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Usually we require two weeks notice in writing as well as a doctor's note.

Did tattoo number 11 last night. It says "Bhakti" in Sanskrit on a dedicated yogini. Tiny tattoos with tiny groupings and tiny stencils are a BIG thing. We were all really happy with the outcome. She has other Sanskrit on other fingers by my teacher, so it was cool to put this next to his work. 3 liners are no joke. Not forgiving at all. We like to joke that you can see your heartbeat in it. Really pleased with how my hand strength and control is coming along. Thanks for looking!

1st session of my 3rd Marvel installment. This was by far my hardest sit yet. The lining was relatively mild until he got the the middle of my chest. Just above the nibble was "okay" and toward the arm pit was rather unpleasant. We moved on to black shading and let me say the pain meter quickly got into the straight-up suckage levels. By that point my chest started looking pretty red and swollen. That being said I am extremely happy with the super tight line work. In 2 weeks we will knock out spiderman and see how far we can get on the background and filler. I also picked up a new tattoo aftercare salve from a recent show called Vitalitree. The texture is similar to Redemption but smells a little bit like lavender and brown. I think it goes on a little smoother and does a great job with the redness. One of the ingredients is from the Tepezcohuite (miracle skin tree). It has analgesic, antibacterial, and promotes cell regeneration and minimize scaring. I'm only 12 hours removed from my session, so I can't give a detailed review, but so far it has helped with the redness and I have minimal discomfort. As for healing methods, I truly feel that the reason there are so many aftercare methods is because for the most part unless you do something stupid you will heal just fine. Anyway, here is the progress.

I've gained and lost weight recently and my torso isn't exactly toned, but that area doesn't seem to have changed much. Seems like a safer tattoo, in terms of droop, than a chest piece even. Plus it's a private spot...a good place to get a tattoo that's "for me." :p In which case, who cares if your boobs sag?

It's the fountain pens isn't it? You've joined a fountain pen forum and you're leaving us for them!

Both black and colour have their places...but i like the rainbow bright technicolour look, life's too short to live in monochrome ;) - - - Updated - - - real conversation I had with a street homie "YO BRO" "What's up?" "SICK TATTS BRO. YOU GET DAT INK IN THE PEN?" I'm like "do you think you can get colour like this in jail?" Homie like "YEAH MAN, NO DOUBT! TOO NICE FOR JAIL. HEY YOU GOTTA SMOKE? NO? OK PEACE BRO" haha still makes me laugh

I had visited family I had not seen in about 7 years or so and around that time I did not have any tattoos. It was a bit of a shock to say the least for them and to which my Uncle belted out this gem " You do know that you are not japanese, right?"

1st session of my 3rd Marvel installment. This was by far my hardest sit yet. The lining was relatively mild until he got the the middle of my chest. Just above the nibble was "okay" and toward the arm pit was rather unpleasant. We moved on to black shading and let me say the pain meter quickly got into the straight-up suckage levels. By that point my chest started looking pretty red and swollen. That being said I am extremely happy with the super tight line work. In 2 weeks we will knock out spiderman and see how far we can get on the background and filler. I also picked up a new tattoo aftercare salve from a recent show called Vitalitree. The texture is similar to Redemption but smells a little bit like lavender and brown. I think it goes on a little smoother and does a great job with the redness. One of the ingredients is from the Tepezcohuite (miracle skin tree). It has analgesic, antibacterial, and promotes cell regeneration and minimize scaring. I'm only 12 hours removed from my session, so I can't give a detailed review, but so far it has helped with the redness and I have minimal discomfort. As for healing methods, I truly feel that the reason there are so many aftercare methods is because for the most part unless you do something stupid you will heal just fine. Anyway, here is the progress.

Nearly a year ago I moved away from the City to start a new job in quite a small Town in a fairly rural area, there are a few shops around here but most are pretty poor quality and most of the work you see is black and grey "Footballer Sleeves", Tribal and really tacky "girly" tattoo's with little to no Colourful Traditional or Japanese work on show. Anyway since starting my new job and until last month I've managed to keep my arms covered up by wearing long sleeves, not that I am hiding anything but it's generally how I dress when I work. I also like to keep my private life to myself at work and knuckle down at so getting Tattooed had never really came up in conversation. Recently though the weather has improved a lot so a few weeks ago I went to work with a short sleeve shirt and some of the reactions and questions were priceless. "Do you keep getting them touched up? My cousin got Tattooed a few weeks ago and the colour has already faded and your Tattoo's are older and still so bright!" "Those snakes and wolf are they some sort of Hells Angel thing?" "That Indian Girl on your arm what does she represent?" Then came the awkward moment when one guy showed me his really shitty tattoo on his leg telling me I should go see his Tattooer and that he would do me a good price If I mentioned him, as usual I politely told him I'd check him out and that his Tattoo's were real nice.

do you have to formally leave an online forum? if so I've been doing it wrong :)

Isn't there room in your life for pen forums AND tattoo forums?!

Congratulations, @beez. That's wonderful news. In other wonderful news, I'm celebrating with millions of others, today's historic USSC ruling granting marriage equity.

Look who I came across in tattoo life magazine

Oh sweetheart, just wait. You have no idea. @TrixieFaux - I like the sports bra idea.

This happened yesterday... It wasn't until this morning I figured out I didn't have photo before tegaderm got put on. Outline/black shading done in April and the rest finished yesterday. Artist: Tony Caporusso

I don't think I'm busty enough to have to worry too much about that! For those it does happen to, they probably either a) don't care since saggy boobs are saggy boobs whether you have a tattoo to hang over or not, b) stop wearing revealing clothing, or c) sports bras help pull everything back in place and they only have to be saggy in the shower... ? :D

Thank you! :) Well, I think you should. I was worried about the same thing and the good people here at LST pushed me in the right direction. I'm really glad I did it!

here's a healed pic! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Says the guy who has cartoon tattoos.

A crazy old dude came up to me in the street a few weeks ago, he was pointing out his wrist to me. He had a tattoo on the top of his arm and so do I, so I started showing mine thinking he was looking to talk tattoos. Turns out he was just trying to do the universal signifier for 'do you have the time'. I guess Decoratedskins say the darndest things too. Haha.

Chris Garver, I like his flowers.

What about Virginia Elwood?

https://instagram.com/makkalarosetattoos/ Is guesting at this shop in SI in July & August. https://instagram.com/p/3tgjelpN9V/?taken-by=inkstainedtattoo https://instagram.com/dorothytattoos

After 7 years of hustling, freelancing, not having my shit together, and then getting my shit together - I GOT A FUCKING JOB YO!!! AND A REALLY COOL GOOD ONE!! AND I'M A GOOD GUY/ WHITE HAT!! Because it's for a large corporation I don't think I should say much more here in a public forum, but guys: I work remotely, full time, full benefits, and a 401fuckingk. I have not had these in my adult life!!! I AM STOKED!!!! You know what this means, right? More money for more tattoos. :D

I'm thinking you should discuss this with your artist and let them guide you. Sent from my LePanII using Tapatalk 2

Got this about a month ago from Jeff Zuck of Name Brand in Ann Arbor. Definitely going back!

I think for everyone who wants to see where we are so far, I'm just going to update y'all after the next session. We're only 3 hours in and while it's pretty outstanding so far, overall it's not much and since there are so many folks interested in the progress, I'll have a more comprehensive update when we have more done.

@clttattooing congratulations on starting your back piece! I would also like to see the progress if possible. My instagram is @robieva A few here know that I had my fifth session with Chad Koeplinger on my back last Saturday at Congress St tattoo in NH. This past session he shaded and colored all of my lower back. Whew! I am glad to get that part over with! There are blood drips in the tattoo, and one of them is mighty close to my butt crack. That spot felt like FIRE. I can't IMAGINE the horror of getting the full butt tattooed. I salute ALL of you with your full back tattoos!!!! @BrianH I read your comment about your tattoo being finished faster and cheaper if you were shorter. I am so happy I am short for this endeavor!!! I've never particularly been bummed about being short or anything, but in this case, it's a super advantage. I am super pumped with what Chad has given me and he thinks one more session, maybe 2 small ones. Total time so far, tallying up these sessions is about 10 hrs and that is rounding UP. It's probably closer to 8.5-9 hrs, but i'll call it an even 10. IN the end it will probably total 12 hrs. It has been an absolutely awesome journey. I love Chad like a brother and cherish the time spent with him. I am sad to think we are winding down, so I will probably have him tattoo something else on me soon enough (not my ribs. I told him never my ribs). Also the time spent hanging out with Jason Scott and Jebb Riley during these sessions have been awesome. I feel very at home at Jason's amazing shop. He employs only the best people. They are all great tattooers, but even more, amazing and awesome people. He's clearly got a good "douchbag radar" and hires accordingly. Next session is in August, and will possibly be my last, but I am certainly not putting pressure on it to be so.

Shaolin Session #9 - 3 hrs (32 hrs total, wtf?) This was actually a very difficult session. It began with some drawing on the detail patterns in the monk's robe trim. Tattooing started with a 7 liner. Followed by a really tight shader for all the edging. The trim ended up being these lil singular flames going from a rich green to black to a rich blue, light blue flames. Very tight details. Then white in the sleeve cuffs. And finish it off with skin tones, the shaved head and the expression in the eyes! It was a very sharp session. Steve had to jump all around a lot and he is quite heavy and his machines hit hard maan (I like it !). These remaining spots were direct spine hits and bbq back ribs. Felt like he was tattooing my lung at one point. Brutal, but hey, keep your feet relaxed and the body will follow, find the clarity. Yeah man, this tattoo shit friggin hurts now, I've used up a most of my 'tattoo credits' over the years. So...my back tattoo is substantially complete. A bittersweet feeling, however I'm so pumped at how it all turned out. Size of the image, the blackground, the fine details, the colour palette, the butt waves. Nailed the expression, especially the Shaolin eyes. Most excellent. Steve Batt is the god damn guru. Full donburi bro !!! Pictures will come once the bruising and redness in the skin tones and white come down. Now time to relax, heal, enjoy the summer sunshine and lakes. I'll be back on the table in September for Session #10 to re-hit all the black and saturate the shit out of it and clean up the transitions into the other tattoos in my suit. Then the mini-banger and tattoos over tattoos begins. Booya!

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

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.

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/

...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.

Finished this tonight...at least for now. Will post more pics once it's all healed. Spencer Briggs at Memoir Tattoo. 6 sessions...great experience.