... This is the only true 1-shot man-stopper pistol 50BMG In the palm of your hand. In reality there has been soo many statistics and debates over the years that to me show it really just comes down to personal preference. Like myself I prefer a wheel gun for reliability. While I've only had a couple jams or stovepipes over the years, nothing is more reliable than a hammerless wheelgun.

UGH! You make me jealous.

......

"it's so big! it's pretty... but it's so big..."

My mom...whatever, she doesn't like them, she doesn't understand them, but that's fine and she lives on the other side of the country from me so at least she doesn't have to see them. My mother-in-law, on the other hand...I am goddamned terrified of her finding out I have tattoos, plus she lives in the same city as me and has a habit of dropping by unannounced.

First of all, you should have read the newbie guide: Last Sparrow Tattoo - Newbie Guidelines Do not go posting a bunch of meaningless posts just to hit your 10 post requirement! If you want to ask a question right away - just post it in your intro thread. Your first ten posts consisted solely of "Welcome" and "LMAO".... You could just as easily have posted this in an introduction thread. Second of all, why are you asking us for opinions when it seems as you've already made up your mind?

Had my first of three appointments at The Family Business (with Mo) on Friday. We're bringing an old half-sleeve he did on my down into a full sleeve. Got the outline on and some shading, but I'm really looking forward to getting back in to follow on with it... April and May should see it finished. Also squeezed in a brutal drinking session with two old college friends, involving 32% strength beer from BrewDog in Shoreditch. Had to snooze on a bench in the airport before my flight back. Getting too old for this shit.

I'm an apprentice... I started to learn from Richard in 2002, then we all got a long so much I bought his partner Stace out of his partnership, which was Skin & Bones, a completely different business in the same building... As a business minded person I had to set down the apprenticeship, and focus on the piercing business, but knew I would get to be around and maybe get to have time enough to pick up a few things... It never happened, we maintained a partner relationship from then on... In 2009, we were reunited somewhat... after about 6 months, I was his apprentice again, and still am... What I have gathered from my 13 plus years in the body art profession is this, Tattooers or some of them, are a lot like teenage couples that don't think about the big picture, they get all hot and heavy and forget to take that pill or wear a condom, and oops a baby is born, and they themselves are still children... Babies having Babies is not an ideal situation in population or profession control.... Especially if you care about people and people getting good work. And Richard has always ALWAYS said... Taking an apprentice is like getting married and someone taking your last name as theirs.... And there is no divorce, that's forever. Hence even too risky for him to teach or just trust even a friend to tattoo... They are bound to you for the rest of their career, and you want to teach good tattooing, and it's hard to teach something that we should constantly be learning about... especially if you love it.

Tattoo by Chad Koeplinger done at Frith Street Tattoo in London, England Filled up the spot nicely! (and quickly 2 Hours!)

@Dan S, that kid Frank Williams tattoos blow my mind!

I'm pretty happy with Nick's tattooing, so I will stick with him, as long as he doesn't move to frkn Paris or something! I would never rule-out having work done by the other tattooers at CTC, they are all first-rate.

why the sad face @lving4today ? Tony is great! :D

@Mike Panic looks great! Barely visible and I bet you can't even notice it when your leg hair grows back.

My parents have seen my koi 1/2 sleeve on my right arm but they haven't seen my in-progress hannya 3/4 sleeve on my left arm or the panther/snake and rose/dagger on my right leg. They weren't very thrilled with the 1/2 sleeve so the reaction to all of my new work could be interesting... but I'm 26, financially independent, and have a successful career so they can't get super upset and disown me.

brilliant il check him out. thanks Graeme

i prefer the classic lady heads early 1900-1940 ish (grimm,jensen,big ben,wicks) are some of my favs; i always get excited to see a classic pinup head or bust.looks timeless and tuff as hell,cant go wrong!!

Whaaaaat?! @jayessebee I don't know what's going on here and to be honest I think it makes me uncomfortable. So nice job.

My Mom hasn't seen my legs since I just had the one on my calf. My baby sister's graduation is coming up in May and I'm planning on "surprising" the family when I show up in a dress. I'm curious how my Mom will react.

I'm a grown ass man and I'm still scared to show my mom!

Shins sucked, but the worst was the tailbone just above the ass crack. I felt like I was levitating off the table whenever that spot got hit!

I am not a tattooer, tattoo apprentice or have any desire to be...i just like getting tattoos on the regular. Apprenticeship is mentorship. Learn the value of respect, dedication and loyalty to your master and craft. In this day and age a lot of folks have this self-entitlement, instant gratification thing going on. That's the problem. They want something and they expect to get it right away. You don't receive something because you WANT it...you have to EARN it. Why would someone who put the time and experience into their livelihood give it away for nothing? Reminds me of the Sifu-student relationships you see in the old kung fu movies. Do we need apprentices? What we need is more proper Master-Apprentice mentor relationships. Good mentorship to pass down the tradition and experiences and apprentices that value the read-between-the-line lessons and experience and reciprocate with loyalty, respect and devotion. I think the other problem is that there are a lot of skilled people out there, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are skilled teachers. Probably could use more Mr. Myagi and less Cobra Kai types in the tattoo world haha. To relate back to tattoo...spend more time in the shop. I'm not advocating becoming an annoying cling-on or fanboy, but just go get tattooed goddammit! Prove that you will be a good student, a good investment of time for the teacher. LISTEN ASK WATCH and you will be successful in whatever you do. And be aware of any opportunity that comes your way...take it...don't let it pass you by.

We are, indeed - a homely bunch. :rolleyes:

I think these are two of the top reasons why people end up with bad tattoos. They can't wait and they don't want to pay. If you get on his waiting list now you will have at least a year to save for it.

I started an apprenticeship 3 or 4 months ago. I am in the shop 3 days and work 3 days plus a few hours on the days I am in the shop. I have been offered the desk job at the shop for a small wage to allow me to be in the shop more and hopefully learn faster. I feel very lucky to have been offered this and am working my notice now to allow me to take up the position full time. Things seem to be slightly different in the UK, it is rare that you would pay for a good apprenticeship, there is a shop fairly local that have 3 apprentices that have all paid £2,000.00 and are just sat around the shop as the shop just isn’t busy, as someone mentioned earlier it seems that the shops that charge over here are the ones that need the cash whereas if a shop thinks you have the potential to bring in clients they are more likely to actually try to pass on some knowledge. Back to the original question; I agree that there are too many tattooers, but certainly in the UK the majority aren’t great. I think in an ideal world good tattooers who are willing to teach things the right way and of course who actually want to apprentice someone do so as that is the only way that the right way will continue, I know that’s just common sense. I also think that people who are in it for the wrong reasons ought to stop taking advantage of people to make some quick ££. And finally I think people should stop looking to be offered an apprenticeship over the internet (obviously not aimed at anyone here). Some of the other forums I use every other post is just a request for someone to get in touch and offer to teach them.

I saw that and wondered if it was you! Too damn good, Lady! Congrats.

Getting the script on my chest re-worked by BJ Betts last night. Super cool guy and a great experience :D Pix to come later when I can get my wife to take one! Update, here's a before and after...

@Kahlan No lecture here, everyone else seems to have done a great job of that. Just some straight up info: At the shop I work in (Which may or may not have a reputation on being harsh to 'wannabes') we get at least one person each week asking for an apprenticeship. In the summer months we get AT LEAST two per week, often more. Aside from the fact than none of them can draw and most haven't been tattooed at our shop, - I'm not even sure if any of them know what kind of work we do (hint: almost everything) they certainly don't look through any of our folios while they are in the shop. - There is no way that our city can support 52 to 104 new tattooers each year. I've been there since 2007. That would be over 800 new tattooers. But really, shitty tattooers should stop taking apprentices and helping them become shitty tattooers. If a good tattooer won't teach you, tough shit. If a good tattooer does teach you, I hate you because I never got that chance and I did a whole bunch of shitty tattoos while I was 'learning'.

At this point all I'm wondering is which is more offensive on this site: someone saying they should be allowed to apprentice or someone saying they don't like panther tattoos? Good apprentices to good tattooers will always be a benefit to the industry, I would say.

@Deb Yarian made a well written post related to this topic: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/blogs/deb-yarian/312-not-my-gift-you.html

I tried taking a photo of my latest from Javi Rodriguez but unfortunately i have my right arm in a cast at the moment so it wasn't easy. I've settled for pilfering one from his instagram instead. Done at the fantastic frith street on Tuesday.

I think this is the only time that I wish I could see more of your ass.

Grime put it on Instagram so I figured it'd be cool to post here. The ass section of my back... He said he wanted to wait to shade the center of the flower until he sees what other colors are used on the rest of the tattoo. Who am I to question? :D

hi, i am called tim forbus. i live virtually at timforbus.com. i work at acme tattoo in beautiful staunton va. hello.

Tim, I already put Acme up in the "Tattoo Shops" section. In fact, I think I have single-handedly created the Virginia section. I really need a life.

My boss is a literal christian, meaning he believes every word to be the truth. Creationist to the extreme, believes the old testament, yada yada. Overall a real smart dude and overall nice guy, but it just dumbfounds me. He's even open minded to atheism, just knows that he's right and you're wrong. I can't wrap my head around "believe this without any evidence, just do it" but no one applies that logic to any other thinking in life.

Im in no way religious but recently placed a giant St. Francis on my entire belly. It has a deeper meaning to me than its religious implications, so its all good in my book. Get whatever you want if it makes you happy.

This depends if one is a theist or atheist "satanist". In terms of thiestic Satanism one worships demons usually based around the judeo-chritisan religions. Athiestic Satanism usually uses the symbolic demon to represent man's animalistic nature and moral values. So yea your pretty much correct. I would say that most athiests can find correlation with their ideals within the athiestic satanism when you remove the shock-value symbolism. I did a great deal of research in my personal quest to find a religion eventually bringing me to realize I'm just a plain old athiest.

Dang, I wish people weren't so afraid of the word atheist. There's a lot of respect for religion from the non-religious in this thread. I think ROA and some variant of praying hands would be the only things I'd want tattooed because they're timeless. I do enjoy japanese deities and other spirits though. A satan worshipper with jesus christ on his neck seems almost like a mockery, but then again it's possible he got it before he became a satanist or maybe he just likes the way that long haired dude looks