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...so on wednesday i flew out from germany to poland to meet up with one of my favorites, rich hardy. he started my back piece...and i`am more than glad that i chose him - i`m absolutely in love! one the one hand it was such an amazing and satisfying experience for my mind but on the other hand it was so horrible for my body. i wouldn`t call myself a pussy when it comes to tattooing but this time i was almost ready to start crying and stopping this whole thing; but somehow i made it through. :)

Friday the 13th tattooing at Kings Avenue!!! Sorta... Short 4 hour session today with Mike Rubendall at Kings Ave in Long Island. It's been freezing cold in NYC and I braved the train ride out to Long Island to continue work on my back piece. Added more color to the dragon. Here's the report. Enjoy! Alpha Omega original hanging in Rubendall's room. Details and colors are AMAZING!!! Straddling the chair and about to throwdown: And the results from today's work: Really digging the vivid colors: Slowly coming together: And of course I couldn't go home without grabbing these. I have a copy of the Fingerwave Book which these prints were made for. Saw the original hanging in the shop. LOVE the waves and happy that I own some Rubendall waves on my backside, hahaha

Have not posted for a while but had to show my new piece off! Done by the very talented Valerie Vargas

Who: Jamie Greaves What: Awesome snakiness When: Today - 12.13.13 Where: Real Art Tattoo, Leicester, UK. Why: I love snakes...and this is my third snake tattoo. I wanted something traditional and this is my most traditional piece yet. Gotta say though...It hurt like a bitch and I felt like a real pussy for a lot of the time, really struggled to get through it! Hope you guys like! P.S. Photo courtesy of Jamie as well, taken from his instagram.

It's been my life long ambition to do a QR code tattoo. ;)

I'm sure any shop that uses gimmicky newspaper ads to get tattooers is putting out top notch tattoos.

Just cause you can draw, don't mean you can tattoo ;)

Hello everybody, my name is Matthew Welch. I'm a tattooer since November, 2004. Currently traveling, I began working in North Florida and have been on the road since August of this year, after living in Southern New Mexico from 2011-2013. I enjoy many styles, and focus on traditional styles of tattooing and painting. I like to be an active and welcoming part of the tattoo and art community. I'm here to share art and discussions in the forum, network with other artists, and be involved, in general. I'm also inviting anyone to find me on Facebook, or take a look on my instagram, @matwelch if interested in my work or travels. Maybe we'll get to meet in person someday, have a little fun, who knows:cool: thank you!

Different opinions I guess. Being a tattooer myself I see it as cheapening the craft. Any other professional tattooers are free to agree or disagree with me. Sorry if I don't count customers as having as valid an opinion as a career tattooer does. No disrespect intented man, I'm not trying to insult anyone.

i met this man at a friends 21st birthday, Tony"The Face"Cronin he is the former bodyguard of Chopper Reed a famous criminal we have here in Australia, despite his appearance and history he is a really nice dude, he was cool enough to let me look all over his head at the little details within his tattoos.

Yes indeed, it was great to meet him and seeing what he came up with. Finished product was even better than the sketch :) Crossing my fingers for good healing. Many thanks to Inksmith and to everyone here for the advice and support!

Not just yet. We still have various spikes and the back bone (horns/scales?) the horns on the head, the tongue and teeth, the eyes, some more flames, the pearl/orb and the spikes on the tail end. I'm sure there will also be some touch ups and embellishments as well. Funny thing, Rubendall had a client in the morning and he was filling in scales on a dragon and then in the afternoon is me and...filling in scales on a dragon. I asked him if it gets tedious or if he just gets tired of seeing the same thing. Mike said he loves it and each one is different. No cutting corners or trying to make due here, just doing what he loves. AMAZING to be part of that creative process.

@kimkong looks awesome. And outlines are tough (especially super bold ones like those), so nice job hanging in there.

@mangoose is that your piece that mike wilson posted on his instagram today?!

Ugh for whatever reason, insert excuse here, this was the most painful session I've had so far. I was the only one all day and all I could muster was ~5 hours. That being said, I am crazy stoked about the progress. Finished off one thigh's background and added some color!! Honestly, I think the color looks out of place just because I've been staring at black and grey so long, haha. Very excited for more progress. The next session will be to kill the background on the other thigh/lower back, then maybe hit some more fire. That's going to be a rough one if it's anything like today was. Dana has some pics on his Instagram, one of my ass, one of my back, but here is the full monty. And I just noticed that my ass has a hilariously straight shelf on the under cheek. That's weird looking, I can't take my eyes off it. Also I'd like to give a serious thank you to the fundoshi for providing some level of decorum so that Dana didn't have to stare at my hole as he destroyed my inner butt cheek. You may take note of the wind bar direction out of my ass. Dana referred to that as "The Wind of Doom". Good thing he has a sense of humor, even if he did lose his appetite.

For you guys that are paying for 20-30 minutes of "laser time" - is that actual time of the machine firing? The longest I've ever actually run the laser at a virtually non-stop basis is 19 minutes, and it was a huge section of a back piece. I'm curious because the machine should be firing at 10Hz, that is the 'speed' of the machine. When each time it hits your skin should be like XXXXXXX, if it's more like X__X__X__X__X that means they are probably running at a slower speed, which ultimately gives more control over where the laser is firing on your skin, but can double or triple the time it takes to achieve any kind of coverage. For something the size of an iPhone for example, if it's solid,that shouldn't take more than 2 minutes, tops. So I'm curious how long you guys are sitting for treatments / how big the areas are and what speed the machine is running. 30 minutes sounds like a very long, painful time for something that should be done much, much faster.

Makes me pretty bummed out when I see good friends promoting $13 tattoos. Have more respect for your community.

Saw the teaser on Instagram. I love that green!

We need a pic here to check out your ink.

t-3 tattoos shizuoka Tattoo Studio Shinjuku Syodai horikazu Honey tattoo Horimitsu Horisana - - - Updated - - - Red bunny tattoo

- - - Updated - - - Senju Horimatsu

Horitomi Hocus pocus tattoo studio Next level tattoo The rest are from unknown artists

A few new ones... just have Instagram photos, unfortunately. The rose and mini-bodysuit are 5"x7", the Rock of Ages is 11"x14".

I tried the reverse image search for the images I already posted without credited artists, I got no return results. Sorry for that. This took me a while to compile, I have included the artists or studios name where possible, some were not. This will have to be in 3 parts. Agony and ecstasy tattoo Akio tattoo AkiRyu Irezumi Art studio Hiziri Chamber 36 tattoo studio Edo light second generation of TATOO studio Gooddays tattoo Horihisa Horimasa Horinami Horisyaraku - - - Updated - - -

@Genie of the West If you don't want the number 13 on your body, possibly a Friday the 13th special isn't the time to get your tatttoo. You may have unrealistic expectations on this.

I'm about 16 hours into Fallout 3 (for the third time). Man, this game is fun. It's the first RPG (albeit action) I've ever really gotten into. I'm gonna play Skyrim next. My mentor bought a PS4, and he is kinda "meh" about it. I think his kids are into it more than him.

@Johannes thanks! I'm gonna make it into postcards to send out for the holidays. Also, Shredders was started by tattooer Ezra Haidet, which is extra rad because by buying excellently horrible Christmas sweaters, you're also supporting tattooing. Yee!

Wow, you make damn fine tattoos! Welcome to LST.

This comes out tomorrow. I'm kinda intrigued. https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/krampus-1

Welcome! The work on your IG looks fantastic!

Hey Mat (: How was living in S. New Mexico? That must have been pretty cool, esp tattooing the people over there. I live in FL too. I'll def. take a lk at your ig, etc. Welcome!

Hey guys, been a while since I've posted, just got back from switzerland with Filip and thought id give you guys an update, here ya go

Hey Mat, awesome to see you join the forum. I've been following you on IG for a while and absolutely love your work. If I'm not mistaken, someone else who posts here got an awesome dagger through the neck from you. I think that's what turned me on to you, actually. I look forward to seeing what you have to contribute!

I just made my appointment to get my life-ruining hand tattoos from Thomas Hooper. It's gonna be way cool.

Mike wears crocs. Take that how you will.

Finally making a trip down to Electric Tattoo in NJ and getting tattooed by Robert Ryan. I'm going to be at the Philly convention at the beginning of February, so i'm just going to NJ the Friday of the convention. Probably not going to make any appts for the convention but we will see.

I've decided to take my stuff in a more defined direction, here is a new piece along the lines of where I'm trying to go.

I've tattooed plenty of cops, no big deal. Lots of cops have tattoos. To think that most or all tattooers hate them would be similar to saying all cops are dicks. I know it's not the case, I've met plenty of good decent people in an underappreciated public service with a through-the-roof danger rate. I appreciate the people that truly believe in their job. There are plenty of people that don't entirely trust or feel comfortable around police, whether it be deserved or not, but I know that's not new to you and it encompasses lots of people besides tattooers. Are there some asshole tattooers out there? Yes. Are there some cops out there that are bullies and abuse their power? Yes. We're all just people, and if you're a dick then that's just who you are no matter what field of work you are in. If you are not comfortable with your artists, then don't get tattooed there. I wouldn't want to pay someone that hates me either.

ACAB is something that appeals to the young and rebellious , was it not originally something you got done in prison (I know it comes from an old oi! Skinhead band) ? Soon everyone grows up and realises that only Some Coppers Are Bastards ....

Had heaps of fun with latest effort, definitely was not easy to do

I have a reaper on my calf. This past summer a little dude saw it, looked up at me in awe, and went "Woah." It totally blew his little mind. That was the best.

Hmmmm I'm just in love with these few of Mike Wilson's recent tattoos, the mix in style is great. And the snake/eagle is just awesome on its own merit. @mikewilsontattoo | Webstagram - the best Instagram viewer @mikewilsontattoo | Webstagram - the best Instagram viewer @mikewilsontattoo | Webstagram - the best Instagram viewer @mikewilsontattoo | Elm st tat con! Thanks Oliver / Dallas TX!!!! | Webstagram - the best Instagram viewer

I think every tattoo collector needs to ask themselves this after every new tattoo.

Excellent choices! You have a great dilemma. As for pull-ups, as long as you're keeping your new tattoos covered (gyms are a staph farm), you should be fine. If you're doing your pull-ups at home, even better. And I like @BrianH's suggestion of a tiger from Mike and horses from Dave. But really, you should get tattooed by both of them.

Time for a bunch of pinups buddy!

Someone recommended that I post up my latest tattoo on this forum so here goes. I am almost done with my half sleeve from Horitomo. Although a phoenix is colorful, I'm a big fan of black/grey tattoos so that's what I went with. I was on his waiting list for 2 years before I stepped foot into State of Grace in San Jose, Ca. (I fly from Dallas and do back to back sessions). He is one of the few people I know in the U.S. that does tebori so after 28 hours this is what I have. I took this picture straight from his instagram.

Got this one the other day not got my own pic yet I'll take one when it's healed

here's a couple by Curly.

I don't have an opinion on this, but I'd like to share a lingering resentment. I was at the Salt Lake City convention a few years ago, and had just gotten a tattoo by the fabulous Mike Wilson. I was trying to read the ingredients on this alledged aftercare product when this shmoozy sales guy proceeded to ask me who did the tattoo, pretend to know who Mike was, and in a very condescending fashion tried to edjumacate on how to heal a tattoo. As far as I could see, this asshole didn't have a single tattoo anywhere on his body. For the rest of the day, I could hear Brad Pitt muttering "Don't condescend to me motherfucker" in my head. Actually, I can still hear it now.