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First session went incredibly smoothly! The design is very linework heavy and dense so we didn't cover as much space as anticipated but I am completely elated with what we got done. Just the top of the back and shoulders, a tibetan parasol in the middle and two dragons on each side curling down to the upper ribs. So far, it's been less painful than expected, but I also feel like this might have been the easiest session. Next session inn a month where we tackle the deity, very excited for that. Totally fucking awesome experience. Also I almost left my bra at the shop which was fucking hilarious. :o

As soon as I saw this headline I thought of this forum: Flaming hawk with snake in its talons sparks $10k brush fire I have no tattoo money in the budget currently or I'd get it myself. Flaming eagle with a snake, powerlines in the background? So epic. Make it happen, someone! Also, just as an fyi - there is a severe thunderstorm watch on for Southern Ontario today.

You really believe that? Based on what?

For once, reading the comment section on an irritating link actually made me feel better instead of worse. rofl.

Chippin' away at the ol' front. https://instagram.com/p/3pzXp1MVGD/

Talk to anyone at The Pearl Harbour Gift Shop. The Okey Doke is reputable too.

I just did an extremely scientific experiment... i scrolled through his instagram looking for necks tattoos. i found one from 89 weeks ago. guess the gender of the client.

Erik posted some pictures of the filler he put on me a couple weeks ago, it wraps almost all the way around my arm so capturing it in one shot is impossible.https://instagram.com/p/3pSkH_DQRi/ You get the idea though

When I worked at Vidal Sassoon in the 90s, people would routinely get turned away for asking for the Jennifer Aniston "Friends" haircut. It just wasn't a style they did. VS is known for geometric shapes and the Friends shag was just not done there. People would get sooooo pissed off. You don't want my money?!!!!! How about just go to another salon (or in the case of this article another tattoo shop) and NOT bitch and moan all over the place about it?!

@ironchef - Hard to say. Outlining had some brutal spots for sure. Tebori doesn't hurt anymore in my mind, but it can be mentally trying when you lay there for 2 hours and then look in the mirror and think to yourself "that's all we got done today!" One thing I will mention is that I highly recommend wearing headphones when getting tebori done. I found the squishing sound to be unbearable after while.

The pain creates vulnerability, it reveals your true self. Through the pain you can receive clarity. My tattooer and I were talking about the tattoo pain threshold yesterday actually. We were discussing how everybody receives 'X' amount of tattoo credits, some receive more than others. But once you're credits are used up, they are used up and tattoo pain will be worse for you moving forward. So tattoo and spend your credits wisely!

I LOL'd The article is written by a person who clearly does not understand tattoo and is whining because tattoo wasn't made as accessible as she would like it to be. Christ almighty! Putting your kids name in micro-font on your neck...isn't about "art". Go have another cab-sav and slag off !

She strikes me as a horrible person. And I hate her tattoo. But that's, like, my opinion, man.

Franz Stefanik, Okey Doke Tattoo Shop, Toronto, Ontario

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/

Two ideas that I'm pretty set on is a Dan Higgs's Druid on my wrist, and this Amund Dietzel work as a possible chest piece: Eventually I'd like to get the brokeback skull girl (think that's what it's known as). And my deep ambition is to get a full traditional japanese leg sleeve that will go up into a backpiece. I may need a few piggy banks started for that one.

Sigh, my hubby just had a lovely portrait of a woman put right over his heart. Never considered a pic of me....Rat bastard.....At least with the placement and his um natural coat, She is the bearded lady.

My wife seemed kind of flattered by the cameo of her (of course, it was done from a 34 year old photo). I can kind of understand them not wanting their husband wearing a permanent likeness of some other woman - even if it is a random one.

This is exactly what I was going to say. If you contact either of these shops I believe you will end up with a good tattoo.

The real story is kinda a bummer, but the tattoo idea is wicked!

All day this Saturday at Great Lakes in Chicago. Sessions with Nick Colella and Mario Desa....stoked!

Don't most tattoo shops have "ASSHOLE" consent waiver for entitled little shits like these to sign before getting inspirational script tattooed anywhere on their bodies....? They should! I ______________________ realize that every pop star and role model has inspirational script and/or meaningful symbols tattooed on every visible place on their body that designer clothes/jewelry will not interfere with. I also have been told by my artist that this is fad and will quickly pass like said role models career. I will not hold my artist or this shop responsible for my poor, misguided choices. I agree not to blog/tweet/facebook (insert currently used social media outlet) to slander this artist or shop for my erroneous decision and live with what I've done to myself

She's just gorgeous! Many thanks to Will Murray. 614-457-3689

Lady head on mine.

I started to click 'like' on the posts in this thread but I had to stop, because I could probably click 'like' on all of them. Greg and I started talking about backpieces the last time I was in there. We tend to be on the same page about stuff and I feel really comfortable with his choices, so I think it's a good way to go. I just don't want to rush into it until I know for sure what I want. We decided to go with Tibetan imagery (the panther-shell on the inside of my arm was inspired by the makaras in right-turning shells in the totally amazing Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, by Robert Beer). We just keep coming back to that book every time I'm in the shop. It's just SO rich that I hardly know where to start! I'm pretty sure I want an azure dragon...and a makara. So that's sky, and water, and what in between...? I am leaning toward a dakini, though. I'm very partial to them. Completely unrelated, but the style of that right-hand illustration's red beasties totally reminds me of the figures in some of doze green's work. Very cool.

I'm happy there's pain as well. It's actually taught me a few things about myself and has given me the courage to try new things and say yes to new experiences. As I've gotten older with some health issues, I began shying away from new and uncomfortable situations (physically speaking) But now 13+ ish hours in, I've been embracing physically new and possible and probable pain inducing activities. I'm not afraid of getting hurt anymore. I began 4 wheeling and I'm loving it, joined two softball leagues and have begun hiking, with plans to go sky diving this summer too. Have I gotten hurt? Yes, but I'm able to shake it off now and move on. Completely unexpected.

Hey, my recommendation would be taking the Great River Road (Highway 35) along the Mississippi to La Crosse, WI (About 3 hours or so from the cities) and go to Blue Line Tattoo. I've gotten most of my left sleeve done from Nick Schreck at Blue Line, and have nothing but great things to say about him and the shop. Facebook page here and his IG is @NickBlueLine. Also, the drive is absolutely gorgeous. If you want to make it a 5 hour trip, going to Tailor Made Tattoos in Madison would be cool. @jonbass1 is someone I wish I got stuff done by.

...or better yet, name your shitty metalcore band FLAMING HAWK WITH SNAKE IN IT'S TALONS

Dawn and Bill from Depot Town opened Harlequin Tattoo: Harlequin Tattoo I haven't been down there yet but they're cool people. Also to add to the Ann Arbor list is Tony Caporusso @ Lucky Monkey Tattoo down the street from Name Brand: Lucky Monkey Tattoo Ann Arbor and near by Ypsilanti have a shit ton of stuff to do, as they are both college towns (U of Michigan and Eastern Michigan)

So, a bearded woman then?

Surprised at how casually the money issue was discussed here... If I had been giving someone money for (things that I deemed) necessities like rent or school, and then I saw them cruising around town in a brand new car, or with a brand new tattoo... That's super disrespectful. It's like being in debt to a drug dealer and blowing all your money on other shit... you're gonna get hit... If a person can afford this nonsense they should be able to afford everything else. Getting tattooed while still living under a financial security blanket is childish

@cltattooing

That article made my blood boil. I've only ever had awesome experiences at NY Adorned (and Josh is the best). I've seen people walk in with mighty horrible ideas for tattoos and the staff at NYA be nothing but gracious and helpful. Agree with @bongsau. Poor lady, she walked into one of the best shops in the city and got told "no" for the most general tattoo one can get, wah-wah-wah (or weh-weh-weh). Not to be as petty as her - but her tattoo looks awful placed where it is.

I read that post and another post on that blog and that woman is fucking annoying

@polliwog do your neighbors look like meth/crack users? It's not always easy to tell, but the smell you describe sounds suspicious. If you ever see or bump into them you should ask "did you have a fire at your house...something smells burnt?" I had neighbors with a pot growing operation in their attic and I live in the same type of neighborhood as you. My kids played with their kids and a few times going over there, I could smell strong skunky/ripe/green smells coming from their house. My mail lady tipped me off and after coming home in the middle of the night a couple times, I could see bright fluorescent light coming from the seams and vents in their roof. I thought..."Pfffttt, whatever, they are really nice people". they ended moving 9 months later. Now all I smell is the coffee roasting place up the street, various neighbors using there bbq smokers and the Korean families cooking, who -no matter how many times I say "hi" and say "smells great!" won't invite me over to eat....

I'm getting tattooed by Eddy Deutsche on Saturday. I can't wait!

:) made a trip to belgium last weekend and got this funny thing from https://instagram.com/burtonursaeminoris/ (stole the picture).

I like the idea. Koi are always getting a free pass in the tattoo world so I think it is great that someone is willing to put them in their place by putting an arrow through one :) One thing you might want to think about is placement. By putting a medium/large sized piece on each shoulder you are limiting your options for a potential future cohesive full back piece. Maybe think about getting this koi as a rib piece or half sleeve. Or go huge with it and have a koi back piece surrounded by animal skulls.

A heavy Chad Koeplinger cover-up/blastover from two weeks ago, photo from today: Tony Hundahl eye/flames filler on my elbow. Works great together with the Lehi tattoo I think. Never too much flames, hehe.. Tattoo from Saturday last week, photo from today:

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.

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

I think being able to pay by credit card makes a lot of sense and I can think of more good reasons for that as a form of payment than cash-only, but I am somewhat attached to the idea of paying cash for tattoos. I guess it's mainly for symbolic reasons that I like cash: I am paying for this tattoo with money that I have worked for and saved. It's not on credit or on a payment plan. I guess a logical extension of this is that tattoos are a status symbol, and I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that idea personally, but it's a thought to add to the discussion.

That is not the nicest thing to say... People have different tastes. One person might be willing to pay $500 for a tattoo that someone else would not want if it was free. One person might place more value in getting any tattoo from one specific artist, while another person wants a specific meaningful tattoo but would be happy to get it from any qualified artist.

I would venture to say this query doesn't fall into what we consider the "DON'T TALK ABOUT MONEY" rule we have here, but falls more into an etiquette category. I love seeing thoughtful conversation round these parts. The advice already given has been sound (including from two tattooers I really really dig). It's ok to ask the hardline questions of "How much should I bring?" because otherwise, you just don't know.

Mine. Healed/hairy. By Bert Krak, done at Frith Street.

Read the whole thread and it touches on many things that I've thought about over the course of getting tattooed. Let me try to add something that's not all ready been formulated five times. 1. Tattoos now are like jeans. At first when jeans became a mainstream phenomenon jeans itself was the trend, and wearing jeans was hip. Then it went in waves, with different type of models that were "in", often making the previous model hopelessly "out". I'd say this went on until quite recently when really tight jeans for men became mainstream. Now it's not about a type of model anymore, but different brands and smaller nuances that decides if a pair of jeans are in or not, (good or not). I see tattoos going the same way. People are doing both old and new styles, and even if certain motifs at time/geographic context can be considered in the mainstream as more cool than others, no style of tattoos is really "the only thing" or is totally forgotten and shunned. This is from my perspective of course, someone not hanging out on this forum and keeping track of 200+ tattooers would possibly have a different analysis. 2. Being accused of following trends. I feel that the more tattoos you get, the more people you know/random folks on the street will accept that you are not following trends. Trends are in a way somewhat cheap, you can't invest in them too much if you are to be ready to throw it away for spring and jump on the next new thing. With something as permanent as tattoos, big portions of your skin all ready covered, you'd have to slightly retarded to put so much into a trend. I think most people can see that in general anyone who is so dedicated is doing it for herself/himself and not to "fit in". I also think that a small percentage of people really are slightly retarded and will go to such lengths. 3. The old ideas of earning your tattoos, I believe that they are there for good reasons. Not only because of the very real social and possible economic problems that a "job stopper" tattoo can make you face, but also to separate those in it for the love of the art from those who are more about being a tattooed individual. Generally the later group will be more likely to follow trends. 4. In this time tattoos are still a radical thing. One very tangible example is that certain types of tattoos/placements will stop you from getting certain types of jobs. People will have all sorts of ideas about you when they see your tattos. In some circles you will not be welcomed, and this includes some of the most influential parts of society. This is something you will have to relate to if you have visible tattoos. Some people jump on tattoos like a trend not thinking anymore of it, and in a way I guess that's always been a factor, but even these people will still have to face the resistance inside of society against their behavior. Just like every woman, every person of darker skin colour, different sexuality or any kind of handicap (for example) eventually will feel the problem that the mainstream of society has with her/his person, so will most tattooed people sooner or later feel unjustly treated in some way. It is very interesting that people can arrive in this (permanent) position from following trends. (Excuse my academic language, I enjoy writing like this. The last part was a bit more ideological. Personally, I think subcultures and counter-cultures are a very important channel for change in society. I believe that being at odds with what is "normal" or "correct" often forces people to think about their own position, their choices, the life they want to live, and what needs to be changed in order for them to not feel constrained by social/economic/ideological forces. Tattoo culture and associated subcultures, in my opinion, has this potential for radical awakening. Depending of course on how far you go and the resistance you encounter)

If that is a trend now it sucks for me because I have been into the occult since the early 90's :( I hate when people get occult symbols tattooed, yet they never even invoked a demon... Haha jk

Guaranteed to cover anything.

Trevino told me another story when he tattooed me in 1993. A guy came in and said, "Do a Mickey Mouse on me, any way you want." So of course, Chris's eyes light up, and he says, "Any way I want?" Then he grinned at me and said, "Mickey was holding his cock, which was green and as big as he was. There was a big drop of purple cum drippin' off the end, and Mickey's tongue was out and his eyes were rollin' back." I just looked at him and said, "Really?!" "Yeah. He came back a few years later and I covered it up."

I don't think people should limit themselves with simple big and black. I ask the client what they really want for a new tattoo. Then I figure out a way to make that happen through lots of lines various colors , and possibly going over the image with white up to three times before I put the new image on. But overall if I never did another cover-up I'd be stoked. I keep telling myself - no more cover-ups. On the other hand, it feels great to eliminate unwanted tattoos for people. I'm close to having a suit and I have no cover-ups. If the tattoo is there it doesn't lie. If people keep covering their work with the trend du jour, the cover-ups don't stop and they end up looking like a confused mess. If you don't like your old work just wait 10-20 years and it'll either be cool or funny. I know there's all kinds of exceptions to this theory, so whatever, there's my 2-cents worth.