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my girlfriend and i flew out to LA on friday and got tattooed by bob roberts. i really only have these weird spots left and i told him he could do whatever he wants and he just grabbed my arm and pointed to my ditch and was like "right there". walked over to the wall and he goes "what about this one?"

hey folks - lets remember that this thread is about throwing down your latest and greatest lets get back to that huh

I'm getting tattooed by Matt Arriola this Saturday in one of my last "big" spots (back of my thigh). [understatement]I am excited.[/understatement]

I have no idea who Billi Vegas is, besides someone who made a statement I disagree with completely. "Traditional" tattooing isn't nearly as "antiquated" as Japanese tattooing, yet both have stood the test of time. I have lots of both kinds of tattoos, including some huge and some tiny. Different strokes and all that.

I don't understand how anyone can make absolute statements about the value of one type of art vs the other. It all has value to different people in different ways.

Got this on the back of my knee by Tim Pausinger today at The Pearl Harbour Gift Shop. I was really surprised that he said he didn't tattoo this before (or anything else on that sheet). Saw some really cool Bill Baker flash in there of all these different wrestling holds - awesome! If I'm back I'm getting the sleeper hold one for sure. Most importantly met LSTer @markbee and his wife - really good folks. Next time In in town we'll have a proper coffee / bite to eat ... Although then again can't beat a meet up in a tattoo shop either.

Before we let this drop, does this mean there's an American inside all of us Canadians and Irish getting trad one shots...? [emoji3] I have an American leg at any rate. Totting it up I don't know if it was that cheap so far though.

I'm glad to see tattoo pics being posted in here again. Thank you. I'm itching for a one shot this Friday so hopefully I'll have something small (antiquated and cheap like me) to contribute :)

I think what would bother me about it, @beez, is that behind it there's an element of 'how you look when you're older will matter more to me than who you are as a person.' It would bother me that someone would think ahead to the point when I might not be young and fit and attractive and just cross me off of the list because some part of me may not age gracefully, in their opinion. That some nebulous future involving my aging body might matter more to them than the years until then, or all of the years we'd already shared. And that's crazy, isn't it? Nobody has any guarantee of aging gracefully (and obviously tattoos look pretty goddamn rad on older people, but I get that this is a subjective opinion). We're all going to get old and wrinkly and whatever else. It's just life. When I decided to get tattoos, I told my mother that if I lived my life with the ultimate goal of being bangable at 60/70/80, then I'd have surely fucked up somewhere along the way. If I'm hot and older, so be it, but what I want to be at 60/70/80 is interesting. I agree with everybody else -- I think he's saved you some time, and maybe even some worse heartbreak down the road. It doesn't make it any less bitter, I know. It's a very myopic position for him to take, imo, but at least he was honest about it. He'll have to own that in the years to come, for better or worse.

I'll answer your questions, I think they're important questions and not outside the realm of reasonable inquiry. While I do think that a veil of secrecy is important to the artistic and technical aspects of tattooing, this is stuff that the customer should know about especially if you are concerned about your health and safety. In my opinion, the quality and transparency of your sanitation practices should be comparable to that of a physician. The information I am about to give anyone reading this right now IS NOT LICENSE TO GO INTO YOUR TATTOO SHOP AND SARCASTICALLY GRILL THE TATTOOERS ABOUT SANITATION PRACTICES IN A KNOW IT ALL MANNER. BE POLITE AND RESPECTFUL OR SHUT THE FUCK UP. Also don't take my word or anything you read on the internet in blind faith. This is how I keep my customers safe: Saran wrap, drape sheets, and dental bibs covering every surface of my workplace including station, armrests, and massage tables. Anything that I touch during the tattoo will have saran wrap, barrier film, or tape covering the surface. I use stainless steel tubes which are scrubbed with a detergent and then autoclaved for 60 minutes inside of sterile pouches which have steam indicators on them to let you know that they have reached the appropriate sterility temperature. I use single-use stainless steel needles which have been ethelyne oxide gas sterilized by my supply company, also with an indicator strip. Every part of my setup is single-use and disposable except the tubes which are autoclaved, the soap bottle which is autoclaved, and my machines which are wiped down with a hospital-grade antimicrobial chemical. We perform weekly spore tests on the autoclave to ensure that it is sufficiently killing all of the nasties. Once my supplies are disposed of, I also spray and wipe down my entire workspace with hospital grade antimicrobial chemicals according to cross contamination practices I have learned and am tested on according to my Blood Borne Pathogens certification that I am required to update yearly. I have been vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, although no vaccine for C exists as of yet. I am also licensed to tattoo by the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health and will gladly show you my paperwork for both my license and BBP certification. I have been asked by customers in the past to explain and demonstrate all of this information and to me it is never a hassle because I am doing my part to keep myself and my clients safe, and I do not want to tattoo someone if they are uncomfortable getting tattooed by me.

ROFL! HAHAHAHAHA hells yea.

there is only one phrase that comes to my mind.. "Thanks Obama" :p

You should take that to the authorities.

What a kick in the guts @beez. Really sorry to hear you have had such a shock response from someone who is meant to be very special to you. It is a very odd thing to say though. Perhaps he is worried about being forever cast in the shadow of your spotlight when you are 80+ years old and everyone wants to talk to you about your amazing tattoos from "back in the day". :D

@Rad Kelham For me, personally, it's about more than just the aesthetic of it. Yes, I agree that the full pre-planned bodysuit is the apex of tattoo art. And every time I see one it blows my mind. Not just the tattoo, but also the dedication, care, and thought that went into it. With that being said, there's a certain satisfaction that accompanies the one-shots as well. Yes, it can be impulsive and instantly gratifying. But that's just part of the experience. It allows us the opportunity to relive that magic with every piece. Maybe it's a new city, new artist, new shop, new idea - it all allows us to connect to new people and have new experiences. Where as, maybe, with a much larger project it starts to become a chore and we just want it to be over so we can see the finished product. I am wayyy too ADD to stick with a single style or theme anyways. I love so many different things that it would be against my nature to dedicate it all to one cohesive suit, as beautiful as it may be. I just like the way it all looks - piecemeal and full bodysuit.

It was great to meet you, your wife, and your wee one today! It was also a blast getting tattooed on the next table over. It seemed a fitting way to meet a fellow LST-er. That tattoo looks great in the pic and even better in person. Tim's a great guy. I'll post a pic from my tattoo at The Pearl in Toronto. This diving girl is by Glennie, one of my favourite tattooers. And ya, Baker's flash is pretty great. Its my goal to get tattooed by Bill sometime soon.

From @monmoncats a couple weeks ago... https://instagram.com/p/1BJPmbxR2g/

Some awesome inner bi's here. I'm quite fond of skulls in this location. Brian Bruno Chris O'Donnell

Check out the "what makes a good tattoo" thread here on LST, and spend time on this forum. Edit: spend some time on this forum soaking up as much as you can...

Yeah, I agree. I'm only an apprentice though, so it's hard for me to critique anyone too harshly. Haha

@chrisnoluck, you might have to change your user name. You scored big time with that bunny!

@beez - Everyone else has said what needs to be said, but I just wanted to chime in with some love and support - that is a stupid, shallow, hurtful thing to say to someone you care about. It is always a very painful experience to find out that someone we held in high esteem is not the person we thought they were, but man, that was some garbage. And I am sorry someone you love was so cruel to you. Xo.

@chrisnoluck thanks for brining the thread back with style.

@chrisnoluck looks great. So much style.

@beez, That sucks and I am sorry that you had to experience such pain. Pardon my intrusion but who ever he is/was he is a douche and does not deserve you.

Wow! Sorry to hear this happening to you @beez. I'm sure it stung even more so since you knew him for so long. To turn it positively, (and I understand it's easier for me to say "turn it positively") you now know just how much an insensitive ass he can be. It's better for you to know now than get back together with him and not know.

Oops.

@beez I'm really sorry you had that experience. That must have been very painful and confusing. Sigh.

You are clearly a beautiful and intelligent person, and that sounds very hurtful. My partner was sitting across from me on my laptop as I was reading your post - knowing that he doesn't like tattoos, I asked him what he thought about your friend's statement. He looked baffled for a moment and then said, "What the fuck? Why would anyone say that?" So this person doesn't need to be into tattoos, but he does need to not be an asshole about it. In a broader sense, I think we're deluding ourselves a bit if we think we have any idea of what our partners are going to look like as we get older. Not to be morbid, but accidents happen and limbs are lost, faces are scarred - people have stayed with their lovers through much worse than an aging tattoo. Yet, for instance, the Internet loses its shit if a woman ages the "wrong" way (trying too hard to look young, looking too old, etc etc etc).

@beez you are beautiful and I agree with everything that has been said in response to your post.. Sounds like he has some growing up to do. Meanwhile, of course it hurts, but now he can get out of the way of you finding a more meaningful relationship...when you are ready. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I always have thought that if a person is going to love another romantically or friends, love is based on accepting them for who they are, inside & out. beez,IMO he doesn't deserve to be in your life,if he would say something like that to you.

That's awful. My gf and I were in a situation like that. She wanted someone who didn't smoke, didn't have an attitude, no tattoos, super nerdy - and I was like that when we met! Now I'm an inked up, half pack a day flannel wearing gamer who's nerdiness doesn't go much further than what games out next and thankfully she still loves me. We grew together since high school, and neither of us are the same, but we love each other more than ever (she's even given me the ok on full sleeves when I'm ready). If this person can be your bff for four years and not accept you for you, then that says a lot about THEM - not you.

@beez - This is shitty on so many levels, I am so sorry. My husband is currently plainskin, but by August he no longer will be but... I've been getting tattooed for a few years now, and when I started I was partly concerned that this would be an issue with my husband. Thankfully, he respected that this is my body and he loves me for me - no matter what my body looks like. He's also very pragmatic in that he knows we'll all look like we're 80 regardless of tattoos or not - something like this is not an issue. For me, it would sting so much more because it is a choice to get tattooed. You love the you with tattoos, so he's rejecting your choices, your body, your life. It's much more hurtful than saying, "I just don't like you" because it is so specific. It's also saying, to me, that he wants someone who would be willing to change (or deny) their essence in order to be with him, that he wants his partner to be who he wants them to be (in order to love them) and not who they are (wrinkles, tattoos and all). Big hug for you.

Sorry Beez, what he said must of been a harsh slap in the face - I think his words go even beyond body shaming, it's also getting older shaming - like you need to be perfectly preserved at 25, forever. Wow. I think this maybe be the type of person you don't want to spend your time/energy with as much. I'm so sorry. Even if he tries to backtrack - what has been said cannot be unsaid. I find it strange that he has never mentioned any of his feeling about tattoos throughout your relationship. This was a really shitty way to treat someone. There are people out there who are of good heart and sound mind that won't let such things as tattoos and the inevitability of aging distract them from enjoying life and love.

A truly loving person would never say that or think that. Sorry.

Pics after first wash!

Horitoshi family has you pull your knees up to your chest to really get that stretch and get in there when the time comes. Cannonball style!

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

Some people's tattoo worlds seem really small... (In my own world, there are lots of cool different ways to get tattooed.)

Hokay, cross-posting by request, cos SeeSea is such a flatterer. I was going to wait until Greg posted the pictures he took of the new stuff, but he may not. Sun came out today when I was about to head to the gym, so I tried to get some myself. I got a diving girl, and we started a cobra, though we didn't finish it. They're looking a little bit foggy/chalky because I peel fast; they'll probably start flaking by tomorrow. It makes it hard to see the blue details in the diving girl, sadly. Sorry for the terrible angles! These links are just an overview of the whole thing, before we added the cobra. https://instagram.com/p/1gugZ7TBPK/ https://instagram.com/p/1guZOxTBO-/

Just got an email from Greggletron. He is going to tattoo a spider on my chin. It will go under my chin with the legs peeking up onto the front. Stoked!

It's quite funny when I think about this actually! My boyfriend doesn't have any tattoos, although before we got together, mine were a good talking point and he expressed his interest in getting some. He seemed to have his heart set on two. Since then, I have gotten a big piece on my thigh, and he doesn't seem as bothered to get any himself. He used to be heavily involved in the local metal scene, and I guess that being around tattooed people may have sparked his interest, but since he has turned his focus to education and work, this interest has dwindled. I don't mind him without tattoos, and he likes mine (I came with five, so it wasn't like I have radically changed on the ink front since we got together). Seeing as most of mine are hidden by clothing, they aren't in his face all of the time. Most people presume I just have the two wrist ones, and seem surprised when I confess to the hidden four!

The OP was about asking in person. As in, how much to I talk about this ahead of time with my artist without sounding like a paranoid client with 9,000 questions and making the artist want to back out? I have an honest question about the money conversation I've had with all three of my artists, but I'll never ask it here because of this kind of response. The bottom line is that it is your body, and you're entitled to ask any questions you'd like to ask. If the artist thinks it is too much, well, find someone else. Customer service has to be part of the equation if you're going to art on human skin, and the health concerns are legitimate if things aren't being done correctly.

Havent painted for around 5 weeks as I have been over in the Philippines enjoying life surfing. Painted this one just before I went over, thanks for checking it out

@SeeSea i spend a lot of time in coffee shops and parks when traveling for tattoos (in SF)!! the only thing i would caution is to make sure you know exactly where you're going when the tattoo is done. My post-tattoo brain gets spacier and spacier each tattoo it seems - and I have a helluva time getting anywhere. So if I don't have a set point of where I am going next, I'm in all sorts of trouble.

I heard on a podcast a few weeks ago, and i don't remember where, but the X-Files is coming back.

Always heard nice things about Richmond VA.

Been trying to keep busy painting lots of things, having a slow start to the year but slowly turning that around. Here are a few of my latest efforts.

Finally got my elbow done. Was worth waiting, I'm stoked about it.