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Everlasting jobstopper/liferuiner/diploma burner from Steve Byrne today. Photo taken from his Instagram. Can't express how much I like it in words.

Me and a buddy of mine managed to catch chad koeplinger while he was doing a guest spot at Pearl Harbor last week and we got these wicked rose morphs done. Mines the shark his is the panther. Chad killed it!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why is it helpful? Because if you're looking to estimate the cost of a tattoo you want to get it isn't in any way helpful because how long it took Luca Ortis to do that tattoo has absolutely no bearing on how long it would take Regino Gonzales to do a similar tattoo. There's only so much useful information you can get from the internet, at some point you need to physically walk into a shop and talk to actual people.

The final result of my chest piece. Done by Robert Aalbers of Clean Solid Tattoos in Waalwijk, The Netherlands.

Aw man, everyone is getting such great stuff lately. I haven't been tattooed this year yet. I think tomorrow I will be making an appointment with some friends to get one existing piece touched up and another finished. Way overdue for that, so there's something to look forward to. Anyway I think most of you have seen this on the 'gram, but here it is again

@finegentleman You should email Luca Ortis, who did the first tattoo you linked to. He's a nice guy and a very professional and businesslike tattooer. If you're serious about getting a tattoo like this, most tattooers wouldn't mind a few newbie questions. We all have to start somewhere. If you're asking so you can have fuel for a chat session with your buddies, keep asking strangers on the internet. Maybe they'll start arguing amongst themselves - that'll be fun for about zero seconds.

Name calling and insults are not tolerated on LST, let's keep it classy guys.

It doesn't make anybody any money.

Damn, that's nice. Rock of Edges? ;)

I thought it was because we both like cats.

This is why I dig you @Graeme

Whatever happened to washing the thing a couple times a day and moisturizing with a thin layer of scent free lotion?

My bad. I should have said, "Read the forum." But, yes, you are right. No need to follow tradition in tattoo culture. It's good that you're doing your own research. I was simply making a suggestion which I have made plenty of times before. Also, this advice isn't coming directly from me. It comes from tattooers.

Check out Bill Canales at Full Circle Tattoo in San Diego. Also that website looks worthless so I would ignore it.

Battle Royale Royalty right there. How fucking cool is that? Chris Brand just posted his own take on it. Like all of his work, it's in a league of its own:

A little more mit work today. Post pictures of your hand/ finger tattoos.

Somebody please fix the damn title of the thread; we're supposed to be promoting good tattooing here so if nothing else please at least spell tattoo correctly.

I think it's a given that regulars here are aficionados of good tattooing. So you're preaching to the choir, here on LST at least. If you've read around you probably noticed the calibre of work people are getting. I don't really have a view on whether tattooing is a profession or a craft, I'll leave that one to the tattooers.

Grez Eagle, Chris O'Donnell Snake, Mike Rubendall Dragon Instagram view of this battle royale insanity

That ship is awesome; @Graeme! I managed to snag a cancellation with Grez yesterday to do a Panther Rose Morph. I'm pretty friggin stoked!

Thank you so much Tron!!!

I really want one from Jeff Rassier. Photos stolen from his IG.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry - I was a little testy from something else.

If you have spent a lot of time looking through the forum, but still feel like your question hasn't been answered, then you definitely should ask it. If it is a question related to a thread that exists, but you'd like a personal approach to your situation, then simply post it in the related thread. If not, create a new one. I think the great thing about LST is more often than not people new to tattooing have come here and asked questions that more in-the-know people may consider dumb or self-explanatory. Yet all of us rally together to educate, inform, and help the poster without judgement or ridicule. That is the mission of LST and it's sad that a member would feel unable to ask a question without facing bullying of some sort. We can do better, guys.

Haha! Ok cool thanks for the response! Yes this site is awesome for that reason but there will always be questions like this! I do agree that this question isn't something that can be answered by any of us. The only person that can is the artist. Yes a lot of stupid questions I agree but usually I just laugh it off and call it a day. I'm just happy I don't have to take the time any answer all these questions otherwise I would be a ... I've asked artist how do you respond to stupid questions. Luckly the artist I've received tattoos from are super nice ! They usually tell me I need to pay the bills so... haha! Anyway like I said we have a choice to answer these questions or just laugh it off and move on. - - - Updated - - - I agree. That is why i'm happy i started getting tattooed at a stage of my life where I can afford good ones!

Personally, I don't care how long bigger pieces take--the artist can take as long as they need to finish it to their satisfaction. They are professionals. I save up enough per session and get tattooed once a month or maybe skip a month here and there until they say it's done. I don't really like to tally up exactly how much it cost in the end, I just like to see a good tattoo. I do know approx how much each session will be and that is helpful. I was at the shop 8 hours yesterday working on my arm...it was maybe my 3rd session on it and I believe there's 1 to go. Yay! So psyched. @DeadSpot, the specific thread titled "plainskins say the darndest things" is not to make fun of what newbies who are looking to get tattooed say, it's more like shit my mom says--and other people who have never and most likely will never be into tattoos. And it was meant to be light hearted and funny, not mean spirited. Not seeing the point in calling anyone names. IMO @Graeme is often right, if a little blunt.

I think at the end of the day, you have to talk to a tattooer. I do agree with @deadsp0t to some extent, but hear me out... You should only go to your preferred tattooer/shop after deciding on what you want to get and where... Yes, just waltzing into a shop and asking a random set of questions about random designs and random artists is pointless. If you want to get a feel for how long tattoos take, then you could talk to friends and other collectors, but like @Graeme said that serves no one because the length of time a tattoo takes varies from each design and artist combination. Browse tattoos and artists you like. Decide on a design you would like to get and which artist you prefer. THEN go to the shop and ask these questions. Ultimately, you should get the tattoo you want and it will cost what it will cost. Trying to decipher the time a tattoo still boils down to price anxiety, which can only be remedied by asking the shop/tattooer you intend on bringing your ideas to. <--- I guess that's my main point and... /end rant - - - Updated - - - I think at the end of the day, you have to talk to a tattooer. I do agree with @deadsp0t to some extent, but hear me out... You should only go to your preferred tattooer/shop after deciding on what you want to get and where... Yes, just waltzing into a shop and asking a random set of questions about random designs and random artists is pointless. If you want to get a feel for how long tattoos take, then you could talk to friends and other collectors, but like @Graeme said that serves no one because the length of time a tattoo takes varies from each design and artist combination. Browse tattoos and artists you like. Decide on a design you would like to get and which artist you prefer. THEN go to the shop and ask these questions. Ultimately, you should get the tattoo you want and it will cost what it will cost. Trying to decipher the time a tattoo still boils down to price anxiety, which can only be remedied by asking the shop/tattooer you intend on bringing your ideas to. <--- I guess that's my main point and... /end rant

Oh good, you've got your hands tattooed before most of your body it seems like.

If you are happy with it that is all that matters. Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

Preaching to the choir means I am in good company. Sometimes stating the obvious is good to generate a dialogue on the subject, which may not be obvious to some. I though I would post my thoughts and get feed back, which I am, thank you everyone.

How tall are those people? Did they sit still or need breaks every 5 minutes? Too many factors to accurately estimate how many hours. I would randomly guess atleast 15-20 hours. Go to a tattoo shop and talk to a tattooer. They are much better at answering these questions. Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

Ron Wells finished this one on me yesterday. It's so beautiful and I couldn't be happier with it:

As I am want to do on my days off, I found myself outside The Pearl. Today Tim Pausinger did a couple pieces of Higgs flash for me. He did a druid and this creepy clown.

Little Oni I picked up from Chad Koeplinger today. Super stoked on it. Done in one hour flat. Such a beassssst.

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.

@Jnvlv there are worse things you could be into. If tattoos are your only "sin" they will get over it. A point concerning your parent's side, if you are in school or some how they are helping out. The "their money" issue is actually real. While on another person's payroll there are certain rules to abide by. If they are footing the bill and you know they wouldn't appreciate tattoos then you should have waited until you're off the payroll. Not judging but as a parent and a guy with tattoos I see both sides. Also, I will NOT be happy if one of my kids turns 18 and thinks I'm OK with them getting tattoos. Establish your life and then do what you want and ensure it fits your lifestyle/profession.

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

I posted an earlier pic of this chest piece, but today Tim Pausinger at The Pearl in Toronto finished things up. I'm super pleased with the results. Tattooing on and around nipples sucks. Worth it in the end though. Now, planning for an epic back piece begins. Oh FFS. Why is this image sideways. F' it. I'm going for a nap.

this series is fantastic. very inspiring. these and the tattoo ages get me excited about tattooing all over again even on days where I don't want to hear the word "tattoo" one more time.

First post from a long time lurker, but I wanted to share this one I got from Chad Koeplinger yesterday. Came across this thread while searching for other examples of this style and though I would contribute. Cheers!

Here's mine, done by Chad Koeplinger at the 2013 Montreal tattoo convention.

Well I got most of my tattoos under wraps when I'm not wearing shorts so people don't really ask me much, as the only tattoo that really pokes out is the bottom of a skull/dagger. When people do bring it up usually they ask how much and I just shrug and say I don't keep track. If it is more recent, and they see my leg, it's kinda understandable that it wasn't cheap as I got half my one leg covered. If people poke and prod about meaning or anything and you don't want to talk to them, don't. I've found the more I get the less people prod about them and usually they just want to see them. Luckily I usually get a lot of compliments and "holy shits", or people asking where I got them. Also do remember you are modifying yourself a bit, so people will naturally be interested. This does come with the territory.

Fuck pain. I don't need to be reminded that I'm being punctured-I've got probably over 30 hours of tattooing on me, I've been shot 3 times, stabbed, cut, beat, stomped, whomped, eye took out, and just generally abused. I can tell you about pain. And I can tell you that if you feel you need pain to make your tattoo a "real" experience, god bless you, you've probably never had any real-live pain, and I hope you never do.

bongsau is the hunter s thompson of tattoo clients haha

I've tried a bunch of different painkiller methods: Advil - helps you relax but not much help. Didn't affect tattoo pain, just the muscle pain from holding an awkward position. Tylenol 3 - did not work, made things worse on a ditch session Smoking pot - kinda helped me relax but could put you in the 'ugh don't touch me' mood, cue husband/wife jokes Pot cookies - now this worked great, it kicked in halfway through a chest session and made it hilarious and enjoyable Percocet - I tried this 30 minutes into a knee shading session where I was getting grossed out. Didn't feel a thing, didn't flinch at all and buddy finished the tattoo in record time! Nyquil - i drank half a bottle of nyquil. it doesn't erase the pain but certainly helps your mind fade away from what is actually going on. the side affect is a stomach ache post-tattoo. gross. Alcohol - i drank a mickey of rum, that worked great for a long sesh behind the knee. Except post-tattoo in the evening felt pretty sick. I also have Crohns so drinking hard alcohol was a pretty retarded idea in the first place and fucked me up for like 4 days. Beer - having a beer did the trick. But that could also have been the general good vibes at the end of the day at the shop's new shop. Bactine and magic bandaid soap do help but only to get you through that last push of a good sitting. And after all this...the conclusion of my science experiment is good rest and a strong clear mind is the best painkiller. Don't take anything. You'll sit fine if you are mentally prepared. Add some hot water into the mix to keep you warm and you are golden for a session.

Painkillers make it worse, but that's no reason not to use drugs. Here's my recipe: before the tattoo starts, I pop a muscle relaxer. You're going to be getting your ribs worked on and that's going to hurt. A lot. Evolution isn't a dummy, and we've evolved to protect our vital organs. The ribs protect your lungs. Your lungs are important. Therefor, your body has a nice network of nerve endings all around the area to alert you that you're getting into dangerous territory. Which means that you're going to be hating life. As such, you'll tense up. Probably a lot. You'll be sore from the tattooing the next day, sure... but you're also going to be sore from tensing yourself up. Because ribs hurt. That muscle relaxer (metaxalone for the win) will make you tense up less and the next day, you'll feel better for it. The next step is to take an anti-histamine. Tattooing is basically a large scale scratch test. If you take a nondrowsy anti-histamine, you'll swell less. The artist won't be bogged down with puffy, swollen skin. The last step for me is a xanax. Because I hate getting tattooed and the xanax just makes me happy. Caveats: I'm not prescribing any medicinal treatment since I'm not a doctor. Don't use drugs unless you know their side effects. Respect: Ask your tattooer if he/she minds you taking pills. Some do. You don't want to be the loopy customer they hate dealing with.