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Today Bonel from Corazon Santo in The Netherlands which is also working on my second sleeve, finished the Phoenix backpiece on my wife. (The kanji was there already, it had been done a few years back by another artist)

I'm an office guy, so I have no plans for hands or neck. I'm starting to run out of spots, but I have some decent-sized ones left. They're all gonna suck (SEE "BACK OF KNEE" AS AN EXAMPLE), but at least they're still open. I do think about hands sometimes, though. And by "sometimes" I mean "often." My wife has lots of room, and there's always prints. :)

"Conan Fights a Wizard" "Oates" "Really Hot Taco" "Mark Twain Fights a Mummy" "Superheroes at the Pool" "Old Viking Fights an Octopus" "Think About This In Your Mind" "Eating Food" "Sweet Relief"

Made this rose painting, inspiration for the rose came from Shon Lindauer and some Nick Mayes flash

i had this one done by Björn Liebner.

I was down in Ocean City, Maryland last week and picked up the two pictures attached. Apparently they date back to the 40s from a photographer named A. Aubrey Bodine, based out of Baltimore. I don't know much more about them, but I thought they were pretty cool. Edit: Not sure why the one posted sideways. Sorry.

The good news is that the healing seems to be going really well. Two long 11 hour shifts at work with the constriction of a shoe. The swelling is going down after three days. I have the additional worry as I have type two diabetes, but what the heck. Good luck with your appointment. I just love those Horitomo cats.

3 week tattoo-bonanza to come: London: Mole eating planet, side of underarm, El Carlo. Lady head sleeping under starlit sky, inside of thigh, Jacyln Réhe. Eel eating it's own tail, around another tattoo on front of thigh, Deno. Trieste, Italy: Heart/factory-thing, front of other thigh, Rudy Fritsch. Back in Stockholm: Tibetean UFO in smoke, back of knee, Iain Mullen. After that: chill time for a month or three. edit: (checked bank balance) ... or six

I'll be there! Stoked to see y'all again.

Fucking bummed but I've got to bail on this. Wife will be out of town and I've got no babysitter for the kid. Maybe we could do another get together during the Bay Area Tattoo Convention?

I'd go to Scorpion. It used to be owned by Richard Stell, and they have a nice lineup. Scorpion Studios Tattoo | Houston TX Custom Designs Tattoo Shop I especially like Chris Ayala's black and gray stuff.

I'm not even going to think about doing my feet until I have a job that doesn't require me to wear high rubber boots at work. Healing my shin has been gnarly enough because of that.

Eddie Martinez, SuperGenius Tattoo, Seattle WA Did this in one sitting yesterday! Oops, image had not attached. Here ya go:

pretty shitty picture but i painted this 11x17" for a trade last night.

Why? Because in tattooing the customer usually isn't right. Because tattooing isn't the sort of democratic activity where you have an equal say to somebody who has spent years or decades constantly working at his or her craft because you read something on the internet.

I hope this link works . . . Unbelievable Skeletons Unearthed From the Catacombs Of Rome | Photos - ABC News

I took the original post to mean more like the tattoos Mike Adams is doing (I am sure I've seen other people doing stippled Americana tattoos too, but Mike Adams is the first person to come to mind) than Hooper, Jondix, etc tattoos. I think those Mike Adams tattoos look cool, but I do feel that it's something that people are going to play around with a bit but that probably won't stick around for all that long. Time will tell. When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter either way. Get the tattoos you want to get. I also think that part of the problem with all the information about tattoos being available on the internet is that there's just too much out there and not enough good sense about it. It's absurd that somebody with no tattoos could go into a tattoo shop and ask for a tattoo to be applied with a specific technique. Find a good tattooer and trust him or her to know what is best for the execution of the tattoo.

Honestly no one in my neighborhood talks to me about my tattoos unless they are and older person with no tattoos, and even then very rarely. I don't think anyone has said anything to me in like 6 months. There are two main drags in Portland I live by, one of them people get tattooed mostly by the people from Atlas, there are a few other shops around, but it's crazy to see a whole neighborhood of people with Dan Gilsdorf and Cheyenne Sawyer tattoos. The other drag is not that far, but still see a bunch of people with tattoos from Atlas, but another shop that specializes in more color realism stuff is there, so you get kind of a mix. People in the immediate area of that shop obviously like the tattoos coming out of this shop, but not my style, also it's a little weird to see gutter punks with realistic tattoos of flowers and sunsets. You can kind of tell how long a waitress has worked at the restaurant, by how well you can make out what her tattoo is supposed to be. The funny thing is one of servers at that same restaurant, ended up becoming a tattooer and now works at Elm St. The only reason I know is there are Elm St stickers all over the bar so I asked.

getting tattooed by Chad K on wednesday and Adam hays on thursday ... im a complicated mixture of excited, scared, awesome and stupid with a smidge of soon to be very poor

There was a thread about "dotwork" a while ago and I got fairly involved and possibly upset a few people. Check it out, I think I already answered the question posed by your thread title. Also, the word "fad" is inherently insulting in modern usage - but you knew that already. While researching tattoos, tattooing, tattoo styles, tattoo history and tattooers is interesting and probably fun. It's still kinda like researching swimming. Most of it's value comes from being involved, taking part, doing it, getting it done and having it be part of your life. Then again... On a long enough time scale, ALL tattooing since Ed Hardy opened the first appointment-only studio is a fad. Sailors going to war, getting tattooed in Honolulu was a fad. High-Society Europeans shipping esteemed Japanese irezumi artists over to tattoo dragons on them in the 1800's was a fad. Internet forums will be seen to be a fad. Finally, tattoo customers stressing about being period-correct like vintage clothing aficionados will be seen to be a fad of the early 21st century.

Getting good tattoos is a current fad, but I'm buying into it for the long haul.

Not getting something because it is a trend is just as bad as getting something because it is a trend.

Hi there. So i've been lurking the threads on here for about half a year, have seen all the artist videos on Youtube and only just joined as a member. I'm 21 years old, and work as a studio assistant/counter hand in a tattoo shop in Sydney. I'm into western traditional, anything ranging from the old Bert Grimm, Ben Corday, George Burchett stuff, to the Spider Murphys asthetic, to the Dan Higgs Jeff Zuck sort of stuff and of course the Smith Street sort of stuff. Decided to join so i can communicate with other Tattoo enthusiasts from around the world and to be able to see work coming from all over the world.

hahaha Spidey in the pool cracked me up, funny shit.

Hogg "My wife has lots of room," Vicarious tattoo action! Is that where we're all headed;)

Yeah, that is a great piece of art. I also really like Mike Giants version

I have some pictures of some leeroy minouge? Tattoos and a couple Percy waters that came into my place of business a while back, the guy got them at the pike back in the early sixties I believe . He had some really cool stories about those guys , he claims to have shot a guy that was attempting to rob the shop! I will get the pics onto my laptop and upload them soon. I love old tattoos and seeing how they aged. I remember reading an old biker tattoo mag that bob shaw was in talking about how he started using smaller needle configurations after having seen his own tattoos come back thirty years later.

@spookysproul I don't have another city to compare it to, really, since most of my healing has taken place in Seattle, regardless of the city that I have been tattooed in, but I will say that I am in the habit of pre-conditioning the area to be tattooed for at least two weeks (or as long as you have!) pre-tattoo, and the condition of my skin while healing improved substantially once I started doing that. It might help! Give it a try :). Welcome to Seattle, btw!

also may be late. my girlfriend and i are heading straight to spider murphys when we get off the plane so i'm not 100% how late we will be leaving the shop.

Walking is a key mode of transportation for me! Totally dreading the knee ditches now. Definitely doing one at a time, per your recommendation.

I am in 7 steps connected to your dog.

I think it's just different for every one. I have a good deal of work done in painful areas: ribs, collar bone, inner bicep. And I've done long sessions of 4.5+ hours. My 30 minute foot tattoo has still been the most painful and I doubt I will get my other foot tattooed for this reason. I have a high pain tolerance, too. So riddle me a pussy :) ^I also don't think I need to justify myself with my experience, but like I said: every one responds to pain and certain areas of the body differently.

it's perfectly normal for someone who's drunk

Saying you want a certain shading technique vs just saying you want a traditional tattoo are two different things. I was using the needle grouping example to try to illustrate that point. Also I have always contended that the best advice someone can give on the internet about tattooing, is get off the internet and go into a reputable tattoo shop. I didn't learn what I know just hanging out in tattoo forums it required some in real life trial and error at real tattoo shops. There is no book or iphone app that will make you a savvy tattoo customer and 99% of what's on the internet is misinformation.

I love the stuff they do there. I think if I ever make it back I want to get tattooed by John Henry, that dude's stuff just cracks me up.

This isn't directed as a dig at the OP, because I understand how hard it can be to try to book an appointment, especially when we are talking about an international matter, but just maybe some insight on how to approach getting tattooed. That being said, is there anyone who books appointments over Instagram. I always see people commenting on posts trying telling tattooers to call them or email them if they have an appointment available or expecting them to comment back with a price quote of an idea that only exists in their own mind. If you want tattooers to take you seriously (and not just ignore you) you should always look for contact info on people's social media page, most of the time the easiest and prefered way to get ahold of someone is posted clearly, secondly if possible always go to the shop in person (if possible), if not call the shop and ask the best way to book appointment with the person you are looking for. 99% of the time you if you follow this, it's end of story, but if you have to contact someone through social media, make sure it's a private message and make sure you mention that you tried to contact them through conventional routes. Be clear, concise, and let them know you are willing to lay down a deposit to your paypal to secure time with them. Also give tattooers a week to respond before you send follow up emails, or call the shop again.

Love it, that is a cool tattoo. You could always print out the tattoo and show it as a reference and say, "I love the style of this one." I brought a couple pics of ravens to Kim for my consultation a couple weeks ago, including a couple of printed out paintings and a couple of tattoos I liked by other artists. I didn't want her to duplicate any of them, I just told her what I liked about each one and said, of course, take it your own direction. She said of one of my pics, "Oh, of course, it's Seth Wood, that's why it's so amazing." I don't think tattooers mind if you show them the work you like of others as long as you are not asking for the same exact thing. Also, the style doesn't have to be named if you show a picture. Tell the artist exactly what you like about that one. Also, don't fuck off. :-)

off thread topic but yelp tattoo shop reviews are hilarious, especially when the artists post responses. This is one of my favorites: Yelper review: Went in with a few buddies of mine while we were at the beach and hate to say i was extremely disappointed. I overheard one customer simply ask one of the "artists" what he would have priced his tattoo if he were to have gotten it at Right Coast. The artist glances at the tat and says "200, and it would have been a whole lot better." Keep in mind that this customer was an 18 or 19 year old kid who could have sent this skinny a-hole to the hospital. This is but one example of which i have plenty more. Simply said, their stuck up, snobby, and condescending attitudes and tones made me want to pay these guys to NOT tattoo me. I have no doubt that their talent is immense, but the lack of customer service and good nature turned this great looking shop into a hostile environment full of little dick's. Makes me never want to step foot in their shop again. Response from Todd N. of Right Coast Tattoo James, I'm sorry to hear that you had a less than pleasant experience at my shop, that being said this is a tattoo shop, not a flower shop where butterfly kisses are greeted to every customer that walks thru the door...some people who come in the shop with bad attitudes are given a degree of patience and if they don't change that attitude it will be given back to them....we tell it like it is...sometimes we are brutally honest...with combined experience of 40yrs in this business we see it all and deal with all kinds of folks...folks that just want to know if the crappy tattoo they got in a kitchen was a good deal, with no intention of spending money in my establishment, i'm referring to the scenario you spoke of...i would much rather get tattooed by a talented artist who happens to be a little "rude" than an unskilled tattooer who is nice the end result is ART ON YOUR SKIN FOR LIFE.

Heck, where to start? Thank you for bothering. Really. Which is something that I feel deserves respect. I'm not a part of the culture, I'm a totally un-tattooed, tubby, 36 year old mothers of two - turning up and demanding a share and a story without bothering to google a bit and read a book or two seems, well, wrong. I would never hope to 'swim' as it were! Much as I rate my own taste (like a twat) I have to trust others on this one. Just hope to be almost-well-enough-informed to feel alright about asking tattooists who I respect to work on my skin.

@HettyKet If you look at tattoos on a long enough scale, everything is going to look dated eventually. Good tattoos are still good tattoos though.

Most of you have seen this already, but stolen from Mike Rubendall's instagram: Awesome dude, awesome tattoo, super stoked, I think 8-9 hours of tattooing in one week (finishing my back and then this) is enough!

Oh wow, the artistry in the last one is pretty phenomenal. Gorgeous! here are some Japanese skins:

With permission from Curly, i'm posting the direct links as it's easier that way.. Tattoos & photographs by Curly.. Tattoos by Curly - Lionel's Tattoo Studio (Tattoo Club of Great Britain), Oxford, England. - https://www.facebook.com/curly.moore.77 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lionels-Tattoo-StudioTattoo-Club-of-Great-Britain/146864455350309 https://www.facebook.com/curlytattoo66 Curly Tattoomonger Lionel's Tattoo Studio - Oxford

Paul Rogers , Les Skuse , Huck Spaulding 1956 .

Each state has different laws regarding tattooing, but no state I am aware has a law regarding this issue. Sterilization can be taught in an afternoon, it takes a lot longer to learn how to tattoo, most people probably learned how to scrub tubs and run an autoclave before they ever picked up a machine. It seems so second nature, that I am not saying it wouldn't happen, but there would probably be a few more red flags that jumped out at you concerning the professionalism of a shop that re used equipment. Even if you are out of supplies, there are always other tattooers in shop to borrow from, or even using a disposable single use plastic tube would be an option, or you run the autoclave and make your client wait. I can understand how people are weird about stuff and always try to make them feel at ease, but if you knew how seriously ever shop I have been in takes it, both for your safety and the tattooers and their families safety, you mind would be at ease.

I need to stop getting tattooed in Brooklyn where you have no idea what vegan/gluten-free/paleo/whatever dietary preferences are in the shop.

I was 40 when i got my first, and i'm glad i waited. I can only imagine what i'd have if i had started in my teens or early 20's. It feels much more sure at a later age that what you've gotten will be timeless to you, imo. (I did attempt a homemade needle and Testors ink tattoo when i was 15 thought, which didn't really work out. :P )

That's great, Nick. I remember reading an interview with Ed Hardy about 20 years ago (in the old Modern Primitives book) in which he talks about the shame that's been heaped on a lot of old guys for having tattoos. He said that he always approaches them, compliments them on their tattoos, and asks who did them. That really stuck with me, and I'm happy to hear that you're doing the same.