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Scab Vendor is another classic. These signs hang at Atlas Tattoo in Portland

So not been on here for a while but I have finally had the 3rd session on my back after a short break... I went on holiday. It definitely felt like we hit quite a lot this time round but it might just be that we were moving a little bit all over. So to add to the conversation going on above I definitely prefer to gradually work from one area to another rather than jumping all around. Suddenly moving to a new spot really sucks. Anyway this is how the progress is looking.

Hi guys! There is a quirky little antique book store near me that is open like twice every 5 years, and today happened to be one of those days! I walked in too see if they had any tattoo books and walked out with this cool book I am about to post pics of here!! It's all in Russian. If anyone has any info about this book, or speaks and reads Russian, please let me know!! The barbed wire on the cover evokes a prison yard; perhaps it's about prison tattoos? I asked the bookseller and he said no, just tattoos, but he doesn't speak Russian either. :p Here are some pics I snapped! I will snap or scan more if there's interest. Also: I no can without womans.

I prefer skin wizard, personally.

It was posted up by Rich Fie that this is the last Saturday Tony Polito will open Old Calcutta for tattooing! He and Rich Fie have been going in every other Saturday for a while now to tattoo mostly other tattoo artists but it seems that is going to be coming to an end! If you want to see Old Calcutta once last time......or even for your first time.....then this is the last or only chance! I can't make it up because I would leave my shop short handed if I did BUT I thought I would let everyone know!

Hard to wrong with Stefan Johnson

Rich Fie is one of the coolest people in hardcore. I use to book and go see his band regularly a few years back. Always welcoming and as kind as ever. If I wasn't going to Philadelphia this weekend, I'd definitely stop by.

My wife and I will be there for at least one day and possibly more. I think we need to get another dinner together or something like that. I do not have any appointments, but my wife is getting tattooed by Valerie prior to the start of the convention.

I couldn't find a thread for this years convention and seeing as how it's basically next month I figured we needed one... Who's going? Any Appointments lined up? Anyone interested in a get together? - - - Updated - - - oh yeah, I'm getting a tattoo from Stewart Robson on Friday evening! So pumped!!

Day 1 & 2 with Silvano Fiato 12 hours yesterday on this and 8 more today, still not finished. Coming back in 4 weeks time to Silvano the day after Florian to fill in the knee, do some more detail to the bottom part. He has done some very heavy saturation so that it will look great when healed. Going back next June to do the back of the calf. I love Lee Jeffries stuff so obviously we based it around his works. For those that don't know his work, link below if interested :) Lee Jeffries - https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=tablet-android-google&espv=1&sboxchip=Images&tbm=isch&q=lee+jeffries+homeless&revid=1539496463&sa=X&ei=MZAHVLbOIKbhywPamYHoCg&ved=0CB0Q1QIoAA&dpr=2&biw=600&bih=800 Sorry for the shit phone pic, Silvano will post some better ones soon.

I really, really like this wolf: instagram - - - Updated - - - (also a Dutch tattooer, BTW @JakeWolfSkin)

@Lance @cvportagee @ian @Scott R @cltattooing @hogg - Taking this year off, not happy about it but it doesn't align with things. Hope you guys all have a great time and enjoy the meet-up!!!!!

I might go down there to get my first American traditional tattoo. Can any of you share some of his work on this thread?

Already posted this in this month's contest, but this was done today by Nervio from Roses and Panthers. In the States he has tattooed at Diamond Club in San Fran. He probably has the lightest hand of anyone that has tattooed me yet! Very pleased.

I hear you. Believe it not, we're not all millionaires on this board. The most famous and/or expensive artists aren't necessarily the best, and there are some lesser-known artists out there who are incredible and don't charge an arm and a leg. You just have to find 'em. The thing is, it's not like buying a Kia in hopes of affording a Mercedes someday. (Not that there's anything wrong with buying a cheap car if it gets you there.) You're stuck with that thing for life. So you may as well save up even if it takes a year or more -- which is how long it takes to get an appointment with some of these folks anyway. And we're just talking about local artists! Think about the people who travel to get tattooed – sometimes overseas. Not all of 'em are rich, just committed. Like my new signature says:

You'll have to excuse the quality of the image here as a combination of operator error and poor equipment. Couldn't be happier with how this turned out, done by @cltattooing at FTW Tattoo Edit: sorry if the images are huge, I have no idea what I'm doing!

I also saw Steve Byrne for the first time last week at Rock of Ages in Austin, TX and I doubt it'll be the last. Rose #2.

Here is my submission for this months contest. My whole backpiece has been done in a 6-month period (just 31 hours in total) by Bonel from Corazon Santo, Arnhem, The Netherlands. I also have a full size picture available HERE

Haven't entered one of these in a while so thought i'd enter the ring with my parrot by Chad Koeplinger from the Amsterdam Convention earlier this year. Looking forward to seeing everyone elses entries!

off to see Grime on Friday for another session on my back. It's really coming along and while I'd rather not put it on the interwebz, if you see me at the SFO convention I'd have no problem showing it...

Grime said he knows what he has planned, he just wouldn't say which is no surprise.... I'm seeing him Friday for a session on my back...

If anyone is planning on going, you should really think about meeting up with all these guys. Good people the lot of them.

I have just opened a new tattoo shop called Mystic Tattoo Parlor in Mukilteo Wa (just North of Seattle). I have been in the industry since the early 90's and formerly owned Lucky Devil Tattoo Parlor on Capitol Hill in Seattle for 18 years. I have been looking around online for forums to advertise for tattoo artists wanted and this looked like a good one, so I joined.

Hey Guys So i have decided to travel to the states from Australia around July/August for a couple of months possibly with another tattoo friend of mine and would love to meet a heap of you guys while I'm over there. We are planning to start in San Francisco and travel across the country to New York hitting a lot of shops on the way for walk-ins (not going with a plan). I just wanted to use this thread as a kind of home base for information for the next few months. Thanks LSTers Also i will probably be doing a travel blog thing aswell.

It's weird to me that shop would be the one that stood out to you. Honestly next to the stuff people have suggested this stuff looks a little amateur. One of the guys has more of the client in his pictures than the tattoo, and the shading in a lot of these tattoos isn't very smooth and in some cases, not there it's more like black and white than black and grey. All I am saying is if you don't like the suggestions so far I would keep looking.

It sure is - such a great place. I hope you make it up here, but even if you don't, have a brilliant adventure!

Ive wanted an NC State Slobbering Wolf for a while but was always worried it would be a little gimmicky. But one similar to the one posted by Daryl Rodriguez would be awesome.

@Hands On i wouldve loved to of made the convention but ill be somewhere in Texas by then. Thanks for the welcome @Mark Bee if I have any funds left by then ill be sure to pop in, the okey doke is in toronto is it not?

Quoted for truth, his 108 heroes of Los Angeles is too damn cool I would sport it

I've used both the tea-tree and peppermint liquid Dr. B's for new tattoos. Both worked out just fine. ALL ONE!

thanks you guys, will check em out after work. - - - Updated - - - ya i realize that some work faster than others.. it's just hard to guesstimate a full price because unfortunately i do have a budget.. and i would like to prefer not having a half finished large piece lol. ya it seems everyone here is set on "save up or dont get it" mentality.. but i see nothing wrong with trying to find an artist that i like that i can actually afford. i'd love to get pieces from all my favorite artists, but i simply can't afford it unfortunately.. /shrug

I'm down to meet up. Got an appt. with Valerie Vargas Friday night.

Just so you know I'm still in the game. Ashley Howell did this piece on me a few weeks ago.

So this have finally come along, I've just landed in San Francisco and ill be here for a week if anyone wants to hang , I've also got an appoinent with Austin Maples on the 4th if anyone's gonna be at Idle Hand - - - Updated - - - Also apologies for my poor spelling , I'm extremely tired right now

Hi Ryan, welcome to the forums. I will recommend that you hang out, soak in some art, and figure out what a good tattoo looks like. We can't tell you what to get, but we can point you to good shops one you decide what you want. Please peruse http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/misc.php?do=vsarules And http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/2396-what-makes-good-tattoo.html

For people who actually tattoo, I notice the terms alternating between different styles of tattooing. The more rendered, over the top styles seem to go with artist more, while the traditional/craftsmen minded guys seem to opt for tattooer. Clients almost across the board use tattoo artist, or occasionally tattooist. Some variations seem to occur based on era in which someone came from, as well. Similar to shops or tattooers now using the term "professional tattooing" to differentiate from scratchers/fly-by-night kind of guys, tattoo artist did seem to be a way to try to separate from those who aren't serious. Personally, I call myself and use the term tattooer. I find I work best thinking of what I do on skin as all craft, with art being on paper or canvas, and ending with my final line drawing for a stencil. However, like a potter, or someone who works in a bronze foundry casting people's sculptures, I understand there is an artistic component to the craft.

Never posted on this before but here is my barbershop quartet done by Steve Bryne at rock of ages Austin last July, it's not going to win but thought I'd share it with people

Got this started last Wednesday by Mike Stockings, he was guesting at Black Garden Tattoo in London. Few more sessions to go and other bits and pieces to add! Super happy with how it's started.

Welcome! Post it here. I love a good "name this tattooer" challenge.

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/gallery/uncategorized/17232-raven-healed.html Healed Raven from Joey Ortega. Headed back tomorrow for some more work on my other side.

You and I and Jason should go to an A's game, soon.

Flash by Cap Coleman; tattoo by Franz Stefanik

1 shot Zeis Tiger/Snake by Jason Phillips at FTW in Oakland, CA. Jason slays both Japanese and American traditional. If you're ever in the Bay Area, you should definitely book an appointment with him. So happy with how this turned out. So glad I don't ever have to tattoo my chest ever again.

@JakeWolfSkin A stencil, or lack thereof, is actually not a good way of measuring tattooer skill. Go into the What Makes. a Good Tattoo sticky thread in General Tattoo Discussion, and you will find a great resource.

A lot of judgements on appearances in this thread. Thank goodness nobody ever judges us on how WE look.

Guy Le Tatooer

I don't want to jinx anything by saying who but I will say that he's in San Francisco ;)

Isn't gay bear redundant?