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Why does everyone ALWAYS ask questions on the internet about things that don't directly concern them then get pissy when they don't get an answer? I don't get it? But really, I'll try to be nice... personally I don't answer that stuff online anyway. Here's some reasons why, in no particular order: 1) Many people equate time to cost and base their tattooer choices on cost. Most decent tattooers do not want to be involved in a bidding war or pitching for work. 2) serious customers ask at the shop, via email, the phone, conventions or whatever. We get a lot of time wasters, especially online. Nobody want to entertain time wasters. 3) It doesn't really matter. 4) with very large tattoos the time taken to complete it can vary between clients. Simply looking at a photo on a smartphone doesn't tell you that the client was a giant, or very petite. 25 hours for one client could mean 45-60 for another. 5) some of us get enough comments, likes, adds/requests or whatever on instagram per day that the 'news' or 'updates' tab that we miss it - there's less than 100 spaces in there so 100 likes and 2 comments means that your urgent request is missed. If you need to know how long a particular tattooer would take to give you a certain size tattoo or amount of coverage so you can budget for your tattoo - contact them via the method they prefer, phone, email, whatever. If you're just curious - get over it, you win some, you lose some.

I got this one today from Steve Boltz at Smith Street Tattoo Parlour. I had too much black & grey on my left leg so felt the need to get some color.

Those backs. Goddamn I love tattoos.

Yeah. The next thing you know they'll be pitting "artists" against each other, timing it and making them COMPETE!!! Hey, wait a minute . . . .

I would just get more tattoos and not stress out about small things.

@Iwar found this photo yesterday. Mike and Mike, Rubendall and Roper. Sooo good! Coolest thing I´ve seen in long time! Another dragon-king, Hide Ichibay:

From a customer perspective, I care 100% about the outcome much less about how long it took. Some artists are fast some are slower.

Stewart always says it better than I can

:p You can tell which are Jondix and which Mike´s.

Haven't posted in a bit... Session number... 7 or 8, I think, from Mike Rubendall today. Finally hit the ass, which made my ribs seem like a breeze. About two months ago Thomas Hooper finished my torso: And then one from Scott Campbell about 3 weeks ago:

Boo.. you'll be missed!

A few years ago I started thinking about getting an old one covered up and I kept hearing this advice. It seemed counter-intuitive at first, but I now firmly hold this belief. Get more and you'll find you stop worrying about it. In fact, I came all the way around and now really like the one I was going to cover up.

For every person that has a tattoo there are 100 more that are going to get one.

Also, just as a general practice, don't self-diagnose for anything. The internet is the last place to get answers to medical questions. Too many variables, 'what ifs' and potential possibilities. The internet certainly provides the quickest source of info, but by no means is that info reliable.

Go back and show the person who did it. Regardless. Do that. Not only can you usually avoid bad advice but also, if you develop any problems/reactions, etc from a tattoo or aftercare. Your tattooer will want to make notes anf ask you some questions and document everything. This is important in figuring out what's going on as well as helping to avoid potential problems in the future.

Here's my rib tiger Ross Nagle did while he's here in Chicago.

and i imagine the drive through vermont would be nice... discuss this with my girlfriend and see what she thinks...

Could have been the beginning of a glamorous modeling career!

My favorite recent personal experience. This was Monday. I was out for a jog, which is a sight in it of itself. I was crossing a street and noticed a small SUV teetering towards a stop sign, but thought nothing of it. As I passed I heard, "Hey, hey, excuse me." I stopped, assuming the person needed directions. I turned around..."What's up?" "You've got beautiful tats." "Uh, thank you..." "Do you ever let people photograph you? Would that be something you're interested in?" "No, that is not something I am interested in." I then jogged off. This exchange stayed with me the rest of my run. Mainly because I was near the park, and if the guy wanted a mouth fuck, he could've been more direct. I still would have said "no" but I appreciate a candid nature.

A few months ago I was planning on going but then I made appointments to start my backpiece in 2015 so the smart thing to do would be stay home and save my money for that huge project. But Montreal is only a 5 hour drive away....

Okay, I have had my first comment about my visible tattoo and I laughed at her. I had a mother at school pick-up say to me "you know that's permanent, right?" to which she got me saying sarcastically "No? Really? Oh shit!" and rolled eyes. That was closely followed by her muttering "I think tattoos are disgusting".

plastic wrap is cheap at the grocery store, sterile bandages from a medical supply place cost more. like @daveborjes said, it's just to get you home. usually because some local health dept requires you to leave with something on it. it's not for healing the tattoo up. so whatevers on it, take it off when you get somewhere to wash it up and do your first aftercare ritual.

Ever? I know that England508 on instagram has posted how long certainpieces take, and I have seen it other places. To speak to your question though from an outsider's perspective, the amount of time spent on a piece, especially large ones, could be seen as a private matter between them and the client. They spend a lot of time and energy on certain pieces, and are already sharing the photos. If they wanted to volunteer the info, then cool, but some might not see it as the casual onlooker's business. That's just my ignorant perspective though.

Thank you @Graeme, @hogg, @Iwar and CultExciter! Fingers crossed that is going to be a good one. Little scared that the tattoos going to suck ;) Hannya/snake on thigh from Rubendall and maybe a mermaid from Ichibay - - - Updated - - - ...and what is @Iwar nagging about?? SF? Mecca? Start his backpiece? Grime? Wtf?!?

Some progress photos on the piece Martin Lacasse is doing for me at Olde City Tattoo. Just started color at the end of the last session. Excited to start seeing it come together.

Jesus was the first tattoo recipient. Haven't you seen the famous pictures of those big old fashioned needles that they used to tattoo his hands and feet?

I´m stoked to tell that I got an appointment with Ichibay.

Don't stand a chance but here's my tattoo from Mike Wilson, inksmith & Rogers FL 1 hour 45 min, inner arm

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

My 9 year old daughter, after learning how much her grandmother hates tattoos, told me, "well, that's her problem then." :)

Needles and Sins posted a link to this interview with Mike The Athens, and it's a great one, so I'm sharing it: Mike The Athens | heartbeatink.gr

I think it was pretty cool of Stewart and a few others to actually take some time to throw out a few answers to this! I have never even thought about asking an artist this to be perfectly honest....lol! I like their work.....I go and get tattooed by them and usually just ask them up front how much I should save up....and I bring the cash plus whatever I am going to tip them with!

Fabulous! Thanks

I suppose you'll have people trying to tie Artists to the clock. "How come it only took you two hours to do this piece" etc.

"Why have you got roses tattooed on you, isn't that a bit gay?" One of my most recent favourites.

i wish it could be done faster at times but yeah, does not matter as long as i get the tattoo i wan't....have to say i'm impressed seeing how fast some tattooers can be. wrroooom.

@Gnawa, thats super cool!!

When I was a "plainskin" (no offence) people seemed to be generally surprised that I had no body art. I Guess my personality screamed tattoo. Now that I have them those same people are the ones asking "why did you get that?" "You know you're stuck with that for ever!?" Dammed if you do dammed if you don't....haha

I've herd that in respect to piercing but not tattoos.. Being that ppl far older then Jesus had tattoos, it wouldn't be unbelievable that 'Jesus' had a tattoo or two... ;)

This is coming up in a little over two weeks, so who is going and is interested in an LST meetup? I'm going to suggest that we meet up for drinks at Le Cheval Blanc at around 9pm on Saturday. It's at 809 rue Ontario Est, a couple of blocks away from the Berri metro station, which is itself four stops away from the convention. It's a brewpub with solid beer, a nice selection of imported bottles, and great music and atmosphere. They have a limited food menu too, but if anybody is interested in getting something to eat beforehand we can do that too. Who is up for meeting? Me and @Pugilist will be at the convention both Friday and Saturday so if you see us (you can recognise us by our tattoos because I am sure I won't be the only hairy guy most likely wearing a black t-shirt there) say hello!

If you visit LA often you could finish a large piece over time. If you want to go big Japanese and on your back that's going to take a long ass time. I know there are amazing Japanese artists in LA but I'm blanking right now, some one here will be able to recommend a good shop.

I'm back from my honeymoon in Chicago and it was brilliant. Chicago is a gorgeous and incredibly friendly city. I can't wait to go back. I went to Great Lakes Tattoo for a couple of sessions. The first (hand of glory) was with Chad Koeplinger and the second with Mario Desa (torch). The shop itself is stunning. It's in part dedicated to the history of Chicago tattooing and the legacy of Tatts Thomas - you feel connected to history going there. What an amazing collection of artists in this space. I was at the opening night party, though only for a little while, as my wife was ill that night and I didn't want to be away from her for long. I saw a ton of familiar faces from instagram, but being generally a little on the shy side, especially as I don't actually know many of the people there, I didn't meet as many people as I would have liked. Some, whom I later recognized from here, I wish I had introduced myself to, but oh well. It was a great time anyway. I'm already planning a return trip.

Just so everyone is fully aware, John totally rules. We used to work together before he moved to AUS, and I've seen this guy do some pretty killer stuff with his paintings and tattoos. I think this will be a good thing :)

I kind of feel that most traditional wolf tattoos are based on a handful of designs so that if you wanted a tattoo like that it might be easier to find someone in your area--or travel for it if you're inclined towards that--who does solid traditional and get them to tattoo it.

post a picture or a link to the picture

Invited my lady as well. We'll probably be the least tattooed people there, hope you all don't mind.

sooo you compare women to object now are you? this isn't the 1800's you know?

From what I've learned is that the first few washes are the most important. If it's in a location that's easy to wash I can get minimal peeling and no scabs, where as if it's a hard to reach place (upper back) get noticeably harder healing. It seems too me, dry or with creams, the first few washes is what gets a clean heal.

here's him doing one of those spiders on my friend Gil.

Poster by Mike Roper for The Art of the Dragon art show organised by Small Paul in L.A. http://www.facebook.com/ArtOfTheDragon