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Seeing Eddy Deutsche in a couple weeks. Really fucking excited.

less than a week and i'll be in maryland getting something cool from chad :)

Welcome..But the most important question is do you have a really good tattooer doing your bodysuit.

Freddy is my fav. Temple is the best. I am looking to get another done there this year... Eddie is #1 on my bucket list.

I finally have an appointment to get tattooed by Freddy Corbin. This is the third time I've tried in a bunch of years. I'm already so stoked :)

had a 3 hour session on Saturday and we are almost done, only 3-4 more hours of details remaining and maybe some touchup. will post pictures next month when it is 100% complete. also i fell really far behind on updating my blog...

I sit here, sore, swollen, in a daze... but I have to share my story. I am an apprentice tattooer and have been in my apprenticeship since September of 2014. I have always had a deep respect for tattooing, but it has now been solidified even deeper. Last year at the Lady Luck Tattoo Convention, my teacher was asked to receive a traditional Samoan tatau by Sulu'ape Si'i Liufau of A-Town Tattoo. My teacher has known Si'i for about 10 years through the convention circle. We were sharing a booth with A-Town, so I was preparing for a pretty close view of the event. As they were preparing, Si'i came to me and told me that he only had his apprentice, Genesis, available to stretch skin for the tatau and they would need my help. I have a previous post describing the experience, so I won't elaborate further on it here, but it became one of the biggest honors of my life to be involved in that tatau on my teacher. Fast forward to this past weekend: We were working the Lady Luck Convention again and had a pretty slow schedule of clients. My teacher intentionally did so, because he wanted to hopefully help stretch on a tatau. It is a huge honor to receive a tatau, but it is an equal honor to assist in one. Saturday night, we are all in the bar, relaxing and having a good time. It was a group of about 20 tattooers from all over the country. Talk of the process of tatau began and I took the opportunity to interject and publicly thank Si'i for asking me to assist on my teacher's tatau. I told him it was one of the biggest honors of my life and I would never forget it. He nodded to me and said, "What are you doing tomorrow?" I said, "No tattoos, just working our booth." He said, "I should give you tatau tomorrow." Without hesitation, I stuck my hand out and said yes. We shook on it and he went over to discuss it with his apprentice. They were making gestures around the lower thigh area and kinda laughing a little. I jokingly said, "You guys are laughing too much! You gonna fuck me up tomorrow?!" Si'i responded, "We're gonna try something new on you, Nate. You're not gonna like it... but you're gonna like it." The next morning, I went over to the A-Town booth and Si'i had me remove my shoes and put on a sarong. Without discussion, he started shaving my knee area, all the way around. He drew on a couple reference lines, where he then called over my teacher and told him he would be assisting his apprentice with stretching of the skin. I've already written a lot, so I will skip along. It took 3 hours of, by far, hands down, the most painful tattooing I've ever received. Almost my entire knee, and all the way around back, through the ditch. At the end, I was congratulated. I didn't move. I didn't squirm. I made no sounds. Inside my head, it felt as though they were cutting my leg off, but I knew I had to show my respect and gratitude by being silent. It was incredible. To be a part of my teacher's tatau and for him to be a part of mine has bonded us even closer. We are both so humbled and blown away by it all. As he did a final cleaning of my leg, I asked Sulu'ape Si'i what I needed to pay him for this (I was actually kind of worried, because I'm a broke apprentice). He said, "Meaalofa. It's a gift for you. You earned my respect when you sat for hours and stretched for your teacher last year." He also said, "Now Nate, this tatau has the ending placement of a traditional Pe'a, so when a Samoan sees it coming out of your shorts, they are going to question you. When they do, you tell them it was a gift from Sulu'ape and if they have any more questions, they can come talk to me." I'm still in awe. I look at my leg now and it is so much more than a tattoo. It is history. It is honor. It is respect. I just wanted to share my story. Thanks to all that read it. Here are some pictures of the whole thing. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Hello All! I've been reading this site for some time to get information, and it has been really valuable in that way, so I decided to join and share. I'm a 60 something married male, an architect by profession, who got a very small, very hidden tattoo in the early 1970s, added a little to it several years later...and then stopped. However I became totally enamored with the art of tattooing, but couldn't bring myself to get what I really wanted until only the last few years. So, I'm about to embark on a full Japanese back piece, extending to my upper thighs, and quarter or half sleeves, extending partially onto my chest. How I got to this point is a long story, wrought with the angst of doubt, fear, and perhaps way too much self-analysis. But I love to write (even though I am a bit long-winded), so I started a blog. You can read my tattoo story here. This is a huge step for me. I exist in a world where I have no tattooed friends or colleagues – Zero (Well, actually one friend, a lady with two tiny tattoos on her wrists). But basically no one around me except my wife has any interest in tattoos, and generally everyone around me views tattooing negatively. I feel pretty alone in this interest. I'm hoping that here I can find a community, support, and some "tattoo friends" with whom I can share my love of the art. I view tattooing with great reverence. I think that the ability to transform your skin into a work of art that will be part of you forever is a pretty powerful concept. I could never say that to my friends without them thinking I'm insane, but I hope there are people here who feel similarly. Looking forward to communing with you all!

i suppose you could but I think good use of negative space will make the tattoo look better here are some examples of that illustrative style using gradient and stipple shading from a local bud Casper (dude who runs blackworkers IG): ps i think you should just get a tat of your sweet lego-person mspaint sketch lol ! pps look up Gustav Dore (if you haven't heard of him already) for some inspiration in the artistic style you are asking

Got this tree colored in awhile back. Done by my teacher. The foundational grey wash was already done, so it was all dark to medium browns, some orange-ish burnt sienna and he did it in about 2 hours. By far the easiest heal ever. My teacher is known for his easy heals, but just for fun, we did a hot pack before bandaging. Holy shit, that hurt. Took a whole bunch of paper towels and ran them under all the way hot water, then immediately slapped them on my leg. Almost levitated out of the chair. Took the bandage off once home and washed, waited a minute, re-scrubbed, then turned the water up until it was unbearable. Got on the couch and elevated it for 2+ hours while it dried. Super red and swollen the next day, but after a few weeks it only ever developed a papery scab and healed beautifully. I use Ohana Organics tattoo butter after day 4 or 5 and it's great. It goes a long way though, so a little does a lot. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Put the last day in on my back Monday. Mostly shading the lower back but he did touch a lot of areas all over as well. Aquaphor so far but probably switching tomorrow or Friday to Emu oil for the rest. Feels pretty good - better session and aftereffects than usual. I have come off a lot of meds in the past year so maybe that's why it was a much smoother ride this time. Should be all set for my forearm session in a few weeks.

and welcome from another old dude.

@exume I've had a nurse like that before . . . - - - Updated - - - @exume I've had a nurse like that before . . .

Knee zapper from Chad Koeplinger the other day in Denver

Welcome from another newbiw..in all respects. I just began my journey about two weeks ago with my first tattoo - just a month short of my 61st birthday. I came from a professional background..and remain in a different one now,,,that is not tolerant of tattoos. I look forward to following your journey!!!

Welcome and good luck on beginning your journey!

Not a tattoo but we just agreed to terms. I'm buying a painting from Freddy Corbin. Once this buy goes through, I plan on inquiring on an appointment and going to Oakland. it's like I never learn my lesson, I need my priorities in order. lol

I retired from the Army after 26 years of active duty - thank you and your husband for your service! I am on the distant end of the age timeline here I think. My wife and I have been married for over 41 years - and I just got my first tattoo 10 days ago. Although I'd thought about it for years, I didn't for many reasons. Several weeks ago, after watching the rash of deaths in musicians in my generation, I decided I wanted to make it happen. My wife and I were talking one day and she mentioned what she wanted for her birthday (coming up in a few days). As I always have done, I agreed and she asked me what I wanted. Her initial reaction was shock...but within seconds she said OK. She asked me if I had any idea what I wanted and, since I'd already researched it, I showed her. She said to go for it. Today, when I got home from work she mentioned she'd been talking with a group of people from our church, and the topic of my tattoo came up. No one was upset and when they asked Lynn why she said yes, she told them that for our entire marriage every time she wanted to change her hair style or do something different I always told her to do it - that what was important was what made her happy. Married life isn't always fun and games - when people ask us how long we've been married I will normally respond with "24 happy years.....out of 41 total. That's a pretty good batting average." We were married at age 19 and oyr son was born 2 weeks after my wife turned 20 and 1 day after I did. The odds of making it were not in our favor. Supporting each other, letting each other have their own personality and interests isn't always easy but I think it is what helped keep us together and in love. So, I now have one tattoo...will be getting more. My wife has talked about it sometimes, but I don't think she will ever do it. But, that's OK - it's her decision and it's about her body and I am OK with that.

I have 2 appointments lined up. First is another piece by Shawn Van Oven at the Electric City Tattoo convention. I will be getting it done on lower right leg next to a piece be did last year. I have no idea on what he is going to do. I told him to surprise me. I trust him and love his style. He knows what I am into and giving him 100% freedom is sure to be a killer tat. Second date will be in September at the Shamens Den in Binghamton NY. This is my dream tat and I cannot wait. We are flying in Peter Lagergren from Sweden. Not sure on what i am gonna do yet. Torn between some kind of Reaper king on horse, pirate, head hunter king, wolf in sheeps clothing. Any ideas please help me out.

@Padji Chris is an amazing tattoo artist. If you check his instagram, I got the pineapple drinking a coconut craziness not too long ago from him. You couldn't ask for a more humble and considerate artist. He is one of those old school guys who can really do it all (not saying he's old). You'll get something awesome I'm sure. Also, depending on how long you stay, if you want some tips for shit to do in Charlotte just let me know.

I met with Chad last night and got tattooed. What a cool experience! It was his last tattoo for the day and Jeff Zuck pulled up a chair and bull shit with us for a while. Both of those guys are so humble and down to Earth. Had a great time and I am thrilled with the tattoo Chad gave me.