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New in the last two weeks: From Heath Nock today during his guest spot at Handcrafted Miami: And the start of my back, a Sailor Jerry remix from Chris Buckholts at Howl Tattoo/Gallery in Fort Myers, Florida. Little bit of a cover up in that. Kinda self conscious about seeing my entire back but whatever you guys are kind.

Got a couple of filler tattoos last night on my right arm. Both done by James Clements at Fortune and Glory in Shreveport, LA.

I just booked an appointment with Matt Arriola in August. The next 2 months or so are looking pretty cool right now... July 9th & 10th I'm getting tattooed by Freddy Corbin again, August 2nd I'm having a session on my backpiece with Chad Woodley, August 10th I'm getting tattooed by Matt Arriola, and August 22nd I'm having another session on my back with Chad. It's going to be so expensive, but so cool.

got this little grimm-tiger back in march from jelle nelemans

There are some outstanding back pieces in this thread and it's ridiculous. @ironchef I think you were at King Ave getting work done on your back while I was having my second session with Chris. I think it was on a Tuesday some time back in May if I'm not mistaken. I wanted to get a closer look at it but didn't want to bother you guys. As for back pieces go here is one that O'Donnell just did. Not sure if it's from anyone here but this thing is unreal.

Well please excuse my typos on a phone on a bus. I actually almost always go the route of minimal input on artists I like their stuff. You will most probably have to give at least a direction to go in. I mean my rule is 3 words or less. So far things have turned out OK haha. I got my entire leg tattoo from waist to foot off of two words and honestly it is fantastic. My suggestion is to just tell the guy/girl who is gunna tattoo you what your thinking. Also I wouldn't say "tattoo whatever". This has come up in another thread before and honestly I think you will want to give some direction. I mean would you be cool with anything and everything? I know @bunnyswitchblade has a couple of very interesting tattoos from just going that route but you better be willing to take what they give ya. If you like skulls, snakes, daggers, and eagles then say that. They will know what to do. Good luck with your new tattoo(s)!

Haha, I've noticed this too. Reminds me of the Spider Murphy's aftercare card, I always thought it was hilarious. "Don't get wasted, pass out on your friend's couch, and let the dog lick it all night."

essentially i am. but of course you can have an opinion and in actuality we definitely should but, we should realize that its a point you cant hold onto too dearly. tattooing is based on copying and as the industry builds its almost essential to do so, so there is a sound foundation to build upon. its as f'ed up to copy and it is essential to do so all at the same time. i dont like being copied but, in the end, if you copy me that just means i win. then of course you have to ask yourself about those who copy the men and women in this industry who are no longer with us. is it any better to copy the flash they left behind then it is to copy those that are alive? every tattooer should know there is a difference between being an artist and a craftsmen. they should also recognize the fine line they walk between them. the non tattooers should stop putting people on a pedestal and carrying a cross for the justice they seek. no one has any copy rights on anything they tattoo. and things that are put on line are in the public domain unless otherwise stated. when do you think the last time any tattooer filled out the paper work on a tattoo they did. i would be shocked to find out that anyone files those papers(copyright) on their tattoos. oh and the fact that once you sell the design to the client by putting it on their skin, you essentially sold them the rights of the art, and if you dont state in the release that they cant use the art for anything else and you eventually do, they might actually have a sound case against you(the artist) for copyright infringement. does everyone see where this can all go if we start getting technical or am i alone on this. so yes its f'ed up but at the end of the day is it something you really can do something about? can you tell a tattooer that sees themselves as a pure craftsmen that theyre wrong for copying? can you call the tattooer that fancies themselves the artist that they are dumb for not having a deeper contract? ahhh the never ending cycle of questions that this topic can bring :) - - - Updated - - - ^^^^^ kinda ranty and run on... so sorry

Man I just love cats so much

Yeah, ever since I got back Monday one of mine has been on me constantly--I think he thinks if he can figure out a way to sit on my lap 24/7 I will never leave the house again. He tried the face-batting technique but bothering the wounded bits of me nets the most dramatic response.

There are some good shops in the LA area worth checking out. Bob Roberts Spotlight tattoo, Darkhorse Tattoo, Gold Rush Tattoo, a lot more, but I know time is limited. Who are you getting tattooed by in San Diego? @kimkong - - - Updated - - - Can't wait for my little road trip on Monday. I am going to Seattle to get tattooed by Matt Arriola but appt is not till late in the day so going to visit some other shops and hang out in Seattle, probably come back Tuesday evening. After that I probably will slow down until my appt with Matt Howse in August.

What @Delicious and @Joe Shit said there. I'm looking at the portfolio on the Cry Baby website and the first tattoo there is a fallen soldier memorial and it's such a mess. There's no depth or contrast there at all so the design isn't readable, the lines and shading are weak, the geometry of the rifle makes no sense, I don't even know what he was attempting with the boots, there's blue lines instead of stars in the flag...I'm not going to go on. It's a bad tattoo. Take a look through the links Joe posted, see who does tattoos you really respond to and take it from there.

@Pacem what I would do is go to your consult, and tell him what imagery you are attracted to and the particular pieces in his portfolio that you enjoy. It really helps to have -some- sort of idea as to what the client wants, so that when you say "tattoo me" and had something along the lines of a banana tattoo in mind, you don't end up with a hedgehog. So yeah, I'm sure if your artist is able to get a good grasp on your sense of aesthetic and tastes, he will be much better equipped to come up with something original that has the look you are searching for.

I do have to mention it seems dogs like to lick fresh tattoos...my buddies dog always try to lick my fresh tattoos...gross

Your cat is a cat, but yes. One of my cats always craves attention when we leave her alone for a couple of days and while she left my fresh tattoo alone she decided that it was a good idea to wake me up in the middle of the night by pawing me in the eye. The time before she tried pawing me in the mouth but I guess she didn't think that was effective enough.

Small world! I remember meeting you and most important do remember the lower leg sleeve. That thing was insane and the pics you've posted don't even do it justice dude. Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome.

Got a couple of new filler tattoos on my right arm last night. Both done by James Clements in Shreveport. We're getting close to finishing off my sleeve at this point.

Hey dude! We've met! I had just finished my leg with Chris O'Donnell and my pal was getting tattooed by Tony Hundahl at Kings Ave. You were starting your half-sleeve with Chris. Good to see you on here!

If you have more tattoo machines than clients, that is too much. Guy who tried to be a tattooer I know, worked one day a week had to bring his own clientele, always had a new machine to show off, never had anyone to tattoo.

Fixed that for you. :)

Here we go. Apologies for the suit...unfortunately my plans for world domination have gone to shit so I still have to work for the man. Really cool experience. Can't wait to read the book. Ed was super nice and friendly.

I'm a new poster here, and thought i'd say hi in this thread. My backpiece, finished a couple of months ago, by the amazing Stewart Robson of Frith Street tattoo. It was an absolute pleasure getting this piece, and getting to spend time with such a knowledgeable and insightful guy; an experience I was very lucky to have. Excuse the inlarged instagram pic, it's all I have

I know this is the Bad Tattoo sub-forum, but let's all take a moment to remember how fucking cool Freddy Corbin's face tattoos are.

Hi, I've been a tattoo enthusiast for a few years now and I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the artist interviews on this site so thought I'd finally sign up to the forum. I'm a big fan of Japanese tattooing and have 2 three quarter sleeves done by Diego Azaldegui in Leeds UK. I'm currently deciding on what I want for my back piece and hoping to get started on that soon.

Please take a moment to check out the site. We are super excited about the tattooer lineup! NAZTF Artists

Yeah,I just checked out the site,and agree.And you want that to cover-up something is another challenge that should be taken up by a solid tattooer with experience doing cover-ups. hammer down... Todd@ Marvel Tattoo | South Bend, IN Dusty@ BLACK ANVIL TATTOO | FORT WAYNE, IN

That is my thoughts exactly, but I don't want to stop anyone from submitting what they feel they want to. How does the saying go again, when it is just an outline it should look good, when it's shaded it should look finished and when it's colored it should look perfect.

Healing my knee hasn't been nearly as bad as I was expecting--my right leg is ALMOST the same size as my other leg already--except my cat seems to think my kneecap is exactly where he should stand with all his (admittedly slight) weight at least three times a night. My cat's an asshole.

with the level of tattoos on here hard to see a half done tattoo winning, but still fun to see progress, but I guess there is other threads to do that.

I'm currently road tripping across America with my girlfriend, it'll be about 10 weeks in total, coast to coast, seen some amazing things so far and we've only made it to New Orleans. Still got to head north, she's from Wisconsin so it'll be a family 4th of July. Then back down the east coast. It's quite a country you've got here!

awesome pieces so far. as for "just one tattoo"...at the end of the day when all your tattoos are connected into one cohesive body suit it will just look like one big tattoo.

Funny you mention short, for the longest time I used to think Chris Conn was really short because I always saw this picture of him hanging up in the drawing room. Until one day someone said he is sitting down dumbass.

El Carlo recently finished my fiance's chest...

I just got my back lined a few days ago and I was expecting the ass portion to be excruciatingly painful. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't bad at all. It was actually one of the easier spots in my opinion. No drugs or anything. Just eat right and sleep well beforehand.

Nothin like poverty to put things into perspective, eh... Reminds me of some cities in South-east Asia where people will spend their week's earnings on a starbucks just so that they can be seen with it in their hand on the weekend. Really sad stuff.

If it ain't a metal shirt, I'm not wearing it.

I have but one, so yeah, I'm jealous. Looks great!

I totally fruit looped all over my acupuncturist's table this morning. Oh, the glamour of tattoos.

Healing the ditch is pretty serious business, huh? Glad I only have to do it once more.

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

Finally went over to White Lotus and met Stacey! She's so sweet and the shop is awesome. So I put down a deposit and two weeks from Friday I will be finishing it.she said she could pound it out all in one sitting... and a GREAT rate. My jaw hit the floor when she gave me my quote. Ill post photos when I'm done

First I find the Beer thread and now THIS? Man, I love this place ;')

John Sultana who tattoos at Saved instagrammed this sheet of roses that is going to be in a book of rose flash that will be published by Zach Nelligan and Ezra Haidet. I think this is super cool:

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

Watched Looper yesterday, it was better than I thought it would be even though Bruce Willis is in it.

@Kahlan - they said in the video "any where, any size tattoo" - they showed one guy who had a dime sized logo on the inside of his ankle. They went on to say the one sales person had a commission that month of $25k with the tattoo, had they not had the tattoo it would have been around $15k. When you start talking about $10k a month extra, I think most would give up a square inch of their skin in a nondescript place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RypZcxDe7as

Well, the arm they're on has got 20 years on you!

"Well, I finally got my period. I just wish my breasts weren't so sore and tender..." (I was going to make a comment like "Only I can prevent Breast Cancer"... but then thought it may be slightly on the not cool side... but y'all can make up your own minds ;) )

I show up an hour early, stand in the window and shake with excitement while chain smoking and yelling "COME ON FUCKER. COME ON!!!"