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Got this from Scott Sylvia over the weekend, very happy with it (stole the pic from blackhearts IG). Gonna go back to Blackheart for their walk in day in a couple weeks too.

I can finally contribute to this dang thread!!!! First of 2014 with Hector Fong! Stolen from his Instagram account.

First Tattoo Story: I was 19. My college room-mate and friend-to-this-day from the Yukon had just gotten a tattoo of Yoda on his upper arm after a bunch of us put up $20 each and dared him to do it. It was/still is pretty killer. After several weeks of us enduring his "hey guys, check it out, I'm drinking for two" jokes, we were sitting around the house one day. He was, as usual, admiring his new companion when he asked: "Hey man, if you were to get an impulsive tattoo, what would you get?". I hadn't really thought about it much, but as I was pondering my eyes rested on the massive pirate flag hanging in our living room. "I would totally do a skull and bones!" I said, to which he replied "......me too". Our third roommate came into the room around this time and asked us what was going on. We filled her in and she was way into the idea too. We made a blood-pact (or high-fived or something, it was a long time ago) and set out for the local shop. We got to the shop right before closing. It was a Sunday night and only one artist was still there (it was a smaller shop). We told him we all wanted tattoos together. He asked what do you want? We all said "Skull and Bones". He was quiet for a minute and said, "well I'm about to lock up, but since you want something cool let me close down the shop and let's do it...if you woulda said something lame I woulda told you to come back later!". So he locked up and we got tattoos! I went first and got a pretty straight forward skull n bones on my shoulder. Yukon went second and got a goofy looking skull and bones missing some teef on his biceps (his request: "can you make it look, y'know, shittier?"). Our third roomie got a mechanical/riveted skull n bones on the back of her neck. Pretty sure she was/is tougher than the rest of us! While the other two were going, I went across the lot to the pub and ordered a bunch of food for everyone and brought it back to the shop. After we were all wrapped up and giddy we had a meal with our tattooer, bullshitted for a bit then went home. All in all, it was pretty much the best thing ever. Man, I love that tattoo and those people! So I guess my first tattoo was a bro-tatty? Ha! What do you call it when one of your bros is a lady? Lessons learned that day: 1) Tattoos are fun. The experience is a huge part of it. 2) Trying to cram literal meaning in tattoos is for the birds. Or at least not for me. SKULL N BONES now reminds me of great times and great people. And Fun (remember fun?). 3) Impulsive tattoos are really really great. Don't let anyone tell you different. Thanks for listening...

Pretty much recognize that ass anywhere at this point.

Never too early!! Yes, I am looking forward to it already - I have just secured an appointment with Horitomo, which is just, ridiculously exciting, I can't believe how lucky I am! I also talked to Filip Leu a couple of months ago about an appointment...but I will have to wait a couple months on that one, he didn't know if he has space and the person who deals with his convention appointments is off travelling, if he is full I totally understand - he must have people waiting a long time for a space with him! Last years convention was amazing, this looks like it might be even better!

Saw this one from Dana Helmuth. What can I say, I'm a fan of his work.

5.5 and 6 hour sessions are no joke. You should be proud of sitting that long. Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

This year's Montreal convention is still a long way off, but they just released the poster for the convention: Mike Rubendall did the poster and it's a truly great one. If past years are any indication, it'll be a while yet before we see what artists will be attending, but Val and Pierre from Tattoomania always do a tremendous job with the convention and get some of the finest tattooers from around the world to attend, it's held in a beautiful space, and it's a really fun time in a great city. We also had a little LST meetup last year and it was a real pleasure to meet some of you in person. This year, the convention is going to start off at the Yves Laroche Gallery with a showing of new paintings from Phil Holt, Timothy Hoyer, Lango Oliveira, and Edu Cerro and if you've been following those guys on instagram you know that the show is going to have some pretty spectacular pieces in it. Anyway, here are links to the convention: website instagram facebook Who is planning on going?

One of the old timers who mentored me in this biz said something to the effect of "sometimes a customer is gonna be difficult but they themselves don't realize it" meaning you gotta turn them away when they do certain things even if the customer is not recognizing their own behavior. TOTALLY flipped out on a customer tonight...got talked down in price quite a bit but still decided to go the extra mile. Drawing kept me up LATE the night before...one of those "double the work but really want to do it" kinda pieces. So its taking a while, as I had planned because I was putting a lot into it. He can't hang because its getting too tender...says can we finish one part and do the rest later. I say cool, we will be at the 3/4 mark then so how about 1/4 your money back and pay when we finish...he looks all disappointed...so I asked is that fair..."We'll it could have been easily cheaper". I actually refunded his money, bandaged his half completed tattoo and told him walk. Every time this has happened, I realize there was some truth to what my mentor said and have compiled a list of red flags. In all cases it would have been easier to just to turn them down as a customer and deal with someone else who won't give me such a hard time. -Price haggling...especially the "that's a rip-off" type response. -Looking like they aren't trusting you to do a good job..."your'e gonna do a good job, right?" and such -Complaining about other artists work that is competently done. "he messed it all up" Any other things come to mind? Tattooers please respond.

Hi everyone, Been following the forum daily for a while and decided to finally join. I'm miles 23 years old,living in brooklyn NY originally from London,I travel alot and all over the place... Have collected tattoos and art for the past 6/7 years off of alot of my favorite artists around the world, and have recently got an apprenticeship in london, absolutely love what I've learned so far and look forward to continuing to learn and progress. Seems like a great community on here so look forward to chatting. Thanks - Miles

@mtlsam I don't know how I missed this! I just saw Chad's Instagram pic - holy shit! That is amazing. Absolutely amazing. And, looking forward to seeing you again next September in Montreal.

I thought that looked familiar! Super cool. This thread makes me want to work on my back some more. It's been six months since my first and only session... at this rate we'll be finished in 2018.

Ouch! Well, THAT'S awkward...

I was super stoked with Mike posted pics of the "Asian Sensation" @ironchef 's back today.

Killercock? haha!! thanks

I'm in Providence tomorrow and Wednesday, I'll try to stop in and say hello!

I'd be curious to see it in better light.

@Graeme come by our 401 Atwells shop! its ridiculously pretty.

Looks like it. Thanks, dude.

Finally saw Tattoo Nation last night. Thought it was pretty great. Nice to be able to hear Mark Mahoney talk again... And see how black and grey came to be so prevalent.

Just remembered that this was supposed to be available to stream on the 17th. Is that happening? I'd love to see it since US dvds aren't ready yet.

Awesome. Thanks a lot @RoryQ! Answered my question completely. Sounds easy enough. I'll go for my black blouse :D I think I got freaked out by the bedsheet thing.

yeah, parents are weird. My mum just seems to like to hate on anyone who isn't her. I was on my first and possibly only family holiday this year, and to keep the peace I spent the whole time biting my lip and quietly simmering inside at things my mum was saying about various people. One conversation was particularly ridiculous. She was saying how she doesn't like tattoos and how she especially doesn't understand brides with tattoos who get married in a white wedding dress. "The white is supposed to represent purity" coming from my mum who got married in white at her second wedding after having 2 kids... Also, what has purity got to do with tattoos, and who is really actually "pure" who gets married these days. What has it got to do with anything?!!! Luckily, my (younger) brother is already covered in tattoos so I'm safe (ish) when I let them know. Still not looking forward to it. And my Nan will be disappointed, but her son (My uncle) has 2 full sleeves so she's used to it. I reckon he'll be stoked.

Well of course I agree with you I have been out of school since 2011 and have been paying my own things for a while now. I don't get any allowance or anything so these tattoos have been funded by my job

just makes it easier to know which shops to avoid.

Svintmaney's one of the hardest M.C.'s out there. Why would you get your legs tatted?? Ain't nobody can see that shit. You make out with bitches with your face. Ain't nobody can't see that shit. Think about it. Deep. Like fathoms, yo. Peace.

Sorry for the poor phone shot but there is the progress...super stoked background finished up this past weekend. Added photo to full back piece thread as well. Mike

Thanks @Iwar I also got this Panther off Matt Arriola at Frith Street the day after

Here is my newest piece by Eddy Deutsche. Created last Saturday at Smith Street Tattoo. This Photo was taken the morning after.

So nice! @Mark Bee Finished off my ribs with William Yoneyama, was a longer session than the first but so much harder, nearly tapped at one point but powered through. here's a snake preview, will post a full shot when it's healed.

Just Had the best two days ever, got to hang with some tattoo royalty get tattooed and spend an early Valentine in a cool hotel with my mrs, first I got my thigh / knee Tattood by Tim Hendricks Then I got my side / ribs done by Matt Arriola a day later I'm feeling a bit tender now, but it was totally worth it, pain killers and booze? don't mind if i do :D

I kind of feel like I ruined this month by posting my back piece, no one else wants to enter so I'll post some more :) - - - Updated - - - Done By Tim Hendricks at Frith Street Tattoo

Hey guys, I'll be there as well! Third beer is on me.

Update on my 2nd experience using tegaderm: -Got tattooed on Saturday, wore original plastic wrap/meat pad bandage for 15 hours. -Washed and let dry for ~10 minutes. Applied Tegaderm. -Wore the Tegaderm for ~60 hours (probably should have waited another 12 hours but I was impatient), then removed with soap and warm water. Upon careful inspection after letting dry for 15 minutes 99% looked to be in the light sunburn peel stage. I had some small areas of outline that are slightly indented and when I pressed a paper towel against those areas a faint bloody imprint was left of the paper towel. I lightly dabbed those areas with the paper towel every few minutes for about 30 min until the bloody imprinting stopped. Applied lotion then dabbed a few more times over the next hour or so but saw no bloody or plasma. This morning those small areas are still indented and I'm guessing they will go through a slightly thicker scabby peeling process. Not worried because I've experienced some of these areas with non-tegaderm healing and they usually heal fine. Some photos: Five minutes after removal: 15 minutes after removal: Close-up trying to show the "indented" areas described above. They are the darker shinner areas mostly in the area of hair below the eye on the right:

Not a tattooer, but I'm going to be in Providence next week and I've heard great things about Providence Tattoo, and met Dennis briefly at the Montreal convention last year, so I hope to stop by the shop and check it out.

Seriously! I used to sit really well, but I'm down to three, three and a half hours on my back and I'm barely functional at the end of it. 5 and 6 hours is pretty good in my book. The back has been the only tattoo to bring me to my quitting point nearly every session--this shit is hard.

Took a chance and emailed. Would be stoked to be considered.

One of the craziest people I've ever known is now a pilot. I never liked flying and am now deathly afraid that he'll see me, and start doing barrel rolls... Actually I'm just scared to fly. Worst I ever had when traveling was this one time I went to Lookout Mt. in Georgia. Just so happens there was a holy roller in there (not that I care what you believe, just don't mind me) while I was getting a beer. "And the beast will come!" He yelling to a the nodding counter lady, "And they will bear the mark of the beast!" Heads turn and look at me. "Well," I said, "As long as the ink looks good to me, I'm game." I gave 'em the 'ol horn hand and bopped out of the place with my 40.

I'll go ahead and get this month started - edit: almost!. All months should really have a panther tattoo, shouldn't they? I'd love to see Aaron Coleman three-peat.

Healed pic of my Scott Sylvia (BlackHeart Tattoo - SF) roses from Dec 2013. Happy New Year, everyone!! :D

Here's a healed shot of the rose and dagger I got from Scott Sylvia at the Richmond Convention.

Here's my tattoo. Done by Lillian Chen in Yorktown, VA at Ancient Art.

the only things that have changed for me is when I was a teenager and had no tattoos all I wanted was to be tanned and impress girls and now that I have tattoos all I do is hide in the shade trying to keep my tattoos fresh. also when I get out of the shower I find myself staring at my body for ages just thinking "how fucking cool do I look" which usually results in me being late for work.

I wanted something meaningful and so I had a really hard time choosing between a Necronomicon and skeleton warriors. Went with the Necronomicon and it turned out super rad thanks to Seth Wood taking my crappy ideas and making them into a great tattoo.

So here's my first. I was 18, it was 1999. I sometimes think about keeping the skull but getting the tribal bits covered or blended into something else. But fuck it. It's who I was, it was a sign of the times. Again, I wouldn't choose it now, but I don't regret or hide it. Despite my shitty cell phone shot it still looks pretty unfaded in person. I stay out of the sun though.