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Chris Conn, done yesterday. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think there needs to be more than two entrants in a given month - even though one of the above two will end up the winner. I'll throw my chest in and hope to have a chance at the 'best one-shot tattoo of the month' ;) edit: Done by Steve Byrne at Rock of Ages in Austin.

Upcoming tattoo - but not for me. My dad's 60th birthday is this weekend, and so next week I'll be taking him to get his first tattoo. It's something he's talked about wanting since I first started getting tattooed a few years ago, but I don't think he'd ever just go do it on his own. I asked him if it would be something he'd like to do with me and he's pretty excited I think. (I'm glad because if he didn't want one I have no idea what I'd get him!) We're headed to The Pearl Harbor Gift Shop next week sometime, probably Monday so he can get a walk-in from Tim Pausinger (my recommendation, but I told him he could pick whoever he wanted). 50 years ago my great-grandfather founded a ship repair company in my hometown, and my dad has worked there for 40 years. The logo used to be a simple traditional anchor and rope so I think that's what he'll end up getting.

If you think that they are cliche' or poorly done you can friend this gal up, show her what a decent tattoo looks like, and point her towards LST. It's what tattooed Jesus would do. Maybe she'll broaden her horizons and get different work, maybe not. It is still okay for her to be happy with what she has though.

It was a great experience, what a cool guy Chris is. It was interesting--I left a lot up to him, size/placement/his take on the photo and what he wanted to use from it. But I was imagining it in color (just based on his other work)...even though my arms are all b & g. I hadn't mentioned it, though. So at one point he said something about being psyched to do b & g, since he usually gets asked for color... so I thought, cool then, it'll be b & g! I figured, if he was psyched to do it, and it's what he visualized after seeing my arms, then that was the right choice! - - - Updated - - - Yes, this was her response when I tagged her on facebook this morning: "Whoa! Speechlessly flattered! Love the worshipful gaze, it reminds me of many things...!" <3:)

it is cool that she likes her tattoos and is proud of them.

I got to use tegaderm for the first time to heal the harpy on my thigh. I told @cltattooing I would let her know what I thought, so I might as well put my experience in here. I think having it on for the first few days was amazingly convenient. I slept better, I showered/dressed more easily...it just made everything easier, really, and I felt that it was more protected than it would have been the usual way I do things (wrap/nostick pads on overnight, hot shower and thorough rinse in the morning, then just dry healing with occasional washes every day over the next several days). I think there was a tipping point in there somewhere for me, though, where it didn't actually offer any more benefits to keep on, and may have contributed to everything feeling a bit weird after I took it off on day 5 -- probably around the time the skin started to reabsorb the small amount of inky liquid in there. Next time, I'd probably want to take it off around that point, since I think it might be the sweet spot to hit. I have a feeling the tattoo was past the point where it would scab by then, and it might have felt better/less 'suffocated' with the tegaderm off at that point. I didn't have any trouble taking the film off in the shower (just very very slooooowly), but the tattoo just felt weird for a few days. A little swollen and, I dunno, sticky? Tacky? With a weird haze over it. (Mind you, this is my only all-black tattoo, so I guess that could be part of it). Still, it was undeniably great not to have to worry about getting ink on hotel sheets/my own clothes or spend a night feeling uncomfortable with saran wrap and bandaging on. Definitely made the drive back home easier, too.

Foo dog sleeve progress by Will Lollie. Peonies colored.

I'm stoked as I'll be able to look at it more than she does!

Agree, good for her that she really likes her tatts. I like mine too. But how come you are posting photos of her tattoos ?

Forgot to get a photo right after the tattoo. But it is definitely in the healing phase. Ran out of Tegaderm too, waahhhhhhhhh. Back to Aquaphor for this one. Gap filler little demon head (with a badass mullet) by Jason Phillips, FTW Oakland CA. He had two cancellations that day, and I just happened to pop in randomly. Right place right time.

Tegaderm ALL DAY! I'm a huge advocate.

I think we all had very predictable opinions about this idiocy here: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/crazy-tattoo-stories/34-tattooers-only-most-hated-tattoo-requests-page15.html

In my experience I have found it best to completely neglect the number of hours I am into my back already. It isn't a race or a competition for me. Sooner or later the journey will be over and you will not be able to believe that it is finally done. I imagine when that day comes it will be a bittersweet one.

I'm not trying to run you off here, but you know how you said how you feel about this place sometimes? When I joined up there were a lot of great tattoo artists posting here, serious and experienced collectors, people like me who lacked a lot of experience but we're eager to soak the discussion, the interviews, the stories. Now I feel that this place has lost most of that richness and when I instead see threads about the weather...it's grey paint, man. I've learned a lot about tattoos from here and this place has heavily influenced how I get tattooed and I hope I've managed to contribute something positive to the site in return, so it bums me out to see yet another completely uninspiring post or thread that contributes absolutely nothing to the purpose of this site, which is to educate people about and promote good tattooing.

You should check out this thing called Facebook.

Few guys Ive finished lately. Gettin' there.... More stuff on my instagram. Couldn't fit all the photos on this post haha @a_beukeveld

Hello all, So I haven't put up any progress shots on my back for a couple of months. In all honesty it was a lot of cherry blossoms. Anyway after the weekends session at the Bristol Tattoo Show I thought I better put up a full progress shot. Apologies for the slightly blurry pictures these were taken with my slightly rubbish little compact digital camera. I'm stoked with how it is coming along though now and am super excited to see it coming together with the colour in the dragon over the next few months.

I like that a hannya on there is described as a "purple monster man".

Done by "El Hoper" at Black Snake tattoo in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico.

Got this today from Antonio Roque in Frederick, MD. I am totally amazed by it...and even my anti-tattoo mom likes it. :)

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/

Holy moley!! That's so beautiful @TrixieFaux. Congrats!!

The forum sure is going through a weird phase right now. Emotions seem to be running high this week already. "Let's critique these poorly done and cliche tattoos in the section for poorly done tattoos." "No fuck you, you might offend someone." "Hey guys storm is coming, be safe" "No fuck you, go post worthwhile content." "No fuck you, I'm out" "No, please stay. I just wanted to tell you to fuck off but you weren't supposed to be offended by it." That about sums up what I've read today so far. Yeah yeah, I know, forget all this and lets get back to talking about getting good tattoos. Because this forum only has 1 section, and it's only about that.

For me, different experiences at each shop, and also this has been spread out over about 15 years. The older ones were pretty straightforward and I wasn't particularly worried about the cost, and I honestly can't remember if I tipped or not! I didn't know any better back then, that's for sure. I didn't even know that I ought to research artists before scheduling. More recently my artist liked to handle everything by email initially, with a plan about what I wanted, size, etc., with me sending him pics of the body part I wanted tattooed, and a lot of back and forth in an email consultation. I scheduled an appointment in person, and he had the sketch ready, and I went for it. We had already worked out the cost by email ahead of time - he seemed very interested in settling that ahead of time. He's been at it about 20 years. My upcoming work will be done by an artist that does not want to do anything over email but wants to meet you and have a consult in person to discuss what you want, and she gave me a rough idea of how long it will take, plus how much per hour she charges, so I can have a rough idea. We then went to her calendar and I couldn't get on the schedule for 3 months. I was a little surprised at that kind of delay but I don't know what is going on in her life, since she travels and she may be away for the summer. I don't mind - I really want HER to do this tattoo, and compared to having this on my skin the rest of my life, 3 months is nothing. I also tried to get some work done by another artist I admire but she won't do any work that she herself doesn't like and wouldn't enjoy seeing in her personal portfolio, so she refused to tattoo me. She considers her clients to be her own canvas, like if she went down to the craft store and purchased it, and hung it on her own wall, so she has to like the tattoo she's doing. I find it interesting how different artists have wildly different approaches to how they deal with their clients. Artists are entitled to this, and it is the nature of the gift!

Your sister must be so flattered! It's as awesome as I would have expected from Conn. Congrats.

I do have pretty strong opinions on it, but not because of the usual honor code stuff which goes along with neck/hand stuff. My beef is more along the lines of her attitude of entitlement and attempts of defamation. Her shitty, spoiled rotten attitude is so pervasive in our society right now that it sickens and saddens me at the same time. All businesses have the right to refuse service, for whatever reason they deem sufficient. She has her right to complain and all, but I'm glad it backfired and that it all got handled properly.

Ps. Thanks @Lance and @hogg for the push to lady-head. It's inspired by my sister! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love that we have two chest eagles going head to head. Both very different, both as good as it gets.

@Pugilist please ban @Graeme i heard him say he actually prefers tattoos with no outline and no black

@Shaun1105, who did that?

Ok DUDE. Here is the thing. When you post in a public place, just like when you have a public conversation in real life, people are allowed to criticize you. They are allowed to disagree with you, find you annoying, whatever. That is how freedom of speech works. This board does not allow for abusive language, but that doesn't mean everyone has to like everything you say. THAT IS NOT "GOING AFTER YOU". It is people reacting to the words you write. You are also allowed to not like them and to criticize the words they say, so it's hardly unfair. I just find it baffling how on a tattoo board where dudes like to talk about how tough or whatever they are, they so easily complain if people call them out for anything, like the fact that yes, on a message board that literally has posters from around the world, maybe people find it kind of strange to post your local weather forecast and wonder what that contributes to the board. No one is obligated to like your posts or think you are a good poster. That is just not how the world works. Toughen up, people.

That is fantastic!

The other day I went to my favorite Chinese restaurant (I'm kind of a regular, the workers usually make small talk with me). I was wearing a dress, and the lady at the front counter approached me and touched on her arm where my butterfly tattoo is and said "Beautifur! Butterfry?" We had a broken English conversation where she asked where it was done and implied a lot of the tattoos she's seen come into the restaurant are pretty bad. Tattoos transcend all languages. :)

Introducing Mass Effect: Andromeda *tiny high-pitched screaming*

Got this finished this up a couple of weeks ago, is by @willem666 from one of his paintings. (Skin is somewhat fucked from my pregnancies)

listen if it makes you feel better - i give you permission to get this tattoo... we'll be peanut butter bros yo

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

Made the trip up to Davis to see George Hernandez and came away with this fun one: [/img]

I'm thinking more along the lines of 2/3 of a 12 pack. I'm in it for the long haul. Unless we're talking about some Dogfish head 90 minute or something like that, then I better slow my roll.

frog got his color on just a few days old with regard to the color crappy pic but you get the idea by Sheila Marcello @ Electric in Asbury NJ awesome shop - and Sheila does amazing stuff going back in Sept for more :)

agreed. and of the remaining likeable 1/3rd, I don't want to be around them 2/3rds of the time. and that 1/3rd of tolerable time with likeable people usually occurs after consuming 2/3rds of a 6-pack.

Healed tattoos from earlier this year - Rose on shoulder by Chris Garver, Dagger by Oliver Macintosh Both artists were awesome, can't wait to get more.

Ron Wells put a snake on the back of my arm earlier today. I'll try to get a photo when it's healed but it wraps quite a bit. Somehow this is turning into my almost-tribal arm (except for my first tattoo, which is sort of orphaned on it but hey). In case it needs to be reiterated, Ron is great and you should get tattooed by him.

What, no books made out of real human skin?

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.

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.

Depends on what they are helping with. My mom helped us build our house. We help our two daughters occasionally - just gave the youngest (31) $150 for an exterminator to take care of a yellow jacket infestation at her house. We help the oldest (44) with medical bills. I still have the youngest on our family cell plan. She has made enough to own a home and car outright, but we still help sometimes. 'Cause we love them. I'd want to know about tattoos to make sure they get good ones safely. I'd also not expect to "loan" them money immediately before or after they paid for ink.