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Can't remember if I posted this here Sundancer but Valerie Vargas, Frith Street Tattoo

Well, I just landed back in Virginia. Today was a long day. I can honestly say that I had an amazing time visiting San Francisco and Oakland, but the two most rewarding aspect of the entire trip was grabbing food at Taqueria Vallarta on Thursday night and having incredible conversation and laughs with you guys. And secondly, spending an entire day at FTW watching the homey Carolyn work (on top of getting tattooed myself). I am so glad to consider you guys friends. I'm honestly returning today with a drive to work so much harder because of this experience. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much LST.

Money is a sensitive topic. ALL Americans don't feel the same way about anything... But for many, talk of money or how much we spent on things can make us uncomfortable. If if doesn't make you uncomfortable that's great for you, but just know if you are planning to ask others they may answer politely but still feel uncomfortable without you realizing it. If it's your close friends and family that's usually fine. Although I wouldn't want my mom asking me because she hates tattoos. When my husband and I bought our house, the first time we met our neighbor across the street, the first thing he asked was, "What'd you pay for it?" We answered because it's information you can find publicly on zillow.com anyway, yet we walked away from the conversation thinking that guy was rude. How about a "hello and welcome to the neighborhood" for crying out loud?!!!! I don't like talking about how much I paid for my tattoos either because it's a personal thing. To some people I spent too much. Clearly it was worth it to me. If they are really curious or want to know because they are saving up for their own tattoo I'm happy to tell them the artist's general hourly rate. I guess it really just depends on who's asking and why! Nothing is black and white. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Couldn't resist booking a little one with El Monga while I'm in Barcelona. I'm getting a frog because I really love frog tattoos, and I really love El Monga's tattoos so it's going to be super cool and fun.

Last week, Sarah Hurst of Vivid Tattoo, Knoxville, TN put a nice likeness of my submarine dolphins and SSBN patrol pin on my chest. My first ink at 61. I had seen a sailor getting a tattoo removed the old way - rock salt abrasion - back in the 70's when I was in, and that really scared me off (don't know what he had, but there was an old chief standing over him basically letting him now that if he cried out, he'd give him something to yelp about. Now, my grandfather served in both world wars. Lied about his age to get in WW1, and that I'm sure is when he got his tattoos. I only remember a couple of them - a cupie doll and a faked line. Someday I might get that faked line on my forearm. Maybe. I'm very pleased with my new ink. Not showy or perfect (the patrol pin has some wiggles and a run-away line, and the stars could be sharper). But, at only 4" (~10cm) wide, it has great detail - and the drop shadow was a neat surprise! These represent 10 patrols on USS Von Steuben SSBN632. A total underwater time of 2.5 years. Although my Lord and my family mean more to me, I don't have a design in mind that would represent the marks they have left on me. I guess that remains for me to represent.

Hey don't hate on my steez. (Okay my beard's not that massive but I'm working on it.)

@9Years I've seen a bunch of his frogs on his Instagram and I love them. They have a really great feel to them. The shop guy at Aloha was excited to see what Monga is going to come up with because he hasn't seen him do a frog before, and then he showed us this tattoo he got from Monga when he asked for a squirrel and it's this squirrel being constricted by this snake/dragon kind of thing and it's amazing and probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of squirrel tattoo. So who knows what this frog is going to look like but it's going to be great.

July is officially the hottest month of the year.

Picked up this lil' thigh giblet while on vacation in Japan in 2013 from the (then) Hiroshi Hirakawa at Three Tides Tattoo, Osaka

Throw me L side in. Crocodile (from my Croc fighting days :)) & my ugly looking bat. Tattooer CP, Australia. @polliwog. I love that Eagle. F_uck_ing rad.

I'll enter this one because I love my eagle. Happy to see her every day, and she has a name :o By Chad Koeplinger at Congress St. Photo from his Instagram.

^Agreed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Some trends are right on.

Katie Ryan @ Anthem Tattoo, Gainesville FL

Tough competition this month, but I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring. Panther from Aaron Coleman. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Grez just made this one on me a few hours ago... I'm in love.

Guess I'll throw this in for this month. The only black & gray piece I have, and hopefully not the last. By Yoni Zilber.

I also had a fantastic time kickin it and meeting you! Thanks again for getting tattooed and breaking our Higgs cherries! It was seriously such a blast, and I too am forever grateful to LST for connecting such rad folks as yourself. Cheers Kevin!

Next update in the series lol I know its only every 6 months or so but I keep looking for changes, I don't see any yet still really. The thing I look at most is the females dark face, where Dmitriy put just a very slight nose shape/face, its really delicate and presume that will go first as ink spreads. Here is a fresh shot next to the one I took today, still has the same slight face. And the usual 6 monthly update. I managed to resize it so if you want it bigger just click on the photo and the on the photo on the next website to enlarge it if you want to :)

Well, why not. My handsome masked dude by Ron Henry Wells, done at the Montreal Convention '13. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You know this gets my vote.

We had a blast, dude! Thanks so much for making it happen. Come visit any time.

Thanks, folks! Future plans? Maybe a faked line on my right forearm. If another in my family or close friends gets breast cancer, I'd consider a pink ribbon around one of my calves. Also considered one of the line drawings of the earth with my motto: "Love 'em all... Let God sort 'em out." on my right bicep. I love the art of tattoos, but don't plan to collect them for the art. Mine will all have personal meaning.

Draw a lot. Seems like a non-answer, or too obvious, but it's all you can do to get better. Also, the old adage "practice makes perfect" is a lie. Focused practice makes better... hopefully. Set small goals and work towards them in your drawings, even if it seems as simple as learning different ways to shade leaves on a rose, them move up.

We don't talk money on this forum. If you want to do that in real life with friends, family, strangers, or whoever else, fine, that's your choice, but here isn't the place for it.

As I said earlier I won't ask someone that question because I do see why it can be construed as rude or inappropriate. However I don't find it offensive because if its someone who doesn't have tattoos or know anything about them they are most likely asking an innocent albeit naive and possibly offensive question. I liken it to how people ask me if I killed anyone in Iraq. Its a dumb question but its not asked out of malice or disregard for my feelings, its borne out of ignorance and ignorance is nothing more than a lack of knowledge.

I ran into a friend on the train today who's considering getting a first tattoo. He didn't ask, but I would've been happy to tell him what my tattoos cost, since we were having a conversation and it might've made planning a bit easier for him. Friends who could reasonably and respectfully ask questions about expense almost never do (because they're smart enough to have considered that it might be rude unless there's a very specific reason to ask) - it's always the folks who are perversely fascinated or need another reason to disapprove.

That is quite the nice Trumpet. My first was a Triumph TR6C - like a Bonnie, but with a single monoblock carb. Should have been shot for chopping her, but she was a looker while I had her. Traded for an RD and a bit better handling then sold all bikes in '79 when I got out of the Navy and moved to the mountains where I knew I'd kill myself with one. Come 2004, much older and a tiny wiser, I bought a '77 GL1000, then an SEi GoldWing, and in 2006 my GL1800 that now has ~90k miles on her. Building a project '78 GL1000 for hobby and maybe show.

I'm down the shore for the weekend and spent a lot of time reading on the beach today. I finally had some time to start reading a book for pleasure (and not just for class). I started Moon Palace by Paul Auster. I like it so far, but I'm not sure where it's going quite yet Bonus: Grez from Kings Ave designed the cover. When I get tattooed by him next week I'm gonna ask a few questions about it. Haha. Also, this is the first time I've tried to upload a pic from my phone, so we'll see how this goes.

Haha. Indeed. I don't want to know how much I've got invested, either. :D

Headed down to Mississippi from Michigan yesterday to see my grandpa. Independence day, traveled through six states, was able to carry the whole way. 'Merica

Update my tattoo. Two more hours and it will be done. Seriously thinking of going to sleeve, but have no idea what except I want to continue the Japanese theme. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just got this bake neko started today by Josh Damnit at Classic Tattoo in Upland, CA. I am dead!

I'll second that and add that Kim's lady head is a fine, fine tattoo as well.

I only have to walk ten minutes out the front door to the local park and see forty of the things, Kangaroos that is , not crocodiles. also @Sparky Polastri that cat is blowing my mind.

Everything is so good this month. Edit: Also, and not to say that crazy backpieces aren't great and deserve to win often, but it's nice when they don't scare everyone else off in the first ten posts. Haha.

Filler done by Chad Koepinger a couple of months ago:

Awesome! Thank you. I will wear the t-shirt with pride on the streets of London.

little dragon foot by Chad Chesko at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo in Boston, MA:

I knew it!!! I bet you had that bodysuit done to cover up all the scars you got from brawling with those beasts. Sick ass tattoos man. Your whole suit is pretty damn amazing!

Experience tells me otherwise, but I'm happy for you.

Rob Mopar is doing a guest spot at FTW through Saturday. Neither of us were doing much yesterday so he made these ladies for me. His instagram is @rwmopar if anyone is wondering.

I got this lil' dude on my forearm from Mat Welch yesterday. It's really hard to get a solid picture, but you get the idea...

@Faolan I think, if anything, it would be like the rule that tattoos are placed so the viewer sees them best. For example, faces are placed so that the tattoo is looking forward on the arms, or inward on the chest.

Dude, you've thought about this way too much. Just go get some cool tattoos.

Yeah, this is a little absurd. Thirties??? I mean sure, maybe don't rush out and get your hands and face tattooed when you're 18, but I'd hope the average person on the cusp of 20s doesn't need an entire decade to make a good decision.

@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.

22 with a face tattoo. Sounds like an X or Violent Femmes song. There are few things more annoying to me than models of any type. Standing around looking sexy or sad while people take your photo is not my idea of a career. No matter how much it pays.

Being fine with tattoos on men but not women seems to be a common double standard. Just saw this on a silly music forum regarding Aimee Mann's tattoos: "yea..im not a big fan of tatoos on women... it means theyve done something very bad...whether it be drugs or crime. but aimee loves boxing and tatoos are mandatory there lol." On the one hand it makes me laugh. On the other hand, why are people such freakin' idiots?

Tattooed guys talking about how they don't like tattooed women give me the douche chills.

As an old fart, I gots to agree. I had my left ear pierced when I was 12 years old, and have worn a stud in it since then, got my left nipple pierced when I was 18, it's still open, but I don't wear anything in it. My oldest gauged his ears out when he turned 18, but figured it out an leaves em empty. I've offered to take a tin-snip to 'em, but for some reason, he won't let me...they're closing up anyhow. I know, I know. Back in the day, when I got my ear pierced, the oldtimers (like me) were telling each other how faggy and shitty it looked. Every generation has it's own thing, maybe the next big fad will be plates in the lips. I do believe the Mursi are the present masters of this, but it's been around quite a few African-and even one Easter-Euro culture for quite some time. All that said, hey, if it's your thing, go for it! I've done too much wrong in my life to be judgemental of anyone else, whether it's how they look, who they sleep with, or what they do to their body.