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I sat for Dennis at Providence Tattoo for about 4.5 hours on Saturday afternoon. It was a bit shorter of a sitting than I thought it might be, and thank god. I was still miserable the last hour, and I'm pretty sure Dennis wanted to kill me, haha. But I LOVE the result, and of course it was worth it! I have been waiting for this tattoo since January, and really for even longer than that. There are two shops, and we were at the one on Atwells Ave, which is just a beautiful shop -- I love it. Dennis was fantastic to work with and so kind. We had a really fun chat, and he even drove me back to my AirBnB when we were done! (I was visiting Providence to get the tattoo.) I posted a photo from my phone as well as the shot Dennis posted on Instagram. It's swelling a lot more than any of my other tattoos ever have, but I'm thinking that's because it's on my thigh. Otherwise, it seems to be healing fine. I'm so stoked on it!

I decided I wanted another Tattoo. Went over to see Luke Wessman and got this done yesterday.

a rose and a rose bud. or a peony and a peony bud. or a butterfly and a smaller butterfly or a thing and another similar but smaller thing

The office manager at my school is an older Russian lady--super nice, motherly woman with a thick accent. I feel really comfortable with her so told her I wear long sleeves every day because I have tattoos. She didn't blink an eye and just said, "Why cover them? What is this the 1940s?" I love her. One of these days I'll tell my principal too and see if his reaction is anywhere close to that...

steve bryne ROA real cool guy awesome shop atmosphere

Top 5 picks in Oklahoma. Richard Stell Richard Stell Richard Stell Richard Stell Richard Stell Pair-O-Dice Tattoo

panther?

with a smaller panther.

I'm posting my updated legs today. I've added a few since my last post in this thread. Visible tattoos: Cat, hot air balloon, hand of glory = Chad Koeplinger Skull with flowers = Bastien Jean Higgs flash, boxer, RCAF skull, Grimm reaper = Tim Pausinger Cowgirl, Higgs flash = Glennie Whittall Panther w/ dagger, bulldog, pineapple, Scorpion = Franz Stefanik Ankle band, Hot Stuff = Nathan Draper Dollar bill, fly = Kyle Hollingdrake Space torch = Mario Desa I think that's all of them. I've got a few more lined up that should appear in the next few weeks and months.

My latest was so much fun I had to write my first LST blog post about it.

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. You can also put a dagger through the panther to really emphasize the not yielding part.

Thanks @Joe Stratford I'll have a good look through I'm getting tattooed by Steve Byrne, first time I've been tattooed by him and first tattoo in a few months, I can't wait :D

You'll find you will be judged on your professionalism @TrixieFaux rather than your tattoos. I completely understand the testing of waters though. I had a Nurse Unit Manager say to me the other day....the staff love it when you come on to the Wards Mick. Now they know you and have attended your training, they're no longer scared, they think it's cool when you bounce the Wards, talk and laugh with them and just be yourself. On the flip but, I pick my kids up from the extra curricular activities from school rockin jeans and singlets, all the parents avoid me like I'm the plague. Until recently, a couple of them started striking conversations and shit. One mother asked me last week...so Mick, what is it you do for work. I said...oh, I work for the Qld Govt, look after mandatory compliance to assist in National accreditation reviews for 5 major Metro Hospitals. The look on their dials were like pure shock. I love that shit. Yeah, not just some no hoping, tattooed Harley riding thug you envisioned hey. I love educating the straights that we might have a brain too.

Don't over analyse the line work. Don't worry about the compass. Go with your tattooers recommendation using subtle colours. Don't look for any flaws, and especially raise any going by the line work. Kick back, cruise with it, enjoy the process, put trust in the tattooer and just say...yeah man, subtle colours sound the go, whatever you think will work best. Slam it in and make it solid. Take a couple of beers along for your next session too. One for you, one for them before you get underway. Looking forward to seeing the final touch. Good luck.

Background complete. Did arm pit, lower back, butt, and touch ups on random spots. I prefer working one area after this session lol. Next session is stripes then color starts. It's so far from done but I couldn't be happier with the way it's coming out.

Shark slam back of neck this morning. Shithouse picture, and this is not complete. We need to back fill to tie in, dark water, blood pool and a little between the top fins, but anyway, here's the start.

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

The only thing that springs to mind. Panther.

Just keep her off of Pinterest!

Not sure this qualifies as a "full" back piece, but here it is anyway. This is after my 3rd session with Chad Koeplinger and I'm pretty thrilled with it. I don't particularly enjoy sitting with Chad for super long sessions, or at least I don't think i'm capable to sit for very long sessions with him. With that factored in, he thinks we have about 3 more to go. Happy to break it up in small sessions, as that is more opportunities to spend time with Chad. I love that guy. some insanely stunning pieces on this thread. Rob

From Master Nervio of Roses and Panthers. Just done today!

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!

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

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!

I feel like LST is the perfect place to get this started, so here goes. It looks like I'm going to put together a fundraiser in early December for the Wounded Knee School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. I've been talking with Chris who runs the Friends of Pine Ridge website and I've talked to Principal Alice Phelps from the school who is totally behind the idea. Some of you may know about the levels of poverty, unemployment, and suicide, some of you may not. Some of you may remember the name being associated with Russell Means and the American Indian Movement in the 60s and 70s. Some of you have no idea what I'm talking about. What I don't want to do is get on a soapbox and go on a tirade about our government's systematic failure and attempt at extermination (woops, just did it), but instead I just want to get these kids fed. The Wounded Knee School needs help. All of the students qualify for free meals in school but the problem is when they get home. Principal Phelps has made arrangements with Feeding America in Rapid City to come out once a month and do a food distribution for all of the families but the need is more than they can fill. Because there is only a single convenience store on the reservation and the nearest grocery store is 60 miles away in Rapid City, Alice has started a food pantry that she operates out of the school. That's what we're looking to fill. My good friend Dave Wallin has agreed to use his shop, Eight of Swords Tattoo, here in Williamsburg for the event. You might remember the name from last year's Ladies! Ladies! art show, or other shows and events he's had there before. We're still in the early planning stages, still trying to lock down a date and a timeline, but I wanted to post this up here first to start to get the word out. I've reached out to a couple people initially to sort of gauge interest and everyone seems eager to help. The idea is pretty simple: get a bunch of rad tattoo artists to donate pieces, do a silent auction, and then send that money to pack the food pantry at the school. We're looking at early December, possibly the first Friday or Saturday. I haven't even sent out real emails or made phone calls yet but I'm meeting with Dave on Monday to iron out some of the details. So expect me to bother everyone even more! Feel free to pass along the info. to anyone that might be interested and in the meantime, I'll try not to fuck this up. Also, MSNBC did a pretty decent three-part article on Pine Ridge a few months ago. Worth a read: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/failing-americas-most-forgotten-children Thanks everyone!

A big ass panther. Totally not joking, by the way.. Images > words.

Hello! Just chipping in to say that I don't think having lots of visible tattoos necessarily makes you unapproachable. I was at a wedding a few weeks ago, and wore a red halterneck dress. After the ceremony and dinner, I felt comfortable enough to take my cardigan off, thus displaying tattoos over both arms, and the top half of my backpiece. I found that whilst obviously I drew a few double-takes, people felt if anything more able to approach and even touch me - one male guest even attempting a peek down the back of my dress (without my prior consent, I might add!). I have very short buzzed hair, and am also pretty tall at 5 foot 10 - so you'd think I'd cut a rather imposing figure, but my husband tells me I have a nice open face, and I am very smiley and talkative so I think that overrides any potentially negative impression given by my tattoos. Perhaps if I'm having a bad day people might give me a wider berth.

@Mick Weder - two great stories! You sound like a pretty cool dude (and of course being a cider-lover gets you lots of extra points). I'm liking breaking people's assumptions, but in the opposite way. I have no visible tattoos. The few times I've shown my back or shown a picture. "I never thought you'd be the type of person to do something like that!" I've a lot of schooling and am an engineer working in a somewhat visible federal position, so I'm pretty much the opposite of "thug looking," so I think I'm educating the other half as well.

Pretty gnarly. I'm kinda into it. I don't think I'll ever have to resort to that though. But I like the idea of it, and "blast overs" as well. As the kids say...

I'm an aboriginal studies Prof - Wounded knee is the centre of so much that needs to be supported. Thank you @gougetheeyes !

Oh how my leg has changed in just a few short months. I think my next move will be to cap my other knee. Then I need to work on the back sides. I'm too front-heavy. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got this one today from Bastien Jean at The Okey Doke in Toronto: - - - Updated - - - Got this one today from Bastien Jean at The Okey Doke in Toronto:

I had one of the best tattoo experiences today and officially crossed the line into weird territory with this by Mando Rascon today. Immaculate tattoo is definitely the best shop I've been in so far and Mando is honestly the best dude I've met, after the tattoo they shouted me lunch and he took me on a tour around Mesa and Tempe and then drove me all the way home to my hostel!!. what a dude.

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

Interesting research you get yourself in to SeeSea. That thing looks like any other Gillette razor I've ever seen. What a gimmick. More dragons. Andre Malcolm

I agree. Panthers all the way.

@markbee looking good mate, filling up fast aswell, your knee looks like it healed great

I've never described someone's legs as "inspiring" before but yours are. Nice moggy too.

I think @Mick Weder has summed it up nicely. Good advice.

I just saw one of these for the first time - it's the only one I've seen that looks like each piece could stand on its own as an amazing work, and when seen together, take on a more complete life. In an entire different league than (gimmicky IMO) stuff like the 4-person "LOVE" tattoo. From Gogue's instagram

@Lance I read an article a while back, I don't remember where, about a tattooer who was working on a guy with a blacked out sleeve. Ended up blasting over a completely black arm with traditional color tattoos, and surprisingly the result was extremely readable (im pretty sure, been a while so I could be mistaken)

@trashpolkakid If you like that style of tattooing and not many people around you do, consider yourself blessed. Being an outsider with an interest in marginalised subjects or styles is a rare thing in the world these days. Especially on the internet. I'm old enough to have seen some interests very dear to me, (some that I even defined myself with in my teens) become very mainstream, even ubiquitous. That's not so much fun, especially when you use those interests as starting points to forge friendships with like-minded people. Enjoy your outsider tastes! Note: Trash Polka came after watercolour style tattoos -Ed Hardy did some in the 80s.

Anything abstract has a smaller following, regardless of the medium. Nothing wrong with trash polka style - just not as easy for many people to connect with.

After 2 1/2 months rooming with my lovely mother after moving back to VT, I am moving into my own place! Living out the New Girl dream and rooming with 3 men... This should be interesting!

Way to scare off the rest of the competition @DevilMan! Awesome back piece.

In the spirit of "fuck-it" I present my left leg. @gougetheeyes now we can feel weird together. Snake/torch by El Monga last summer at spider Murphy's Candle/Skull by El Monga March of this year at tattoo city Cattle Head by Stefan Johnsson Jan of last year at California electric Planning a panther on the knee at some point but it'll have to wait a bit. The other leg has some odds n ends on the thigh, but not enough coverage for me to feel it can hang in this thread yet!