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Spent about 6 1/2 hours at Memoir with Kim yesterday and I think we finished this arm. She did a little more outlining and shading all over, and added a little misty shading background. I love it. Will post healed pics in a couple weeks.

Got this little guy from Dan Santoro, Bert Krak flash. Inside of the forearm 2-3 months healed.

Tattooed biceps?

His is not the only LST butt on our bookshelves.

Can you also find me a page of reputable good builders that call them guns?

CHAOS!!

Just wanted to jump in and say thanks to all the tattooers who post here. As someone who was quite clueless when I signed up here and still has a lot to learn, I feel a degree of responsibility for the change in nature of this forum and really appreciate that a lot of the original members are still active here.

I got my hand and my knuckles tattooed way too young. Still in college. I also have been around tattooing my entire life, and remember big intimidating white supremacist bikers being the main clients in the shop my parents went to when I was a little boy. I also know about people pulling away little kids, and getting stared at like you're garbage most days when you go out. Were it not for knowing that history, and truly what I was getting myself into, I wouldn't have gotten them done. I know that because my tattooer at the time told me that outright. I had backup tattoos in case he said no, one of which I got a month after my knuckles, and another three months after my hand. He knew I was willing to be a janitor, unlike most people who are 20 and think a hand tattoo won't stop them from being whatever it is they want to be when they move on from their hardcore phase, break edge, and start listening to Americana exclusively. Fortunately, tattooing chose me without too much time spent as a minimum wage slave at the mall. That said, I turn them down left and right. I don't want to ruin anyone's lives, and I don't know that I have the technical capability, nor have I earned the right, to do too many thing in areas like that yet. Some day, maybe. But for now, I'll say no, and hope that more people in my town will learn to turn away a few dollars in exchange for professional responsibility. And that clients will really hear my advice, not just see something they think is cute on Pinterest or Tumblr, and think hand tattoos will be accepted in the business world.

Oh yeah -- @hogg in the I LOVE TATTOOS book

Speaking of butts, @Lance, yours is forever on our bookshelf in the PERSEVERANCE catalog. Those Namakubi are bad ass -- PUN INTENDED.

I've heard it takes about 3 months for a tattoo to be completely healed. Also, lower leg tattoos take a lot longer to heal... so give it some more time then see how it looks.

Already ban hammered. Thanks, @Mark Bee.

Y'all, I have not been getting tattooed for that long. I have learned a TREMENDOUS amount over the past few years that I have been getting tattooed consistently, which has been almost entirely thanks to the super kind and open tattooers I have been lucky enough to spend time with. I know very little about tattoos, but what I do know, is thanks to them, and I am so grateful for that. And since I went from one tattoo to three to "there's no point in counting anymore", what I have learned is that there is a lot that I thought I knew when I first started getting into this, and I had so, so much enthusiasm about it! I had a lot of pretty innocent assumptions that I've had to unpack or add nuance to as I've moved forward. As I keep going, I realize I am just scratching the surface. Tattoos are about process, which is part of what I love about them. We are always learning, and like in any good pursuit in life, the more we learn, the more we realize how little we know. So when people say that a tattooer knows more than an experienced collector who knows more than someone new to tattooing, that's not the "forum police" (seriously this is so juvenile) or people being snobs; people BEND OVER BACKWARDS on this forum to give good advice to novices. What it is is having some goddamn humility, and realizing that you know some stuff, but you don't know much more stuff. And you have that humility because you love and respect this thing that you are into, and the people who have thus far guided you into it. I hate that I keep making sincere posts on this godforsaken thread, but seriously; stop feeling persecuted people, and have a shred of humility. We all have a lot to learn. Literally every other tattoo forum on the internet, as far as I can tell, is a free-for-all where people can spread misinformation and feel like kings of the virtual tattoo castle. All people try to do here is respect the tradition and promote responsible and beautiful tattooing. That does require taking a step back every once in a while to ask if a conversation is productive, and it also means that sometime people are going to get told they're wrong. In my experience, people try really hard to be nice when doing stuff like that, and only get snippy when someone has been purposefully obtuse or offensive or arrogant repeatedly, because we all lose patience eventually.

Don't forget @Reyeslv's ass on page 121 of the Perseverance catalog.

for the last year or so i have been putting these together. last week i made #6. the first few are sold out but i still have a few copies of the last three. you can pick them up on my etsy if interested. thanks for looking shapes&shades by chrisnoluck on Etsy

we have some availability - call the shop or email!

You guys can call me at the shop and I can book it over the phone *hint hint*

Maybe this answer is in that thread, but I've seen ppl told to post their questions in the intro threads, being they can not start new ones, so OP I believe you posted your question correctly and like already stated, what you're seeing is completely normal in my exp and should be just fine soon enough.

Waxy wrinkled looking skin is what it looks like after it peels. It takes around 30-45 days for your skin to look normal after the tattoo.

He means "tattoo gun" aka tattoo machine. I come to this forum because I still have a minimal amount of knowledge on the tattooing process from the artists perspective. It's awesome to have that advice and information available on here. That is what makes this forum great in my opinion. So "police" away!

How could someone not like Black Flag?

It all just sucks when IG deletes Tattooer's profiles because they posted a new backpiece they're working on and it shows the client's butt. I've also seen artist's profiles being deleted too because a drawing or painting they worked on contained nudity. Completely non-sexual in form too. Yet all the while there are other sites which remain open posting almost naked (floss) women gyrating. And that's considered okay (because of the floss). It's really stupid. I'm now waiting for the moment when my friend's profile is deleted because she posted a naked photo of her little baby being bathed. On that note, @Stewart Robson had his profile taken down. He created a new one though "stewartrobsonfst"

dont worry your tattoos wont trick us into believing you are knowledgable. Im not saying that to be mean. I just dont have enough self control to not post a half decent one liner. On the topic of finger/hand tattoos... how does one wipe their ass with fresh finger/hand tattoos? Do you have to glove up for each bowel movement?

ROAD TRIP!

Complaining about "forum police" because I made a suggestion that some people agreed with and some people disagreed with? How thin-skinned are you?

The 'signal to noise' ratio can be a problem on any forum which, at a certain point, has a lot of experienced people posting on a topic. That knowledge base pulls in a lot of new posters, keen to ask questions, sometimes not getting the established culture of the forum, and you can get noise that dilutes the content to an extent. The thing is a closed-door or overly insular forum can be no better, because you end up with cliques and group think. The most successful forums I've seen are the ones which manage a kind of dynamic balance. I think LST is managing that now, just about. But like @irezumi alludes to, LST has lost out when tattooers stop posting. If we ever end up a forum which is entirely populated by collectors only, however educated, then that'll be the end for me.

There are some interesting points brought up here, some I agree with and some I respectfully don't, but I have to agree with @Graeme in that we don't need to be talking about hand or finger tattoos on this forum and for the same reason he mentioned. That brings me to a thread de-railing topic. It is the nature of things and people to evolve, everything around us in life and in the digital world is evidence. Not always a bad thing, but often brings about mixed blessings. This forum is evolving and in its own way that is/was the point of it, to talk about and educate people about good tattooing. The initiation thread has been blowing up with new members constantly and that's a great thing to see because it shows the amount of people that are interested in learning more about good tattooing, or (although fewer and fewer) people with vast amounts of experience and information come to share it. It is a positive thing to try to help fairly new people to tattooing learn about topics that they might not know about yet, just out of sheer ignorance(The word ignorance not to be taken in a negative light). It's great that there is a place for people to share this kind of information with each other. But personally for me it is rapidly evolving into me sitting at the front desk telling every single customer the bad news they don't want to hear. This is a topic that I've been doing for years and years and years and pretty much still tell people every single day in real life. It is becoming more difficult to want to participate when all I'm doing is basically saying the same thing I do every single damn day to people. This forum has been kind of a refuge for me when I wanted to escape the bullshit questions that I face all the time by people who like I said just don't know better yet. This place was almost all professional tattooers and or people who were heavily tattooed, which is what was the appeal to me. The number of professional tattooers that still post here has been dwindling at a fast clip over the last year or so. And I think I know some of the reasons why without having to ask them. One reason is "busy working" but that's not what I'm talking about. Hogg, I know you have asked us to save you from hearing "this place ain't the same anymore" (although it is undeniably true) but I am trying to show that there is a positive side to this evolution. Like I said it is merely just mixed blessings, not something BAD. I'm just a little bummed because it's evolving into an animal that I probably wouldn't of been interested in if I were a recent arrival. Thanks for letting me soapbox for a minute. I still like a lot of you people.

Got questions about your tattoo with regards to aftercare or possible issues? If so, this is the thread for you! Questions surrounding your new tattoo are common, and we have covered several questions you might have. Think of this thread as your one-stop-shop for all the questions you're dying to ask. In other words, before you start a thread, please read the following. These topics have come up several times in the past, and this will probably answer any questions you might have. FAQ Q: Is my tattoo infected? A: While tattoo infections are fairly rare, strangers on the internet are not the people to ask. If you're wondering if it is infected, it would be best to ask the tattooer who applied the tattoo. They have all types of knowledge about the various stages of a healing tattoo and would be glad to help you. You are their customer. If it looks really terrible or is very painful, consult a physician. Q: What is the best aftercare for my new tattoo? A: There are a variety of effective aftercare methods. There is no "one size fits all" approach, but there are some good guidelines that have been discussed in previous threads here on LST. The best person to get aftercare advice from is from the artist who did the tattoo. (Are you starting to see a pattern here?) Q: Can I go swimming (or engage in other activities) with my new tattoo? A: While everyone has their own opinion about this topic, the way to think about it is this: you have a large, fresh wound that you really, really want to take very good care of. (Hell, you paid for it!) It would be in your best interest to keep it free from water, sweat or contact with not-so-clean areas (like gym equipment). Q: Is my tattoo healed yet? How long does it take to heal? A: This comes back to what was said before: everyone's body reacts differently. There is no "one size fits all" description for what a healing tattoo looks like or how long it takes. Even on the same person, the area of the body can effect how long it takes to heal. For example, tattoos on the lower leg often take longer to heal than tattoos on the upper arm, but even this varies from person to person. That being said, there are some loose guidelines to follow to understand how the healing process is going. Generally, it goes like this: after leaving the shop, your tattoo might be swollen, red, and oozing plasma/lymph/ink. After this phase, you'll transition into the peeling/scabbing phase. The area can become very itchy and it might look like you have sunburn on your tattoo. After this, the tattoo can look faded or glazed over. It may even have a "waxy" look to it. This is normal. Eventually, the tattoo will settle and look pretty good. The length of time from "fresh" to "looking good" can take anywhere from two weeks to a few months. Again, this depends on several factors, including diet, lifestyle, area of application, and too many others to list here. Q: Can I and/or should I put sunscreen on my tattoo? A: After a few days, it should be OK to put sunscreen on your tattoo. During the healing period, you should really try your hardest to keep it covered and out of the sun. Afterward, try and apply high SPF sunscreen to your tattoo as sun can quickly fade the original image. Q: Am I having an allergic reaction to the ink? A: If you have any allergies, it would be in your interest before you get tattooed to tell your artist. Having said that, most people are not going to have a reaction. As I've seen here on LST and in my travels, people sometimes attribute a rough session/swelling on their first or second tattoo with an allergic reaction. Repeat: when in doubt, see your tattoo artist or your doctor. Helpful Links http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/558-tattoo-outline-raised.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/32-best-post-tattoo-care.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/2567-beach-pools.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/1022-itchy-tattoo.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/4262-does-your-skin-break-out-after-being-tattooed.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/2887-tattoo-scars.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/715-little-bumps-under-6month-old-tattoo.html If anyone has suggestions to be added to this thread please feel free to either PM me or tag me in a post and I will add it. Edited by @hogg

We all know the search function built into this website can be a little clunky. Through some trial and error I discovered a search method that will direct you to the exact page of the thread where you can find the words you search for. Here is a quick example: I want to find posts that include the words "Steve Boltz" Go to Google Type "Steve Boltz site:www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum" into the search box and click search. This might be helpful in discovering who was the first person to use the term "squid pants" on LST.

@TrixieFaux That is so great. You must be thrilled. Congratulations!

Haha. I was just thinking that there should be a running thread of this.

I may have mentioned this before, but I really like the way the crow/raven's head turns when you bend your arm. Very cool! Can't wait too see it healed.

Instamanbutt Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

I'm definitely no expert but I think it would be more traditional not to mix flowers/seasons, if you care about such things. So if those are the two choices, I'd go with the hannya. Here's one article I've bookmarked: ANCIENT ART OF THE JAPANESE TEBORI TATTOO MASTERS | INK IN HARMONY | The Selvedge Yard

They aren't guns, they are machines.

:confused: Can I have some of your smoke bro ?

Not so cool but I love it... finally signed up for Covered CA. I haven't had insurance in years and I qualify for Medi-Cal now, so I can finally see a doctor, it's been 3 years and I really need to see one.

Too much rain to go out much today, this was his response.

That's awful!! I think you'd feel like you were being assaulted, I know I would. I'm a tattooer and have always gone out of my way to make people feel comfortable- I know that when the shoe's on the other foot that the personality of the tattooer is as important as his skills.

The results of yesterday's visit to Greg Christian. I've been walking around Cleveland eating ridiculous, inexplicable food today and goddamn, does healing this thing suck. I can recommend eating a grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with meatloaf after getting tattooed, though...

I hate to pile on @deadsp0t, but I do want to make a couple points. I've heard you say "silence is consent" on this and other threads, and I don't think you realize what a loaded term this is. Google "silence" "consent" and "rape," and you'll see what I mean. Just in case you're wondering what all this outrage is about. All that stuff about Rosa Parks/MLK I'll chalk up to a bad analogy and leave it at that. Except to say that when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. @Zillah, I'm a big burly guy and I probably would've done the exact same thing in that situation: bit my tongue, get my tattoo, and got the f*ck out of there (but no tip). So many ways that situation could have ended badly for you, sometimes it's smart to keep your mouth shut. @Bunny Switchblade, not to get off-topic or pick a fight here, but I'm getting a little sick of hearing this particular sentiment. I hear what you're saying, but put it this way: there are dives and fancy wine bars, and the existence of the latter shouldn't ruin your enjoyment of the former. Grungy old-school street shops are awesome -- and I hope they never go away -- but the private/custom/boutique-type ones exist because there's a market for it. Speaking as a non-tattooer, it seems to me that everyone who wants a tattoo should be able to get one, how and where they want it. And that people from all walks of life getting tattoos is good for business – even if it's the dreaded "soccer mom" getting a butterfly on her ankle. It's like with bands when people say, "I was into so-and-so before they were cool." Why should I give a f*ck if what I like is popular or not? Bands want to sell records and make money so they can keep making art. Tattooers do too.

@Zillah, I'll bring this back to topic. When I got my flapper on my chest, the tattoo artist basically had to touch right above/ on my breast (not like fondling but just had to stretch out the skin on my chest, etc.) and while it was mildly uncomfortable for me, it was nothing compared to what happened to you. The only acknowledgement that it might even be a bit awkward was his sorry as he first touched me. Nothing too serious but I was 19 and a bit shy. Now as for the silence as consent... highly disagree with that statement. Even the examples with Rosa Parks and MLK are WTF moments. Silence is never consent, never acceptance. Silence is taught, is a self preservation technique when there is a threat to speaking out. I was silent, when I was teased/bullied by girls who I knew could beat my ass if I said what I really thought about them. I was silent when I knew I would get slapped by my parents if I said what I wanted to. I was silent as groups of men talked horrible things about the way I look and what I should do sexually because I am so ugly to them and therefore desperate. I only ever speak out when I know that I cannot bear it anymore, when I am willing to take the risk of bodily or psychological harm, or when I know I have a fighting chance. Silence does not mean I consent to my treatment, it means I am too afraid of the consequences to speak up. and that's why deadspot missed the point.

The problem is that when you are in a vulnerable position, it is pretty difficult to speak up. Calling misogynistic behaviour out rarely ends with the perpetrator apologising and reflecting on what they've said/done. At best, you might get a patronising 'lighten up' type response, at worst an aggressive response. "Silence is consent" is victim-blaming bullshit. This is far more offensive than I think you realise, and is scarily close to blaming her for what clothes she was wearing.

Wow, just wow. In a professional shop, it would be very safe and reasonable to assume that perving on clients is never, ever appropriate and never, ever funny.

There is a pretty huge difference between engaging in off-colour humour in general and making uninvited sexual comments specifically about one's client, while you are quite literally controlling their movement (or lack thereof).

My overall look is incomplete!

Talk to me or @Graeme in person for 5 minutes and you'll see how boring and uncool tattooed people are. You won't want to get tattooed to avoid growing up to be like us. Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

Try introductions first, show us a photo ov your sick tatt bro

I think that's a decision you will need to make as it will be on you. How much do you care about remaining traditional and respecting cultures? I'm sure you can work with your chosen artist to create a badass chicken head if you wanted. My memory is fuzzy and could be wrong so someone correct me, but I think a Japanese/Chinese phoenix is a mixture of several specific creatures like a chimera. So if you change what's supposed to be cocks comb/pheasants head to an eagle then that might seem odd to some people. I'm sure most people wouldn't even notice though. That being said I want to add that you should remember there is actually a difference in meaning between an asian style phoenix (ho-o) and the phoenix in the western world. If it's the image you like sans KFC head, cool, but if you are trying to represent a certain mentality, meaning, blah, blah, blah to it, then make sure you get the right type of phoenix tattooed. I've heard/seen plenty of people with a Japanese style ho-o and their LA Ink sob story is actually refering to the Greek or Egyptian Phoenix not the east asian meaning. At that point I sigh, and imagine smacking them in the back of their head for not researching and reading up on mythology. Also to be honest I do favor traditional japanese work and cringed a lot during the 90's and early 2000's when I saw horible faux Japanese work walking around everywhere.

This is how a Phoenix should look.