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Little Medusa Spider action on my very upper thigh, not a fun spot to get tattooed! He's going to add some webs behind her another time, the last thing I wanted after shading this thing was some thin liner work... - - - Updated - - - YES YES YES!!!

The plan was to paint a ship in a vase. Not sure how this happened, Stoked on this one! A3

Quick update. State of Grace and Horitomo released more prints so naturally I had to add to my wall. Filled in this space so far. Have six more pieces to place elsewhere in the apartment. Will provide another update shortly. LOVE the MonMon cats!!!

Booking my dad in for a neck tattoo with Freddy Negrete in San Angelo, hopefully. All of his Charlie Cartwright work is from about 30 years ago, so it'll be a good continuation of that. He also doesn't know that we're getting him booked yet, although I think he suspects I'm up to something.

Fuck what ppl think is what I say! Seriously though, In just a short time of having a pig and a rooster tattoo I've herd it all. Post up a pic of your bass, we'd love to see it. Here is a trout my tattooers wife did. http://instagram.com/p/b4rBHEkE8g/

going up to see Grime in mid April, by then it'll have been around 6 months since the last session :(

Heading down to the Bay Area a at the end of the month for some continued work on my back piece! Only actually we're working on my leg this time :p. I think another peony and some rocks to go with the karajishi on my thigh. I have two days booked, so we should get some solid work done :p. Junii is collaborating with 'Horitsukikage' (Shad) on the snake and hannya that will be going on my back, but as he is based in Belgium we prob won't start that til June or later.

blast over the little fuckers >:]

New business venture. Selling beard extensions to male models. I'll make a fortune...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPKe9OfWs-M

I think the most important thing here is to go to an artist who does tattoos that you get excited about and that you trust, give her your ideas and let her figure out what will or won't work. In general though, I'd say that it's better to keep things simple and not try to fit too much in a single tattoo, because that's what other tattoos are for. Also, don't worry about giving her ideas that in retrospect might seem stupid...I'm sure we can all look back at some of our tattoos and think "what the fuck was I thinking asking for that"...part of the fun of getting tattooed is that there's this whole learning process involved that you can really only get from actually getting tattooed.

Okay -- so it's not the best picture of me. Lay off, guys!

Perhaps not the right place for this, but as a follow up to the no drawing rose painting/video I posted last week, here's a no stencil/no drawing rose I convinced a friend to let me put on him tonight. Sorry if this could have gone in a better place, since it's not painting-related... (the anchor and lily barely visible on his calf was my 14th tattoo, 13th if you don't count the one on myself to start things off)

I have significantly less money now that I have begun getting tattooed.

For more info on the show, click: Mike Giant @FFDG, Feb 7th Hope to see some bay area LSTers there!

Most definitely. I suggest following the link to the publisher's direct site and see if they have any more discounted copies left. I think normal price is $100. Direct from publisher is $80! The pictures are PHENOMENAL and the back stories are so interesting. Very well put together and must have English-text book on traditional Japanese tattooing!

Cool. Thanks @Graeme. I do love everything Olivia does and I totally trust her to do something cool. I'll just go with the flow and see what happens when I speak to her.

There's something magical about the full back tattoo. As young as 12, I was always awe inspired by seeing pictures, especially group photos of people posing for the photographs. I just knew that some day, I too needed to have that full back tattoo. Today, that's the tattoo out of all my collection that has the most significance. As people have already mentioned, it's no easy task. I think those big long sweeping lines that pick up all those different nerve endings was the most memorable experience for me. Don't concern yourself too much with the time you spend under the machine. I too use to look at long sittings as a significant feat, but these days I come to realise that time spent, is still time spent under the machine, whether you sit for 10,5,2 or 1 hours...every hour is still earned. There's no shortcuts. That tattoo has been earned through determination, a particular mind set and pain.

A lot of literary tattoos are terrible because people are far too concerned with the literariness of them and not enough with actual tattoo design. I think there are a lot of ways of doing literary tattoos that are great and are probably overlooked by most people wanting literary tattoos...the scholarly skull or any permutation on that design is always great, you could look at ex libris bookplates for ideas, I can't find any reference images from a really quick google search but I am certain there are some Mucha or other Art Nouveau drawings that would fit the criteria. In general, I think too many people who want "meaningful" tattoos don't care enough about aesthetics and get crappy tattoos because of it. Here's my book tattoo done by Seth Wood. It's the Necronomicon, pretty obviously.

Yeah man...I agree with Josh. If you want to keep those designs have them re worked. Don't stress. I've had plenty of work re worked, covered and it all works in with the suit just fine. welcome to a fkin great journey in getting smashed in ink :) Take your time now, suss a few different tattooers, just talk with them, be straight up...find a fella who can cover/ re work well. Believe me...I've had real dark tattoos just ploughed over real heavy and it works well if the dude knows what he's doing...just be mindful, round 2 is the last round with this approach. When ya find a good bloke that will help fix these tattoos for ya, just treat him with some respect & give him some clean skin first to work some real nice pieces. It's about building rapport. Good luck with it all.

three speeds!!!!

The beardo on the left is a fireman. The bold letters on his front identifies him as being in the "Chi" group of firemen. The text on his right identifies where he's from Sensoji in Asakusa, Tokyo. I believe it was common for firemen to get tattooed for id purposes if they died on the job.

Sam from Silver needles, What a lovely girl One of the nicest and genuine people I have met, 9 hours on this today:) its very swollen at the moment!

Did this one yesterday, 5.5 hour one shot. Tough girl! @Wilhell I know I've already said it, but I really love your backpiece. The powder blue with the orangey reds looks real slick. :cool:

My first client that I know of passed away a few months back from rectal cancer. I worked on a Strat neck coming out of his upper left arm. I asked him while I was working on him how he felt about his mortality (he was terminal). He told me that he tried to live each day to the fullest, and inspire others to do the same. I look like a big tough tattooed guy. I had to put the machine down and go wipe the tears from eyes. It's art to be sure, but with a shelf life. People, their lives and stories keep me from burning out. But when I got the call, my heart went up into my throat, and went and had another cry. I'd say RIP Scott, but I know you are already.

Ink on washi. My first time trying this kind of painting, and I'm pretty proud of it despite its many faults. I'd like to do much more like this.

Couple of new paints from the past week or so.

Sixth session, almost done! By Grez. Said goodbye to my old and very odd lower back tattoo yesterday, too.

I can officially add "appointment with Horitomo" in my upcoming tattoos list! Scheduled for end of April/beginning of May. Very excited! So much for my "I'm done until I have enough money for my back" and "have to let husband get tattoos too" statements!

Valium is great. ;)

@ironchef that is one hell of a tattoo, truly mindbowing I cant wait to see it finished - - - Updated - - - Valerie just finished my back, just short of a year, maybe 40 hours, its been a ride and I've loved every minute, well apart from the love handles, that sucked :D

Final session on my back with Rubendall today. It's bittersweet. So happy to have this portion of my back finished but will miss the fun times with Rubendall. Great gentleman, incredible artist and shrewd businessman. The complete ball of wax and then some. I still have some appointments booked and I'm thinking about starting something new with him. Henning will top things off end of this year when he'll be visiting and doing his usual guest spot at Kings Ave! Enjoy the pics! Eyes, spine, and the orb/pearl Filled in some more flame work as well Rubendall said when after the orb/pearl is full healed, it'll lighten up to a bit of an iridescent affect. Full moon close-up :o

@Graeme YES! Wish I had the funds for my back (reserved for Yoni) now, alas I do not! Upcoming for me: on Horitomo's list for my CA trip in April/May. We'll see if I get in, I really, really, really want a Monmon cat. Don't know where I'll put it if I do get in, maybe on my thigh.

I took this picture of Civ at last year's Montreal convention. He attached a little reading light onto the guy's shirt, how cool is that? I believe he was drawing on a heart with a "MOM" banner.

Elbow is going to suck but no matter how much it hurts you'll still have to STAND STILL (Sorry not sorry)

Aaaaaaaaaand I booked an appointment with Civ for the West Texas Tattoo Convention in a month. Steve Byrne hand and Civ elbow filler on the same arm. Probably going to see about a dagger on my shoulders from someone as well, depending on budget and who has time. Stoked.

VEGAN? He looks more like a fuckin' vegetable... Rob

atleast we know your butt is stinky

current progress on my chest . first pic. how it was. second picture. how it looked after 2 treatments with a medlite II nd yag laser. third picture. how it looked straight after laser with picosure. the bright blue side, got lasered the second time with picosure, the dark side, got lasered the first time with picosure.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. but its ok, some ducks are fun to hang out with

I think tattoos have not only changed my life, but they have swallowed my life whole. It's weird but I don't hold any special meanings for my tattoos, but the more I think about that it suits me to a tee. I am not a sentimental guy, I don't keep pictures, I throw most of my shit away when I move, and only collect two things, one is tattoos and the other is beer which is consumable. I don't think I changed that much with tattoos, i just found a way of getting tattooed that suited me and in turn has given me something to focus on.

yea tattoos have changed my life, can't exercise and swim because i'm always healing something and i have less spare cash to spend on drink, drugs and women....!

Stares from kids are the best. Always in total awe of seeing such heavily tattooed skin.