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got my neck done by chris conn - - - Updated - - - also started my back with bryan burk

Eagle battling a snake by none other than Chad Koeplinger, finished in 3 sessions, outline in Denver, shading and color in Austin. Sorry about the glare in the photo, my apartment has the worst lighting of all time.

D'aww. Come on over and get some tattoos! :) Edit: Oh hey, @cltattooing put up a picture of what we got up to today.

Finished my minogame, Gemma Pariente - Full Circle Tattoo.

My just completed full back piece based on the tale of Mimi Nashi Hoichi by Fil Wood at Black Crown Tattoo in Leeds For those who would like to know more of the tale please look here The Story Of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi And you can check out Fil Wood's work here https://instagram.com/fil_wood/

Had my final session with Fil Wood @ Black Crown Tattoo in Leeds and I'm totally drained. Check him out at https://instagram.com/fil_wood/ I'll post more pics in the future once it's healed and touch up have been done, but for now I'm done and ready to jump in a bathtub full of bep

The winner of Tattoo of the month May 2015 is @Scott R with this bad ass Tony Hundahl tattoo. Congrats!! Since @Scott R has won Tattoo of the Month once before, the LST shirt will be awarded @cltattooing who came in second. Congrats!! Please PM @steve1461686340 with your shirt info (size and male or female) along with your address.

hilarious! and original! no one has ever made that joke before!

Almost done!!! 1 more session needed for grey wash background. By Mark Duhan, Skin Deep Ink in New Milford, CT (hummingbird was already there) Back of the arm is swelled up pretty good. This is all about my boys. The flowers are for their birth month. Artist did an awesome job of rolling with my idea for a watercolor/ feminine polka trash colorful mish mash!

What, no books made out of real human skin?

I was at a wedding too last week, and a grown man, who managed to reach 35 years of age, with a family, asked me if I was working on my backpiece myself. From neck to knees. Full backpiece. Was I tattooing it on myself. I just told him I wasn't flexible enough to do that and left forever.

It looks that way, though I'm still not keen on getting my arms covered. Other than my partner, hardly anyone knows I'm tattooed, and I like that. Well, people on here know, but no one on here knows me in person so it doesn't count ;) It's not that I'm embarrassed by my tattoo, I just don't like people knowing everything about me.

I get the same comments about the leaves on my arm. I have a Japanese maple in my yard. It's handy when the family comes over and starts making comments about my tattoo. If the debate ever gets technical I can just pluck a leaf off for comparison. I'm waiting for my weed enthusiast sister to bring over a pot plant as a counterpoint. In general though I'll just give the general public who comment a chuckle and let them think I am a stoner.

does that page have a butt crack?

I just used this stuff again on 2 more pieces and I'm still pretty in love with it. I had my inner bicep, from elbow to arm pit done. I made sure to have the scraggly hair in/around my arm pit shaved. Placed the -derm partially into my arm pit and around the area where my upper bicep meets my arm pit. The stuff is so flexible, it didn't inhibit any movement and was super comfy. I also had the outside lower leg/ankle area done and same thing, -derm placed on my foot/ankle ditch with no problems. ...again super flexible. My method was similar to @Dan except for step 2, I used a small amount of auqaphor. The coolest thing about the -derm for me is, it greatly desenitizes the areas it covers. Instead of having that freshly injured, raw nerve feeling, it makes it feel dull and easy to deal with. I've never been able to sleep directly on a fresh tattoo for 3-4 days until I tried this stuff. The only small downside I've experienced with the -derm is taking it off. Patience is the key here and it has to be done S L O W L Y. I can't stress that enough!! If it's applied to a spot that you can't easily reach, you'll need some to help you. The 4 times I used it, it was removed to reveal an almost healed tattoo with ZERO scabs. The latest 2 (inner bicep/ ankle) didn't even peel. Most people I know who have/get tattoos are astonished how -derm healed work looks after 4-6 days...like "WOAH..you just got that?"

I put both my sleeves on my arms! My artist said that was the best place for them. :-)

He would probably have been just as creepy whether you were tattooed or not. Creeps gonna creep.

...I can't believe this thread has been dormant for 6 months. Last night we went to a wedding. I wore a little black dress with thin straps so the top third of my backpiece showed. I had my hair up. Overall, I got positive reviews or no comments - it was very cool. However, "Jackass" (as he was come to be called), came up to me at the bar. Picture 60 y/o paunch, light pink button-down, partially untucked - all the guys were all still wearing suit jackets. Partially in the bottle. So he is chatting me up and then sees my tattoo. Him: Wow, I just saw your art. It seems like the entire back is a "new thing." The first time I saw one was when we took our son to a dude ranch in Texas and a girl had one. It was quite alluring. Me: ::eesh:: Him: So this was probably more than one session? Me: Yes, it was two. (Actually, it was 20). Him: So, how is your Hepatitis C? Is it under control? Me: Excuse me? Him: You know, your Hep C. And your Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B? Me (deadpanned): Everything is under control. Him: You know, I ask, because you had more than one session, so there was more than one needle. So you have to keep it under control. Me, (skeeved out and walking away): It's fine. So I tell my friends, and we all get weirded out. Shudders. So anyway, later in the night, I want to go back to the bar and get a drink for me and the Hubs. But Jackass is there talking with another guy I don't know. But I go up anyway and talk straight to the bartender and order. Him to buddy: There are a lot of women in those same little black dresses. They must all shop at the same store. Me: ::Stars straight ahead:: Him (announcing into the air): Well, I guess no one heard that. Me (walking away with my drinks): I'm sorry, it must be my Hepatitis C showing. Him: Excuse me? Me: IT MUST BE MY HEP C SHOWING. Him (huffed up and offended): I was just being concerned. ?!? Super shudders. Eeeeesh. One of my girlfriends said I should have rubbed my arm over his and "gotten my Hep C all over him." But I was too skeeved out to even consider touching him. I hate people who play these little word power games. I have to come up with a few more standard answers to assholes. Happily, I did get the chance to smack him back down.

Second sitting with Alex Binnie at Into You. Mainly on my backside, but also lower back, and some further up. This sitting was probably about 3 hours of tattooing, bringing the total tattooing time for the two sittings to around 6-7 hours.

I just had an apple turnover and a chocolate milkshake. It was glorious. But I'm lactose intolerant, so I may be posting an update in the "Post shitty things you have been doing recently" thread LOL.

Session #8 ...a respectable 2.5hrs (27.5hrs total...what the seriously?). I was a bit anxious about this session. It was the first session that deviated from our regular routine (Mondays @12pm, take the day off work, wake up early, workout/train/stretch, eat big-large, pack my thermos and meal). I worked a really intense half day at my day job in engineering. Slammed a coffee, ate a sandwich, arrived at 3pm and ate a bunch of rice and beets. Steve took some time to draw-on the dragon into the monk robe directly. Dragon was quickly outlined. Coloured in with gold and yellow. The robe was coloured in with a dark cherry red. I made it through a heavy 2.5hrs on the spine, shoulder blades and bbq-back-ribs. Damn, my right side hurts more than the left! We were both happy to call it for the day. I'm still bruised from the section below 2 weeks ago too... I'm feeling very connected to the details of this piece. The symbolism of the good luck dragon in the robe - I've been part of my kung fu school's dragon team for the last 10 years. Before Sifu passed, he reminded me that the Dragon is the signature form of his kung fu school and to keep his legacy going. It is with great honour that I carry the image and power of the Shaolin monk on my back. And as I was getting this work done, I drew strength from some of my junior kung fu brothers and sisters who are presently over in China training at Shao Lin. We came close to busting the needle bar at the end of the sitting, joking about my iron shirt technique haha. No seriously though, you could hear a nasally phase shift in the sound of the machine response, sounded like a jews harp! I'm back at it in early-June for Session #9 ...likely the final session in which Steve will tackle the robe trim details and skin tones and eyes on the monk. Then it's time to relax and enjoy what is looking like a busy exciting summer for me. Go lake swimming, camping and burn my shirt in any fire pit that crosses my path haha. Steve and I will regroup in the fall after the ink has settled in for touchups and we will hit ALL the black again to really saturate the shit out of it. Then the real fun begins...filling the remaining small openings in my suit with fun little tattoos. "Eric, I'm bummed we are almost done! I'm never gonna see ya again...I really enjoy tattooin ya man!" Shout out to Steve Batt in Edmonton, AB. One of the most underrated and skilled tattooers in Canada...seriously this cat is on a different level, constantly striving to improve and progress his drawing, composition and tattooing. amituofo :cool:

Yesterday, I finally got tattooed by my teacher. I told him I wanted a tree on my leg and that was it. This is just the first session, all shading, drawn on with marker. The canopy on the thigh will come later. Afterwards, I got bandaged up and tattooed one of his clients, into a piece he had started last year. It was such an honor for my teacher to take a day out of his (booked out 6 months) schedule to tattoo me. Also, to have him allow me to incorporate my tattoo into his was amazing. I did this little mockingbird and drew the branch on, so it was also my first time freehanding something for a tattoo. I'm still buzzing from it all... or maybe that's just my leg healing? Haha thanks for looking.

Tattoos we're not happy with happen, but you really need to get over that one.

Damn! Am I getting trolled on LST? I'm 6' 1". 6 hours (or thereabouts) isn't particularly outrageous for my entire back/backside, I would say.

Disgusting, I hate religious zealots! I Had an older man approach me the other day and asked WHY I did that to my beautiful skin. I told him I had waited my whole life for a beautiful piece and I love it. He then asked about when I get older like 40 and changed my mind.......I answered that I'm 43 and I'm quite able to make permanent life changing decisions. BUT Thanks anyways. It's funny though, that he would feel so uppity about my work since he had been panhandling before I walked up. I also had another man ask me what my tramp stamp said. I said excuse me...1 I'm not a tramp and 2 I don't have any tramp stamps. He answered It might help you get pregnant. :( WTF? Oh then last night, Hubby and I were getting a beer at a local pub when some skezie guy started talking to me about my work then started stripping to show me all his....He then asked about hourly wages. It didn't bother me since he didn't ask how much it cost. I told him....He said HOLY SHIT! I NEVER pay more than 40 an hour and my guy even does it in my kitchen....I smiled and walked away quickly.

Looks great @Kinglambert. Of course you have a leg idea in the works. Since that back is your first tattoo, I'm pretty sure that your only option from here on out is full suit.

@JasonTO I'd say with your example, just go for it! Sounds associative and good to put blood next to a reaper, maybe there is blood on his scythe. I've seen it many times, it can look just right. On a personal note I can really enjoy when things that don't seem to fit together are tattooed next to eachother. In my head it creates this strange dynamic synergy effect and all sorts of makeshift associations open up. That's part of the fun with smaller tattoos in my opinion. Over time you will see how the "interpretation" of compositions and individual tattoos change or get more complex, depending on how you change and the things you learn.

Douchechills and douchebumps.

@SeeSea sounds like you handled yourself pretty well there - ignore fools like this i do this thing where i pretend people like that are just furniture - background anyway i find that reactions to tattoos tell me an enormous amount about a person unfortunately it aint always positive meh be psyched about your upcoming tatt :)

First thing one of my friends asked me about my first tattoo, "Do you regret it?" "Yup, sure do."

I agree with @DavidR this guy sounds like he was more interested in being demeaning towards woman in whatever way possible than he was in your tattoo. What a sad scary person.

Saw an owl today at work in the tree. incredible to see them in real life. I recommend to go see them in the zoo or maybe with a guide for some owlspotting.

6-7 hours? what are you 12 feet tall?

This is difficult to selfie!

o-z-z-y

https://instagram.com/p/3P_YuSTBGZ/ All done. :o We stuck with flowers for fillers in the end, even though we did talk about a frog. He took some shots from other angles, but didn't put them up. Maybe he will later. I'm a little sad about it being finished, so I can't imagine how you backpiece people felt when it was over! ...but I might get to find out, because we may have chatted about it a bit today. We'll seeeeeeeeee. :cool: I get a day to bang around Powell's Books tomorrow and cap off the night with Mad Max, and then I get to be tattooed by @cltattooing the day after that! Definitely a great mini-vacation.

By Nikki Balls. Done at the Pearl Harbor Gift Shop, Toronto, Ontario. Apologies for the crappy pic.

Something a tattooer told me that I wish I'd known from the start: get the big pieces first.

My girlfriend's birthday was a few weekends ago, so we both took some time off to celebrate! Starting on a Thursday, we went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. It was her first time. We had an amazing time, with nearly no waiting in lines! Luckily for us because it started to rain heavily around 2pm. We had arrived right when it opened at 10:30 and were able to ride just about everything that we wanted to ride, from X2, Tatsu, Batman, Viper, Bumper Cars <3 no Goliath due to the rain tho.. We came back to Buena Park to check in at the Best Host Inn, right next to Knotts Berry Farm. I booked their suite, which was complete with a Jacuzzi in the room, a mirror over the bed, and complete with blue mood lighting! It was KICK ASS! Then, we went to dinner at a great little Italian restaurant called "il garage 2" , a pretty romantic spot with great ambiance. It has a vegetable garden in view, which they grown some of their own vegetables in, and they allow you to walk through with drinks while waiting on the food. Food was fresh and authentic. really tasty and not too pricey! She was blown away. 10/10 birthday for her and was equally amazing for me!

after almost 7 years of getting tattooed i just finally got my FIRST eagle the other day... thanks to tony sellers while he was guest spotting @ tattoo marks for the week.

I have put much thought into this and the psychology and perception around tattoos and impressions that are made. I have to admit that I myself am somewhat judgment about placement in cases where content can be offensive. That being said, I feel the same way about offensive language on shirts etc... I myself do not get offended, as I was a Marine for 11 years and there is nothing I haven't heard before. But, I realize I share this earth and thing and there is a time, place, and audience for everything. Fair or not, it will limit employment opportunities and may deter customers so ultimately unless you own your own business it's a choice you have to live with. I have a few friends with many non traditional face piercings and neck tattoos that complain about not getting jobs. I don't know any of my Marine friends without tattoos. I made the mistake years ago of getting cheap tattoos with little meaning. I live in regret for many years until of a coverup. In the 20 years I never recalled 1 person commenting on it being cool or that they liked it. That being said. I think a high quality unique tattoo(s) with a thought of them will not make someone pass judgement as quick as bunch of unplanned themeless banger with awkward placement. Just my 2cents

That is shite :( sorry to hear that. Especially when it's an old friend, but at same time a friend should accept you for who you are. Even though if they don't fully understand why or even what, you get tattooed. And at the end of the day, your body, you're not hurting anyone (well maybe yourself :p lol) but hopefully you get my meaning. Just my 2d's worth. My co-workers (including bosses and big boss of dept), don't understand why am so heavily tattooed, or why I keep going. Same with my friends. But, they all accept me for me. Maybe it's 'cause I really don't give a flying fuck what any of them think about my tattoos, means I get that reaction? *Shrugs* Don't let them drag you down.

interesting one today - took an old friend paddleboarding who i hadnt seen in a long while he was quick to inform me that he had become pretty conservative and felt strongly and negatively about tattoos and people getting tattoos - we've known each other over 20 years so it was just a conversational blip in a great day of SUP and catching up but...it was a bummer in a way - a reminder i guess of how judgemental folks - even good folks - can be - meh

How was the visocaine? I used H2Ocean Soap once on my first back session. If you look at my instagram post of my first back session you can see how swollen my back was down by the armpit it was way too much to handle. So for me to go home and drive comfortably he used it and it worked for a good 10Min. Enough to go home. I never used it again and to be brutally honest I got somewhat of a wake up call at the expo that I went a few months back. He did the last planet and again a shit load of passes I ask for that soap and he reply "There is no room for that shit here". So I learned quick to channel pain and fuck the world. I walked around the convention and I was stun to see how many artists use it on very painful areas! I was at the Eternal booth and I at least saw 3 people or so asking for any numbing product... I am about 62hrs of total work... I have learned that: #1 - I have to be comfortable where ever I am sitting so I can focus out of pain. If am not comfortable I will do anything I can to be comfortable on my next session. #2 - I can talk while getting work on for the first 6hrs. Anything after that dont talk to me cause I am fighting my self. #3 - I Learn my limits. Depending of the size and type of work. This can go many ways from pain to how my body reacts and heals during the process. #4 - I enjoy silence. Too much commotion and loud music just takes me away out of my comfort zone. And many other things that people here wont care about but it definitely has been a body learning experience.

My name is Mickey Frost and this is one of my last works.

I started my back last Thursday with Alex Binnie at Into You in London. The snakes head, and the maple leaves were stencils, and the snakes body was drawn on. The outline will continue onto my backside, and will be done next time. The time tattooing was roughly between 3 1/2 - 4 hours.

Not on me (I wish!) but I couldn't resist posting this here. https://instagram.com/p/2XMZmTnXSj/

Not sure how realistic you like your realistic tattoos. Myself, the hyper-realism, and even most of the photo-realistic stuff is not my cup of tea. They look really cool, but not my style. My personal preference is toward the realism built upon a traditional "framework", for lack of a better term. Darcy Nutt is really good at tattooing what I described above - because pictures are worth way more than my crappy descriptions. One of my personal favorite artists, and a super chill lady - I hope to get more work from her one day. I think a black and grey realistic owl would be cool. Have any idea what kind of owl you want?

Honestly, I saw it as a compliment that you have found something that you are not only good at, but appear to be enjoying. Some seem to try to find something wrong about everything they hear. Some try to find something good in everything they hear.

Once people quit tattooing, or in rock n roll die, they become more desirable due to the "unobtainable factor" Never got tattooed by Dan Higgs either but lived and worked close to him and met him on more than one occasion. So I guess I didn't want one that bad. And back then Higgs was an anomaly rather than an unobtainable ghost leading a pack of confused newbies looking for a place in tattooing. No offense to anyone on that. we all start somewhere knowing nearly nothing.