Leaderboard

Lately I've noticed that people are expanding its usage beyond just low-back tattoos to legs and arms and whatnot, because people are both stupid and love to insult women, apparently.

The Watcher on the backside of my left arm, elbow to armpit by William Murray in Columbus. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic. I have a friend who is a professional photographer and is coming for a visit this December and we will get proper shots of my tattoos.

People who call tattoos on women "tramp stamps" & think they're using a hilarious and novel insult are the best. You got me pegged, dudes. I am SUCH a ho.

Hi, just joined LST and thought i'd share my latest tattoo. Done by Tony Hundahl at the London convention, great guy who does awesome tattoos.

Hello, I have discovered this forum few days ago and since then I have read quite a lot of topics and I'm amazed by the friendliness of people here. I decided to register to be able to add my opinions (occasionally) and ask questions (more likely). I'm a female, after 30, from the middle of Europe, not native English speaker, please forgive my mistakes. I got my first tattoo 7 years back, tribal phoenix and I had it improved/partly covered last Friday. There will be one more session after two months, when we can see how it heals and how the colours settle. I had two more tattoo sessions this year, watercolour sparrow on my inner forearm and small text on the inner ankle. I plan a tattoo of owl for the next year to add to my sparrow. And I don't think it will be the last one :D - - - Updated - - - This is my sparrow :)

Hi everyone! My name is Lars, i'm 27 years old from Bergen, Norway. Tattoos have always been fascinating to me, and caught my interest quite early. I got my first two tattoos at a shop in bergen when i was 15/16, some sweet tribals brah. Since then i have gotten a few better thought through tattoos, and planning on getting a bunch more. Looking forward to getting some new inspiration! Ill add a photo of one i got 2-3 years ago, Tiny reaper done by Phil Holt at Bergen tattoo convention.

Hi, I'm Jim Buchanan. I've loved tattoos since I was a child, but never got one -until this year at age 53. Now I'm planning a second one at the beginning of December, and have some plans for others after that. Better late than never!

Opaque grey is actually black mixed with white pigment, diluted black is just greywash. greywash: opaque grey:

I don't dress to show off my tattoos on purpose, it just happens that I usually wear sleeveless dresses and tanks in summer as I don't like the feeling of my arms being restricted by sleeves. I will wear a thin cardi with sleeves though if I know I'll be out in the sun for a period of time as I hate to feel my skin burn. Initially it was a huge step to leave the house with visible tattoos as I'm not someone who likes a lot of attention, however over time it became easier when I realised it wasn't as big a deal as I was thinking it was. And compliments from strangers certainly didn't hurt either. My experiences at the gym lately have been interesting now that its warm enough to wear tank tops. I've had a couple of guys approach me and ask if I watch (insert whatever tattoo show here) which I don't mind too much as long as they are respectful and not interrupting me mid-set. I don't watch any of them so my answer is usually "nah" and that's that. I've also been asked to spot guys (big muscly guys with no tattoos) when there are other guys in the gym, so not quite sure the reason on that one. Maybe tattoos make you look stronger, ha! I had a really great experience about a month ago, I went to a 3 day Hot Rod and Classic Car festival called Chopped in which we camped onsite for 2 nights with around 10,000 other people. I have never been in one place with so many tattooed people and have never felt so at home in my life. There was every kind of tattoo you could imagine on display, no one cared, no one stared, it was the most free I have felt and it was awesome. - - - Updated - - - @The Tig that's a really good point. I know that part of my reason for wanting to be tattooed stemmed from a lack of feeling comfortable with my body. I started with my thighs and realised not only did my new tattoos look awesome, but they do other amazing things like cover cellulite. :D I then moved onto my right arm because it was covered from shoulder to hand with broken capillaries and I was very self conscious of them. They are still visable on my hand, but it's not such a big deal for me anymore.

So... not been on to post anything in a little while. I had to miss a session last month for medical reasons. I would absolutely have preferred being tattooed for 3 hours compared to going to the doctors. Anyway I made up for the missed session yesterday. We did the blue on the back of the left leg and then started to put some green in the leaves around the blossoms. I have another session in a couple of weeks time which will complete the scales. We talked about maybe slowly fading the blue towards the tail so that it ends up super pale, almost white, which I think could look amazing. We are then definitely going to be on the home stretch. After 45 hours it is really coming to life and I am incredibly happy with it.

BUMP. Re-reading this thread and then reading several recent threads made me realize that the level of discourse has fallen around here. I didn't start this site, but I've been here since the beginning, and everything that @SacramentoDan said in this thread's first post is what I loved/still love about it. If you wanna find strangers being rude to each other on the Internet, go to literally any other forum. LST is different, and as a moderator, I'll ask that you respect and help to maintain that difference. I've met several of you in real life and have really enjoyed getting to know you a little better. Some of you are now real world friends (imagine that). If one of us had made a shitty comment to the other online, we'd both be less inclined to want to meet in the first place. If there's a poster you don't like, put them on ignore. Have a snide comment typed out that is guaranteed to lower the level of discourse/add nothing? Feel free to delete it. If someone's really out of line, trust that the other mods and I will gladly swing the banhammer. Thanks.

I have a really frequent client, female, who comes in and goes, "So. I want a cutie mark." I looked at her and all that could go through my mind was, "You can`t say that in a tattoo shop..." It hurt my mind. Sent from my SCH-S968C using Tapatalk

the latest term that is being used way too freely ..."Gap Filler" Dear tweeners on Instagram: I'm sorry if you can fit a palm sized tattoo in between 2 other palm sized tattoos it is not a "gap filler". It's a tattoo. It's just a tattoo in between some other tattoos. /endrant

The depreciation in value sucks for the first 25 years, but then you get exposure on the Vintage Tattoos instagram.

Hey everyone, I recently had a tattoo covered up and wanted to get your thoughts on the cover up. The artist that did the cover up does very good work in my opinion. The original "USMC" tattoo was very crooked so I wanted to get it covered. I also went through 4 laser treatments before the cover up. Let me know your thoughts. I've attached a before and after image.

Happiness from a new T makes as stronger, or sometimes stupid :P so it wil be better to choise a short pause at the gym, than train like a fuckin mr Olympia ;) Ps. Tattoo will be on the abs Pa 2. Sorry for my English, I'm rookie :)

@The Tig ...yknow I think I actually met the Mung bass dude in Nelson, BC at a hippy houseparty like 13 years ago! He gave me a Mung demo tape, we got super stoned and we played air bass to Mr. Krinkle by Primus. It was totally bizarro. If you do go to Cuba, check out Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus in the central part and Trinidad on the south coast. When my old band played a gig in Sancti Spiritus it was a young gals 16th birthday. And I butchered happy birthday in spanglish on the mic to her. Meidy turned 18 and wrote me a letter, thanking me for the happy birthday song, which she still remembered. She said I inspired her an her friends to get tattoos, and she got her first one on her 18th birthday...of spongebob squarepants lol ! VIVA CUBA! - - - Updated - - - small world

Hello, Just a quick introduction. I'm Kate. I am a collector and work as a bouncer. I'm currently on a couple of other forums, big tattoo planet with the same name and the tattoo forum as kittykat200 in case anyone recognises me. I'm pretty content with my tattoo knowledge so I wont be harassing people with silly questions, more just looking to meet other enthusiasts and maybe discover some new artists. I live in south east UK and my next tattoo will be in Perth in December of this year when I go for the first time to visit my best friend. Looking forward to getting to know you all. I warn you I am incredibly sarcastic, try not to take offence, there's no harm, it's just my shitty personality! :)

This is a kid im friends with on facebook....bragging about his sweet new tattoos from a guy he knows named lego!! good call

@The Tig: Thanks! That paragraph that you liked just sort of flowed out of me in a stream of consciousness. After I posted it, I reread it and was kind of surprised. I realized that it really represented my true, from-the-heart feelings about being tattooed that I had never been able to put into words before. It felt kind of good! Regarding vanity: I have on occasion pondered whether tattooing is an act of vanity. We know people get tattoos for many, many reasons, including some because they are discontented with their body, such as the writer that you quote. I agree that getting tattooed for that reason is the polar opposite of vanity. But on the other end of the spectrum there are people (like me) that get tattooed in part because they like the way they look with tattoos. Your post made me wonder, “Am I vain?” Definitions of vanity all seem to include the word excessive. “Excessive pride in, or admiration of one’s own appearance.” It is derived from the Latin vanus, which means “empty, without substance.” In Middle English, it meant “devoid of real worth.” I suppose that some do get tattooed out of true vanity. But wanting to look good is not the same as vanity. Is it vain to wear makeup? Get a new hair style? Wear an expensive dress? Lose weight? Shave? I think not. Under most circumstances people who do these things do not take excessive pride in their appearance. And where is the line between wanting to look nice, and vanity? When does caring about one’s appearance become excessive? I suppose you have to look at the individual person’s motivation, and perhaps consider their self image, self perception, or self confidence. But I think if you get tattooed with the idea that it will suddenly make you “cool,” “hip,” or “hot,” then perhaps it is vanity. I guess the whole idea of wanting to be “cool” is a little vain in itself. However I also think there is a difference between “feeling cool” and wanting to “be cool.” In my mind, “feeling cool” is internal, it is how you feel about yourself, I think it is a positive, and is not vain. However, wanting to “be cool,” is external, perhaps an effort to make other people see you in a certain way. In excess, it probably could be considered vanity. For me, I felt good about my appearance and my body before I started getting tattooed. I was never a knockout, but I was always happy with the way I looked when I made even a little effort on a daily basis. I don’t think I fell into the category of vanity. When I was pondering my first tattoo, I was concerned about how I would look with a tattoo on my body, and gave design and placement a lot of thought. When it was done, I really liked the way I looked with a tattoo there. It just seemed so natural, like it was supposed to be there. I don’t think it was any more vain than liking how I look with a new cool haircut. As I added more, at some point I felt that I actually looked better with with tattoos than without. No different than thinking that I look better with makeup than without. I just felt cool inside. Not like, “Hey, see how cool and hip I am?” But more like just a private feeling of confidence and satisfaction. @Breakme said: @Breakme - That is so cool! I sort of know the feeling. I have felt that at tattoo conventions. But the difference is people stare, and its ok! :) Then I leave and come back to reality. :( Its great that tattoos have made you feel good about your body. There is no way that can be considered "vanity!" I'm happy for you! It is encouraging to me - being reluctant to show my tattoos in public - to hear that eventually you found it wasn't such a big deal. I'm working toward that.

bongsau, have you ever heard of a Canadian punk band, Mung? My long time internet buddy Peeker plays bass in the group. I'll try the solidarity rock website from home since it is blocked at work. My wife and I have been wanting to visit Cuba for years and will try to get there before McDonalds and Starbucks show up after everything opens up for U.S. travel. We were in Jamaica and Grand Cayman last week and sailed past Cuba on the way home.

I have never heard about re-wrapping untill my last tattoo. I'm not much experienced, but now I can compare several methods. First tattoo - tribal phoenix on the upper back, suggested healing - wrap for two hours, then put the wrap away and wash and cream it regularly. Result: slow healing, very thick scabs and plastic tattoo, almost scar-like. The tattoist had quite a heavy hand too. Second tattoo - watercoloured bird on my forearm, suggested healing - wrap till evening (done at the morning), then wash and let be. Cream not before the second day, then according to tightness and itching. Result: scabs were less thick, got down faster, the surface of the tattoo is very smooth and even. Very gentle tattoist this time. Third - small text on my inner ankle, suggested healing - same as with the second. Result: very thin scabs, but they held quite long. Fourth - watercolour improving/cover of the first tattoo, quite large. Suggested healing - re-wrapping for at least two days with regular washing and changing the wrap. I managed it for 48 hours with changing 3 times a day. Result: redness lasted longer than usually, very itchy tattoo for three days, but almost no scabs, just thin layers of skin peeled, like a sunburn. Half of the surface peeled down within two days, for me it is really fast healing. I cannot say much about colors and surface as it isn't all settled yet.

I'm new to this forum, and pretty new to having tattoos (just 1 so far until a month from now when I get a second, already planned it with my artist). I'm 53 years and a lot of people, especially my birth family, which very much do not do tattoos, were really, really surprised. Nothing negative though. (More than 1/2 of my 7 kids (all adopted as teenagers) had tattoos before mom & dad got ours in May, the kids really love that we did this!) I got/will get mine because I love attention, as well as having wanted tattoos since I was a kid. I definitely want it/them to show when wearing short sleeves. I love it when people ask me what it means, or comment on it. I get at least one comment or question a week, 2 today while eating lunch at a restaurant I frequent. I have trouble not staring at other people's tattoos and asking them questions, and have always had this trouble, I've always been fascinated. I am always worried that I'm being rude, but I don't want to be, I try not to too much. Anyway, I just wanted to add my rambling 2 cents...

this reminds me of the funniest things i remember Garver saying on Miami Ink (i apologize for being a tattoo TV watcher). anyways, he was tattooing a tiger with cherry blossoms on some 18yr old kid and the kid's mom was there the whole time. as he was coloring it, he said he added the surprise of an all pink cherry blossom for the kid's mom. the mom thought it was cute and they were all laughing it off and Garver slips in, "what's wrong with pink?! some of my favorite things in the world are pink." The mom and kid didn't catch it and Garver just had a sly smile. OK.. back to the topic. i was kinda interested to know when koi swim upstream, so i asked lord google and this was the first link: http://jamesthen.com/the-rules-of-the-japanese-tattoo/ there's a lot of information out there online, but as @Cork mentioned, the right tattoo artist will know these answers. One of the right tattooers just so happens to write books. This is a good start for $20... Bushido: Legacies of Japanese Tattoos: Takahiro Kitamura, Katie M. Kitamura: 9780764312014: Amazon.com: Books when i got my dragon koi from Jill Bonny, she let me know that it is actually a Chinese legend, not Japanese. makes sense, since the legend takes place in the Yellow River in China. mine has maple leaves. you can try to find pics of body suit pics from reputable traditional japanese tattooers and see what kind of themes they stick with and what kind of themes they mix. but again... find the right artist and trust 'em.

We completed my arm last month (last pics I promise). Added a dark grey wash background and a few more floating petals, coloured in the sun, went over my elbow again and some minor touch ups. The sun needs a couple of touch ups, will do these next year when I am back in with Clare to continue with my other arm.

Just got this one done a couple of hours ago. Done by Nik Moore at Scarab Body Arts in Syracuse, NY. You guys might not be a big fan of it but I told him I wanted a unique koi that not many other people have. i think he nailed it and I love it! Gonna go back in a few weeks for him to make a few minor changes if need be.

awesome stuff from Robert Ryan @ Electric in Asbury good times good times

Last weekend... I recorded 8 songs by Arrabio and Adictox in my Canadian basement, two incredible punk bands from Cuba! They are putting out an Eskoria tribute LP with the help of Solidarity Rock it was an insanely hectic day trying to keep 12 people speaking spanish focused and keep the day on schedule, keep things moving. we had to get it done, it was the only opportunity. 8 songs...by 2 bands...3 drummers...4 line-ups...microphonic guitars, amps on the fritz, gang vocals in spanish, 3 x 26oz of rum and a couple cases of beer, someone with really stinky feet, a drunk bassplayer, and my wifes 6 saltwater fishies almost died in the process. But we did it! we had one shot to this, as Adictox and Arrabio spent the past couple weeks touring Canada east coast to the west coast. They played with the legendary DOA in Edmonton last weekend. I split my head holding down the pit, it was awesome (how old am I again? not too old to slam!). My old band Slates played with the legendary Eskoria in Santa Clara when we toured Cuba in 2010.. William Fabian was the og punk icon for the punkies cubanos. He was killed 4 days after we said goodbye and left for home. So this project hits close to home for both myself and my Cuban hermanos. download the old Eskoria demo here it is a piece of history and with consideration of the conditions, climate and context this old recording was made in, it is one of the punkest things you will hear. Eskoria - Al Fin Por Fin

Last session all done at around 23 hours all up...stoked this is finished !

9 hours, 1 session later: Went with the back of the arm for Michael. Ill post a re-worked skull soon as the bandage comes off, forgot a pic.

http://imgur.com/RxZA90D Here's the best I could get fumbling around with my cameras self timer function right now. Thank you I appreciate your input! - - - Updated - - - This is really great advice. Thank you I appreciate it. I think you're right that I should try to hold off. I got this tattoo in May so it's been a little while but not too long.

I don't usually feel it's my place to offer advice on here, but I also got kinda spooked after my first tattoo and would like to suggest that you don't hurry to change or add to this one...you might find that you feel very differently about it in a couple months. Maybe getting an unrelated tattoo that you feel really good about might give you some perspective on how to add to your rose later on. It's just that getting tattooed is way too much fun to focus on compensating for one you don't like right at the start. Hope this isn't condescending or out of line.

If this helps, it looks pretty feminine to me. A lot of the super-delicate tattoos that you see in pictures online aren't healed, which could be misleading. The placement of it is beautiful.

Jeez from the intro I was expecting something terrible. I like it a lot. It will lighten up and settle in naturally over time. What you need to do is get more good tattoos! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do, too. It's a nicely executed black and gray rose--one of the most iconic tattoos around. And I think that your complexion is perfect for it.

Best part of being on LST, and one of the best parts of being a human actually, has been meeting some of you in real life. I adore everyone of you I communicate with (past and present). Believe it it or not, we talk about LST in our conversations via text, via Facebook, and in person. I know I have not been active in a while (life son!) but I intend to try harder. Thank you LST for being there in so many major moments I've experienced.

Workout the day of, sure. Suffer from DOMS on the day of, not recommended. I had really bad upper back soreness on the day of one of my sessions, it was one of the worst.

No problem at all in my experience. I've done some tough workouts the day-of and been no worse for wear.

I am unstoppable when it comes to cured meats.

and please dont bash cris garvers rate on this forum. OR ELSE!!!!!!

Hey Dan thanks for coming over to the forum today and spewing out so much hate what was that about?

I will have to agree with this even being a mod on one of those grumpy forums. I just wish this place was more open to other tattoos then traditional tattoos. A well done tattoo is a well done tattoo whether it is traditional or tribal or realism or trash polka.

holy crap! thats a cross between ET and beetle juice when he was in the form of a snake

After going big, I go home; I prefer to shower there.

should we start calling leg "sleeves" slacks then? trousers? pants? tattoo pants? tat pants? ink pants? SQUID PANTS???