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Had my next appointment with Dan at the Pearl. More outlining - this time elbow and ditch. Honestly once he hit the elbow I think my nerves went on vacation and the rest of the sitting felt like licking kittens! Dragon section was drawn on with no stencils. Next session scales and shading.

Got some new work on my big piece a couple weeks ago-couldn't post from my phone, not sure why--kept saying the files were too big. Brought my work laptop home so hopefully it will let me this way. He said one more session will finish it out, and it will be the underarm part..he's going to do a bird! After that I will need to figure out what I'm moving on to next..

No offense, but I'd never get a tattoo without knowing what it meant. - - - Updated - - - For the record, I don't think all tattoos have to be imbued with meaning. But I would want to know what it meant before I got it tattooed on me forever.

I would never get tattooed in someone's apartment. This guy doesn't know any tattooers who will let him work in their shop? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The amount of jealousy I feel over four monmon cats is approaching a level that I don't even wanna get into thinking about....

Richard Stell, this Friday at the Oklahoma Tattoo Convention.

Grez in 3 days!

Just got to the hotel from the studio. Planning to add to sleeve out the calf. Looking for ideas. Shane O'Neill at Infamous Tattoo. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I wouldn't get tattooed by him, and the red flag for me is the tattoos themselves. Get the tattoos that excite you, but recognize and have realistic expectations of the longevity of certain kinds of tattoos.

Here's my shin piece. Used tegaderm and it healed like a dream

This

hot n fresh out the kitchen by Scott Rusnak / Lucky Strike Tattoo / Edmonton, AB, CAN

Last Saturday I got tattooed by Jill Bonny. No photos as we started background shading on the Warrior Monk piece I started last October, but here's a pic of the outline from then. I don't think I ever posted this. https://www.instagram.com/p/9nIkHlpDV8/ Sunday I also got tattooed by Horitomo. All machine work this time. Finally, I have a skull tattoo and a praying hands tattoo. It's part of a pair but I was a bit under the weather and after lack of sleep, flying, and being tattooed the day before, I could barely lay through the sitting to finish 1 side. https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUlGU-sVLv/

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

hey welcome. that's when i got my first tattoo and look at the mess i'm in now! years later i'm i'm one of the few professional engineers around with hand and neck tattoos, my calling card haha

If you need to ask an internet forum "is it safe" you already know the answer. Tattoos are exciting. We all agree on that. But don't let that drown out the hesitation present in your voice (words). There are several red flags. First of which is getting tattooed in some random guy's apartment. Yeah, that seems like a legit world class tattooist :/ Your long-term health is far more valuable than "art" or tattoos. Unless you are fairly experienced with getting tattoo I would be very cautious. update - you did the right thing

@Vivian, I think that was the right thing to do. Any reputable artist would be able to find a local shop to work in. Tattooing in some rando dude's apartment is just unprofessional.

I just cancelled. I feel so bad about it since it's so last minute. - - - Updated - - - Even if it wasn't safe, would actually he say so? People aren't always honest.

honestly some of his art and tattoos are actually kind of cool, but for me the red flag is getting tattooed in some guy's apartment.

Yeah, no. Don't do that. Sounds shady and unsanitary.

As we can see in this thread, there are two ways it can go with a cultural design tattoo - you get it because it has significance for you as a link to your own heritage, or something similar, or you get it simply because you admire the visual of the design as art. I personally believe both are fine. You get what you get for your own reasons, and don't worry about what others think about it. They are not wearing the tattoo. People do love to attach significance to tattoos, so when I'm out people seem to really need to know the deep meaning behind my tattoos. The names of my children, well, okay, that's obvious, but one of mine is just a design that I really, really like, and have always liked. That's it! Nothing more than that, but people are not satisfied with that, and up go the eyebrows, as if that is not adequate reason to get a tattoo. Well, for ME it is, and that's the person who matters in this particular situation. However, if you think you might be upset by mistakenly getting something tattooed on you that, after the fact you learn through research, means something you do not like or you don't want to be associated with, like back in the 90's-00's Kanji days when you weren't sure what those characters might actually say, lol, then take the time and make sure about your design ahead of time. If you would still like the visual of the design artistically, even after knowing it meant something you don't identify with, then who cares? Go for what you like to look at.

yaaaa good to have more tattooed engineers! hahah luckily my company doesn't mind the ink :) what kind of engineer are you? I studied mechanical but am currently working in aerospace, designing satellites/3D printing titanium. There are several biomech artists that i really love... it's never been my style of choice, but you can't argue with great work. Where are you located? prowl around the forums for some great information.

It looks great!! No scratching - and don't over apply the salve or lotion. A little goes a long way!! I got a confirmation on my appointment for tomorrow to finish the shading on mine. Really looking forward to it.

Just took off my Tegaderm yall! I did it in the shower with warm water and soap. It was easier than taking off a bandaid. My skin sucked up all the plasma yesterday, so all that was really left was a little ink. I also had a slight itch since yesterday. Once I rinsed off the excess ink using basis soap, warm water, and my hand (gentle circular wiping), I applied a little tattoo Goo salve (VERY SOOTHING!) and took a pic. The pic is now in my gallery. There is only a couple of tiny spots along the edge that my artist will have to touch so he won't have much to do come time for the touch up :)

I know, right? I'm on his waitlist and patiently waiting! @Lance I adore your new pieces! - - - Updated - - - I know, right? I'm on his waitlist and patiently waiting! @Lance I adore your new pieces!

Thanks! Yup 3 monmon cats. I'm a sucker for balance @DJDeepFried. This one is on my left side, in the ditch of my inner arm into my armpit and flows down to the side of my chest. Some people get shunga in their armpits but I kind of liked the idea of nekomata. I have an appointment for the other side in August. After this no more cats. 4 will be enough. As for the sohei, it's on my right thigh. It pretty much will wrap around and tie into the bottom of my backpiece. - - - Updated - - - Thanks! Yup 3 monmon cats. I'm a sucker for balance @DJDeepFried. This one is on my left side, in the ditch of my inner arm into my armpit and flows down to the side of my chest. Some people get shunga in their armpits but I kind of liked the idea of nekomata. I have an appointment for the other side in August. After this no more cats. 4 will be enough. As for the sohei, it's on my right thigh. It pretty much will wrap around and tie into the bottom of my backpiece.

@marley mission I have a pretty solid plan for my left calf. I want a fairy standing by a lake in the woods by moonlight. Her body will be in profile on my outside calf in a black silhouette with black pixie cut hair with her arms at her side and elbows at a 90 degree angle (gray lines to show the separation between her arms and body) with palms upturned. An orb with the symbol for hope on/in it will float over her palms. Her wings will be realistic (female Diana Fritillary Butterfly) and wrap around the back of my calf. The background will be the moon, a river or lake, and trees. If I only ever get the fairy done, I'll be happy (although I would at least like the moon too). The fairy was originally going to be all realistic with aqua blue hair, but I realized I could never save up enough for that so I gave up on it. I still might give her aqua blue hair though. I'm not 100% on what I want to do for my right calf. The only thing I know for certain is that I want it to be black or black and gray to contrast my left. I'm not sure if I'll ever ink any other part of me. I know I won't do thighs/upper arms (because weight fluctuation), high friction spots (pits, elbows, knees), stomach (female), breast, or face. I might eventually be open to doing the top of my feet, the back of my neck, my wrists, somewhere on the rib area, or something dainty like somewhere on my ear. I sometimes toy with the thought of getting a piercing as well, but I always decide against it. I have never been able to keep one. It took 3 different tries and several months to get a simple earlobe piercing to stick because my body would reject even stainless steal (also, I had no idea at the time how bad guns were). Even now over a decade later, I can put in white gold/surgical steal sterilized earnings and my earlobes will get sore and red after a while. Doing another ear hole or a nostril is just asking for trouble. @oboogie I wasn't that much of a fan of his music (he was big when I was too young and wasn't really my style when I got older save a couple I liked), but from what I seen of him he seemed to be genuine and a good person who tried to help out his community without asking for anything for doing it (including the publicity). I really hate the fact that there are so many people out there that are insulting him right now and even jumped all over one woman who said he wasn't a real Christian (he was, but why does that matter?), that his life didn't matter because he didn't accept Jesus (um...), and he was a drug head who died of an OD (which she said like a couple hours afterward). At first I thought she was just a troll, but then after a while I realized she was a real person who truly believed all the mental diarrhea she was spewing everywhere. So I replied with a detailed post saying in the nicest way I could about how her logic was flawed with a list and the information to back me up and then asked her to do the Christian thing and be a good person. I might not have been a big fan, but there's no excuse to insult a dead man.

As requested, here's an almost healed picture of my tatau. There were a couple spots that were pretty hard to heal, but I'm so stoked on the result. It's amazing that this was done with a couple of sticks and a huge row of needles. I have massive respect for the men that get a traditional Samoan Pe'a. I have no idea how they endure the whole process. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

@JBluewind hey you've entered the world of tattoos so I'd say your luck has changed - at least a little - watch some of the interviews on here - you'll be entertained and educated - maybe we can get you to entertain some traditional style tattooing for your next go - - - Updated - - - @JBluewind hey you've entered the world of tattoos so I'd say your luck has changed - at least a little - watch some of the interviews on here - you'll be entertained and educated - maybe we can get you to entertain some traditional style tattooing for your next go

As far as I know, facial moko is traditionally an identifier: the locations on the face that are tattooed as well as the different motifs in the tattoo tell about the wearer's social status and rank, family, where they come from, what they do, and so on. I don't know if yours is based on somebody's moko or whether it's cobbled together from different reference sources, or just elements that look typically Maori, but it's possible that you have essentially somebody's signature (an example of this can be found here) tattooed on your arm. Personally, I think that's pretty goofy.

Good for you for doing something for yourself. I'm sorry you've had a difficult time recently. I look forward to seeing the tattoo when you take your bandage off. I got my first tattoo when I was 25 or 26 after giving it zero thought. I covered it with something I did want just before I turned 40, and I haven't stopped getting tattoos since! :-)

I waited another 30 years to get my first, almost 31 since I turn 61 next Saturday. Over those years I learned time and again not to let others determine how I feel about myself. Enjoy that tattoo, enjoy life, love yourself for who you are..not what someone else thinks you should be. And post pics after that patch comes off! I'll be in the chair Tuesday afternoon getting some shading done so I will post pics too.

Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well, but damn @Lance! Love the new monmon. Great work going on there.

Impeccable as always, @Lance. That makes three Monmon cats now, yes? Hard to tell where the pieces are on your body from the pics. Where did you still have room?

not to pick on the OP. - take it as constructive...feedback just one. mans opinion you see but the amount of tattooing process info you. write about leads. me to believe. you were asking alot of 'tattooer' questions i see that as. a bit off-putting but. maybe thats. just me 100 hours of. getting tattooed i never have asked. about ink. or needles. or machine type i just like to get tattooed maybe. a little bullshit. about. life,, the weather, relevant things anyway - some food for thought man

a SJ ALOHA monkey is on my list of classics i need on me - - - Updated - - - a SJ ALOHA monkey is on my list of classics i need on me

90 minutes?

Well, today was the day! What a long, but great day! It began a little before 11:00am. I was the first one in Triple Crown Tattoo with Scott Ellis (most of the day, there were 10-15 people there, and at one point six artists were tattooing simultaneously). He had been working on a few designs based on the sleeve length I wanted. Over the week between today and our consultation, I had decided to ask him to put the dragon's head somewhere on my arm instead of with the head in the more traditional chest area. I was a little worried to be asking for this, as Scott has a relatively new sleeve with the head in the center, and the last thing I wanted was for him to think I was trying to copy his own tattoo. Luckily, when I got there, he informed me that the last several dragons he had done had the head on the chest, and he was dying to do something new. Perfect! His sketches had just what I wanted. It was a really good sign. However, getting it right took some time. Using thin paint brushes, he created the design over four separate layers. The dragon's head had to be moved several times, and the unique swirl of the dragon we decided on what difficult to get right without looking like the head was plopped onto the center of the body... but Scott is a perfectionist, and after a lot of erasing and revising, and then relining, and revising, etc... we were finally done with a design ready to be inked at 2:40. With only a few short breaks, it took a lot longer than I expected. But the result is something that works specifically with my body as opposed to just slapping a template onto my arm. I love it. Here is a quick snap of Scott somewhere between layer 2 and 3 of sketching on me: I haven't had a tattoo in nearly 20 years, so I had no idea what to expect from the pain, especially over so many areas. Tattooing in the ditch was no treat, but not as bad as I had come to expect from reading. The outside of the elbow lived up to expectations. But the worst was around my collarbone, where any wincing or tightening of my face would risk pulling the skin under his needle. And there was one spot on my chest where I could clearly feel the vibration on my pec, but the pain was in my neck. I could have sworn at the time he was tattooing my upper-middle neck. Long story short (yeah, right), we finished up the linework a little after 5:00pm. I am absolutely thrilled with the result... and was getting tons of compliments on it by the many artists and clients in the shop throughout the day. Here is a front shot: It is a little difficult to see from this angle and with only linework, but the dragon's body actually goes out the back of the head and swirls up and around the shoulders through the clouds and comes out belly showing under his head before turning again towards the end of the sleeve. It makes a little more sense visually if you can see the back. I also have the dragon clutching a pearl with his talons on the back on the sleeve and will actually be filling the pearl with a significant flower logo in the next session. Overall, a fantastic day. I couldn't be happier that Scott got all the elements I wanted into the design, was able to keep it very traditional, but also with a great deal of uniqueness built just for me. If any readers are in Austin, Triple Crown Tattoo on Chicon Street (right around the corner from Franklin's BBQ!) is a must-visit.

UPDATE: Well, today was the day! What a long, but great day! It began a little before 11:00am. I was the first one in the shop with Scott (most of the day, there were 10-15 people there, and at one point six artists were tattooing simultaneously). He had been working on a few designs based on the sleeve length I wanted. Over the week between today and our consultation, I had decided to ask him to put the dragon's head somewhere on my arm instead of with the head in the more traditional chest area. I was a little worried to be asking for this, as Scott has a relatively new sleeve with the head in the center, and the last thing I wanted was for him to think I was trying to copy his own tattoo. Luckily, when I got there, he informed me that the last several dragons he had done had the head on the chest, and he was dying to do something new. Perfect! His sketches had just what I wanted. It was a really good sign. However, getting it right took some time. Using thin paint brushes, he created the design over four separate layers. The dragon's head had to be moved several times, and the unique swirl of the dragon we decided on what difficult to get right without looking like the head was plopped onto the center of the body... but Scott is a perfectionist, and after a lot of erasing and revising, and then relining, and revising, etc... we were finally done with a design ready to be inked at 2:40. With only a few short breaks, it took a lot longer than I expected. But the result is something that works specifically with my body as opposed to just slapping a template onto my arm. I love it. Here is a quick snap of Scott somewhere between layer 2 and 3 of sketching on me: I haven't had a tattoo in nearly 20 years, so I had no idea what to expect from the pain, especially over so many areas. Tattooing in the ditch was no treat, but not as bad as I had come to expect from reading. The outside of the elbow lived up to expectations. But the worst was around my collarbone, where any wincing or tightening of my face would risk pulling the skin under his needle. And there was one spot on my chest where I could clearly feel the vibration on my pec, but the pain was in my neck. I could have sworn at the time he was tattooing my upper-middle neck. Long story short (yeah, right), we finished up the linework a little after 5:00pm. I am absolutely thrilled with the result... and was getting tons of compliments on it by the many artists and clients in the shop throughout the day. Here is a front shot: It is a little difficult to see from this angle and with only linework, but the dragon's body actually goes out the back of the head and swirls up and around the shoulders through the clouds and comes out belly showing under his head before turning again towards the end of the sleeve. It makes a little more sense visually if you can see the back. I also have the dragon clutching a pearl with his talons on the back on the sleeve and will actually be filling the pearl with a significant flower logo in the next session. Overall, a fantastic day. I couldn't be happier that Scott got all the elements I wanted into the design, was able to keep it very traditional, but also with a great deal of uniqueness built just for me. If any readers are in Austin, Triple Crown Tattoo on Chicon Street (right around the corner from Franklin's BBQ!) is a must-visit.

I popped in to see my artist Josh last night, and I got this. I've loved Prince since I was a kid, so it seemed appropriate. #musicnerd

got this sacred heart from joe nickley almost 2 weeks ago and this from chris kline at the scranton convention this past weekend andddd yesterday i made an appointment with bert krak for next month while he's at old soul!

yeah basically you will need something blackAF and bigAF if you are expecting to cover the triangle mess completely. I don't see a minor touchup correcting the roughness of your triangle tattoo. other options are live with it or laser. or black out that section of your arm and fade into your abstract / optical illusion idea

Rob Ryan - Electric in Asbury - mid may - - - Updated - - - Rob Ryan - Electric in Asbury - mid may

I have a fresh tattoo by them :) definitely recommend, but I live in the neighbour state , so the trip was easy :) They have very unique approach, they let you fill the questionaire about your wishes, favourite colours, things and your personality. Then Lucy draws the picture and sends it to you by e-mail. It is possible to tweak it. I didn't go through the process, because this one was an available drawing they put on the Facebook. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I vote for a Jesus head with a dagger through it.

Your "friend" didn't do you any favors. If you don't want a big black space on your arm I'd recommend some laser work.

Just finished my left inner arm with Tim McAlary at Port City Tattoo, LBC. My recommendation is to book the appointment, then bounce ideas off your tattooer and something is bound to stick. I definitely wasn't planning on getting a "Boxing Jesus surrounded by 4 eyes, and a flower and a spider and a black drop."

I have a dagger/knife done by Tony Nilsson!