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I think @AverageJer posted a picture of a Sailor Jerry fish he got a couple days ago? I hadn't been on here recently and wound up getting a similar tattoo on Saturday. It's from Rollo flash tweaked by Josh Arment at the Aloha Monkey. You guys, I can't begin to do justice to how cool everyone at this shop is. After some very, very embarrassing last-minute indecision I went back to the first thing that had caught my eye on the wall (and learned a lesson about not overthinking things). Sorry about the picture quality.

Here's it is fresh. I'll post more after it heals up. I had a great time and came away with a bunch of new music to check out too. Can't imagine having a better first experience.

Session #2 - Did a 4 hour blast pounding the black into the perimeter of my Shaolin back yesterday! First half of the session was lying down, second half was getting tattooed sitting upright which I really enjoy, makes the tattooing feel alive. Heavy black in all the clouds, full across the shoulderblades and down to the love handle on the left hand side with a needle that looked like a metal paint brush. Machine was roaring like a tractor, the way I like getting tattooed! Unfortunately I got a little beating on the ribs/lower armpit to border my existing dragon. Zouch. It is a gnarly amount mileage for a session and I'm feeling like I took a bat across the back, a little loopy today. Built up the borders around existing tattoos on both arms, necks, and ribs tattoos. Pretty cool actually having Steve connect to the tattoos he did on my in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Despite sweating through my long johns, felt pretty strong when we called time yesterday, this morning however I woke up with a red hot back, had to shower to unglue the shirt from my back and wrecked my wife's nice towel (LOL). Once again a great experience from one and only TheGangOfOne (Steve Batt) in Edmonton, AB. I'm going to heal this up for a few weeks such that I can participate in Chinese New Year demonstrations with my kung fu school, then will setup the next rounds on the lower back and ass cheeks for February. May the Buddha be with me.

=== Hi Everyone! Started this in Late October 2014 and just got it Finished on Jan 03 2015 6 Session of 4 Hours Each - Traveling back and forth from Montreal to Toronto... Tattoo Artist is Tony Hu from Chronic Ink Tattoos. http://instagram.com/tonyhutattoo Completed and Done! 龍 - Dragon by davidcwong888, on Flickr

cat and monmon hat...in french chat chapeau..

@bongsau That looks like a heavy session! Those blacks and greys are so smooth, they're going to look really nice when the red fades out of them and they settle in a bit. You're in for a real delight with the lower back and ass cheeks though, really glad that we're done with the black in there on mine. I'm taking January off working on my back and I find that I actually miss getting tattooed. I got a little one on my leg in the meantime and that was super fun, but nothing quite compares to the feeling you get after a heavy back session. There's something deeply satisfying about enduring the session even when your body is all FUCK NO for those first few minutes. The back is such a trip, it's a whole different world of tattooing compared to everything I'd had done before.

This is a Video we took of the arm before starting the last Session... Video before the Last Session... https://flic.kr/p/pT29Ft It was a great experience overall... :) Photo from Sessions 1 to 3 Dragon Tattoo In Progress with Tony Hu @ Chronic Ink - Toronto Ontario Canada by davidcwong888, on Flickr

BUMP! I know plenty of you have been following and supporting on the ol' Instagram (the only social media I'm equipped to use.. poorly) but just wanted to post more updates here! We've got 70 -- SEVENTY -- participating artists. Including Timothy Hoyer, Michael Aul, Antonio Roque, Bailey Robinson, Jerry Ware, Marina Inoue.... Gonna be a good one! The talented Nash Hogan is painting a flyer that'll be done soon and the talented Mr. Spider Man himself, Matt Arriola, just posted a rough of a t-shirt design he'll be doing for the show. And it fucking rules. Give a follow on Instagram if you've got it for (slightly) more frequent updates! Show's comin up... Friday, March 6th at Eight of Swords Tattoo in NYC. Website. Instagram. Thank you.

My strategy is to play dead, like I'm being mauled by a tiny bear. So far it's working.

On the first day of my class, I ask students to introduce themselves by saying what they 'collect.' Last week, I had a student who said he collects traditional American tattoos, which compelled me to admit for the first time in a class that I collect tattoos. The student seems to have dropped the class.

I prefer the traditional stuff on myself, but I really like that realistic Japanese style. Looks great @draven888

So black @bongsau Those parts where they just keep getting hit and hit and hit. You think to yourself "He has to almost be done with that little spot, right?"

These videos changed my life. After I saw the Santoro episodes, I booked a plane ticket to Brooklyn. And this was before I saw the Freddy episodes. Had I seen the Freddy episodes first, I would have saved money on a plane ticket, haha. I hope to see more in the future. I cannot thank Chris Grosso and his crew enough.

I just try to talk to my tattooer. Or tattooers that are working next to my tattooer. Or that tattooer's customers. If not, I just keep to my self and look tough. Keyword: look. Still have not gone the route of headphones, and I don't think I will. No painkillers, au natural!

Welcome! Long Island immediately makes me think of King's Avenue, where I'm sure plenty of folks think tattoos are cool AND get 'em themselves!

@OutOfIdeas. That there is meditation. @xcom. This is something you need to find within yourself. It's serious business being belted under the machine. That's kind of the persona I take. I hate fucking around, chit chatting especially during being tattooed. I'll find myself psyching in a couple of days beforehand. A couple of large beers with my tattooer prior, then it's on the table quiet, easy breathing and when the pain comes find a way to embrace it. The more it hurts, just smile with it. Channeling pain. That shit ain't always easy.

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.

Hello and welcome @guacamole! An eagle is a solid choice for a first tattoo. Your tattooer should have some good recommendations for the placement of whatever design he comes up with. Upper arms are always a good place to start. It's pretty easy to heal, not a super painful place to get tattooed, won't destroy any future employment options and you get to look at it. My first one was on my back. While I wouldn't trade it for anything: 1) It made it complicated to design a full backpiece which is something I am now interested in pursuing 2) I NEVER get to see it. When I got my second one (on my arm years after) it was like having a tattoo for the first time. It sounds silly but I highly recommend getting your first one someplace you can see it. It's just more fun to see it and obsess on how freaking cool it is! :D Also, for the sake of detail and having an impactful tattoo, don't be afraid to go a little larger than you think, maybe. Be sure to post some pics! Good luck, have fun and again, welcome!

So if you are thinking about getting tattoos on your feet, he's some friendly advice: 1) Most important, only do one foot at a time. Your foot is going to swell and hurt like hell for a couple of days, you want at least one good foot to hobble around on. 2) Starting the day before hydrate as much as you can, drink tons of water and cut out the salt, continue this for a couple of days after your tattoo. Good hydration reduces swelling and swelling seems to be the biggest issue with the foot. 3) Make sure you have a minimum of two days off after your tattoo. You do not want to wear shoes until the swelling goes down. 4) When you get home elevate your foot, lie down on the couch, turn on the TV and get your foot as high up as you can. Once again helps prevent/lessen swelling. 5) Fill a ziplock bag with ice and keep it on your foot for as long as you can stand it, continue this every few hours for the first two days. Yup, you guessed it....swelling. 6) Motrin is your friend eases the pain and reduces swelling. If you haven't figured it out, swelling with feet tattoos is a bitch!!! Hopefully this advice will help you out. Now, if you get a dime sized star tattoo, you can probably disregard everything I said. Kevin

Hello everyone. I've been lurking for a while after deciding to get a tattoo and I just scheduled some time with Tony Talbert at Golden Monkey in Fredericksburg, VA. I'm planning on getting a eagle; half as a memorial piece and half because I think they look bad ass. I'm not quite sold yet on where on my body I'd like to get it, so I'm open to opinions about optimal placement or other advice.

Hi! I got my first tattoo and it was the most excruciating pain ever! I think kidney stones feel better than the tattooo I had! Anyway, I am using Saniderm to heal this big boy and I am at my 4th day! I can't wait to take the Saniderm off... well actually I can't wait for it to stop being sore most of all! I want to go back to the gym soon! Take care!

Thanks guys! I know Kings Avenue! As in, I've been to their website and ogled their artwork...I'm not cool enough to actually KNOW any tattoo artists, haha. Da Vinci, I've actually not heard of. Off to look them up now!

I still can't get over the fact all that only took 6 hours.

@Lance, thanks for that response. I didn't realize that the naming was that common. I assumed that since you sort of pick your own name, it would be disrespectful to choose one that someone else already has chosen for themselves. I didn't know that the "Bunshin", or the first name in any of your examples, was really a significant qualifier.

"Bunshin" is a synonym for "irezumi" and "horimono" FYI ; )

I'm not sure I get what your talking about but I'll hazard a response. Yes there's Horitoshi I that we all know. There's also a Bunshin Horitoshi. 2 different artists and differing styles. I don't think it's a case of the latter trying to make himself being thought of as being THE Horitoshi. It's just a name. "Hori" being the usual prefix. The latter half usually being part of the person's name. In this case "Toshi". "Bunshin", may be something added to further identify that artist from others. Just a guess. A little different, but not unlike "Gifu" Horihide, "Asakusa" Horiyasu, "Yokohama" Horiken. In those instances, they've added locations as part of their names to distinguish themselves. I know there's also another Horiken in Japan. Also a Horizakura, other than the one from The Horitoshi Family too. There's actually 2 Horitakas in California come to think of it. One from State Of Grace and the other at Onizuka Tattoo, who's part of the Horitoshi Family. I don't think there's any disrespect in any of these cases. They're just names each is entitled to. It just happens that's the way each name played out and in this case one Horitoshi is perceived to be more well known than the other. It does not always make it easy on potential clients however when there are artists around with the same names.

Cool word! I have never actually heard that word in the wild. I always proctor examples. Invigilating sounds so cool when spoken aloud. Reminds me of eviscerating. Which, I suppose, might be what the students are actually feeling.

My favourite work story is when I was invigilating an exam last April. I was healing my sleeve and had worn a Cardigan to cover it up (as I usually do) but it had gotten way too hot so I took the cardigan off. My arm was peeling like crazy but I figured the students were looking at their exams - not me. One student looked up as I walked by, saw my arm and said "Dude! That's Fresh!" in the middle of the exam. The benefit of teaching Uni students I guess.

Another 7.5 hour session done yesterday. Papa Joe went over a few areas of the outline (darkened up some areas of black). Interesting color palette...one I wasn't quite expecting. I trust him, though. I think I have another 3-4 hours left on this one. It only took me several sessions, but I finally learned how to really sit well. I was sitting on table with my arms hunched over a padded bar and my legs hanging over the side of the table. I basically had to relax as much as possible and focus on not tensing up my back. Just "accept" the needle and try not clinch my back up. I could have gone longer, but it was getting harder and harder to find my happy place, especially after breaks. Sorry for the bad pic. I had just gotten out of the shower and applied some Lubriderm.

Thanks! I'm glad he's back to posting again, hopefully he's about to put a bunch of cool stuff up. Thanks @AverageJer!

Wow, that snake and roses is so cool. Here's a little one I got yesterday from Kurt Melancon at a fun Sailor Jerry birthday event at Leviticus in Minneapolis. Obviously not on the same scope as some of these but it's a quality tattoo and fun to share.

I'll be there all three days! I'm helping out in a booth with Marvin Moskowitz and Timmy Adams.........please come by and say hi...I am easy to spot! LOL

Back on the table next week w/ TheGangOfOne ! Excited to get some momentum on my ShaoLin backpiece this new year. Lined in at the beginning of December. Was hoping to sunburn it off during our trip to Mexico (so I could feel the full wrath again haha) but alas it was pretty chilly down south. <sorry i'm scrambling my lines until I get more progress, only sharing the full view privately for now> @ - - - Updated - - - @beez Shad "Horitsukikage" ? Steve is great pals with Shad, got a bunch of cool stories about him and the way he tattoos. I think he's coming to Edmonton to visit in the near future, I'd love to get a small piece and meet him!

I wore a short-sleeved shirt yesterday for the first time since getting a forearm tattoo. One manager was a bit shocked, just because it was unexpected. I asked if it bothered him, and he said it didn't. My direct managers gave approval before I got it. At three years to retirement, I can't take chances!

this is my back, done by Russ Abbott, I think right after it was finished, roughly 5 years ago now I think.

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.

Do you like them with wings out or folded? Fighting, on a flag, with something clutched in talons? Don't put a dinky one in a big open area.

We always open gifts on Christmas Eve. The parents and wife know where it is at! I'm pumped!

First tattoo... - commits to wait until he has his life pointed in the right direction - gets a massive black panther, simple bold classic design - bonus points for a TEAROUT! - does a heavyweight sit to pop his tattoo cherry - great idea to expand down the leg in the future Someone get this dude a trophy! well done and welcome

A terrible picture of my little book collection

Let's be honest here, nobody "kills" lace tattoos because, like every other Pinterest/google image search trend, they aren't tattoos. Not saying that somebody couldn't do a nice ornamental tattoo using lace as an inspiration, but the stuff that's on the link above isn't what we would consider here to be good tattooing.

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.

I wrote as much in the upcoming tattoos thread, but thought it'd make sense to report that I had a consultation yesterday with Horitoshi 1 here. Stoked to get work from a master!

Some of those bad tattoos are so childlike and so bad they are almost good in a way.

I use a few sleazy dating sites, there are SO many guys that put up pictures of crappy tattoos on their body.. It's like, thanks for the warning!

No respect.

A view from above of a cross. Evidently, it's foggy on the ground or it's a rocket-propelled cross.