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This came from the shop that you said elsewhere puts out better work than Shige, Horiyoshi, and Eli Quinters? Nice tattoo, but I feel you may have oversold the shop a little bit.

First tattoo and I couldn't be happier. The work was done by David Hale out of Love Hawk Studio in Athens, GA.

Almost healed except at bottom of handle! SENT FROM MY LG G FLEX ON THE NOW NETWORK FROM SPRINT!?✌

I am slammed at work, yet I just read this entire thread. And I'm glad that I did, because there's some great back and forth in it. Thanks to everyone who posted something good here. I don't count my tattoos, but I do keep a list of who has tattooed me. Two weeks from today, I'm getting something from someone who's been on my wish list for a few years now. He'll be artist #42 for me. Then again, I started getting tattooed 20+ years ago. Some of the names on that list are very well-known. Some of them are complete unknowns. One of them is no longer alive, two of them have since stopped tattooing, and three of them were shit on in the this thread's first post. ;) Not a single name on that list makes me better (or worse) than anyone else who gets tattooed. But every one of them is a part of a story--my story. Just as every tattoo I have comes with a story of its own. I love meeting people and sharing stories, which is part of what I love so much about getting tattooed and hanging out with awesome people like so many of you. I'll stop rambling now, but thanks again to those of you who made this thread worth reading.

You're #41 (but #1 in the hearts of LSTers everywhere). #42 is next week: Brian Kaneko.

And welcome. http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/915-tattooers-little-no-tattoos.html

I am a massive fan of a good book. Over the years I have bought many of them. There is something about the aesthetic appeal of a well made book that I just prefer to looking at things on a computer screen. It's the same with music as well. I love vinyl. Anyway my list of books is as follows: Dentowaza - Kofuu-Senju Publications Mick - Kofuu-Senju Publications (Just got it yesterday - Such a good book) Ryushin - Kofuu-Senju Publications Osen - Kofuu-Senju Publications Osen II - Kofuu-Senju Publications Tattoo Time (Hardback Reissue) - Ed Hardy Tattoo Time Issue 1 (Original) - Ed Hardy JBxH3 Monmon Cats - Horitomo Bushido - Takahiro "Horitaka" Kitamura Studying Horiyoshi III - Jill "Horiyuki" Mandelbaum Tattoos of the Floating World - Takahiro "Horitaka" Kitamura Tattooing from Japan to the West - Takahiro "Horitaka" Kitamura I Love Tattoos - Takahiro "Horitaka" Kitamura Pushing Ink - Spider Webb Modern Primitives - 20th Anniversary Addition The Mammoth Book of Tattoos - Edited by Lal Hardy The Mammoth Book of Tattoo Art - Edited by Lal Hardy The Mammoth Book of New Tattoo Art - Edited by Lal Hardy Lost Art - Incognito Press Japanese Tattoo Designs - Ichibay Tattoo Showcase - Edited by Lal Hardy Vintage Tattoos - Carol Clerk Perseverance - Japanese Tattoo Tradition in a Modern World Horichiyo The Rose Book Myths, Gods and Legends - Adam Kitamoto Ade Volume 1 - Gomineko Press Wabori - Traditional Japanese Tattoo Time: Tattoo Art Today Horimasa Black Work Tattoo Art - Edition Reuss Tattoo in Japan - Edition Reuss Color Tattoo Art - Edition Reuss The Fingerwave Book - Grime/Toth Art by Tattooists: Beyond Flash Science Ink - Carl Zimmer I'm pretty sure that there are a couple more desides these but off the top of my head I cannot remember them for the life of me, and of course there are still more that I would like to buy one day.

Fun one from a client's moral support... "I mean, this doesn't even seem like work. Just seems like a hobby... you guys are having so much fun!"

Welcome! I think that design would work okay as a tattoo, though it might wrap too much for an inner arm, but silhouettes like that tend to look flat and there are better ways of getting across the same idea, like this: That was done by Handsome Mike Bialek who tattoos at the Okey Doke in Toronto and Trophy Tattoo in Hamilton. His instagram is here. I'd suggest going to him for a Canadiana tattoo.

I HATE the term Tramp Stamp. You can probably guess why.... I've yet to share the story of my first tattoo on this forum, but I'd like to now that this topic has come up. * Warning. Long post ahead* I got my first tattoo 16 years ago on my lower back. I remember in the lead up going to around 3-4 shops to check out portfolios, no instagram browsing back then! None of my friends had tattoos or were interested, so it was a very solitary experience, and one which I new absolutely nothing about. I found a shop I liked the look of and booked an appointment for 3 weeks later. On my appointment day I was nervous but so excited. I had been wanting this tattoo for about a year and finally worked up the guts to get it. I remember eating a bacon, lettuce and tomato bagel beforehand from my favourite bagel shop, then it was off to get tattooed. The shop was small. Tiny. No bigger than someones bedroom. One tattooer and an apprentice. Flash covered the walls, lots of tribal which was so popular at the time. We got the stencil on and then down to business. Nothing had prepared me for it, I had no idea what to expect. I remember thinking "What am I doing?!" as the needle hit the skin. The tattooer had just got some new colours in and was very enthused about how the yellow was really popping on my skin. 2 hours later and we were done. I had a brand new tattoo. The tattoo healed with no problems. And I fucking LOVED that tattoo. I was so proud of that tattoo and I rocked it. I didn't care when my top rode up when I bent over, I was eager to show it off. I finally felt like I was me. At the time I was a photographer for a motor vehicle dealers advertising magazine, on a Friday I would load up the company car with magazines and distribute them all over the city. I remember I was bending over and filling up a bin and a random woman came up to me, looked me in the face and told me how much she loved my tattoo. You can imagine how good that made me feel. Fast forward a few years, and the hideous term Tramp Stamp started making its way into people's vocabulary. All of a sudden, it was mainstream. Everyone from celebrities to your neighbour was using it. I went from someone who loved their tattoo to someone who was ashamed of their tattoo. As the years went by, I even stopped mentioning I had a tattoo, or if someone asked to see it, I would tell them no. I hated it. The tattoo is not perfect. It sits slightly higher on one side, there are a couple of blowouts and the small flowers are starting to resemble little blobs. Do I still hate it? Yes and No. Do I love it? No. I love the memory of the experience and that's about it. Am I being too sensitive about the term? Yes, maybe. But I'm not going to suddenly jump up and tell the world that I'm not going to take this anymore, I'm going to reclaim the word Tramp Stamp and turn in into something positive, because I'll just end up looking like a dick. The term is so ingrained and so negative, I don't see how it's ever going to be something positive. As I look at more and more back pieces I'm starting to realise that it is something that holds great appeal to me. I have a solid idea about what I would like, part of it being a black panther, which I think would be perfect to cover up my existing lower back tattoo and have something on my back to be proud of again. But that is a whole other topic.

Here's my left lower leg done with Matt Deverson from Progression tattoo in Adelaide Australia and the top of my right done with Matt (Dr Claw) from Diamond Club

If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure it's me?

At a recent convention, it DID look like at least 75% of the artists were having fun. I mean, you are artists, you have the talent and you have found a medium that you can make a living with. Beats driving a taxi, doesn't it? I was blessed with an OCD engineer brain. I can fix any particle accelerator, but I can't draw a round circle. Of course, the cyclotrons don't squirm and throw tantrums (often).

Tattooing is so easy! I get similar comments every once in a while about bar tending. "It's like you guys get to party every night! Must be awesome. You must be wasted every night!"

I own a penis and it sounds very terrifying. I don't have many rules for life, but one of them is nothing metal goes near my crotch.

I'll admit that when I got in to tattooing, I was directed to Richard Stell without knowing a damn thing about him. The guest spot news was broken on this website, and I was pushed by several members to take the plunge and get something. Should I feel dirty about that by going to a big name and not knowing his legacy? Maybe. I put my trust in the knowledge here on LST, and I never had a doubt I was making a poor decision. I wanted to be part of a community, and experience the things that other people were experiencing, so I just went with it. Was asking him to do something uncharacteristic of his style wrong? Some people may think so. Asking an artist to do a different style could be considered sacrilege to some. In my naivete I asked for something he doesn't generally do, but damn if he wasn't excited to do it. I have no regrets, and I also learned that you don't really understand someone until you meet them. You could follow artists on Instagram, and hear about them in other shops from other people's experiences, but until you sit with Stell and hear him, first hand, talk about his old biker days and how he had pet alligators and all the other crazy stuff, you can't fully understand. I would hope that people who seek out big names, solely for the name, have a better respect for that person afterwards instead of just, "Yeah I got XX to do this."

Dave Regan added some maple leaves to the namakubi he put above my knee at the beginning of July. I apologize for the awful day after picture. I really can't sing Dave's praises enough. He's a talented and funny fellow that makes getting tattooed a joy.

Those people are very wrong. Be proud of that piece.

Little bit of knee action

I’d like to take this time to express my thoughts on the current misconception about lower back tattoos. 10 years ago if a woman entered a shop inquiring about getting her first tattoo, there was a 80% chance it was going on her lower back. It’s a great place for a decent size tattoo and the location affords the owner the ability to choose whether or not it’s seen based on their wardrobe selection. The advent of the term “tramp stamp” has discouraged so many ladies from getting tattooed there that I can’t even recall the last time tattooed one. The derogatory word “tramp” in the title spawned from the fact a girl had a tattoo in the first place as if to indicate the tattoo alone made her low class. Being as though the lower back was the most common area for one to appear it became associated uniquely to that body part. So in turn, if someone avoids having that area inked to evade accusations of a slutty stigma all they are doing is sacrificing prime real estate for a contemporary taboo. Moral of the story, get your fuckin’ back tattooed:}

Hey all! My names Ryan. I'm joining these forums just so I have better knowledge if what tattoos I'd want. I'm excited to join. I recently got the attached tattoo, my first, and have mixed feelings on it. I feel like I could have picked a better design. I'm now considering getting a sleeve to help integrate the tattoo and make it look better.

Hello, Is It Me You're Looking For?: http://youtu.be/gXuWoEYCz8A

It's more that it's a disrespectful and ignorant statement, due to how hard we all do work. A hobby is a passing interest... Playing guitar is a hobby I really enjoy. Just because you're having fun, doesn't mean you're not working extremely hard.

There's nothing wrong with going to different artists for different tattoos. That's how most of us here get tattooed. With that said, I'd suggest reading this thread before committing to a lace tattoo. I think there are ways in which you could take the inspiration from lace and make a nice tattoo out of it, but looking at that link you provided, a lot of those tattoos are going to be a total mess in a few years.

nice I got the traveling tiger and the reaper wolf also. great price!

the time traveling tiger, reaper/wolf, and the 3 headed dragon

Horrible. The triaging is the best thing you can possibly do for them right now. Along with lots of hugs. I can't imagine, but I'll keep you in my thoughts that you have the strength to do so.

Man, the all black and grey looks amazing! Stick with that theme for sure!

Haha. Nice try @daveborjes. No way in hell would I post a photo of that horrid tattoo. It may have a fond memory but by Christ I shudder every time I see it. Good thing it's in the dirt half the time.

After it has begin peeling, DO NOT apply any Tegaderm or any similar product, it will mess up pretty much the tattoo...

I got a piece of tribal many years ago...stretching from my big toe right along the side of my foot circling below my ankle bone. It's fucked. It fell out post heal, & cause I was 400kilometres away, I had a "mate" "fix" it up. He butchered the fuck out of it. I was blind fuckin drunk too the night I went into the shop and consuming rum while having the tattoo done. All I remember was A. It fuckin hurt. B. She tried to overcharge me to the roof for it & C. I was required to do some fast talking negotiating on the price when the big fucker walked out of the back room saying "have we a problem with the price *unt"! My negotiation skills prevailed that night as I didn't pay the bullshit price she tried on...ha, but that's a story on its own. So, I got a hoe toe...God dam it! I'm in two minds with this one. Either blast over the fucker with a solid black panel then sleeve the rest of the foot with kick arse solid tattoos or laser the fuck out of it. I'm thinking the black panel. Least it's on the side. Anyway, we've all made slight judgement errors over the years, but the moral of what I'm saying here is, even though that tattoo sucks arse, it has a pretty cool story attached to it and makes for a good yarn from time to time when someone quizzes me about this shitty piece. All of a sudden, the focus isn't on the fucked up piece of tribal but the near death experience in the Goldfields late one night with an angry biker run tattoo shop and its enforcer. Good times. "Booze, Blues & Tattoos"

@SeeSea - it definitely needs to be covered. My tastes have changed drastically since then, and it pains me to say this, but I am no longer a fan of tribal :p

Great story - thank you for sharing that. Personal stuff. I found myself getting upset reading that you stopped loving the tattoo when people's attitudes changed. That it made you no longer proud. That is so unfair. I hate that that happened. I hope you aren't covering it up because of that. You've probably already thought about it, but is there a way to incorporate it, or a part of it in your backpiece idea? Something that keeps a references to that good memory? I'm glad you are thinking about going forward to something you love, though. And well, you should get about a thousand likes by mentioning a panther.

This. My mom has absolutely no intention of getting a tattoo, but whenever we get to see each other she's so intrigued at how "they all go together, but they're separate pictures" and though some of the imagery isn't her favorite she seems to appreciate the work that went into them. Pops on the other hand I've been trying to get into a shop to get matching tattoos with me, just hasn't quite worked out yet.

This afternoon my father learned about my tattoo. "I just do not understand why you would deliberately try to ruin your little sister's wedding pictures like that. Look at how gross that thing looks, all flaking off like that!" A few things: 1. My sister has two tattoos, both larger than mine, and both of which will be visible in her wedding dress. (Perhaps Dad doesn't realize this?) 2. I asked Sister if it mattered to her that mine would probably be visible depending on the bridesmaid dresses she chose, and she said that it didn't make a difference to her, because, again, both of hers will be showing. 3. Sister is getting married in May. Tattoo will be long healed by then, and won't look dry and flaky anymore. I should have expected this reaction from my dad. He asked me if I wanted him to photoshop out my nose ring when we took family photos for my grandmother's birthday a few years back. But it doesn't make the comments any less irksome.

I usually only voyeur this section of the forum, but...I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS. I might have to take a little field trip up to Snoqualmie now that I'm living in the PNW, since that's where most of it was filmed. Gotta celebrate with some damn fine coffee. And some pie.

Thanks! Apart from the sick thing, the most complicated part so far has been keeping my preschooler away frim it. "My sticker?" she says. I'm seriously considering getting some temporary tattoo paper and printing her some of her own "stickers."

I've seen work from "name" artists that wasn't the greatest, but I wouldn't say any of them have "lost" it. They are all human and have off days. I used to get bent out of shape if I noticed anything on a tattoo what wasn't perfect, but now I step back and look at the piece as a whole. It would be ridiculous to write off a whole suit based on a couple blow outs/poorly healed shading here and there. I'm in the same boat as @Graeme , I've travelled for tattoos based on how the work connects with me, and how the interaction was with the artist themselves. Skill is irrelevant if the person is an asshole. That being said, Horiyoshi III finished this piece up in July. Can't say I'd object to being the owner!

Cool! Just FYI, there is a specific story involved w/ the back piece subject posted. A lot of the japanese subjects have stories involved so tweaking it to a woman would not work in this particular case. There is a story regarding "Tamatorihime", often depicted with a dragon so if you want a japanese style tattoo w/ a woman + ocean + creature, type of subject that could work. I don't know of any particular story involving a woman struggling w/ a koi. There is a Hokusai image of the Buddhist diety, Kannon, standing on a giant koi though. Otherwise a large koi all by itself could work just fine as that's just a generic subject not particular to any story. Of course you could also disregard the stories and get whatever you want. I just mention the above just in case you may or may not have been aware.

Welcome bud. You will find a receptive and helpful bunch here, especially when people such as yourself show a willingness to listen and learn. Stick around, soak in some ideas, and travel around to check out shops to see things in person. As far as the world class Idea goes, there have just recently been some great discussions on how subjective that can be. Cheers!

Upon showing a picture of my backpiece to a girl: - Is that on you right now?!

I've seen quite a few rash guards that look VERY hot-mamma. The drawback is depriving fellow beach-goers of the back-piece viewing. (Moving this thread to a better location ...) Here's as good as it gets on the rash guard front - I'm learning to SUP. I'd love to share my tattoo on the beach (especially in the crowd of burned-out tribals) but I'm paranoid about screwing up the colors, especially since it's still in progress. Although, I'm thinking about a beach pic when the sun starts going down tonight.

Well done...I think? Next thing now is to go for your restricted motorcycle license. Ya don't get many chances at being shit at riding...but you got an awesome country to ride!

Stumbled across this last night: Shaun Nel Prints

Tattooers with no tattoos are just Tourist and should be treated as such. They are just looking at the cash and waiting for the next thing to come along.