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New panther from Aaron Coleman, mostly healed.

Sounds like he just wants to fuck you over and get your money and go party! Or.. sounds like he's nervous about doing a sizable tattoo and has been getting some guidance on the drawing along the way and maybe chose a time that his mentor is free and can give him a little coaching. If he's an apprentice (or still super green) he may be sweating it. I doubt it's some grand, money-making scheme. If you like the kid's work, work with him. Also, sometimes you have to get tattooed on days that aren't 100% convenient.

I hate outlining. Hate. It. Hate. Hate.

I can tell you I've been accidentally double-booked, dates forgotten, etc, in the past. I also generally always get tattooed after hours, some tattooers just like that for whatever reason. I actually like it because the shop is different after hours.

I've stayed five hours after closing due to having to reschedule someone, or taking a walk in that took too long to draw. I've come in with friends from out of town at 3:00 a.m. before. Sunday mornings and evenings are relatively common as well. It happens from time to time. People double book... people have to reschedule... tattooers get sick... etc. If he needs to work you in and not throw off any of his other appointments, after hours or a day off are the way to go. Otherwise, you move someone else, they get mad, so you have to work them back in, and move someone else, etc., etc., etc. Also, never take Facebook comments as being booked. Go see them in person, and get your name written in a book. Also, unless you're doing huuuuge work, it's pretty standard to not see art unless you go in face to face as well. Who knows if the client will screenshot it, then go somewhere else with it because it's cheaper? Not saying you would ever do something like that, just explaining why you may not have seen it.

hiroshi hirawaka (mitomo horihiro), three tides/osaka

Thanks Cork! I've had a long look at the full back piece thread - some awesome work on there. Will definitely put a picture up when I'm not so pink and puffy. In the meantime, I've been spending an unfeasible amount of time standing between two mirrors in the bathroom, staring at my brand new back.

It's not uncommon. And I'm not saying wearing an apron for self-protection and avoiding mess is a bad thing. Just a point that some people wear one to complete a 'look', and isn't any more authentic than the person they are sneering at for the shirt they're wearing or whatever. More than half of the people labeling other people as hipsters are also posting in a thread called 'how do you react to stares' talking about how strangers and family alike judge them by appearance.

My husband is booked with Roxx in 2015 for a big chest-piece (his first tattoo), which means I'll be returning to CA for try #2 with Horitomo.

I got my mom two monmon cat prints for Mother's day and she loves them. She's a crazy cat lady and loves Japanese art so I knew she would. I showed her some monmon cat tattoos she said they were "adorable" and "if I ever got a tattoo that is what I would get" but "not the skull one though."

I have just started my back piece (with Richard Pinch in Aberdeen, Scotland) and I really wish I'd read this thread before I went! I booked an all day sitting, against the advice of Richard's receptionist, because I've done all-day sittings before on my arms and I thought it would be fine. It was not fine. 3 hours in, when Richard was lining over my ribs, the room started to spin, I broke out in a sweat like someone had turned on a tap, and I thought it was goodnight vienna. Head between knees, breathe, breathe, bit of chocolate, drink of water, breathe, breathe. We started again after 10 minutes but I never felt quite right after that. Still feel a bit sick this morning. Just made it to 7 hours, though, and I can't believe what he managed to get done in that time - he just does not stop. Before we started, he said I could take as many breaks as I wanted, and I said breezily, "oh, I'll just take a break when you do". How he laughed! I've no pictures yet but I'm ecstatic with how it's looking so far - is a crane, wings outstretched, flanked by two big leafy peonies. I'm going to get it extended downwards over my bum but it will be three hour max sessions for me from now on. I'm still not sure quite what happened with the near-faint episode: I've never got close to that before. Combination of the pain, and low blood sugar, and probably holding my breath I think. There weren't any easy bits either - it just felt like being drilled! Up there with childbirth in my own personal pain index, no question All that said I feel totally elated today.

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My Kim Saigh arm is healed. Why is it so hard to get good pics? There are 5 shots here and still no full view of the inner bicep rose. Oh well. Good enough!

Sorry for the odd crop, this is the company cover photo and I also wanted to make sure the logo wasn't on the image so it wouldn't come off as advertising. This client didn't like the shoulder cap he had, but wanted a very specific cover up that included soft shading and more on the side of realistic. The artist sent him my way and we ended up doing 4 laser tattoo removal treatments on him to fade it down - the reason I only have the photo up until 3 is because after the 4th he had it heal and went back to the artist to get it covered. Both the artist and myself are extremely happy with the results, and don't believe there will be any bleed through after the tattoo fully heals, from the original piece. The artist who covered it is: Matt Kramer | Lehigh Valley | Allentown Tattoo | Mind's Eye Tattoo / and can also be found at Instagram

OMG @TrixieFaux I am totally girl crushing on your arm this moment.

Recalling the first session I had on my back I remember telling Chris that my goal was to complete the entire outline in one session! If I could go back in time to that very moment I asked that, I think I would of punched myself in the face for sure.

Authenticity is overrated.

I still can't get a handle on what a Hipster is. Maybe the generation gap lets me down. Are we talking motherfuckers who change their style depending what the current trend is? In Australia we have a simple term for them types. "Wankers".

My latest tattoo done yesterday, by Jason Dunavan at Church Street Tattoo in Champaign, IL. A dagger running through a heart from my lower sternum to my belly button, with wings coming off the heart wrapping on my ribs under my breasts. Banner across the heart reading "Follow Your Bliss". I was in the shop for almost 5 hours, but between the transfer and a few breaks I'd say I was only being tattooed for four of those. Longest session I've done, and as it turns out the most painful right from the start. Especially on the sternum. Had to break out a numbing solution to get me through. I had fell in love with tattoos between the breasts, and eventually settled on this design. The banner, while is may seem simple, references back to lyrics from the song "Can't Be Saved" by Senses Fail that says "Follow your bliss, it reads on my chest, I know I got it tattooed for a reason." There is no huge "personal" connection for me with this tattoo. I'm one for thinking not every tattoo has to have a huge story behind it, as long as you're sure you want it for the rest of your life. http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/gallery/heart-tattoos/16719-chest-and-ribs-piece.html

chest/stomach from kahlil rintye coming up later this year, along with scott sylvia back piece. woot

I have never used the Quanta @irezumi, but I have a colleague in Australia who has one and produces great results. The technology is essentially the same laser I use, but also has the ability to do Ruby (different wavelength) for certain, specific and stubborn colors. The cold air was probably a Zimmer Cryo 6, we use the 5 because we got a really sweet deal on it and from what my maintenance guy tells me, they are easier for him to maintain (he's an authorized Zimmer repair specialist so I trust him). Utilizing cold air makes a HUGE difference IMHO for both the comfort level of the client sitting but also in the short term swelling. Best of luck with your fading, ask any other questions if you have them.

Welcome dude! First, get a better dragon than that dude, :D Second, if you're going for coverage for the whole arm, I'm sure you work around it with wind bars ("shading") and whatnot. Also, is anything on your other arm? You may wanna start with a clean arm for something so big and save your 'hawks arm for the smaller, one shot tattoos. Either way, good luck dude! (Also, here's some work from Shige just to set the bar higher for your Japanese work.. Full Body - Yellowblaze) (And by "higher" I mean just about as high as you can get, ha.)

@Mike Panic I just had my first sitting at a nearby place that upgraded to a q-plus c machine in recent months, can you give a compare/contrast to other laser technology out there? Also wanted to say that I've had other lightening treatments before at a different place but never was offered this 'cold air' treatment(cryo 6? I'm not gonna pretend to know much about the machines, just what their names are). It was 1/10th the pain level as previous sittings, and not that the previous technician was poorly trained; he was the guy to see for states around.

Our appt's are tomorrow!! SO excited!! I have no clue exactly what we're doing, and it's an artist I've never gone to before but I liked what I saw in his portfolio on the shops website. We've each got a different artist and 4 hours, which includes our talk time and design time.

Man that is absolutely perfect! Love the placement, the body of the panther creates a perfect flow to your upper arm. Makes me really wanna get a panther!

I don't mean to laugh, but god I relate. After the shock Of the stencil sank in I took a few sips of Gatorade and boldly proclaimed I am ready. The artist tapped my love handle and said I'm gonna start here and work up. I made a little joke that why wouldn't you start on the worst part first. I have always felt weird trying to convey "my pain" to someone who is like completely suited from neck down. Like oh my back hurts and he's like yea try back of the knees. But Every damn line hurt so bad that all I could do was count to 10 and breathe (in my experience most artists will hit you for a 10 Count between ink reloads). My cousin stopped by the shop around hour 5ish to check on me and he said he couldn't even look at me being finished up I was such a mess. The last 45 minutes I swear I would flinch each time he rested his hand on me. I was told I sat well, I really think that he was being nice lol.

Oh boy that sounds like a rough one @EmmaB Good job getting through it. I've never heard of Richard before so I had to look him up. Looks like he has good experience with big work, can't wait to see some pics! http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-designs-books-flash/492-full-back-piece-thread.html

some recent stuff

Here's mine by Jeff Rassier. I also posted a fresh pic in the latest tattoos thread but here it is healed.

I gotta agree with the sound advice already given above. Faaark the wings, go the full eagle. Not only are eagles the epitome of cool, they're timeless, and as a kick arse tattoo you will love it weather your 18 or 80. Ditch the superman idea, that'll go down as "the tattoo I got when I was 18". Full blown eagle, either smashed on the chest or across the front would both be shit hot. But in saying this, this will be your 1st tattoo mate. A major piece em blazed on your front is no walk in the park. But don't let that make you opt for a little piece you may regret later just to test the waters. Maybe...work out a killer half sleeve or something on your arm, then progress to a more challenging part of the body. But then, I also know fellas who have gone hard core, straight up tattoo number 1. Either way, the consistent advice here is choose well. This is my eagle smacked under my chest. Eagles are rad!

I think this would be a good option:

do not get superman, 103( if you continue to compete your class will likely change) or eagle wings (why leave out the badass eagle?). get an eagle on your belly would be cool again tell us where you are we will be glad to help you. ALL JMO

I donated my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths which makes wigs for people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. I still have some left though unlike my partner who went bald!

shitty photo but i got my second tattoo from tim pausinger today, turned out great.

Cork - Awesome work! Dana is one hell of an artist. I got halfsleeve from him late last year/early this year. Can't wait to see your finished product.

Hold up Hoggy, I want to talk about parallel parking. Parallel O Parallel plan driving routines for your newbie drivers as per experience. In the beginning we arrange the drivers for 0-3 days experience.

I am heading down to Read Street tonight to see Dana....and to watch Cork get tattooed! :)

I think hipster fits kinda well for that trend. To me hipster tattoos lack a genuine commitment and honesty. It's easier to be ironic and mock something than to put yourself out there with a belief that goes deep for you. I don't mean a tattoo that has personal meeting , but for me it would be like getting some horror tattoo and deflecting with how funny it is rather then how much I love horror.

@cltattooing 's work on the back of my thigh. Done last week at Clubhouse Tattoo in Oakland.

And double penetration the following quarter!

Tat-wrap would be useless with out some Tat-tape ($9.99) to secure it in place. And after a few days you'll need to apply some Tat-lube ($14.99) to ease the itching. And after its healed you'll want an app on your smart phone to show it off to all your friends so sign up for Tatagram ($1.99 per month membership fee).

This is where I'm up to with my back piece so far. Got a few more months to wait before I can get some more done.

20+ years later this is still what I say about every tattoo I get haha

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.

When I had my ribs done, Nick used some kind of numbing wipe before he put the col;or in. For awhile, all I could feel was that he was doing some damn thing there. As a matter of course, I eat 7.5 of vicodin on my way in to sit, and if it goes longer than 3 hours or so, I'll eat another. When I got my ribs done, I added a 5mg. Valium to that, and yeah...it was like, all beautiful! But hey-I came up in the 60's and 70's, you know, better living through chemistry.

@dari, Jonidix arm, you say....???? @ShawnPorter, interesting about the xanax, I wonder how that'd go for me. If I have any left after my flight to Mexico I'll try it out next time. Because.. yeah, they make certain things a bit easier. Like being 30,000 ft. in the air..

Best fucking thread idea ever.