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has this been posted before?

I wanted to see it again too :) I love that tattoo.

There was that time in November where we decided to say screw it and get married a year early, in a public park, with 9 guests.

This photo of a (very) young Filip is amazing on a few levels. First and foremost, he has a pretty good amount of work on him for a child. And secondly, how badass is that reaper he's putting on?

I had my favorite tattooer in the world, Erick Lynch do this on Friday at Redemption in Cambridge Ma. My girl and I have been together for 7 1/2 years and got married in October…. So, I got her name finally :-) I'll have to repost this when it heals.

I gave it a wordy and pretentious review, Iwar. Job well done.

Back with Chad K at Congress St Tattoo on feb 27th for my 4th session on my back!!!!! This one he is calling a "power session", which honestly just sounds terrifying!! He is finishing the lines and hoping to also finish all of the black shading!! Should be "fun"!!! Seriously though, I'm super excited!

I recently finished a short documentary that profiles Norwegian tattooer Morten Transeth. I also added English subtitles to the best of my ability, so remember to switch captions (CC) on if you need 'em :) Go to http://instagram.com/morten_transeth to see more of his work. Thanks for watching!

Thanks so much for all the fantastic comments ya'll! Your support definitely motivates me to want to do more of these in the future. I can't thank Morten and the BA crew enough though. They are not only great tattooers, but great people, the lot of 'em! I recommend everyone who visits Oslo to stop by Blue Arms, even if you don't plan on getting tattooed, just get a cup of coffee and look through a portfolio or two. Soak in the atmosphere :) That's awesome! It was predominantly made for a (norwegian) audience with little to no knowledge of tattoos, in hopes that it may enlighten some, and maybe even spark an interest. Not sure how I can reach that audience though, but that's a whole different matter ;) But I'm really stoked that the reception from the community has been positive so far. Thanks! And thanks for sharing it on your blog @cltattooing! - - - Updated - - - Oh, and comparing it to Gypsy Gentleman and Tattoo Age is just ludacris. Those guys really know what they're doing. I just point my camera everywhere and pray I can make something out of all the footage in post. You need to add True Love to your list too by the way. Fantastic documentation of tattooing! https://www.youtube.com/user/TrueLove2k9/videos

Awesome! I just re-watched this tonight because I'm seeing Filip this weekend to finally start colouring in my backpiece with him - finally! Somehow I ended up at this video while gathering my thoughts on colour options. All I can say is, for those who've spent some time with him this is a good representation of his flexible and inquisitive mind, together with his humble nature. I'm always doubly humbled as to how, after a couple of hours with him, you stop thinking of FILIP LEU and he just becomes Filip. It's a special skill I'm sure gathered from years of interacting with people in a certain state (frenetic, groupies, then in long periods of pain etc) but I'm always pleased to interact with his mind and how thoughtful he is about many things. Though we often disagree! I think what makes him a great tattooer, aside from the obvious, is his genuine humility. It always strikes me as something which surely must enable him to learn from the people he meets, and at the risk of sounding cynical & bitter, is what stops over confident young guns from becoming better. I'll keep saying it again and again, the best tattooers are always the ones who'll look you in the eye properly when they shake your hand. Anyway, enough mythologising. If you want some work from him, just ask! I think he's happy to take on work he fancies. Now onto some colour decisions for my back...

Watched it a couple weeks ago, it's great! He and his family are extremely approachable. I was introduced to him by Kurt who has sleeves/back/thighs done by Filip. Was great getting to talk to him, and it was interesting to see the amount of respect and admiration he garnered from other artists at the convention. One artist I spoke to said they were too nervous to go talk to him! Here's a picture I took of the backpiece that @Graeme posted Filip, Loretta and Titine signed a book for me as well!

Got my lemur rose morph yesterday... it's a partial cover up, I'll get another soon with background to cover the rest. Also, the tattooist is going to go over the purple in a darker shade once healing is done in order to fully obscure the design underneath it.

Honestly, as clear as you are about Horitaka...you should do it. NM really isn't that far of a drive (15 hours). Not for something like that. You can grab a like-minded buddy and split gas. And State of Grace is so awesome. Sitting in the little traditional room getting a Japanese tattoo from one of those guys, especially if you are into the history/tradition/evolution of tattoos in general...it's just really cool and sort of its own thing in a way. I can not recommend it enough if you have the hankering to do it. And then when you are done getting tattooed you can go around the corner and eat really yummy Ramen/noodle. You should call the shop tomorrow and see what his schedule is like....you never know. - - - Updated - - - Oooh Oni tattoos are cool. If you aren't certain, wait until you find the right person. It's so cool when you wait for the tattooer that clicks with the idea and you end up with something that you love more than anything. Have you considered heading to south of Austin for the West Texas Convention (hosted by the Trufant brothers http://trufantbros.com/convention/)? It's happening at the end of Feb.

What a great interview, thanks for sharing. Filip seems like just the most grounded guy and it's wonderful to hear his thoughts on so many of these common (though not to say they aren't relevant) questions.

I watched this yesterday. Loved it, echoing the previous comments, it is a really well made video with obvious love and care put into it. I've pointed people in the direction of the Tattoo Age/Gypsy Gentlman videos in the past who perhaps know nothing/very little about tattooing to open their eyes up a bit (which has succeeded BTW) this will certainly be added to the list. Thanks!

here is my finished panther and roses tattoo by Jebb Riley, done at Congress St Tattoo in Portsmouth, NH. (finished last friday) I keep forgetting this is actually a coverup. The butt / thigh covers up an originally well done celtic knot that was touched up HORRIFICALLY by another artist after I moved from miami to NY in 1995. Lived with it for almost 20 yrs before covering. Not sad to see it go. Very difficult to photograph as it wraps around my arm and starts at the top of my shoulder, ending below the ditch in my elbow. Jebb did a nice pic stitch so I stole this from his instagram. Still, with the glare, and the bleeding, this pic doesn't even come close to doing justice to it. Started in July of 2013. Panther outlined right before my second and last session on my chest with Chad Koeplinger (he was running late, so why not?). Sessions were spaced very widely apart due to me starting my backpiece with Chad last year. Jebb has been very understanding. Total time on this is about 9.5 hours. Jebb Riley is a super great tattooer and and even nicer dude. Super stoked with how this all came together.

great stuff in here, as always . got something new today, photorealistic :

my back piece by Chris O'Donnell

This may be opening up a can of worms, but... when you were a kid, which superpowers did you wish you had? Why? What about now as an adult, which superpower do you wish you had? Why? I used to wish that I could swim underwater like a fish, without a scuba tank, or a snorkel, to just breath the water because I loved swimming and being underwater that much. I also wished, and still do, that I had the ability to take people's pain away.

But Filip Leu getting tacos in the Mission. Priceless.

Also, how many people usually compete in the different categories? 10s? Hundreds? It would be pretty awkward if it's just me and @SeeSea up there and she beats me singlehandedly. I'd prefer we both lose.

Old fart warning: King Crimson's 2014 Tour Box set. Really looking forward to the release of their live ep release in the next week, too.

Invisibility. Oh wait, that was high school.

1st class, Iwar! Congrats and thank you!

Thanks so much for digging it out @Iwar :D If a tattoo could have groupies I would be one.

It's in this loooong thread somewhere @KBeee, I was looking at it recently

Awesome work @Iwar - super cool to see some of what goes on at Blue Arms, and Morten seems like a real stand up guy and a great tattooer. I'm still totally in love with Tony Nilsson's girl heads, too! Also, was that an Oakland A's pin-up Morten drew/tattooed? Too cool!

Oh, I wasn't a lifer - just 8 years to get my 10 patrols and 2.5 years under the ocean. One boat (SSBN632) for five straight years after nuc school and then out. Would have stayed if they had offered a decent shore station, but all I was offered was instructor (and yet that's what I do now), SIMS, or recruiter. Na, I'll become a civilian thanks. They did send me to Rickover to interview for Shipping Port, but he wasn't interested (and in a foul mood two weeks after Three Mile Island). I had an invitation to interview at Oak Ridge National Laboratory waiting for me when I returned from DC, did my final patrol, then went to work at the lab for 21 years, now 15 years here. I still run into people that served on the old boat, knew guys I served with, or even the occasional shipmate. I go to most of the ship reunions because I tried to stay friends with all of them and forgive the few I ever had issues with. The next one is in Vegas, though... that might be too much temptation for more ink!

Add an S, turn the H into a Y (MISS YA), put a crack down through the heart - fixed! (Hope it never comes to that, it's a great tattoo and hopefully a great marriage.)

Getting this one colored in this Saturday after 4 months of waiting. I'm already planning my next piece and will probably travel out of state for it.

My back is in progress actually. Also being done by Chad. I think they are both challenging to have tattooed. It's a tough call. I think the line work sucks on both the back and chest, but the shading seems a bit easier on the back. Everyone's different. Your back piece is sick. If you can sit through all of that you'll do just fine on your chest.

Any LSTers have this awesome Stewart Robson backpiece I am obsessing on (circa 2011)? I really need to see the finished pics. He's like crack. I can't give him up. I don't want to travel for work anymore buuuuut....

@SStu had a good point, that just landing on something (flower, panther, hourglass, lady head, whatever) can be just as powerful to you as literally spelling it all out as a straight up memorial tattoo @Ubderdad247

@exume I love that piece. It's absolutely bad ass!! Here is my contribution. Also by Chad. Finished about a year and a half ago. I went a bit smaller. One heck of an experience. Some very rough moments for sure!!! Chad is the best though! 2 sessions.

So many great tattoos!! Haven't been on in a while, so it was pretty awesome to go through a whole bunch of pages on this thread and see so much amazing shit going down!!!! @mmikaoj OMG!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!? Jaw dropping...just stunning man. I just finished my big arm panther and roses with Jebb Riley. I'll post pics soon. Super happy with it.

Been loving some of front pieces from Matthew Houston at Salon Serpent. A couple of killer stomach rockers in there, too.

My wife has zero tattoos and no plans on getting any in the future. That said, she appreciates them, and has no issues with them at all. She loves mine, or at least that what she tells me. She did ask me not to get my stomach tattooed, and was leery when I was going to have Chad tattoo my chest... though her first words upon seeing the outline were "fucking awesome!!".... Side note- she actually drove me to and from the tattoo shop when I was 18 yrs old getting my first tattoo (an infiniti sign on my hip to hide from my parents...and it wasn't played out or cliche in 1992... The tattoo artist actually asked me if i meant the sideways 8 or the car logo.......I started a massive and terrible fad!!! LOL) We all have our things. If we hate the things our significant other is into, then it can be a problem I guess. Luckily for me, my wife is extraordinarily tolerant of all of my weird interests, hobbies, and collections.

How about a heart with daisies surrounding it with her name inside the heart.. Instagram.com/jamesclements_tattoo instagram.com/johnbentrup in Shreveport.. Instagram.com/urbantattooer Instagram.com/terrygrow in Lafayette.. Instagram.com/nealaultmantattoo Instagram

Best shop in New Orleans = New Orleans Tattoo ((( EYECANDY TATTOO ))) / Randy Muller Tattoo / New Orleans Louisiana / New Orleans Best Tattoos / New Orleans Tattoo Shops / tatu / tatoo / tatto / tattoo shops / shop / designs / Michael Cangelosi / Donn Davis Don / New Orleans B They don't answer the phone much, so use e-mail to establish contact.

Also, there are tons of awesome tattoos to browse through right here! In threads like "latest tattoo lowdown" or in the site's gallery section. Might find some inspiration there. I agree with finding the best tattooer possible though; a memorial should be of a standard that the person being memorialized deserves.

Go visit some shops in your area and look at the flash,and explain to them you would like to see some imagery for a memorial tattoo.Sometimes just a simple rose and heart with her name in it is a good design.But the most important thing is go to a good tattooer.What city do you live in,we might be able to recommend a good shop.

All healed up for now. 2 sessions in with Chad

I use Google extensively (Eagle snake chest tattoo) and Pinterest (traditional snake eagle flash).If you can find a copy of "Sailor Jerry Collins American Tattoo Master" and look on page 75, there is one kick-ass Wivern (Wyvern).

got my hand tattooed by max kuhn yesterday

I just bought a new house. Bit of a downsize from current home but I dontt need all that space. About 10 minutes from where I am now in a super small town, bigger lot, no back yard neighbours and cheaper taxes. Just need to sell my current home now... fun

Above is a picture of me laying like a passed out pale seal on Iain Mullens table. Today was the second to last session on my back. Can't wait to see it finished. We're doing the last bit and touch ups with Rudy Fritsch at the Scottish Convention in the end of March. Going to be fun/hell. Todays session was nice except for a few bits. I can't believe how quick this piece has been. I got the idea to start my back in April last year, asked Iain about it and then we started in mid June. It really helps that both him and Rudy work super quick and make for good company + conversations during the sessions. Secret bit of knowledge exclusively for LST (I know people love that exclusiveness, I sure do): that ain't a dark red, but actually a light gray wash looking bloodied and irritated. Haven't got a piece of color on me, except for a few patches of gray and white.

It's done. We're done. Except for a touch-up and tweaking session after this heals. Did the left ribs from love handle to arm pit (none of which you can see here), detailed the 3 fish on the left, finished up the eagle rays, ship wreck mast and the blue. Right now it's 29 hours after we finished and I'm still trashed. Healing this one is going to be special. But of course, since it didn't show up on his Instagram, all I am left to share is an in-progress pic he posted about 7 hours in! (Which coincidentally was the same time I was complaining over on the "Thread to post while getting tattooed" thread that I was running on fumes.) This is just before the final push to finish the eagle rays, ship wreck mast, blues and highlights in the middle. (Funny enough, at the time, I didn't realize it was also the final push to finish THE WHOLE TATTOO!) We're taking healed shots in a few weeks and I'll post the final results. For now, I'm just gonna curl up on the couch and nurse my tattoo flu.

Baby shed Gosh, today the baby chameleon and I are hanging out, peeling.

Upper inside of the arm tonight. Feels like burning. With Greg Whitehead, as usual! A fun panther-leopard with a Tibetan shell. Starting to close in on it with this arm. Room for two modest/smallish pieces and then just filler after that. Crazy.