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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

@MrToby Yes, that was me with the kindle. I think I saw that white rabbit on Instagram? Nice. Although it was hot in the dock I almost think that was better than it being chilly if you were getting tattooed, but I guess it's a fine line.

Yes!!

Just got my elbow done this past weekend. This is going to blow

Tell me about it. The whole right side of my body went numb half-way through. Was basically sitting sideways on a chair with my leg ontop of an arm-rest. Worth it though.

Cool tattoo @ThatGuy. I'm in the same situation of starting to collect tattoos on my legs soon, promised myself a year off which is up in December. Started browsing the forums again and looking at cool tattoos and after going to the London convention Friday the bug is back to get started! Also was thinking to try to get a small piece from someone at smith street, but still not sure with regards to getting tattooed at conventions, also the lower leg is not the best placement for sitting in a chair. Anyway maybe next year and as previously stated great start to your legs mate.......

perhaps Flash from the Bowery: Classic American Tattoos, 1900-1950: Cliff White: 9780764339288: Amazon.com: Books ? - - - Updated - - - perhaps Flash from the Bowery: Classic American Tattoos, 1900-1950: Cliff White: 9780764339288: Amazon.com: Books ?

Hey all. My name is Al and this site is incredible in so many ways. I love how there is a heavy emphasis on traditional here (my personal preference) but still respect for other types of work, Very rad community. I have 8 tattoos thus far. A couple by Eli Quinters at Smith Street, a couple by Michelle Tarantelli at Saved and one by Jason Ochoa at Greenpoint Tattoo. Love all three artists. Glad to be here.

When I went I got the 7 day unlimited metrocard. I googled and it's $30 now. The subway is definitely tricky as @Pugilist says, but convenient...and I'm sure there's an app for getting around. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No photos from the convention unfortunately as my phone is being something of a bastard at the moment :/ Managed to get a walk up from Forrest from Cobra Custom, filled in a spot on my elbow that i've had open for far too long. Really nice dude (as were all the spider murphy's guys, Jeremy in particular was hilarious) and obviously a solid tattooer. I'll throw a pic on as soon as i figure out how the hell you take a good pic of a tattoo on your own elbow! So if any of you guys saw the dude getting his elbow tattooed around 1 o'clock onwards on Saturday, that would be me. Got to meet Freddy Corbin briefly while i was being tattooed, spoke to Ed Hardy, again briefly as he was very much in demand. Other than that i kinda kept myself to myself this year and took it all in, had a great time just shuffling around from place to place looking at all the incredible work on display. - - - Updated - - - I wish i could remember the name of the american tattoo flash book Forrest brought with him, it was utterly ridiculous. He told me it was a book you could flip open to any page and find something brilliant, and he was absolutely right. All i recall is it mentioned something about American tattoo flash up to the 50s or so and had a kinda beige hard back cover (vague i know, sorry.)

666! We made it! Cheers! hahaha

one more on the ribs...thx Scott :)

So @CABS that means you need to come to Virginia. Hang out. And let me drive you up there. Settled. Hahaha.

Go with the bare breasts, because if you decide you don't want them you can cover them up, but you can't go the other way. Who are you planning on getting it from?

I feel that he posts on Instagram every so often saying that he has availabilites...just looking now there's a post from a couple of days ago saying that he's going to work some extra days over the next couple of weeks and wants to do some fun one session tattoos. I think there are very few tattooers who are really that difficult to get in with if you really want to get tattooed by them.

You can always extend it down your legs. Then from a back piece to a bodysuit. Just think about it and let it settle into your head for a moment. Let's inject that idea and let it marinate. :-)

Ive just been to the Matt Lodder talk on Sutherland MacDonald. It was fascinating! Loads of interesting stuff, way ahead of his time it seems, and was blown away by the detail in the tattoos from the time. I'm looking forward to the book he is working on coming out. Oh and just thought I'd mention Ed Hardy was there!!! :eek::eek::eek:

My favorite shop in the region is Empire Tattoo in Asheville, I have a lot of work from the guys there. Can't say enough good things about them, just a stellar group of guys. Hot stuff is another favorite, can't go wrong with any of the people there. Danny Reed did both of my feet and the man is a wizard. Charlotte has some really good shops and artists too - Rodney Raines at Ace Custom, anyone at 510 Expert tattoo. Highly recommend checking them out too.

Danny Reed Hot Stuff Asheville NC

I couldn't do that "off the long-haul flight right into the long tattoo session" thing... Maybe if it was a one-shot piece or a short sitting, but not for a long session on something like my back or front. I know a guy (an Irish tattooist) who flew to Yellow Blaze in Yokohama for sittings every weekend or second weekend for sittings on a big belly tattoo until it was done... He said he slept on the plane, got tattooed and more or less got straight back on the plane. Took about 3 months. Couldn't do that, I'd end up in some Japanese hospital gibbering about the army of 12 monkeys.

I just met an older biker lady that has a Paul Jeffries piece she got 18 years ago. Koi fish and phoenix on the side of her leg - calf, knee and thigh. The finger waves and the blue ink was spectacular, bright and vibrant, no browning. Incredible. Tattoos definately do look the best after they've aged for several years...if you get em done right! Come to think of it...I think I have seen her tattoo before, maybe in this book? I'll have to check my bookshelf later Tattooing from Japan to the West: Takahiro Kitamura: 9780764321238: Amazon.com: Books I'm pretty spoiled though, my buddy has been getting tattooed exclusively by Paul Jeffries and we get to see his regular progress. Half sleeves, chest plates and full back. They are now finishing up by extending the arms down to the wrist with a Smiling Buddha tribute on his forearm. Awesome :cool:

When I first started getting tattooed somebody suggested that it was odd that someone so skinny should get tattooed (I'm 5'10" and 140lb soaking wet). Go figure... I say your body size and shape shouldn't matter whatsoever in your decision as to whether or not to adorn your body with art. At the end of the day there are fat trashy people with trashy tattoos, just as there are skinny trashy people with trashy tattoos. The subject matter, artist, choice of placement and how you present yourself are ultimately what matter, not how much you weigh.