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Hey guys, third session down, now sitting at 11 hours...second pics a bit blurry sorry...

Awesome thread! I would post mine but it's unfinished ....done (almost) by Freddy Corbin.

@Cork I will once I figure out how to upload a photo! http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/gallery/uncategorized/18703-almost-finished-back.html - - - Updated - - -

@soraya that is SO AWESOME and I'm so proud of you! You have tattoos and they're a part of YOU and a part of who you are, a part of what makes you, you. (you're you, it's truer than true, there's no one youer than you!) I'm so glad you're working on your comfort zone.

@taaarro, I didn't hear back in the end from horitoshi 1, but I managed to book in with the equally brilliant Horimitsu. He is my favourite of horitoshi's protégés I think, so I couldn't be more excited! In terms of time I think Horimitsu reckons we should be able to finish the tattoo in 2-3 sessions, because it is only the lower half of my forearm. I'm gonna be there from the 11th-18th November, I don't know where you are located in Tokyo but if you feel like getting a beer or something I would be super keen!

@hellamuch Yeah, keep it to yourself. I think it's clear that no one would be interested in an freaking back piece by Freddy Corbin are you crazy post pictures now!

I'm getting married May 21st next year (and you bet my dress will be showing off my back piece!). I'm also moving into an amazing apartment in The Beach area of Toronto come September 1st. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heey thanks. Now a day further and there is some leaking but it is very minimal since its only outline. Ill upload another pic when i get home in an hour or so. Edit, Hello stinkybut. I got home quite late (train delays etc) and decided not to take off the derm. Since it was a full day further i figured it would do more harm than good. There was only minimal leaking and my skin looked very calm. No pain, no itching. Heres a picture of how it looks now.

Hello everyone! I'm new on here! :cool: I'm somewhat of a collector and have a few good ones. Always looking to get more!

FUCK YEAH! I BACK THIS DUDE FULLY. Welcome to LST, Martin! - - - Updated - - - I met this guy at one of Black Heart's few Walk In Sundays. Me and him along with two other dudes were the only nerds camping out in line before the shop opened. I managed to keep in touch with him ever since. I fucks with this dude!

Of course the tiger is amazing. Makes me want a Lehi tattoo even more. But I'm really digging that lightning. I need some lightning on me.

This is true. @pidjones. One of the things that I like about this site is that generally people are so helpful and encouraging. Here I feel like I have some "tattoo buddies," people that "get it" - something I don't have in everyday life. I love talking about my tattoos and tattooing, and here I can do that. Feels nice! @iowagirl - I love that statement! And after I read it, I thought, "Hmmmm...Dr. Suess?" I googled it - yes! Thanks for putting that in my mind. But it is true. When I'm brave enough to be out there showing my ink, and have a good interaction with a person, I just feel so alive, as if there is more oxygen in the air than usual. I can't explain it. It's a super feeling - almost a high. The phrase I use is "I feel more like me!" My tattoo journey has been unusual, like peeling back layers of me. I got my first tattoo because my husband asked, even though I had no interest. I agreed because I thought that it would be fun to step out of the box, and also make him happy. But it was always intended to be "just one" and to be private. Then I realized I liked - no - loved having a tattoo, and got another, and then realized that I wanted more, and more. Eventually the "public me/private me" split reared it's head as I ventured onto my arms and upper back, and I realized that I was more uptight than I ever imagined because I was so afraid of showing my tattoos. This forum has helped me start to sort it out. I'm glad I'm different, and I'm glad that I did something to my body to permanently express that. I love, love, LOVE my tattoos. I'm not a person that thinks my tattoos make me "cooler than you," but for me personally, tattoos make me feel cool, they make me feel confident, special, pretty. I'm starting to feel like I'm ready be more public with my ink. Its going to be a little awkward sometimes, but now I have a mantra that I will repeat to myself when I feel uncomfortable: "you're you, it's truer than true, there's no one youer than you!"

I got ordained to perform my cousin's wedding--Saturday. I'm nervous, having a big ole long thing to read in front of a bunch of people...but luckily they're crazy like me so I think it will work out ok. My cousin is way younger than me-her mom (my 1st cousin-I'm not sure how it works as you go farther down in the family, if her daughter would be then, my 2nd cousin?) is two years older than I, but I'm not close w/her mom. We got closer b/c her fiance's son is my one on one at preschool, the deaf boy that I've been working on sign language for. Tonight he called me "Fifi" when trying to say my name, so we're getting closer to Missi! And, I am testing for my yellow belt in TaeKwonDo next Saturday!!

@jimmyirish You may very well already have resolved this, but I had the same worries, i.e. that he would balk at my idea, etc., but he was very friendly and there was no issue about doing a smaller piece. Japanese is also my first language so I don't know what it's like emailing with him in English. I think the big thing is that it takes muuuch longer than you might think so if you want to get it done in one trip you would have to get a very small piece.

Hi Cork No body suit, I started with a traditionnal sleeve ('till the middle of the forearm), with half chest panel ("Kantobori") style. I'll do the other sleeve after that, and if possible, a full back piece ("Kame-no-koh") later, hopfully from Horitoshi's hand, maybe from one of his disciples. I started on arms because, unless you live in Japan, a full back is a looong way to go. A friend of mine had one, lasted 8 years and so to complete, he travelled from France twice a year for two weeks each time... Gives you an idea. That's tebori. If you check Horitoshi 1 instagram, you will see a pic (4th right now) of a sitting guy, with a Brown-orange dragoon back piece, this is him. The two first pics are my arm, getting background completed these days.

What is the forum for, if not mutual support in getting and owning good tattoos?

So... I was on vacation last week, and as usual on vacation, I was not very concerned about my tattoos showing, but this time tried to imagine that I was in my home town. I attended a lecture at the local historical society - partly as a tattoo visibility experiment, since this was the sort of place where if I was at home, I might feel very uncomfortable letting my tattoos show, since it would be a conventional crowd. I wore a sleeveless top so my half sleeves were fully on display. I didn’t take a sweater as a cover, so I had nothing to fall back on if I panicked. I was really nervous, and felt very conspicuous at first, and almost wanted to leave, but I stuck with my plan and calmed down. I got a few subtle looks from some older ladies before the lecture started, but they were not very obvious. During the Q & A I forced myself to be a little bold and raised my hand high to ask a question, and I was quite aware that my tattooed arm was up in the air for everybody to view. There was a reception afterward and I deliberately went up to a few older ladies to talk, and we chatted nicely and there were no comments or stares, although I did catch a few glances when I walked away. So that was a successful outing that I can build upon. For the rest of the week, I was just out and about in short sleeves every day all day. When on vacation I generally don’t worry about my tattoos showing, but this time I consciously committed to have my ink visible constantly. I got a few glances - some accompanied with frowns. I really tried to be aware of my feelings at those moments. When I saw the glances, I started to get uncomfortable and wanted to escape, but I reminded myself that I was ok, just different, and that those people’s glances don’t matter. Nobody made any negative comments, so I didn't have to deal with that. That will be more uncomfortable. I did have a very positive experience: I was shopping and saw a woman with a beautiful floral tattoo winding from her bicep to her forearm. So I went to the table where she was shopping, and like @iowagirl, I deliberately reached out to pick up something so my arm would be in her field of vision. She commented on the sweaters on the table and I responded, and then said that she liked my sleeves, and I complimented her on her flowers, and we talked for a few minutes about tattoos. I told her I was trying to get comfortable having them show, and she said “Just do it. Don’t worry about other people think.” She said she used to worry about reactions, but eventually stopped worrying about it. So we chatted for a few minutes about tattoos. That was so cool, and I loved the “matter of fact” tone of the conversation - we were just two tattooed girls talking about our tattoos. The few times when I've had those kinds of experiences, I feel like I'm floating. I feel like I’ve talked to a soul-mate, somebody who understands. It feel so good, and it makes me proud to be part of the tattooed crowd, and glad that I chose to be different. So all-in-all it went well. It felt good to be in the open with my ink, and I was able to The next test is to try it now that I’m home.

I used to live in SF. Currently I'm in Napa!

So you're from Oakland, right? :cool:

Thanks Ross! @hogg Kind words coming from someone with an awesome collection!

You have a LOT of great ones! Y'all are gonna bug out on this dude's collection--Freddy Corbin, Matt Arriola, Ben Grillo, Heath Preheim, Hector Fong, and more. Welcome, @hellamuch!

Just got this badboy on my shin from Daryl Hart. Super stoked on it! https://instagram.com/dhart_fbc/

i'll be there on the 31st got an appt. with stewart robson

@idyllsend WOW! that is really beautiful. I can't wait to see that finished. Here are a few pics from my last session with Chad K. We are essentially finished but he does want to do one more session in November for some touch ups and stuff. For all intensive purposes though, here is my finished back! I am so stoked!!! It is so vibrant and bold and I think you can read the image from a few miles away :) Chad put in some really neat little details in this last session. Not sure they will be visible in these "just finished" pics, but I will try to remember to post a healed pic. He did some really cool things with the tongue and the teeth that I am pretty pumped with.. LOVE the eyes as well. I am super grateful. rob attaching pics from gallery as that seems to be the only way for me to edit them from being sideways. If they look sideways at first, just click the pic and it should right itself.

^ laziness wins, @Graeme. i thought there might be a secret message in the upper cases from the last post, but it turns out it just says "BLACKHTIDHSTG". that's worse than "be sure to drink your Ovaltine" now it's your duty, @Isotope. check out these shops, book a flight, hotel, and an appointment, then post pics!

Hubbs and I took a long weekend, went to the State Fair, a concert, had room service breakfast, ate all the things!, and snuck in some shopping. This was our first "after the kid graduates from High School" adult trip. The kid stayed home and took care of the dogs :cool:

First Session 8hrs. All done. Tony Wayne from Imperial Tattoo Company.

So here is the remainder. Kongo Yasha Myo-o in his full glory from Dana Helmuth. This was pretty much the home stretch at this point. Once all the shading was done, the color was only about 1/3 of the remaining time I spent with Dana. I love Dana's snakes. Once mine got colored in, I couldn't stop staring at it, I still can't. Also everyone loves the blue, and so do I. It's bold, and it'll be awesome for a long time. I spent a lot of time at Read Street Tattoo in Baltimore and it was a great shop. The final session was in Dana's tattoo lair at his home in Maryland and it's a true honor to be a member of his back piece club. And the final obligatory baby picture, because I want to be as cool as @hogg.

Well I've always been of the mindset to give the people what they want. It looks like I can only bundle 20 pictures per post, so here you have the first half. Of note in this set of pictures; My back is really only my third tattoo, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I just knew I always had an interest in this type of stuff, and it was something I had to do. The very first lining session reminded me of the pain of my previous tattoos, but the worst part was the hair. I distinctly remember clutching the table as the 5th hour rolled around and it was time to start the hair. 30 minutes later, soaked in sweat, I can say I did what needed to be done. After that session, Dana says that he is notorious for pushing his clients, and that if I really needed to take a break, to just let him know. The guy is a machine and just rolls on forever once he gets started. Once that love handle got hit, I knew I had to turn to chemical relief. The average session was 4-5 hours and I didn't want to let Dana down by tapping out early. That may be frowned upon by those who never turned to relief, but anyone who has turned to pain killers will tell you that it hardly does anything. It just takes the edge off and lets you breath a little. Make no mistake, you definitely still feel it. Kudos to anyone who goes through the ass without any assistance. I don't think I could have managed sessions any longer than 2 hours if so. We did a ton of lines and shading. We both got a little bored with it and decided to color in some fire before finishing the shading. We were both itching to see color and it was a great change of pace. One major thing to note, and I want everyone to take notice about how a tattoo changes and you just roll with what works. At first, Kongo Yasha was going to have a nice yellow aura, and the lines were down to lay the path, but that changed once the fire got started. Since Kongo Yasha is an angry ass dude, we decided a full fire aura would look the best. Dana put some lines down and I think it was a change for the better. You can hardly even tell what was originally intended.

I'm an old fart too. I'm all about "cash is king." However, I'll use PayPal to send a deposit to someone that isn't local. I've done this a couple of times. I've also received a Visa Gift Card for Christmas a couple times. So the first idea that came to mind was to put down a deposit somewhere that takes Visa. Safe to say that my parents never gave me a Visa Gift Card for Christmas ever again.

^ I just had my two year anniversary with my job a couple months ago and I got a water bottle with the company's name on it lol. Me and my boyfriend are getting our own apartment, we previously had a roommate. It's so much better than our current place. We have a little patio, space to plant a garden, so much more storage space, it's a single story building so only one neighbor and no stairs, and in a much nicer location that's conveniently located near Lancaster and Harrisburg (aka: two of the only civilized places in central Pennsylvania). So we're very excited...and very exhausted from slowly moving (again, see "shitty things" thread for more details). :)

Okay, fine. Here's the latest progress.

I met a @beez today. We ate tacos after my hair appt., and noises were made about a possible pilgrimage to the Bay Area convention...

I had my second to last back session yesterday. I'm not going to post pictures because it was mostly ass and back of thigh shading, and as a nice bonus we hit my love handles, touched up some of the background and darkened up my ribs a bit. It was all grey wash so it's angry and red at the moment. Like @cltattooing said above, super cool. I go back next month to do the final bells and whistles: the tiger's claws and paws, his eyes, the inside of the snake's mouth, but we're almost done. I'll try to get some good pictures when it's all done and settled in.

Second session today...3 hours background shading on one side. Thats 8 hours all up so far. Good times !

Prettyyyyyyyyy pumped about this one, not gonna lie. Yesterday: There's a vid too: https://instagram.com/p/5075TDTBNR/?taken-by=greggletron By Greg Whitehead at Scapegoat in Portland, as usual. My thigh feels like a wobbly hot water bottle today, and I don't even care. :o

Got the itch this weekend and scored a walk-in with Gus Martinez at Ocean Ave Tattoo. I really dig his pin-ups, they're very Nagel-esque:

here is a better pic - one that Sheila took - along with some others she did yesterday

Pharaoh's Horses by Sheila Marcello @ Electric Tattoo in Asbury Park they had a traditional flash weekend event @ the shop as I was getting tattooed by Sheila I was a few feet away from Bert Krak and Robert Ryan doing pieces there was many other big names there as well - place was packed seeing Bert up close I couldnt believe how big the guy is - he looks like he could suit up for the NY Giants if he wanted very cool vibe at this shop though I would say I prefer less of a crowd pic is shiny - meh