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All right. For those who've seen it all ready, for those who've been waiting, for those who don't know what the fuck I talking about, for those who don't care: here is my back now. Finished this Saturday at the annual Scottish tattoo convention in Edinburgh. Iain Mullen and Rudy Fritsch converged for the first time since we did the lines in June, to do some two machine shading on the lower part and add some extra detail. One more touch up session with Iain in Stockholm and then this experience is over. It's been a great ride on so many levels and if I were to explain how happy I am about the result I would have to invent some new words. Both Iain and Rudy rules and everybody who has the chance to get the chance should really consider getting something from them. I will post a longer write up on this thread full-back-piece-experience-thread.html shortly, perhaps tomorrow. Right now I have a bad fever to pull through. One good thing about getting tattooed is that, if you do it right, it teaches you how tough you really are. Peace!

got this panther a couple weeks ago from curtis pettigrove and the pilot lady about a month ago from harriet heath

I didn't realize until today that this was the place to post new work. I'm going on Friday to finalize the entire sleeve(at least that's the hope). We'll be filling in all the background that wasn't finished yet and then go over the entire piece to add highlights and really make it pop. So far, this is what's been done: https://instagram.com/p/yaAYr2Ry_X/ (This was 3 appointments, I just didn't want to throw a bunch of pictures in, mostly finished top half of the sleeve, there are still some sections that need to be finished). Started work on the bottom half, finished most of the lioness(about 70% done) in one sitting: And finally, about 2 weeks ago we did the inner forearm piece, the cubs: I'm so fucking happy with how the whole sleeve turned out. One more to go on Friday and I should be all set. I can't wait to post a shot of the entire sleeve, finished and healed.

I haven't gotten tattooed in like 5 years... Well, in a local shop started a new artist. Young cool dude, just over twenty, been tattooing for 3 + years or something. I thought that fuck it, he has some potential, I will get tattooed because its time. I first was going to get a chest piece, just a compass rose. But, Murphy's law struck and got a horrible shave rash in my chest. When I went to the shop, we mulled it over and decided not to tattoo the chest. I remembered he had a Bill Hicks drawing and in 5 minutes we decided to do the late great American Rebel who I have been a fan for about 10 years. He loves to do stuff like this, so I just let him do what he wanted and choose the picture he wanted. Have fun with it. Its now about week old. We will expand it to a sleeve and then start another sleeve. Next up is Carl Sagan. https://instagram.com/lekkeri_wct/ If you can guess what part of his act its from, 10 points! We weren't shure and I checked, well, funny shit ;)

haven't been here for a while here's some recent stuff (sorry this post is probably gonna be long...) i got really into painting thorns and puddles i guess

you just described every career and industry that exists lol

So, looks like myself and my better half have made the decision to get married and we're strongly looking at doing the deed in Vegas. The (initial) plan for our honeymoon would be to do a road trip across the States for approx 2 months afterwards. A rough itinerary would be as follows: Vegas > San Fran > Colorado > Texas > Louisiana > Alabama > Mississippi > Tennessee and the on to NYC/Boston/Chicago for flight home. Obviously, mind has immediately locked into 'Tattoo Road Trip' mode and I'm thinking of the various artists etc that I could hit up when I'm there. If we were to take that route, what shops/artists would be along that trail? I follow quite a few but, being from Ireland, remembering where all these guys are based is a struggle! Off the top of my head, a few guys I would like to stick on 'the list' Stefan Johnsson - San Francisco Steve Byrne - Austin Tony Hundahl - Austin Chad K - Austin? Oliver Peck - Dallas Derek Billingsley - Nashville AJ Lingerfeld - NC New York - the list is endless! Chicago - the guys at Great Lakes Feel free to bombard me with names/places/suggestions!! Thanks all, Paddy

I sent an email, so we shall see! Now, I wait.

@TrixieFaux, I was going to say get a lady head cuz lady heads are awesome to begin with and Chris Conn lady heads are the best you can get, but whatever you do get, you know it will be unbelievable. But I still have hope you do decide to get a lady head. Ha ha.

Its all set. I am in for back piece. Friday and Saturday. Its going to be intense! LOL

Co-sign everyone's mentions of Spider Murphy's, Temple, and Blackheart for the greater San Francisco area. I'll add Idle Hands to that list, too. Lots of great tattooers at that shop.

Stop in Arizona (Mesa, which is a suburb of Phoenix) at Immaculate Tattoo. It's an amazing shop.

Here is a picture to illustrate my awesome socks, which I have found to be vital in keeping me toasty.

Mine was around 4 - 5 hours. I flew to NYC and took a cab straight to the shop (which opened two hours later.) After the tattoo I was totally out of it from sleep exhaustion. Wish I would have been in a better state of mind so I could have talked to the artists more, but I needed sleep. Mike R did the tattoo, awesome dude and his shop is out of this world.

Hello guys:)! My name is Evgeny, I'm a tattoo artist from Ukraine. I live in Prague now and looking for a job. I would like to work in the USA. Length of work is 2,5 years. My portfolio: iegCxxqmr30WiaLGHvKvLFfm3ImAS7wujoucUjOnuMpiVpgsgI7V5v3UnOrTk9YjB1VgPnN3k3Q=s0-d-e1-ft#https://pp.vk.me/c616716/v616716387/13895/1ISCdi3K-Ow.jpg[/img] instagram( https://instagram.com/evgeny_muraev/) facebook (https://www.facebook.com/eugene.ua.9) VK (https://vk.com/modme)

Just found this and thought I would share. Senior Citizens Reveal What Tattoos Look Like on Aging Skin - My Modern Met

Hi all, I figure I'd plug this here. I've been helping my pal Dave Regan put together a reference book for the last, hell, almost a year. It's 300 plus pages of all sorts of different elements: Traditional, Big Cats, Japanese, Lettering, Floral, Etc. They are $80 and come delivered on a USB stick. You can learn more on his instagram account @dutchraven or email him at [email protected]. Word!

Got the invite to go meet Shad at Steve's studio when he's here to visit my city end-April. Hopeful that I can align a small piece from Shad and then get back to my back w/ Steve, colour and details in May. Going to get OllieXXX to touchup and fill in some cracks on my leg tattoos too. Going to try and get out to the Kootenay's this summer to chill on my inlaws farm and hookup some additional work from Shawn O'Connor. But first things first, go burn all this tattoo-nonsense off in the Jamaica sun...Ras Colouring Book ribbit lawdamercy

Holy crap! That's like 30 minutes from my house!

Hey everyone! So I had my session yesterday and it was so awesome!! Tacifone I'm actually in the hudson valley/Berkshires area. Brian did such an amazing job with my tattoo! He really wanted to make this tattoo a one of a kind piece which I think he did that for sure!

when is the trip gonna be? the State of Grace Bay Area Convention of the Tattoo Arts is right near the San Francisco airport at the SFO Hyatt Regency, if you're here near the end of Oct. It's usually the 2nd to last weekend and always a world class lineup.

Second votes for Dedication and Lifetime in Denver, Mammoth American and Th'ink Tank are also worth checking out.

This isn't comprehensive or up to date entirely, but it's a good starting point: Our Endless Days - North American Tattooers

https://instagram.com/johnerichter/ Just finally signed up. I will follow back all of you guys.

Exile (either 1 or 2) or freaks in kansas city Missouri are both great shops, and I highly recommend Nathan Blankenship at exile 2. He has done all my work so far. A few hours from chicago but just saiyan.

Theo Mindell (outside San Fran, but in the area) or Kahlil Rintye in Tattoo City.

Iwar, fuck that is good.

Taking a trip down to LA to get tattooed by Shon Lindauer at High Seas Tattoo Parlor in Hollywood. The trip will be April 18th - 20th. If anyone has recommendations for restaurants in the area, they're more than welcome. Also, if anyone wants to meet up in LA, shoot me a pm. Would be cool to meet some more LSTers for tacos or something. Heard a lot about LA's Mexican food.

- - - Updated - - - I take terrible photos. She looks much nicer in real life ;)

I got one of the best tattoo experiences I've ever had from Chris. The awesome tattoo he put on me came almost as a secondary bonus to the whole experience, haha. Go for it @TrixieFaux! You won't regret it.

Get anything by him. If you pass up the opportunity you will mad in a couple of years when he isn't tattooing again

If you get tattooed by Chris, please get a girl head. No one in the world does them like him.

I want a tattoo from Chris but I don't know what to get... It's a strange problem. I guess I will figure it out. I'm not closed off to suggestions though...:confused: PANTHER SKULL DAGGER?! :D - - - Updated - - - ETA: I was just kidding with the panther skull dagger thing, but...come to think of it...a Chris Conn panther would be really amazing, maybe that is what I need.

Booked up for back piece session number 3 with Marius Meyer on the 19th of May, also managed to snag an appointment with Morten Transeth the day before. Gonna be a good trip!

Thanks bro! It's not an elephant but it does have bbq sauce! ;)

yesterday's session...

Sorry, I don't see fat. I see an awesome turtle on some nice skin with beautiful hair. Is color planned? I've only seen one sea turtle in person (and the light filtering through the water may have shaded it) that had green/yellow tones.

Ok, this is my fat back after 7 hours. It is just roughed in and needs a lot of work still, but it's a great start! Go big or go home.

here's a devil I got last summer from the bowery book done by jason ochoa at greenpoint tattoo

I grew up in a very conservative area where tattoos are still frowned upon. Ironically my boyfriend's family knows that I have a tattoo while only my mother and stepfather are the only ones who know in my family. My boyfriend teases me about it and going to church, but its all in good fun, especially since he went with me as support when I got it done. As my best friend put it to me, "Jesus says my body is a temple, I'm just decorating the walls."

Session #6, 3.5 hrs, 22.5 hours total. Completed the blackground yesterday on my Shaolin backpiece after a really intense session. This was the heaviest session in my 12 years of getting tattooed. Inside the crack and underneath the butt cheeks, down the back and insides of the thigh. All the way. It really comes down to mind over matter. The pain was very sharp and the skin is very different in that nether region thus a spectacular array of sensations. But moreso it really messes with your mind to get tattooing in that very private and sensitive area, doing your best to be loose (not too loose, wink wink haha) and relaxed while your mind is frozen at what your body is undergoing. I'm still feeling mentally scrambled the day after. Unbelievable experience, some very serious tattooing. You really have to let your inhibitions go and have full trust in the tattooer. Steve really helped me push through and said I did really well with the sit. Really learned a lot about myself through the vulnerability of this session. I was chewing down on a towel for the last 30 minutes. But I did it. Exhausted and spaced out afterwards and now I've got this swollen black ass, shit-my-pants shuffle walk happening, at least for a few days. All the way! me-"I can do this" steve-"You are doing it man!" me-"I'm doing this!" steve-"You did it!" I've been sitting fairly regularly so I'm going to take it easy for a bit to heal and re-calibrate. Off to Jamaica in April to relax as my alter-ego Ras Colouring Book on the beach. Then a couple sessions in May to blast in all the colour and patterns and saturate some of the black again. This was a milestone tattoo session for me as well. I hit my 201st hour of total tattooing on my body over a 12 year period. I'm wearing a full body of tattoos now, all pieces new and old interconnected neck to ankle. But I left a few choice silver-dollar sized spots to tuck in a few mini collector tattoos ;) And the Ramones kicked on as I crossed the 200th hour marker...

[video=youtube_share;qnEMOQTh27s]

maybe it's just a good ol tattoo and doesn't mean anything ? ;)

All-time favorite is on a friend of mine, mostly because of how silly it is. What do gorillas think about? Bananas, duh. By Drew Rash. Additionally, here are three I've seen on Instagram recently that I've loved. Another Tim Hendricks. Squeezing a readable ROA on there blows my mind. Grez. Does it get better than classic roses on a hand? Grime. And to totally tweak out the classic rose, a rose skull morph.

Thomas Hooper does my favourite squidmitts. A couple of examples stolen from his instagram:

I love flowers on the hands and I also really like this ... Jondix Gerhard Wiesbeck

Or fathers/father figures need to teach boys how to be men; this stuff starts early. Just my .02

I'll try to put together a good photo with the newest additions, it's hard to take a decent looking picture of it because it wraps around my arm, though here's a picture of it from Seth's blog from when it was first finished about a year ago: Seth Wood Tattoo - - - Updated - - - I have a couple of tattoos from Ron and, yes, his tattoos are amazing...like "holy fuck, I can't believe he did that" amazing, especially with some of the negative space tattoos, and he's all around a really awesome dude to get tattooed by. I highly recommend the experience.

OH, YOU WOULD. Stoked for you, buddy!

Just booked an appointment with him :)