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A healed, and much better photo of my peony I got a couple weeks back. Much simpler than what's been posted. Done by Glennie at the Pearl Harbor Gift Shop. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Work has begun Instagram Thanks again to everyone for the help and advice

Got this chest eagle off Steve Byrne last week Don't think I posted these either Fudo of Stewart Robson Leopard off Valerie Vargas Scorpion off Valerie too And this mad skull off Andrea Furci

Got this Namakubi from Pino Cafaro on Saturday at the London Tattoo Convention. Pino was a great guy and I'm vey happy with the outcome. It's on my chest so it was hard for him to tattoo given that there was no bench. Tricky to do in a chair.

Looks like Valerie Vargas & Stewart Robson are opening up a new shop soon: Modern Classic Tattoo | Coming Soon!

Got my first leg tattoo yesterday, at the London convention. By Eli Quinters.

I went up a few days early to get tattooed by Bert Krak at Frith Street the 'MUM' rose, attached. And went to the 'Miniature Ink' exhibition at Atomica Gallery that evening, where I bought the small works on sale by Curly and Alex Binnie. The day after I went to the 'Time' exhibition at Somerset House, I definitely recommend it. The first day of the convention I didn't do too much, went to meet Ed Hardy first thing pretty much. I bought the 'Nurse Mercy' lithograph, and he signed my copy of Tattooing the Invisible Man, relatedly - I was walking around later, and to my surprise - I saw Bill Salmon, so I also asked Bill to sign it. Second day - got a sacred heart from Freddy Corbin, whilst my friend next to me had a very long sitting (6 hours?) with Mike the Athens. Today I only went to pick up the lithograph and went home! I saw a few LST'ers, but didn't want to bother anyone.

@Wilhell, @Ninab, their 3 year old son Levi and myself will be visiting SF from October 15th till 22nd, and we'd love to hook up with some fellow LSTers while we're there! Don't hesitate to holler if you'd like to meet up with us :) I was also wondering if anyone knew what the best mode of transportation to and from San Jose is. I'm booked with Horitomo on Saturday (the 18th), and I have to get from SF to SJ and back. I'm considering renting a car, but from what I can tell most car rentals are closed on weekends, so I'd have to rent friday through monday if I go that route. Any tips on exhibitions, museums, bars (don't worry, Levi's not tagging along for that one) etc are also more than welcome. If anyone's wondering, Wilhelm is getting tattooed by O'Donnell and Hoyer in NY the week before, then Rassier and Lehi in SF. Nina is booked with Scott Sylvia, and I'm in with Grime and Horitomo. If we're lucky there might be one or two walkins along the way too :)

How does your dog feel about this?

Just got home from packing the back of my neck. Fuck me is all I can say. Absolutely drilled the fuck out of me. Not easy going for Ol mate either, belting into that weathered, rubbery skin. Was a solid drilling to pack this area out. Regardless, it's done. We never have to visit this site again. Now, for post tattoo recovery. Hot shower/ cold cider hand in hand.

Jesus Christ, you have great tattoos, @Russ.

Well... That was a pretty great weekend. I will summarise it briefly though. Saw a whole heap of great tattoos and tattoo artists. I now really want to get a Filip Leu tattoo but that will have to go on some sort of wish list I reckon. Got tattooed by Hori Shin on Saturday first thing. He did a cool little rabbit for me. It was great to get some tebori done again. Been a few years since I've had any Japanese hand poked work and this piece went pretty well. Basically all of the white in the fur is tebori. There were a couple of bits he had to go over a couple of times but they should heal up just fine I reckon. Oh and it was insanely hot in Tobacco Dock this year. Anyone else think that it felt like a glass house at times? Also @RoryQ I was looking at my photos this afternoon and wondered is this you getting your front tattooed by Tomo and looking very relaxed about the whole thing?

Awesome! Let's see that Paul piece.

What a weekend!! I also checked out the Somerset Gallery on Saturday and it is really worth a visit! Some incredible stuff in there. Even my missus who doesn't even like tattoos bought a Rose Hardy print. Sunday I went lone ranger to the Convention and really enjoyed. Managed to get a tattoo from Paul Dobleman and super stoked with how it turned out. He's a cool guy and we had a couple of drinks together and a laugh. The tattoo was a breeze. I'll try post a photo soon but my phone's about to pack in so hoping he'll send me his copy!

Uigu Lee in Cheonan, Korea does some incredible dragons!

I agree. And from what Miles told me while i was being tattooed there a while ago, Frith Street has had quite a few greats come and go. Obviously there's no "replacing" any of the 4 artists mentioned, but its safe to say that if anyone is brought in to fill the empty spots, they will probably be someone who puts on a pretty damn good tattoo...

Yeah, but good for them! FST is obviously fantastic, but the ultimate goal in life is progression, and as long as you aren't burning a bridge or opening up across the street, it can be a good thing. Frith Street is still solid, and it isn't like they will probably never sit in there from time to time.

@sighthound thanks for the info and recommendations. I am working on getting in contact with Will Lollie at Empire tattoos. From what i have seen on his instagram and website he does some very cool japanese stuff. I am very interested in seeing what he can do with the rest of my left arm. thanks again for the help.

Understatement of the freaking year.

To use the subway you get a Metrocard that you load your fares onto. The NYC subway can be tricky to learn but it's super convenient and cheap once you have the hang of it!

All these pics are gorgeous, and all so different. These are from Lara Scotton at Daredevil in NYC, a cover-up taken from her instagram: I haven't gotten any of mine colored in yet, but I have an appt soon :)

@Lance, @OutOfIdeas - oh you guys.... you are so bad. SO bad! Yeah, I swore only a backpiece, and here I am on Horitomo's wait list. :rolleyes: At the very least, I've gotta do a major refill on the tattoo jar. This back piece cost a TAD bit more than I expected. Ooof.

Certainly looks like the inspiration. But different enough that I wouldn't call it a copy.

I went the same route as @Mark Bee and had some 'pasties' added to my Sailor Jerry mermaid. I do kinda wish I'd been brave enough to go bare, though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Let's see that Freddy tattoo, @abees!

Grats on surviving another round @SeeSea. @HaydenRose vvvv Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast:

I Had 3 hours of FUN today !! Previous sitting ! This was the first sitting, now I had 3, all about 3 hours at a time.

There is no way we could ever keep cat hair off our fresh tattoos. No way. That is one I'm just going to have to live with. :)

Little bit of knee action

Look at that. I always thought they hiked it up on weekends. Just like they inversely lower the cost on weekends in DC. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for the advice. We haven't had any issues when travelling London via the Tube (aside from the fiancée getting squeezed onto a train before me, and having to double check the number of stops with me through the glass while she panicked a bit), so I'd imagine we can adapt to the subway there. We were looking at potentially starting one day at Smith Street, then walking to the Shirts and Destroy store. Other than that, everything we'll be looking to do will likely be in Manhattan. I'd also seen that Fear City pamphlet before, hopefully I look sketchy enough to any regular folks that I'll get the respect and fear that only two art degrees can bring. Wait, two art degrees... why aren't I staying in Williamsburg?

Yes!!

That's the one! I knew my shitty description would be enough for someone here to figure it out, thanks man.

Just gotta get that little bit right..in..there. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Sounds like you've got a winning plan!

G'day Mitch. From Australia as well mate. Welcome to this faaarkin awesome site. Good career goals there, good luck with all that. No need to plaster yourself head to toe, neck to hands too quick. Enjoy becoming heavily tattooed over the course of your lifetime, as you grow, learn and live life's experience. Your collection will then become a story of your life rather than a quick race to the finish line. You'll learn a lot here. Now, show us some of these tattoos you speak of. Cheers. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

Very intriguing. I love me a good road trip.

You make a good point. You can always get a "cover-up". I am thinking of going to see Bailey Robinson. Something about the slightly muted colours he uses appeals to me for this type of design.

by Nora Townsend, I'm getting a small peony like these next Friday from her!! I'll be sure to post pics, but I loooove her peonies.

my latest tattoo is this one from luke jinks on my shin, but its still about six months ago haha just thought i could post anything as i spent very much time in this thread looking at all those great tattoos !

Started this last night. Done by Mat Welch

That Cripwell suit is beautiful and so perfectly executed, but I find it a little too perfect for my tastes. Looking at those tattoos, I don't know if I get much of a sense of the person who has them. I guess aesthetically I prefer a more organic mish mash of tattoos where you get tattoos of different ages complimenting and clashing with each other and you get a whole that transcends any individual tattoo.

"Tattoos are not an addiction; they are a collection. A tattoo collector is just like a conventional art collector who buys a painting, hangs it on the wall, and then moves on to acquire the next, unique piece. Tattoo collecting is a spiritual pursuit, while addiction is a physiological need. Addicts repeatedly take the same drug over and over without limit. A tattoo collection has variety, and it has an end. Once you collect the whole set, you're done. As you complete your tattoo collection, you yourself become art." -Horiyoshi III

HAHA, pretty much. When I was 18 I was really into Rob Van Dam, and he was really into flaming yin yang symbols. Not a good look. I probably would have gotten a Rage Against the Machine or KRS-1 tattoo if they were music tattoos. Great tattoos! I still need a Boltz tattoo. Might just bite the bullet and fly out there soon. Would love to see this sheet. Ryan Westfall is a tattooer out of Pittsburgh that has done some pretty sweet wrestling tattoos. Even Higgs drew an amazing Grand Wizard (old school wrestling manager) piece that I would love to get at some point. I don't think it was ever on a sheet of flash, but it looks super rad.

Daniel (my artist) is very quiet and low key so when he gives any direct advice I tend to listen. He mentioned cat fur also as a problem (which is hard to avoid in this house sadly).

steve bryne ROA real cool guy awesome shop atmosphere

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

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!