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I guess I should post the piece. Had a hell of a time getting a good pic. I am planning on hiring a photographer in the future.

@marley mission I normally like what you post. Your posts are intelligent, well-considered, and come from experience, and I especially like your attitude about how tattoos are permanent parts of our bodies, for better or for worse, and that we should live with them instead of seeking to cover them up, laser them, or otherwise modify them. But this time I can't stand by nodding my head in agreement with you. A self-loathing pizza monster? He's made of pizza, what is there to loathe? Furthermore, you live in New Jersey where even the worst pizza is going to be pretty good by most people's standards. So again, why the self-loathing? Did you get a tattoo of a gluten-free vegan slice? Because if so, my friend, you got a bum tattoo.

Hey guys it's been quite a process getting this one covered up but it's close to the end... No laser Credz to Woodzart https://www.instagram.com/woodzart/ Check out his stuff, he does great work.

Thank you @TheTig. I hesitated putting my tattoo diary out there. But I remember when I first thought about a back piece. I scoured the internet wanting to know what a back piece experience was like and found very little. I know everyone's experience is different. But I know what I wrote was the harsh honesty of my experience. I'm glad I did it. Working through pain builds your inner strength. And when you over come the pain, you feel like you can conquer anything.

God bless anyone that can sit for more than four hours on the ribs. I've had four hours on my right ribs which sucked but he was able to finish the tattoo. Then on this past Tuesday, I had my left ribs/back/front worked on for four hours. I tell you what, when he hit my lower back right around my kidney, I was so.not.amused. Crimey. The lower back sucked! Only four more hours to go to finish!!

Trying to score a ROA guest spot session with Robert Ryan tomorrow . . .

Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right.

yeah I think whatever you do dont stress too much about it - as others have said - its YOUR tattoo - my collection has become pretty eclectic over time and I kinda like that - probably no one on this board would have told me to fill my upper arms with an angry corn on a tractor or a self loathing pizza monster - but hey I love those tattoos - now with time my tastes have changed and I go with the flow of what I'm into - that said - there is a alot of good advice on this board - and I've learned alot about what makes a good tattoo (to me) from this board and site in general (the interview section alone is filled with awesomeness) - anyway - just my 2 cent ramble

I know the Conn influence has been discussed a bit in here, and it's undeniable, but lately I've been really enjoying Adam Warmerdam's lady heads a ton. I know he was mentioned earlier, but I feel like he gets overlooked sometimes. Either way, it's always great to reskim this thread.

Sorry to spam guys... but I am so stoked with how the scales are turning out (Eastern diamondback, Crotalus adamanteus).

Finished it today !!!

Playing around:

I'll be 50 in a little over a month, and I'm definitely feeling more comfortable getting tattoos now than I was earlier in life. I'm more comfortable with my decisions, and am not so afraid of them affecting my career, etc. I'm just more comfortable with who I am, and am enjoying getting tattooed very much! I'm just getting rolling, in fact. My family is not surprised, because I've always been a "counter culture" type, but honestly, tattooing isn't hardly even counter culture anymore. I also handle the pain much better now, since I've been through more, and know how to take my brain away to another spot. Just had a 6-hour session and though I don't know exactly how much more I could have done, it was doable. There were people around me tapping out for breaks frequently, and we took only one real break. My skin seems to be healing fine, and artists who have worked on me this past year have told me my skin takes ink well, so I'm grateful for that. 50-year-old skin is 50-year-old skin, and there's no insult or ageism in that, it is just a fact, and it is something every tattooer has to deal with. I'm much more careful about protecting my tattoos (investments) from the sun, and keeping them moisturized, etc. I'm not sure I would have considered everything so carefully earlier in life. Plus, like my husband likes to say, when I'm really old (I hope I get really old) my tattoos will still look half decent, because I waited so long to get them.

As a 60 year old male, I can tell you that some of mine heal slower, especially in the bendy areas. Is the pain worse than it used to be? Probably, but I can put up with it better. I can say that I am a slave t the lotion because I am prone to dry skin and nothing looks worse than a scaly tattoo. And since everything I own is paid off, I am accelerating the program. They say that you can't take it with you, but I damn sure am going out very decorated! :cool:

Mine don't heal any slower than the one I got in 1976. I got a couple of large ones last summer and 2 new ones this summer and am scheduled for another large one this Feb. (I'm 69).

I figured it was time to contribute! I've really enjoyed all your pics/post the last couple years...good stuff. This is my mountain goat piece. I'm into it 60 of estimated 70hrs but who we kidding...I'll keep going. I've been flying down to Guru Tattoo in San Diego from the Pacific Northwest every other month since March. The artist is Aaron Della Vedova. I've been doing two 6 hour sessions each visit accompanied by a miserable flight home. I had an existing shoulder piece/mountain scene that he tied into. I'm heading down next week for another beating. This is where I'm at so far...

I experienced hell on earth the other day when I got my butt crease tattooed (where your butt and leg connects). We hit tons of bad spots that day: knee, back of the thigh, hip...bit none as awful as the butt crease. Literally felt like I had a white hot sewing needle being jabbed into my butt! And he just kept going back into it to add details...

not hard to imagine the armpit being ultra painful - wonder if i'll get to the pits one day though right now that area is not on the list - still lots of space to fill :) funny i'll have days where i'l look and say 'damn you got alot of tattoos' the next day i'm all focused on the empty spaces - anyone else feel me on that?

Well, I took it to my artist and he did his thing. Here is a photo of the outline. I'm pretty much in love with it. - - - Updated - - - Here is the photo.

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

Alright folks, here ya go