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Done by Ed in 1979! GOD DAMN!!!!!!!

Next big thing planned... New York in a month for a Beau Brady rose on my forearm, and possibly trying to see about an NYC souvenir tattoo at Smith Street. Taking a pre-wedding honeymoon, as soon as my fiancée gets moved over from Ireland (after 6.5 years of the ocean being in the way), getting blasted on, and having a great time, if all goes according to plan!

i'll post a healed pic of this birdhead in here since i uploaded it to my flickr... a month old. the wizard is two weeks old. whitehead birdhead by misomad, on Flickr

Just booked my stomach with Koji Ichimaru in a few weeks. I'm hoping that will do it for the year.

@misterJ Wolf and a maple tree, from neck to knee, with carte blanche on anything fun that he wants to add. It's a relatively short trip up there so we are doing one session a month starting in january. I inquired to the scheduler at the shop how long each session would be. Her response, "as long as you can handle." Challenge accepted!

Here are some photos of our Old English Sheepdogs Zeke and Ziva. My wife and I rescued them a few years ago. We had 2 others (also rescued) that died so these came to us at a good time...God works in mysterious and wonderful ways. (The photos on the right are Bo and Sara respectively RIP. Bo died at our feet of a massive heart attack and we had to put Sara down after her intestines flipped and she bloated up. Poor girl was 14, deaf and incontinent - so we probably waited too long. They can't speak after all and because they love us unconditionally we really need to pay closer attention. It really wasn't fair to put her through all that pain.)

I'm really into Marie Sena. I believe she's based out of Dallas.

Stuff about healing my first tattoo that I am noticing, and did not expect, for whatever reason: Why do I cut corners in my house so closely? It has taken me having a tattoo on my shoulder to notice that I basically dive-bomb my doorframes. WTF? Goosebumps + healing tattoo = AAAAH The best feeling in the world is when I get to air dry it after it gets washed. Yessss. So nice and cool.

8 twice... I would maybe do one more 8 to finish shit up..... Maybe I remember the shop dude being like you know you are allowed to do shorter sessions. Even now saying I would do it again it's like what am I saying

Welcome! Looks cool. Don't worry about the scabs. I get them too in the areas where he really works the detail - often in the faces like this. Likely you didn't do anything wrong, although getting that first cleaning or so done well is important. Just keep using the moisturizer if that's what he told you to do. Be careful about not getting the scabs snagged on your shirt and not rubbing too hard when you put on the moisturizer. My scabs take a little longer to fall off, so just wait them out. If a little color comes out, your tattooer should do touchups, so no worries! [Edited to add] Some scabs can take up to a couple weeks in my experience, so don't freak out if you have some that just seem to linger.

I got a thing today. Hard to believe it too me almost 33 years to finally start. A fun Percy Waters bird from Greggletron/Greg Whitehead at Scapegoat Tattoo. I stole the picture from his instagram. Side note: I really appreciate this forum. I went to my appointment totally prepared and actually knowing more than the average bear (which is still only a very little, admittedly), and he kept asking me 'are you sure this is your first tattoo?' He kept talking about how pumped he was to work on somebody who'd give him creative license, who knew about Good Tattoos and what makes them good, and...yeah. It made me feel really good. I'm pretty sure I learned all of that here. He would probably thank the forum too if he could. Haha. Booked my next appointment for October. IT BEGINS.

A big panther head would do the trick like

State Of Grace had a list of return clients and they called me. They didn't really have many options, though. I would call ASAP!

Thank you for discussing what must be a sensitive topic for you. That takes some courage to ask for help, and shows more wisdom than was being used when you decided to tattoo yourself. A lot of people may look down on you, but this will serve as a warning for anyone who thinks doing stuff like this is a good idea. The only other positive thing I have to say is that you hopefully were only tattooing yourself. My suggestion would be to throw your "gun" away. Find and ask a good artist what you should do, and go from there.

Hey guys, Nice you meet you as far as introductions go, My name is Travis, 22 years old stuck in limbo at the moment, I am assisting my grandfather at home(home care 7 days a week) and I am trying to work out to get into school. I am doing odd and end jobs to make ends meet (I live with my grandfather not live off him) I used raise serpents,larger pythons and boas, BCC's,Retics,Burms, my largest was 22 feet. I still have some animals just one big snake(well a baby I am going to grow up). I have taken martial arts for 8 years(TKD) I quit then re joined recently only to quit again, just too expensive right now, I am a second degree (L2) black belt. I consider myself a Interfaith spiritualist (I believe all religions can correlate and mix) Though I am mainly Buddhist(asides being Bi-polar and oxy moron huh?). I really love animals and I never give up on people, their really is great people out there, along with some bad. I love the Mass effect series(video game) I love horror movies too. I am an amateur costume prop builder. I also love plants as well(house plants LOL). I figured this is a good first post. So for the help I am seeking, I got my first tattoo 4/5 days ago. I have been doing what my artist said. I rinsed it gently off that night, the next day I cleaned the plasma and excess ink off. I have been using a thin amount of A & D I recently switched over to fragrance free Curel. It took about 6 hours to do this tattoo, he took his time on shading and doing it right and safe, great artist,nice guy. The tattoo did hurt,no need in lying lol. I noticed about 3 days afterwards it was scabbing up, really mainly on the head of the dragon. That is where he worked the hardest on detailing and shading, it took hours on that alone. I am not sure why it is scabbing I may have let the plasma sit too long before cleaning? I don't touch nor pick at them(scabs). Just apply curel now when it feels like it is drying out. The tail of the dragon all the way up my shoulder is healing very well. I noticed the scabs are separating(kinda like a broken plate) What do you guys recommend and do you think it will heal ok? Does it look normal?

So sorry @Mark Bee!

Sounds like the start of mine - my husband looked at me kinda funny when I asked him to take bare pictures of his wife from the back and send them to some random guy. That was QUITE a conversation! (Save that picture - it becomes the "before" picture!) And the "as long as you can handle." Be very ready for that challenge. There is a ton of mental fortitude involved - a contest of trying not to tap out before he decides he's reached a good stopping point. I made it to 8 once. Only once. ::shudders:: January - coming up soon! Carte Blanche - that will be really cool with the design you're doing. Be sure to post progress shots.

Along a similar vein, although more of a philosophy, I enjoy appreciate taoism. One of my favorite books on the subject is "the Tao of Pooh."

SO COOL. Didn't even know she was in the States. I love that she's rocking a S&S shirt. If she worked in the Bay, I could totally see her working there. Nice one! Congrats on your first! I got my first tattoo when I was 30 years young. Better late than never. I could only imagine what tattoos I would have gotten as an 18 year old me.

Little bit of knee action

There are always new roads, and new air to move through. You can't ride too much.

@Pleadco what are you getting Rob is super talented

Watched Tattoo Nation recently. What a great doc. Loved every minute of it.

@sophistre rad first tattoo! I too, was staring at it on inta before I saw it on here. Congrats!

I think he's pretty much left his older style of work behind, save for when someone specifically asks him for it. He talked about how much better this style of tattooing wears in, how classic and timeless it is -- basically everything I heard here. He also said another interesting thing toward the end of my session with him, to one of the other guys who was watching...he said that he didn't even really enjoy the tattooing before, mechanically, and he got most of his satisfaction from achieving the effect he wanted, whereas now he really enjoys putting the lines down, and that it was more instantly gratifying. I thought that was kind of cool. He also said that I'm one of the only people to come in and ask for this stuff instead of his older work, aside from his assistant and his wife, so I'm sure he'd be THRILLED to get flooded with LSTers. :) This is all he wants to be doing anymore. @Graeme : We'd originally talked about a mermaid or a fish, but I kinda want a peacock. He wants to do girlheads. Somewhere in the middle of these things, I figure an awesome tattoo lies.

Been in correspondence with Rob Noseworthy Rob Noseworthy - @Robnoseworthy Instagram Profile - INK361 and just got an email that we will be starting my back in January! He's giving me the option of multiple sessions in a row if I want to cut down on travel. From all accounts he is an awesome guy, and I'm looking forward to visiting that beautiful area. I haven't been this nervous/excited since my first tattoo. Going to have to recruit the wife to take pictures of my bare back to send to him for reference tonight. That should be an interesting conversation. Hah.

@beez Haha, so insanly cute! I need to get some pics of my cats up in this thread. I'm approaching level crazy cat lady, buys them presents all the time, I spend more on their food than on my own and so on :) @SeeSea I'm so sorry for your loss, pets really become family members. And regarding the review, what won't one do for coffee :)

I'm sorry Mark, that's rotten.

Really sorry about that, Mark Bee. My daughter has been job hunting for a year now. Many are hiring for 90 days only so they don't have to pay benefits. Keep at it and treat the search like a job is what I've always heard. There is word that there will be some major not-good changes where I work over the next few years. Our group has been told we are safe, but still...

@Mick Weder - how about just taking a second pass around to fresh things up? You could experience that back piece all over again!

Terrible news. I hope you're back on your feet soon.

Ha! The sign of a true initiate (with a very nice dragon half sleeve on your arm).

That's funny, @hogg, cos I've only met you once and I can name at least three of your tattoos and who did them -- not including your backpiece that I've only seen in a book.

Oh god, buddy. I'm sorry.

Gah @Mark Bee Academia can be a cold cold beast. :(

I work in a group home for people with disabilities. Almost all of my coworkers are tattooed. The tattoos are never an issue. Except among some of our clients older family members :) In Norway I think tattoos are very common and highly accepted.

This isn't work-related, but on that point, when me and @Pugilist were flying to Spain earlier this year I had the misfortune of having my seat next to this uptight, middle-aged woman who couldn't stop fidgeting in her seat for the entire length of the flight. Anyway, I wore long sleeves onto the plane, but when I was settled in, I rolled my sleeves up because we were crammed in economy and it was warm in there. It didn't really matter that I have nice tattoos (or that I was wearing a nice shirt at the time either), that lady saw a guy with long hair, a long beard, and tattoos on his forearms and it made her uncomfortable to the point that when she got up to go to the bathroom during the flight she took her purse and ipad with her, presumably because somebody who looks like me is going to steal her stuff. On a flight. And whatever, I don't really give a shit because a) I've made a choice about how I look, and part of that is understanding that some people associate that look with unsavoury characters (as if the real crooks aren't the ones with the expensive suits and haircuts); b) I like that tattoos still scare at least some people, and I hope this is always the case. But basically the point I'm trying to make here is that for people who aren't interested in tattoos, they're not going to notice artistry and craftsmanship. A tattoo is a tattoo to them.

Both looking awesome @misterJ and @Graeme. Love tigers in Japanese art and they make such a great center piece for a huge backpiece. Sometimes I wish i had 4 backs so I could do a different theme on each. :) No wait I am glad I don't have 4 backs, not sure I could do it 4 times. Another session today and I can safely say we have now started colour. :) The severed head now is finished. Jason.

Session three down. A lot of ass and thigh lining today. So brutal. Really loving how it's coming together though.

I am not sure whether it was posted or not on here BUT it seems I got to be tattooed by and visit with Peter Giaquinto just in time! Peter was laid to rest last weekend! He was very welcoming to me and told me some really cool stories as well as sharing with me a few things on tattooing! :(

Yeah, so those Rassier ditches were supposed to be my last tattoos of 2014. How in the world do I have 3 appointments booked, with a potential 4th that may or may not go through, depending on whether or not Ben Grillo gets booked up for his Temple trip. And I want to do that Idle Hand GWYG on Saturday too. Fuck.

You GUYS: watch to the end. :o:o:o

I asked today, and was told that once it's over on the 14th - it's over for good. I hope that I'm mistaken!! - - - Updated - - - I finally made it today - and my mind was blown. Such a beautiful exhibit - down to the last detail. That genuinely made me decide to donate to JANM because it was so amazing. It's kind of small, and yet I spent two hours walking in circles looking at everything. Kip did a great job - It was truly breathtaking. The majority of people I saw there were not visibly tattooed and seemed so impressed with the quality. I officially think Kip is one of the greatest ambassadors of the tattoo community today.

Quick appearance on the beach. Still a lot left to do and layers to add, but it's coming together. Back in the saddle on Friday. Dude asked me, "Please don't tell me you did that all in one sitting." :rolleyes:

I've mostly been a lurker for a few years, so 'hi' everybody :). As far as my 'overall look' goes, I'm covered top to bottom. Sleeves on both arms, my legs are covered, stomach, ribs, feet, hands, fingers, neck, even palms. No head or face tattoos and I try to avoid getting a face tattoo. I have to admit that I have never been a big fan of back pieces for the plain reason that you can't see it, but as I'm slowly running out of real estate I strongly consider getting a back piece. Since I'm a big fan of American traditional, I'd love nothing more than to get a badass piece from Judd Ripley at Sailor's Grave :). It all started when I was 19 and I got a lettering (which is now covered) and a bunch of stars (not covered) tattooed. As the years progressed, I got about 1 tattoo per year. At the age of 26, I started my left sleeve. I made the common rookies mistake and impatient me made an appointment with a tattooer who had time the following week. I wanted to get a fullsleeve as fast as possible and so I had an appointment with him every other week. I didn't really have a solid idea for my sleeve (I just gave the tattooer the word 'music'...), so I wasn't really happy with the outcome. As I started travelling a lot and with Instagram popping up, I began researching and finding new artists and booking appointments with these artists. The idea to travel to get a tattoo from a great artist hadn't occured to me to that moment. And now , I'm here covered in tattoos from a bunch of different artists from all over the place and I couldn't be happier. About 98% of my tattoos are just designs I really like. Panther, eagle, shark, Sailor Jerry designs,...some are music-related (lyrics, potraits) and maybe 2% have a deeper meaning. I live in Germany, so people are a bit more conservative when it comes to tattoos than Americans. When it's hot outside, I never wear short pants or skirts. As an American friend, who once visited me,put it best:"The Germans have a staring problem." It really is a pain in the ass, even though I live in a big city. I travel a lot and sure, every time I'm in the US, people stare too, but it's just different. Usually Americans come up to me and say something along the lines of "I really like your tattoos". I like the sincerity. I hope I didn't get too offtopic here. Sorry for the rather long post.

Don't think these have been posted, but if they have - please delete. Two part interview in San Francisco Arts Quarterly - 1 - http://www.sfaqonline.com/pdfs/SFAQ_issue_fourteen.pdf 2 - http://www.sfaqonline.com/pdfs/SFAQ_issue_seventeen.pdf

Really sorry @SeeSee, we had to call time on our first dog Samson and it's a horrible surreal experience . Having healthy pets really reinforces to us how anything should live and as hard as it was we / you did the right thing . Anyway here's a couple of pics of our lads firstly on holiday in Blue Anchor beach and secondly blue steel Butch looking G.Q. smooth .