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Welcome! @LadyGabe gave some solid advice there, but I'd also recommend looking at ways you can make the ideas you have a little more visually interesting. I'd suggest looking at traditional flash because a lot of those designs incorporate flags in interesting ways. There are hundreds of examples and variations on this, but here's one nice example that I found through Google. This is from Becca Genne-Bacon at Hand of Glory in Brooklyn: Or you could look at other ideas entirely of how to represent the idea...can I suggest kangaroo fighting a beaver fighting a bowl of spaghetti?

I've asked my local artist to do his own take on a rose-panther morph. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with... hopefully something awesome that I can get stat!

My second tattoo. I love how the wings turned out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got the dagger done by Tony Nilsson at Blue Arms Tattoo today! Heart is healed. Stole his instagram picture(The black square is another piece he posted that isn't mine! Blacked it out)

Couple more quick ones from Fergus Simms

Scott Sylvia, Blackheart Tattoo, finished earlier this year. Sorry about the shat picture quality. Titty Sprinkles.

It took me 10 years to bite the bullet and breach the collar. I thought neck tattoos would be a big change in the way I am perceived...by my family, friends, clients, strangers...overall it has been very positive and has complimented my personality and confidence. I mean the majority of my body is tattooed and covered. Why? Because I love tattoos, the commitment, the experience getting them, the healing and the aging. So why should I be afraid to let that show and hide who I am - an illustrated person. We use our hands for so much in our daily lives. I think hand tattoos are a very expressive piece of real estate (as is the neck line) - as a lot of these hand tattoos in this thread demonstrate. I am not sure for myself at the moment however, I feel it would be distracting for me to wear...not ready for the big stuff yet haha and I think personally the wait to get hand-blasted will be all the more rewarding. I think the outside-in approach of the younger generation...well...I think it trivializes the overall experience of getting tattooed. But everybody has their own opinions and reasons for getting tattooed. My feelings toward tattooing my own hands will likely change in the years to come as my tattoos age, my coverage increases (real estate decreases!) and my life-situation develops. Patience and waiting is part of the tattoo experience for me, much in the same way that spontaneous tattoos have their place as well. And there will be something satisfying when my skull and hands (in that order lol) are made. I think I will likely drop my sleeve cuffs down onto my wrists first and then maybe consider a smaller standalone pieces on my hands (instead of a full mitt style). I work as an professional engineer. I work for a smaller consulting company and have a flexible job. I am happy I waited, I don't think breaching the shirt line earlier on in my career would have been a wise decision. I didn't have the life experience and leadership qualities to backup my eng work and overshadow a rogue appearance. Now I am older, more experienced and have the respect of my peers in the industry for the good work and professionalism I have demonstrated. It is only recently that my clients and work contacts have started noticing and I have not been shy in asking about my tattoos (but, god, why does everyone have to refer to them as 'taaaaattz'?!?, really dumbs it down yknow) There is a time and place however and that is where you say "yknow I'd love to discuss tattooing with you at a later time, but perhaps right now this project meeting is not the appropriate forum". You'd be surprised how much respect you get as a young tattooed person from normals when you take charge of poorly timed conversation like that. On the flip side, when I am on a construction site for an inspection, the trades people comment on the tattooed engineer and frankly make me feel more welcome than say the engineer dork in pleated dockers who is too proud to get his shirt dirty. Tattoos make you an interesting person "maaan I bet that cat has got some stories mhmmm" but generally that is because you were an interesting person already before the tattoos. /and now...back to the thread...post some more great pics of hand tattoos ! :cool: - - - Updated - - - Awesome! love the space and size around your tattoos. Nice placement, and the tattoos are grrreat

There's defo some advantages. When we take the kids to the beach and looking for a primo spot to sit, it's amazing how when I'll strip down to a pair of shorts, put up the umbrella, fold out the chair and crack a coldie, then the people who up and move ha! Was it sumfink that I done? Thanks for the space.

I just wanted to address what you said above. I don't like to share too much about my personal life, but I will on this occasion. I suffer from a mental illness, but am a fully functioning person who gets up and goes to work every day, shares a smile and laugh with collegues, lifts weights at the gym, and spends a lot of time with my friends. Not many people know about my mental struggles, and those that do it's only because I have told them. Mentally ill people generally don't look sick (yes there are cases where it's apparent someone isn't well by their actions). When we are ill we don't have a runny nose, or a cough. When I am sick, and when I am well, I still don't like to be touched by strangers. Mental illness is surprisingly common. It still has a stigma attached to it, and I would bet money on the people who you think are mentally and emotionally stable, that there are a few of them who are sufferers, but you wouldn't pick it. I guess what I'm trying to say, is don't be so casual with flippant remarks regarding the mental health of people. You can't judge how they are doing mentally on whether they lash out at being touched by strangers. That is stupid.

My eagle slammed under the chest plate. One of my faves.

@bongsau. Excellent post. Sums it up exactly. Took me 20...something years to hit solid neck and hands/ fingers. Even then at first I felt exposed, but they're my favourite additions because as mentioned above, it compliments who I am and the rest of the suit. Even the compliments from work surprised me. As I've mentioned before, I work health care at a majour metro hospital within Corporate Services. Even attending Executive meetings, I lay my cards and hands on the table, and when you can prove your able to talk the talk, people become more interested in what you have to say rather than the way you look. Breaking down prejudice is great.

I don't know why everyone is saying traditional isn't timeless , I mean it may have got a little unpopular at times but it's always been here and I think (hope) it will be for the next couple of hundred years. Same goes for japanese.

And this right here indicates the bad influence she will have on her children who were born with the capacity to become open minded individuals. Maybe they still will. Some kids can overcome the harshness of their parents.

And these are mostly the subtle stares we might pick up on. When my wife (who has nil tattoos) are out and I may be walking ahead, she sees so many people cranking their necks and literally stop to stare. She can't believe it. On another note but, we took our kids to a music concert some time back one evening. All the other stiff parents in their usual shirts, ties and lovely attire...I'm in my usual jeans, t shirts and thongs. The following day at the school...you know, some mother had the audacity to say to my wife...your poor kids. When my wife asked what the fuck she was talking about, she says...don't you feel ashamed on the bad influence your husband has on your children? Fuck, didn't that bitch cop a serve from the Mrs.

I wrote as much in the upcoming tattoos thread, but thought it'd make sense to report that I had a consultation yesterday with Horitoshi 1 here. Stoked to get work from a master!

Tony Hundahl Rock Of Ages

I know I already posted this picture when I first got these done, but I figured I'd include a photo in the actual "Hand Tattoo" thread as well. Here are my hands. Applied by Thomas Hooper.

Dean Sacred. Just saw this one today and it blew my mind...

Yep. She's super nice, friendly, massively knowledgable, and she has so many incredible books that you won't find elsewhere.

Which almost certainly means that Crystal Morey is going to be there with her table of books. If you're looking for any reference on Japanese tattoos, she'll have something for you.

I also especially love smiling and being really friendly to those who have obviously made a snap judgement on my appearance! My boyfriend is a muscly, skin head with very vibrant traditional tattoos of a reaper, a devil and all sorts of dark things. But he is the biggest, kindest and cuddliest bear ever when you speak to him! So polite and thoughtful, a real gentleman. It still cracks me up when he holds the door for a little old lady and they look terrified of his kindness!! haha EDIT: I am not so sure my BF would be so pleased that is how I described him come to think of it! Ruin his manly image ;)

The only album I've bought this year is the new SWANS. I picked it up when they played here last week and haven't listened to it yet. Mostly I just listen to the same things I've been listening to for years. I'm pretty okay with that.

First off man you made my day, I havent heard them called thongs since I was like 8 and my mom got me sandals for a vacation. DAT BITCH! I would have lost it... Bad influence my ass. Everyone is trying to raise their child to be this creative thinking individual while exposing them to nothing but approved normality. I know your kids will be better smarter faster

@TrixieFaux - thank you for the reminder that stares are not always hostile. I find this so tough, because it's hard to know if people are admiring or being creeps. I usually say that I never get comments or stares about my tattoos because we live in a very tattooed neighbourhood (that's also really gay, so I am pretty uninteresting to most, haha), but for some reason this past week I have been getting constant comments. Earlier, when I was walking the dog, a man stopped me to say, "you have beautiful legs" (I am wearing a dress that's short-ish so you can see a lot of my thigh tattoos). And like, I had no idea if he was saying it in an admiring or sleazy way... I mean that is kind of a weird thing to say to a stranger, even if you mean well! I don't want to be ungenerous when folks say stuff like that, but when it's ambiguous I also tend to opt for protecting myself and not engaging, which is kind of a shame if people mean well. (That said, why is it that many of the comments I've gotten recently have been of the ambiguous nature above, and not like, "I love your tattoos", but instead commenting on the body part itself? I guess the comments sound ambiguous because they probably ARE, like these dudes are admiring my tattoos while assessing my body at the same time. I dunno.) Of course, he could have been talking to my dog, who does indeed have a sweet set of gams.

good god this

Alright, luckily we got started late and could only do 5 hours. That was enough. I made the mistake of going in on Sunday for a deep tissue massage. That made everything extra tender and sensitive for Tuesday. Never get a massage before a tattoo. Just don't do it. This session covered hair, robes, wind bar/cloud touch-ups, adding orange to the fire. Also a healed butt shot. From Instagram danahelmuth; (Damn, looking at my butt up close, look at that scar tissue on the red in the snake! He beat me up.)

signature line

by Stewart Robson On a side note, me and @ThatGuy crossed paths in Frith Street without realising, Crossing the online/reality divide. It's a Fantastic back piece! Gets my vote this month.

Some more on my back by Marius Meyer. It starts looking like a backpiece I think Next session is the 10th of May:

wow great pics everyone. @Graeme "squidmitts"! Hah! I don't generally seek out dotwork so those Jondix, Weisbeck, and Hooper hands are completely blowing my mind right now. Amazing! Unfortunately if I am ever able to get my hands done, it won't be for several decades. But in the meantime, here's a couple more on other people. Rich Hardy Grez

Word. I can relate to this 100%. There's no better feeling in the world than shattering someone's expectations based on how you look with a solid proven track record and a strong work ethic.

@rozone those are stunning. I'm always curious what people with hand and neck tattoos do for work. Whether they're in the "industry" or have an awesome white collar job that is lenient, or work in the trades somehow. Or the last category of young kids working from the outside in (hands before sleeves etc) and not realising potential hangups from doing it that way versus inside out. I will treat myself to hand tattoos when I retire, it's a rad piece of real estate for sure.

@Sparky Polastri I have never seen anything like that. Amazing.

Bits and boobs sounds way better than bits and bobs.

Yay @taaarro!!!!

Mines always been Valerie Vargas and Steve Byrne, they were the first people that when I saw their stuff on myspace I lost my shit. Chad aswell I just love how his style isn't constant you can tell it's his work but it dosnt always look the same as recent pieces,

I just stared at that for a long time, @Boxing Gloves. So weird, so well done, and so cool. I can't wait to see the additions.

I'm going to Ikebukuro tomorrow for a consultation with Horitoshi 1. Excited and a bit nervous. I keep on imagining (hopefully) paranoid scenarios where he explodes saying something like, "You want me to tattoo what!? How dare you!"

holy shit @semele, now that's a giant ass flower alright...and an amazing whole back piece!

Derick Montez at Everlasting in SF is doing some pretty cool stuff.

hello- wanted to add my new work to the thread. I just sat through another double session with Mr. Rubendall. We finished the outline added a skull peony and started shading up the ribs and lower back hard. coming along quicker than I thought, but still slowly. EDIT: Thank god the shading hurts way less than the line work I'm so not sure I could sit through if it was worse.

actually, Grime posted this to Instagram so I figured I'd share it over here...

Here's my eagle from Dan Santoro.

Ships of sci-fi! Heh. I briefly thought of getting a space scene with the TARDIS, the Battlestar Galactica and Serenity it it...

No, I get where you're coming from. We just see it a different way. And like I said I don't work in a shop and am relatively new to getting tattooed. When I was a young'un and just getting into punk rock you had to brave the record store clerk who was way cooler than you and let you know it. You felt like you'd discovered something on your own -- that you earned it. Nowadays the kids can find everything they want on Spotify. Thing is, that's just the way it is now. Everything changes. You can wax nostalgic about the past but that's not bringing it back. I've chosen to embrace change, and I think I'm happier that way. Anyway, Ed Hardy opened the first boutique shop in the mid-'70s, so it hasn't been just bikers and bad-asses all this time. I'm not sure when the good old days of tattoos being all rough and tumble really was anyway. But I'm not trying to impress or intimidate anyone or be part of some cool kid tattoo "scene" as our pal @Victor keeps calling it. Blaming it on the tattoo shows seems kinda silly to me. Did MTV kill rock & roll? Seems to me there are way more amazing artists out there than there have ever been, and partly that's because the industry has changed and tattoos have gotten more popular.

That Wiesbeck hand is stunning! I'm particularly fond of the big black right above it.

These are my hands. The bird by Bailey Robinson and the panther by Steve Byrne. The knuckles and little guys were done by Vinse One. Actually Matt Arriola did the anchor.

Bloody hEL Monga ,so strong!!

Heres mine. Tattooed by Stefano C, Frith Street Tattoo, London on Christmas Eve.