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What the hell. Chris O'Donnell. NYC. - - - Updated - - - @Graeme, I expect to see that arm up in a day or two :)

I agree with a lot of this, and a lot of what I find uninteresting with everybody trying to do this "style" now is that it becomes too much about putting a certain technique up on a pedestal instead of using that technique, and many others besides, to create a powerful tattoo. It's the same thing with these guys I see on Instagram who are all about doing super whipshaded traditional. Technique is there to serve the art, not the other way around. And that said, you'll never get tattooed by somebody if you don't ask them because they "seem" busy.

This summer will be a great one for me. After this Saturday I'll be quitting my job after 7 years. Finally going to be awake during the daytime. Then next week Duffa has plans to come up to Tokyo for the first LST Japan meet up. Then in July I'll be in sunny California/Arizona for vacation. Will be starting a new area of my bodysuit as well. Probably my right leg but could be arms.

Doing a short trip to the UK and will be doing a few more hours on the back...... Might get something else while there....

I think my ridiculous run of tattooing is at an end. After months and months of getting work done, I am getting very close to my wedding and my attention must surely turn towards this most important day. My love would like very much if I wasn't taped up, or wounded, or healing as we head into the home stretch. I am certain she is right. So, I had a couple of little filler tattoos done to largely finish up my right arm sleeve. Look for the dice and the flower above them. It has been a great experience, made all the better by being able to share my tattooing with the great folks here at LST. But, come August, work begins on my collar.

Leaving for Ireland and the UK today. Appointments with Stefano and Jordan next Thursday and Sunday, respectively, and a few others to go on my legs as well. Photos will probably be on here when I return stateside.

Around 9 hours or so. So it will be completed at SOG. That will be 23 months from start to finish.

I second @youthcrewalex Yes tattoos are personal, and I understand the urge to get everything and the kitchen sink on your first tattoo, but you'll be wanting more. Focus on strong imagery, and you can build on it from there. A fine tattoo artist will be able to help talk you through your ideas, especially if you are willing to take their advice.

that is ALOT of detail for one tattoo. are you looking to get a sleeve or just a hand size piece? because in my opinion if you want ALL those elements id look at getting a sleeved laid out in a different way to your picture or a much larger tattoo of a similar design elsewhere on your body. otherwise you're going to have a tattoo that dos'nt look as cool or good as it could be. My advice is to research tattooists in your area, look at portfolios and ask to see pictures of HEALED tattoos, once you're happy with an artist then begin talking with them about your ideas for a tattoo. hope this helps and i don't sound like an arsehole

Haha. My guess is he'll wait a couple of weeks for it to heal and then sweep July. ;)

some from the last week from me my half of a split painting with Rick Williams from Family business in london my half of a split painting with Stev Schettler and just for fun a little bit of Stephen Fry

Start networking man. Do some painting and send them to people around you. Send an actual letter to tattooers you respect. Work hard on your art. Developing connections is a super important thing and something I struggle with. There is a great deal to be said for pursing a relationship with other tattooers. Sometimes those relationships can be started with just sending them a painting or something and a thoughful letter.

My back. Finished with Chris O'Donnell. Couldn't be more stoked on it.

Well, now I know what I'll be watching this evening. Thanks!

I just watched this documentary, David Bowie-The Story of Ziggy Stardust. Any other Bowie fans here? http://youtu.be/S_hZ-Z_4ZVg

Let me tell you, it looks so great now all bruised and red and swollen.

I really admire your commitment to getting tattooed like that. It looks so amazing so far.

I assume you are making the transition to being at the shop full time? Awesome man!

Welcome! The best thing you can do is check out tattooers styles that you like. Once you find a tattooer who you would like to work with, take your idea to them and let them design it for you. Chance are they will be able to draw something up better than what you will patch together here or on the Internet. If you let us know where you are located, some one could help point you in the direction of some quality artists to check out. Enjoy your browsing of LST!

Getting a Cobra from Steven Wrigley on the 12th July at Irezumi in Glasgow and a Eagle/Snake combo from Paul Slifer at Red, Hot and Blue in Edinburgh on the 20th August. Can't wait!

Sadly, we haven't done this as much as we should be doing it, though last summer when we were passing through New England, @Pugilist made me a surprise appointment with Ron Henry Wells at Congress St Tattoo in Portsmouth NH and I got a rad little bear head on my collarbone to balance a wolf head I have on my other collarbone. We have matching tattoos though, and next year is our fifth wedding anniversary and we have something super cool planned for that. Also, I finished by sleeve today. Some of you saw some gory in progress pictures.

Y'all may have seen this stained glass piece I've been working on for a few weeks on the Instagrams: Brokeback lady skull based on Mike Fite's banner/bizcard as a gift for him from myself and a good buddy of his. I have one of his variations on it on my thing. Waiting on the wood framing stock to come in so I can ship it off to him. Doing the piece was a big feat for me and I'm super happy how it is coming out. I look forward to doing more adaptations of flash as I grow my personal collection.

Wow! That's the attitude that every great tattooer had when they started. I've never worked in a tattoo shop with Photoshop. I've never showed a customer digital mock-ups or proofs. I can show a customer a sketch and have them in the chair before I could even open the file in Photoshop. That's not 'cos I'm old and slow (I was a graphic designer for a decade before I was a tattooer) I use a copy machine % +/- every day. but sometimes it's much quicker, ant the end result fits better if I draw it on the skin with pens or markers. Nobody was born great at lettering but you can bet your paint-bucket tool that they didn't get good by tracing fonts or typefaces.

I'm really just posting this to get my post count up haha. Apologies. I know most of you are into traditional here, but this was the first proper back I've done and I was fairly happy with it.

As of late I've been on a real kick checking out handcrafted stuff. I've been digging men's jewelry a lot lately and been interested in purchasing some quality rings. Ive emailed bailey Robinson already and a real fan of his work, but he only makes em as he goes and no custom orders. I just found a site called finelighttrading.com (also on Instagram) and will possibly buy from then soon. Do you guys have any recommendations for nice handcrafted things like money clips, wallets, rings etc? Or even other various handcrafted items like deerjerk on instagram does

I got some more work on my left leg,pics when it's healed, the thing is I do photography for fun and I carry my camera with me 24/7,I document my life,so anyway,this is a pretty cool perspective IMO. this was shot with my Canon 50D & Sigma 10-20mm Super wide angle lens,(so there is an intended lens distortion)I love this lens for that reason, the light from the afternoon sun in the window made for crappy shooting conditions,so I did the best I could with all the contrast. :rolleyes: .

He doesn't really do the traditional system. His style is 45 minute sessions, but in normal cases most horishi do tattoos in 2-3 hour blocks. But for him if you want more then those initial 45 minutes you need to schedule 2 sessions Ina day and they most likely wont be back to back.

There's some great advice here, to which I'll add that you should be treated respectfully and courteously by a tattoo artist and that if one is making you feel like a douche or that you don't belong there, then you should be looking for somebody else to do the tattoo.

I really appreciate the kind words from everybody, and I'll definitely take the advice to heart. You're right, Kahlan. I've been feeling quite defeated the past two days and my shop owner doesn't seem to be concerned, making things a bit more frustrating. I'm not going to sit around feeling sorry for myself, and have already begun writing to artists that I admire. As a side-note, I have posted several tattoos in my album section and always welcome constructive criticism. Tear me down for all I care, I simply strive to improve every day. Thanks again for the words and encouragement.

that stiple shading stuff looks good if you use it in moderation, but I don't see why you wouldn't want a whole tattoo comprised of it, and why a wonky badly drawn design somehow becomes bad ass when it is shaded in that manner. Also I would agree that you have to try sometimes to get tattooed. Even a simple email may not always cut it. Call the shop, be polite to the help and just ask what the situation is, since getting tattooed by him means you are going to travel anyway, maybe their is a convention or something that you could book into, or if you can squeeze your way on the cancellation list that could work too.

Any idea how many hours you have left? You must be getting pretty close to being finished.

I wish I could hang out at a tattoo studio all day... but alas I can't, much of a private studio. BuBut i will be able to do all the touristy things I've never done.

Had a really angry post wrote up...decided it wasn't needed.

and if you get over by Colombus you should certainly check out Mike Moses the drown town

I have (1) 7 hour piece, and (2) 6 hour pieces with Bob Tyrrell. Also have a few 4 and 5 hour pieces with Cara Massacre. I try not to fool around :D

Can I be your "other lady"! Ha ha :-P

That's gonna be killer!

I'm booked with Mike Wilson on August 9th for a gorilla head with dagger. I'm excited.

I went back and put the link in my original post (#1170) so you or anyone interested don't have to look it up. Have a blast in Brooklyn! Wish we were in Brooklyn today...we have a bunch of friends & family there. Post pics...

A tattoo shop without photoshop, the horror!

and some more i did today

I'll give this a shot. Done this past April. Jamie Macpherson Unity Tattoo in Vancouver.

The waiting in line experience: Only the first person in line "camped out", I was told he got there at 2am and the shop manager (Jen) hinted that his request was for something you wouldn't expect someone to go to Mike for. A few people arrived around 6-7am and then the majority of the line showed up between 8am and 11am. I got there a little after 11am and there was about 25 people ahead of me. I finally got to the front of the line at 4pm. Waiting in line was actually a good time. More than half the people already had work by Mike and were looking to extend half sleeves, start sleeves on the other arm, backpieces, etc. It was cool seeing Mike's work in person and talking with other people who are passionate about tattoos. I'm excited about getting my backpiece started and wish the first appointment was sooner, but the 21 month wait will allow to me research what I want more thoroughly (although in the end I will probably just throw a few general ideas at Mike and let him take control). Also the wait time gives me plenty of time to save the money for this huge investment. I also think I should use the long wait to adopt a healthier lifestyle so I can survive the 6-8 hour sessions I have scheduled. It will be worth the wait!

Chris Garver Invisible NYC - - - Updated - - - not sure how to add a lager pic..

So I'm back from my trip to LA visiting Bryan Burk and Chris Conn :o I had the best holiday of my life in just three days! and here are the results! Panther is by Bryan Burk, Dark Horse Tattoo and The cat-lady is of course by Mr. Conn himself! Best tattoo experience I have had and probably will ever have, he is something special this guy :o

some more progress on my back. started coloring the face and sword. done by jess yen. no filter!

I made another reaper, I wanted to share it 'cause I'm stoked on it. This is 6.5x6" embroidery and paint on linen. More people need to start posting in this thread again!

Experimenting with decoupage-cold-press paper/liquid acrylic on stained pine with lacquer. Had some issues with things sticking, but not a total wash.