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Done by Neil England. 8.5 hours at the Seattle tattoo expo. He was a machine!

Went to the State of Grace BBQ yesterday, where I met several people with super killer backs, torsos and suits by Horitomo, Horitaka and Drew Flores. And I took part in my first group "shirts off" pic: And here's my with Horitomo (top) and Horitaka (bottom). Super awesome dudes, and Drew makes a mean carne asada!

I am topping this so that you guys who have been tattooed by him can tell me how stoked I should be that I just got a convention booking with him and how fucking awesome it's going to be.

If you are having trouble thinking of something, I would encourage you to think beyond literal imagery, and think about what could convey how living with your stutter has made you feel/what role it has in your life/or how you have coped with it. People around here can be very resistant to tattoos with big meanings behind them, not because tattoos should not be meaningful, but because when we go for very literal imagery to convey something it can look stilted and forced. So try to "think outside the box". For example, this past year I defended my PhD, and wanted a tattoo to mark that for me. I ended up getting a torch, which is obviously not something that "obviously" represents the meaning I was going for, but it was perfect. To me the torch just felt like it captured that moment and how it felt for me perfectly. It evoked the medieval feel of the university where I studied, it made me think of something you'd carry through its underground books stacks, it was at once something dark (reminding me of how difficult my process was), and the fire of a torch also evoked light, and having survived the process! So totally non-literal, but really based on the image feeling like it could capture what I needed it to capture. So think about what your stuttering tattoo is about. Is it about marking something that has affected your life negatively, or is it about your overcoming an obstacle? Is getting a tattoo about it your way of marking its role in your life, or giving yourself some strength in dealing with it, or marking that you've moved past it? I realize that I sound like a big hippie here, but once you figure out what the tattoo's meaning is in a deeper way, it liberates you in terms of imagery a bit. If it's about overcoming an obstacle, then think about what tattoo imagery makes you feel like "fuck yeah! I am tough!" or whatever. Doesn't have to be something that literally signifies your stutter, but rather something that evokes its role in your life. That may end up being like, a dragon or a dagger or something.

This is the view from my front door for the next 3 weeks. America. Fuck yeah.

@hogg displaying beautiful "asian squat" or Ass to grass technique in the 2nd pic

Just booked my flights to Japan for the first week of December. No idea how I'm going to pay for everything, but I'll work that part out later.

That's a notoriously bad show. In stark contrast, as @David Flores points out, the State of Grace show (Bay Area Convention of the Tattoo Arts) is one of the best in the world.

I stutter sometimes, but more in languages other than English. It's gotten better over time. Why not get a Porky Pig? :)

A lot of judgements on appearances in this thread. Thank goodness nobody ever judges us on how WE look.

years ago I had tattooed a few different developmentally challenged people, and at first its a little different and odd,but after your done they always seemed more happy and satisfied than your usual customer. Tattoo's can and do bond us together in many different ways. these "special needs" people need to feel special and ok , just like everyone. I have also tattooed a few physically challenged people ,who have passed a long time ago , they to deserved that same respect, to feel special and ok.

Jeff Gogue: Pretty damned spectacular.

It's made from heavy metal and unicorn blood.

1 Shot Rib Tattoo (5.5 Hours) by Tim Hendricks at Gold Rush Tattoo .

We got married last Thursday if that applies :D Wedding last thursday and my new larger tattoo started the sunday! good week eh! :D

Go to Inksmith and Rogers.

There are many routes you can take with this as mentioned above you can look into literal or symbolic tattoos. I personally get tattoos that are less literal and more symbolic. I like the veiled cloth over a ladies face idea, seems like it would make a nice looking tattoo as well as be a bit more "to the point". Porky the big would be more direct as well and be a bit for fun too. I got the idea for my dragon tattoo after certain life events as a sign of power. It makes a killer tattoo, as well as powerful imagery. You can also look into phoenix tattoos as they are about "rising from the ashes". They also make killer tattoos and have some strong symbolism behind them. If I can convince my friend I'll take a picture of his huge phoenix tattoo he got from Regino Gonzalez. In college there was a kid I knew who was dyslexic that got a tattoo in reference to that of a word all misspelled on purpose to show his struggles. While I know he loved it I personally would go the more symbolic route. Also where are you located so we can suggest good artists in your area. Welcome to LST.

I have brought cookies before and bottles of water. I always tip. If you know that the tattooer is fond of something particular, and you have access to these types of items, then I think a gift is an awesome idea, but only if you've been tattooed by them before. If its your first time meeting them, a gift could be awkward and out of place.

Too much butt wink if I had a bar on my back, though. :)

Hahaha I know, right? I still kind of can't believe I am getting tattooed by the dude in less than a month. We rewatched his Tattoo Age last night and I am so excited it's not even funny.

@Pugilist !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Say what?!?!?!?!

I would recommend browsing through the galleries here and the latest tattoo lowdown thread. They will show you the different types of tattoo images and may help you generate some ideas. Welcome! Keep us updated on your first tattoo :)

Well played, my friend.

Here is a little piece of mine :-) This dragon sleeve has been done last year by Bonel of Corazon Santo in The Netherlands, which is currently working on my other arm (and a Phoenix backpiece on my wife :-) )

omg you're getting tattooed by neutral milk hotel.

After wading through the 433 pages of great art here i thought i'd include my own art too :) Currently my artist and I are working on my second sleeve (and chest piece), this sleeve is Tamatori-Hime themed. And a close-up of the chest piece: Next week we are going the continue with the background on the upper arm, and start on some coloring. This is a picture of my other sleeve that we did last year: And the chest piece: All the work is being done by Bonel of the Corazon Santo tattoostudio in The Netherlands.

A while ago I came across this newspaper article about Nick Wasko, who tattoos at Port Side Tattoo in Vancouver (actually, just checked that and it looks like the shop just closed down and it's not clear if/where he's tattooing now), and his attempts to document the history of traditional tattooing in Vancouver. Tattoo Historian Follows Ink Trail of Art It's a cool article about a subject that it seems like not many people know that much about. The most famous old-school tattooer in Vancouver is probably Doc Forbes (the pin-up article at tattooarchive.com claims that Sailor Jerry considered Doc Forbes one of his big influences in his pin-up designs), and there are plenty of pictures of him and his tattoos around. There are some here on the Old Tattoo Photos thread, and I recall seeing a bunch in Hanky Panky's 1001 Tattoos book as well. Wasko has gone a lot deeper than that though and is trying to find as much as he can about tattooers that there is seemingly very scant information on. The article is brief, though it hints at a lot. As far as I can tell from my own research, the designs in "traditional Canadian" tattooing aren't remarkably different than those in traditional American tattooing. The Lucky Supply Tattoo Museum has a dozen sheets of Doc Forbes' flash up for viewing on their site and the designs closely follow the traditional canon of roses, daggers, ships and anchors, eagles, snakes, dragons, ladies, etc. As an aside, this was the root of my interest in the subject...eagle tattoos are awesome, but what did Canadians traditionally get? Moose? Beavers? No, they got eagles. Though in Carol Clerk's Vintage Tattoos book I'm pretty sure that I saw some WWII-era Canadian naval designs that had beavers on them. Thomas Lockhart's West Coast Tattoo in Vancouver also has a tattoo museum and there are a couple of examples of old Canadian flash, one by F.A. Baldwin (described there as one of Canada's first tattooists) dating back to 1910-1920: I've gathered other tiny bits of information about the history of tattoos in Canada--for example, Amund Dietzel ended up in North America after being shipwrecked off the coast of Quebec; Betty Broadbent apparently tattooed in Montreal (I would guess as a travelling carnie thing?)--but nothing systematic. I don't know, I'm a nerd about this kind of stuff. Does anybody have anything else? Most of the information we have seems to be about Vancouver, which isn't surprising since that's probably the Canadian city with the most important tattoo scene both because it's a port and because geographically it's on the West Coast and is connected with West Coast tattooing generally (eg D.E. Hardy tattooed in Vancouver for a while), but what about Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax? These cities must have tattoo histories as well, probably especially Halifax (probably worth looking into Sailor Jerry Swallow here). Is "Canadian traditional tattooing" distinct enough to merit discussion on its own instead of just being part of "American traditional tattooing"?

Hi there I'm Ashleigh, 22 from the UK. Just found this forum the other day whilst browsing and its fab. Lots of great advice. I did have a quick question. I currently have no tattoos and am finding it hard to chose something in particular. I mean there's just so much beautiful artwork out there that I am struggling. How did you guys decide on your first tattoos. Also I'm not one for putting meaning into something, when i get a tattoo it will be because i like it not because my dog died =)

"Watched video of 1990 National Tattoo Association Philadelphia Tattoo Convention" I think I have home video of that show somewhere in my OV rubbermaid.

The more i think about it, the more I'm heading towards the dragon route. I have an idea of what i would want, and i think it would be really cool. I live in Florida, and cities that are close are Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona, and Gainesville.

@Pleadco - UNREAL!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Ten Questions: Nick Wasko | TAM Blog Here is a little interview that was just posted.

It's a great feeling of accomplishment when you are able to do something you couldn't before. The first time I did the 25 minute practice dvd, I was sweating buckets and falling all over, and kind of irritated that I used to be in great shape and at that time couldn't do a lot of things b/c my stomach was in the way, or my legs were so big I couldn't cross them. But it doesn't matter-every time you practice, you're getting better at it w/out even realizing it. It does wonders releasing endorphins and making you feel good about yourself. Another nice thing about it is, as mentioned above, shape/size/age-none of it matters. You can have 20 different people doing the same position and have twenty different levels. And the splits, Delicious? Holy buckets I've never been able to do them!

Just to echo these guys, @Delicious, there are all shapes and sizes and ages in my classes. They always say the yoga meets you where you are...everyone is at a different ability level... Some people say, oh I can't do yoga because I'm not flexible, which is crazy because that's what yoga helps you with...over time you become flexible. Over time, difficult poses get easier and your body can change. After 10 yrs there are still many poses I can't do (to their full expression)...but I just keep at it and there are some I can do that once seemed impossible.

Vegans don't cry!!!!

There are all sorts that walk through the door of any given tattoo shop at any time. Mentally competent perhaps, but does the artist want to really slap some ink on them? I've seen them come in rambling while I was in the chair and the artist sighs in relief when they walk out. I've been there when someone that really don't want to tattoo is coming in shortly. I've never really seen a tattoo on someone with a developmental problem and it might be a moral issue for the guardian to deal with. The shop made the right decision. Rob

I'm Eddie or Ed or 'hey you' or 'hey asshole' whatever works for you works for me. ;) Originally from Northern VA, been in NC most of my life. I love Motorsports(except NASCAR :puke: ) I love music of all types, the music is important but the lyrical aspect is what I dig. I'm 33, been married since Sept of of 05' but the wife and I have been together since 98' and have a two year old daughter who likes to name the colors on my tattoos and point at the dragon and tiger and say RAWRRRRR! Trying to teach her acceptance of all types of ppl early on, we're all different right? I love guns and fairly open minded. I also like to write.. Read books and audio books.. I'm just me, I don't care who you are as long as your cool, we're cool, ohhhh... Sometimes I ramble on and make little sense.. So I'm told.. ;) I've always been interested in ppls screen names, mine is from the spoken word track one the first stone sour cd 'omega' What a skeletal wreck of man this is, Translucent flesh and feeble bones, the kind of temple where the whores and villains try to tempt the holistic tomes. Running rampant with free thought to free form in the free and clear. And the matters at hand are shelled out like lint at a laundry mat, to sift and focus on the bigger, better, now. We all have a little sin that needs venting, virtues for the rending, and laws and systems and stems are ripped from the branches of office...Do you know what your post entails? Do you serve a purpose, or purposely serve? Wind down inside your atavistic allure, the value of a summer spent, and a winter earned. For the rest of us there is always Sunday. The day of the week that reeks of rest, but all we do is catch our breath so we can wade naked into the bloody pool and place our hand on the Big Black Book. To watch the knife zigzag between our aching fingers. A vacation is a countdown. T-minus your life and counting. Time to drag your tongue across the sugar cube and hope you get a taste. WHAT THE FUCK IS ALL THIS FOR?! WHAT THE HELL IS GOIN ON?!(Background) SHUT UP! I could go on and on, but let's move on, shall we? Say, you're me and I'm you and they all watch the things we do, and like a smack of spite they threw me down the stairs...haven't felt like this in years...The great magnet of malicious magnanimous refuse...let me go, and plunge me into the dead spot again. That's where you go when there's no one else around. It's just you and there was never anyone to begin with, now was there? Sanctimonious pretentious dastardly bastards with their thumb on the pulse and a finger on the trigger. CLASSIFIED MY ASS! THAT'S A FUCKING SECRET AND YOU KNOW IT! Government is another way to say Better. Than. You. It's like ice but no pick, a murder charge that won't stick...It's like a whole other world, where you can smell the food, but you can't touch the silverware. Heh, what luck. Fascism you can vote for...(scoffs)isn't that sweet? And we're all gonna die someday cause that's the American way, and I've drunk too much, and said too little. When you're gaffer taped in the middle say a prayer, save face, get yourself together and : *See what's happening* (Singsong in background.) SHUT UP! FUCK YOU! (Background) FUCK YOU! I'm sorry, I could go on and on but it's time to move on, so... Remember, you're a wreck, an accident. Forget the Freak, you're just nature. Keep the gun oiled and the temple clean. Shit, snort, and blaspheme. Let the heads cool and the engine run. Because in the end, everything we do...is just everything we've done.

Holy shit these massive one shots are making this thread epic! I guess I gotta step up and get a one shot back piece

I got some good news and some bad news... the bad news is I'm shuttin' down the studio...

Who are the 5 best rappers of all time? O'Donnell, O'Donnell, O'Donnell, O'Donnell, O'Donnell He spits hot fire.

Speaking of Mr. O'Donnell, I start the full back piece experience with him in 2015. I remember at one point in time I thought people were nuts for getting their whole backs done. As time went on though it slowly became something that I admired and dreamed about doing. With that being said it's time to start saving!

whats going on everyone out there, I'm Shanunlcky13 and simply wanted to introduce myself to all those who share the love for the fine art of skin and ink...FYI, a lil punkrock wouldn't hurt either lol! well just wanted to throw myself out there and hope to maybe hear back from some who have similar interests like old skool sailor jerry style art, along with the beautiful "day of the dead" art....and good old fashion punk, psycobilly and rock'n'roll! bands such as face to face, avail, gorilla bizcuits, tiger army, sick city daggers, social distortion and swinging utters. Any of you kats feel free to hit me up! Laterz!!

They say a lot of good things in Texas, that's always been one of my favorites!

Took a trip down to Virginia yesterday and had my consultation with Brian Bruno. First appointment some time in November for a half-sleeve and chest plate. Changed up my original plans of Henning do this because I decided to have him do my ribs instead as that is something I wouldn't mind as having in progress for an extended period of time.

Maybe not that spectacular, but I've booked my first 'all-alone' trip. I've always been fascinated by people who travel the world alone but was always afraid that I couldn't handle it. It's just a 5 day trip (to Krakau, Poland, hooray), but it's a big step. And the fact that I'll be able to say hello to Victor Portugal, whose studio is 10' walking from the hostel, is a nice bonus :)

I can't wait - Appointments with Jess Yen, Chriss Dettmer and Jee Sayalero. 3 artists is the way to do it :-)

I personally do not agree, or care for any organized religion at all. I respect everyone else's beliefs as long as they don't shove it down my throat but yeah, I love religious imagery. I reaaaaaaally want to get a rock of ages tattoo at some point. In my opinion getting a Jesus head tattoo is the same as getting a Devil head tattoo.. and I have 2 devil heads so far.

People have given their answers to your question, and it seems you are ignoring them. This really is fine but I don't understand the point of asking the question. Most posters at LST genuinely try to give the best advice. In the end it is your body and your tattoo, so if you'd like to risk it, that is fine. As far as live and let live, then come back in for a touch, you might hit some friction there. I know anyone who has tattooed me has no problem doing free touchups IF you follow their directions for aftercare.. If you disregard their professional opinion, I'm sure they will touch it up, but at a price. As far as my one personal experience with this, I can say. I've modified the last 3 summers to no pools, direct sun, oceans, beachers, etc because I invested some serious cash, time, pain and my artist's time into my tattoos, and until I'm done healing them all, I will keep doing that. Yea it can suck but I also don't want a wrecked tattoo.

Isn't great that all the shitty spots to get tattooed are in pairs? Ribs, armpit area, ditch of the knee, ditch of the arm. At least after you get one, you only got one more left to do!