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It's been almost three years since I started this thread so I think I'm allowed to post an update :) Thank you @marley mission for breathing new life into it When I wrote the OP I was really happy to finally be able to get tattooed a lot. Money was not an obstacle for the first time since ever. I think I probably got 10+ palm sized tattoos in 2013. Since then I slowed down significantly. Except for two tattooers that I'm interested in I'm done "collecting" from artists in Sweden. Now I'm waiting for guests artists to come by, for the yearly London Convention or I plan trips abroad to get tattooed. Having to plan a trip and spend more in order to get work from the tattooers that I love is the best way to slow down. I still keep a list with 10+ ideas with placement and artists names of the tattoos I plan to get but since time passes, my taste slightly shifts and new names pop up. I keep revising the list every now and then. Right now I'm contemplating who I want to get a japanese dragon from and also planning a US trip for the fall when I hope to squeeze in maybe five tattoos that I've been waiting for a long time. Really happy with the slowed down pace as I can see how my taste in tattoos continue to change and mature, even looking back 12 months I can see a huge difference. I'm focusing on getting the worst spots done. Not that it really matters or make me any better of a human being but for my own sense of pride I'd like to get as far into full body coverage as possible before resorting to using numbing creams. Right now I try to make plans to finish the ribs, stomach, second armpit and feet. After that I should have no problem even after the pain tolerance drops. I wrote in my OP that I wanted to save my back until I turned thirty. People who follow my posts here and on instagram all ready know it turned out differently. I finished my back last year at 28 years of age, in five sessions spaced out over 9 months. I'm trying not to rush my ideas, instead I save some skin for future tattooers. Having a growing list of 10-15 ideas of things I know I want to get makes it easy to focus on making those ideas reality. The areas who are still unplanned can remain blank for many years ahead before I catch up with the list. I've got the inside of my underarms empty still and also some sizeable areas here and there on the legs and torso. I only recently started to appriciate bigger coherent pieces with background and large readable motifs. But since I started getting palm sized tattoos spaced out all over my body I don't have any larger areas left to cover. A bit of a bummer but nothing I lose sleep over.

If a tattoo needs to be "touched-up" every 5 years it is probably not a good tattoo.

My advice is to leave it as it is. The risk in adding things to the sides to make it fuller is that you will compromise the design and make the tattoo weaker as a result. As it is, it's a nice triangular shape that fits well, and I'm not sure the rectangular area you want flows nearly as well. It's your body, your tattoo, and your choice, but that's my two cents.

Neat thread to revisit. I haven't really changed my attitude since I first posted on here, though I have a lot more coverage than when I first posted. I'm about 45% covered now so I still have plenty of space, but it's enough that running out of space seems like a distinct possibility especially because I've only been getting tattooed for about five years. I have a young child now so that has forced me to slow down and it may somewhat limit the possibility for traveling for tattoos. I'm also much pickier than I was: when I was first getting tattooed I was overwhelmed by how many people there are making great tattoos and I wanted to get something from all of them. I'm looking for something else now, and the experience of getting the tattoo, of getting tattooed by the right people is almost more important than the tattoo itself. Consequently, my list of "musts" is much shorter than it was. A couple of years of experience has also made getting tattooed into almost a duty. I'm committed to heavy coverage which is going to mean that the spots that are going to totally suck need to be tattooed so I kind of just want to get them over with so I don't have to dread them as much as I do.

I'm glad I had a 6-month break last year, after joining this forum, buying books, getting super excited and getting 6 tattoos (from zero) in somewhat different styles over a year and a half (though not wildly different, mostly variations on traditional). I think I feel a little more unhurried and at ease now, like this interest hasn't turned into a passing one. I really need to get my shit together and plan a larger tattoo that isn't a one-shot, though. And to leave some room in more visible spots for people who might feel inaccessible to me right now, but won't always be that way. @marley mission you have been on such a great tear recently, it's fantastic to see. I also really love what @taaarro said earlier in this thread. Lots of respect for people with large, beautiful and tasteful tattoos that are thoughtfully planned out, but I am so not like that. I already spend way too much time in my head; impulsive-ish tattoos let me tell my brain to fuck off.

I am booked for June 2nd in Eagle River, Alaska! Will fly from Juneau, then drive from Anchorage to Eagle River to get this piece from him, I am so honored!!

posted this in the 'upcoming' thread but worth posting twice :) i am in for 4/13 @ tattoo paradise in marlyand gonna pick from his flash basically so not sure where or what but it makes it that much more fun imo

I definitely get questionable looks from friends/coworkers each time I'm wrapped and healing, and it's admittedly difficult to not to feel shy about it. That's not to imply that it stops me from doing what I want though. I've covered my front, left arm and right leg in three plus years. I've also just started my back with Tomo. I'm moving a quick but I'm unsure how long I'll be in a place like the bay, with such phenomenal shops, artists, and tattoo history. It feels like my favorite artists are guesting constantly, and I suppose that they are. I'm not into material things, and I save well so it doesn't seem to be a problem. Also, I OCD on the empty space. A part of me wishes that I slowed down because my taste has matured significantly in just three years, but I don't regret anything that I have. Hoping to prioritize tattoo's from some older legends now like Eddy D, Bob Roberts and Henning. I know I'll be the guy tattooing the armpits and tender groin space when all else has been covered, like a crackhead of sorts. Better now while I don't have to care for others.

cool thread no? deserves some life support imo gonna answer these OP questions right hur... - Would you rather get the tattoos you want as quickly as possible, or wait and spread it out over a longer period of time? i'm in high gear - i started late (my late 30s) imo and i know i want alot of coverage right now (45 soon) i'm getting there - approaching 30 decent size pieces and i estimate i should be getting close to 100 hours of tattooing time after i get these next two pieces - Do you have a plan as to which areas you cover in which order? Saving the hands for last or getting the worst spots first, maybe getting the visible spots first and save back of the thighs for example? sort of - i have several types of tattoo 'lists' - one focuses of locations of future tattoos - i like to go for tough spots - i think the more painful the spot is almost adds something to the tattoo for me - i have very vivid recollections of my ribs being done - my six hour session on the ribs i think was more challenging than any marathon i have done yet just as rewarding - If you consider yourself a collector, do you keep areas of your body untouched for fantastic tattooers to appear say 20 years from now? well i don't think so I actually was diagnosed last year with a degenerative eye disease that may or may not blind me as i advance to the 'golden years' this actually reinforced my attitude of live for today baby - not in a let's not be responsible type of way - more of a go for those things you really want type of way - Anything else you would like to add or discuss its the most ridiculous and awesome hobby I ever thought I'd get hooked on but here i am trying to get lots of tatts and enjoying every minute of it

So had my first session today with Mrdist today in Sweden. What a gentleman! Lots more to come tomorrow. Yes I know its another womans face and skull lol much more to come tomorrow but who doesn't like a woman and skulls ;) lol Sorry for the shit pics from my phone :)

Got to be a reckless kid one more time and got tattooed by Valerie again, this time in London. They're peeling and unsightly now, but here they are in their fresh glory: The warrior: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAvLzMPDKFR/ The priestess: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAvLqtnDKFD/ Bonus video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAvLTr3EHRy/

Sup! This is my first thread so forgive me if i am doing something wrong. I recently started my chest piece and at this point I've only had the outline done. I super happy with the start of it but i'm looking for some ideas around extending it out to the full width of my chest and on to the front of my shoulder a little bit. I did start my chest piece earlier than I expected as I am starting a sleeve soon in April. I knew i wanted the chest to overlap the top of the sleeve rather than the other way around. Any advice or ideas on this would be awesome. cheers James

"running out of space but mi ave plenty more to go" i think at this point my love for tattoo gives me so much joy and excitement that i can't ever see myself being done. There will always be a crack in the body canvas to fill! I can see myself getting tattoos piled on tattoos piled on tattoos until I die !

OK, I'll play too... - Would you rather get the tattoos you want as quickly as possible, or wait and spread it out over a longer period of time? For me, I am kind of just going for it. I’m in my 40’s though and waited long enough. I feel that I’m off ot a great start with some great artists…..so just gonna run with it for now. - Do you have a plan as to which areas you cover in which order? Saving the hands for last or getting the worst spots first, maybe getting the visible spots first and save back of the thighs for example? Started with my calf, a nice out of the way spot and then did the right side of my chest. The front of my calf will be next and then gonna go for it with a ¾ to full sleeve on my left arm. I am more trying to keep general styles on certain areas for now. No real order though. - If you consider yourself a collector, do you keep areas of your body untouched for fantastic tattooers to appear say 20 years from now? Just kind of staying away from my back in case I decide to go for the epic backpiece someday! - Anything else you would like to add or discuss Not really, just so glad that I finally went ahead and got my first tattoo……will have 5 in the first 6 months and really enjoying it. Been lucky to have this site and other great resources for starting off strong.

by Nathan Kemmerer -

Thanks to everyone for their replies! I emailed the original artist, and told him the shop had informed me he was no longer working with them. I asked him about setting up an appointment to finish up the peacock feather that he started, and thanked him again for his work on the stunning Bowie tattoo. (Photo coming next.) Will explore another option with the shop if I don't hear back from him in a week or so. But, that's where I'm at right now. Cheers! - - - Updated - - - The Bowie tattoo I mentioned. I adore it.

@pidjones cmon man you're not stopping how about some good old american traditional on the topic in general i dont see myself ever seeking out the touchups each tattoo special time special place the aged lived in look marks that does the touch up take away that magic its up to the individual of course but i wonder about that i kinda dig blastover a bit but i kinda would expect to be completely covered to consider that just get more cool tatts @pidjones!

A bit amusing...I'm reading my lengthy post above from 18 months ago...now I've got tattoos creeping the cuff and onto the hands. Things change, tattooing is fluid! here's my newish dragon fist: and here's a an artsy selfie of my dragon fist - dragon fly and dragon eyes ! for your viewing pleasure see guys! i got lots of space left...maybe squinch in some tudor roses on the hands in the future

I've thought about this too @pidjones but moreso at the 10 year mark. Then I hit the 10 year mark and my tattoos look better now that they have aged (and been lived in) than fresh! I asked my tattooer about recolouring parts of my sleeve eventually. He said, well yeah but then parts will look fresh and the rest old, so where do you draw the line and just rework the whole thing? The body can only hold so much ink before it over saturates and turns to mush. Part of what makes a good tattoo is design, placement and execution to age gracefully. There are some cats that are starting to laser off 10 year old sleeves just to get new sleeves made. That being said in the coming years I will probably be going for 2nd layer pile ons with parts of my bodysuit. I have no regrets. People always comment I have no space left but I keep finding little nooks and crannies to insert fun little momentos ;) Enjoy your pieces for now, new ideas and placement will keep coming to ya!

Rad, I got in for Portland 5/30. Gonna pick something out of the book as well, looking forward to getting there early and flipping through designs!

I have a different take on this. First, it's a free country and you can do whatever you feel comfortable with in regards to this. My experience with getting tattooed at a convention is that I didn't really care for the children staring at me while I was getting a naked pinup tattoo on the inside of my thigh. Couple that with the weird positions that the male artist had to get into to do the tattoo on me (female) and it was just weird. I know that no one was doing anything wrong but I wouldn't choose to have children watching while a man is working between my legs. Hindsight is 20/20; I won't choose a tattoo with adult subject matter or in an intimate place if I ever get a tattoo at a convention again.

OK, I'll play... - Would you rather get the tattoos you want as quickly as possible, or wait and spread it out over a longer period of time? Some of each actually. I don't want to go too fast- partially because I can't really afford it and partially because I don't want it to seem like I'm flaunting the extent to which I can afford it. I also don't want to be fill up the space I want to fill and then be done. Currently I am 43 and have nothing on my left arm. I'm thinking a 50th birthday tattoo could be fun. - Do you have a plan as to which areas you cover in which order? Saving the hands for last or getting the worst spots first, maybe getting the visible spots first and save back of the thighs for example? Working on a comprehensive left leg right now. Negative space, trad american style with full coverage from hip to ankle. It's getting there but will still take a while which is fine. I have some other thoughts for putting more on my right shoulder and everything will change if/when I ever decide to go below the elbow. I doubt I will ever do neck or hands or even back. I have one on my upper back and I forget it's there because I can't see it. I only have one tattoo on my right leg so maybe I will fill that up once the left one is done. Who knows. No plan really. - If you consider yourself a collector, do you keep areas of your body untouched for fantastic tattooers to appear say 20 years from now? Nah, not really. I've gotten some fun tattoos from cool artists and there are others I'm aware of that I admire so I suppose it could go that direction but serious collecting isn't really what I'm doing now. I'd probably be more likely to get a tattoo in a specific place on a vacation than to seek out a specific artist. That's how we found Great Lakes Tattoo. Had a trip to Chicago planned a few years ago and, after some research, made appointments there. This past week my wife and I went back and reversed artists because we had such a great time before. Obviously I'll research who and where to go if I am traveling and I suppose I could decide to get tattoos from people guesting in Minneapolis. - Anything else you would like to add or discuss I too am surprised at how much I have gotten into tattoos. One thing I have learned is that nobody gives a fucj about my tattoos. Maybe that's because I live in a city but no one outside of immediate family ever comments on them- positively or negatively. No one cares. Well, mostly no one comments. I did have an old woman at the state fair tell me I had the best tattoos she has seen all day. Also my wife likes them and my dad doesn't. But otherwise, nobody gives a fuck.

Healed Ryuzu Kannon by Trevor Mcstay at Dynamic Tattoo.

SO Many Fantastic pieces being posted!! Here is my latest (and second, lol) tattoo. It was done by Christian Buckingham at Revolt in Las Vegas last week. It's on the right side of my chest and took about 4hr. The idea was basically a war style triceratops and I asked for it to be tough looking.....the rest was left up to the artist and I couldn't be more stoked with the results! This picture is a quick cell phone pic from the day the piece was completed, maybe will upload another of the healed result in several weeks.

I got this from Tony Nilsson at Blue Arms Tattoo in Oslo today. It's based off an old Percy Waters drawing that Tony had wanted to do for a while, and I had no specific requests so we just went for it. I'll admit that I did cheat a bit, after the outline we did use a numbing spray or something like that, which basically made me not feel a thing until we started doing the colors. Happy we did, since then we got to finish it so I don't have to wait until the next time I'm home.

I'm not in a rush, and I'm more than willing to wait and save room for specific tattoos from specific tattooers that I want, but it is addicting, isn't it? I was ok with having just two tattoos for seven, eight years, but once I became rally interested in tattoos, I've gotten them much more frequently. As far as big vs small, I think for me back, ribs, and thighs will be my big pieces. I totally appreciate sleeves and body suits, but to me it takes away from the stupidity and vulgarity of tattooing, which is what I like about it.

I think that is what you meant to say right? Or at least that is how I would feel if I were you.

This April, Chad Koeplinger is embarking on a road trip to tattoo in every state. Who's excited about this?! Who's trying to get tattooed? I emailed him awhile ago and hope to snag an appointment in Portland. Check out Chad's Instagram for more info.

Finished today the skull and some minor details. I love it, it really makes the Tofi eye part that was bland and I didnt like pop more now :) He also gave me an original painting of his which is sick (pic below) The Japanese artist at the shop was doing a sleeve, super clean work and he ended giving me an original of one of his paintings(pic below), so had a great day :) Sorry for the glare from my phone. Video of completed leg by Mrdist! The original picture Henry gave me :) The original picture Enzo gave me :)

OP dont overthink it life gets in the way of tattoos sometimes and then it goes on so go with your gut here and then dont look back

interesting point i have felt conflicted at times about this type of thing too i feel luckyin that i have really enjoyed the people i get tattooed by everyone of them and so sometimes its the battle of wanting to collect from from new people at new shops versus wanting to go back to get tattooed again from a previous tattooer the problem is further compounded as you continue to collect from more tattooers anyway its not a problem in any real sense. of the word just something i think about

bad mojo to get someone else to colour in a tattoo that was initiated by someone already. i think it is lazy when I hear people get a tattoo lined in then just jump on the next table of whomever to finish it. of course there are odd circumstances like buddy moved far away, went to jail or died, yeah sure. make the effort to get intouch with the original person that lined it in.

I'm sure a bunch of you guys follow Curly in various places, but I love seeing him often add new black work on top of old. It looks fantastic and makes me smile.

welcome to LST! if you like the original artist's work on your bowie and what he's done with your feather so far, i'd seek him out. easy as that. as you mentioned, the shop already suggested that as an option and they should completely understand. as far as loyalty goes.. the owner originally sketched the feather, but did the tattooer use that exact sketch or did he do his own thing? i feel like that's the only value added step in the process you've mentioned. even still, the owner passed you to the other tattooer, so loyalty doesn't seem to be an issue from that standpoint. what's up with some pictures?! :)

30 days of healing. This thing was full thick scabs, cracking and bleeding for 2 weeks. I can't wrap my head around how nothing fell out. The tattoo gods have watched over me and blessed me with the masterful tattooing of Steve Batt. (lo fi filter on instagram)

OK here is the proper way to act if you started with that artists you should seek them out. You never know if he or she was treated with respect and how they come to leave the shop. Seek them out to finish what they started. It bad manners for the shop to immediately try to pass you off to someone else to do the work. The shop owner is just being passive aggressive. Trying to hold the money in their shop. If you choose this artist based on their quality or style. Don't let them shove any body on you. Respect your self your choices and the artist who created the work. However if you just walked in and let whomever was available to tattoo you then you really don't care about your work and you should continue to behave that way...

I'd be curious to see how many LSTers he tattoos on this journey.

@SStu That's a cool one. But DAMN! I love that Robert Ryan piece next to it. Love it

In the shop there is a huge sign: Unattended children will be sold to the circus... Why would a convention be something else..? As long as they don't run around and listen to the parents or artists I think it's fine :)

In that aspect, I am lucky as hell.

I shaved my head clean after growing out my hair for 4-5 years. This is going in the awesome thread because I won't have to brush my hair for months, which is most fantastic.

I really wish I could get tattooed by him during this epic trip, but I have absolutely no idea what my life is gonna be like when he rolls through NYC, so I can't commit. Best of luck to all LSTers who contacted him, though! I hope you guys get in!

I agree that you'll probably be ok. I've only been to two conventions (both Montreal), and there would almost certainly be enough to keep kids interested (6yo for sure, depends on the 3yo but you know your kids best). Taxidermy stuff, art, tattooing, music, etc. There's no way your kids will be more of a distraction to artists than the general loudness of the convention.

I WANT IT. Emailing!

Just had a weekend in Oslo with the missus topped off with the first session on my chest by Tony at Blue Arms.. Super stoked with it Pic stolen from his Insta. Cheers to @hogg for Percy Waters reference

Had a cool session with Eddy Deutsche and received this Goldfish, powered by a Kappa pilot. My input was: weird, eastern influence, and I threw out a bunch of classic imagery.

Started my sleeve w/ Jason Brooks last Saturday... First new project in over 5 years... and first visible ink :)

Some of you may have already seen this on Instagram, but I wanted to wait till I had some healed pics before posting here. Seth Wood @ Memoir Tattoo in L.A., Started 1/14, completed 12/15.

In progress with Shige, finishing with Shakamuni to complete my triad ....

Tattoos on the hand seem to be one of the best spots on the body, to get damaged before it heals. For me anyway. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you jam your hand into your pants pocket at 7-11 to pull out money. You can almost hear the ink being pulled out. So, if your going to get a hand tattoo, you might want to wear loose clothing with big pockets. Dont use your pants pockets to keep your stuff in. Wear baggy, loose shirts that are easily pulled over your hand with as little contact as possible. the best way is to keep the hand wrapped up for a few days, along with the baggy wear. I have had to touch up the tattoo on my hand twice, yes I learn things the hard way.