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@BrianH Hats off to you, bud. That looks amazing, you earned it (: @sophistre I love it! So sick! Can't wait to see more And I don't have any recent photos of how mine is coming, unfortunately. I think the closest I can post is this one below. Anyway, did a chunk on the ass on Tuesday and it was pretty crappy. Seems like we're starting to close in on this thing though, just the sides and bottom of the ass, and the thighs left. About 66 hours and 1 year in.

Hello everyone, my name is Oiocha and I found this site about a year and a half ago after Mike Wilson and Scott Sylvia posted about the interview they shared. About myself and my tattoos: I am currently in college and live in Jacksonville, FL. I am an avid and competitive rock-climber, I enjoy punk music, comic books, kayaking, and exploring cities. I have been slowly getting tattooed having started at Inksmith & Rogers where I think I get solid work from. I have an appointment for my first large format tattoo as a back piece with Horitomo coming up (not sure when exactly, I called last June and was told a year and a month; I hope they call soon). Right now my coverage is only my leg. I invite any questions and conversation from people. Here is an album I keep on imgur: Tattoo Album

"Skin Picture Aggregator"

Finished my full back piece last Friday. I plan to write something about the experience but need time to collect and organize all my thoughts. by Mike Rubendall at Kings Ave:

@polliwog All hobbies are expensive haha. Just understand what you like and what makes a good tattoo good. I believe that a tattoo is defined as much by the experience as the technical/artistic outcome - and for some, more so. Like you said, who cares what others think, let them have their opinions. In the end, if you like what you have and had a good time, that's it.

@Dan ...and I got there too late, got to say hello but no zaps today. Put down a deposit for something more from Eddy next week though so all in all today is a win.

Great Bowler hat on that monkey, @oboogie . Nothing like a good hat on an animal:

that's cool and so is he,really down to earth dude,we spent about 5 hours with him ,my wife and myself drove 3 hours to convention in Fresno a couple months ago and both got work from him at that show,it was a great time,and great tattoos,it was super fun for my wife and me to get tattooed by the same guy at the same show.He is a real kick to talk to. I am trying to nail down 2 more appointments with him for us at SF in october.

I usually go with "tattoo nerd" Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

I am by no stretch of the imagination even half as tattooed as most of the people here, but even my personal experience has taught me that all of these things are really individual and there just aren't any rules about it. Examples: The tops of my thighs didn't hurt, really, but the outside, over the IT band, hurt like a sonofabitch. All of them healed REALLY well, though -- no scabbing, not really any pain, and they barely even peeled. Contrarily, most people's complaints about where they've been tattooed on their backs, the worst spots, were not the worst spot for me; mine was in a weird spot between my shoulderblades -- not even the bit in the crease of my butt/thigh could compare with it, and that was no picnic either! My back has also taken a shockingly long time to get to a 'settled' heal state, where the lines aren't super raised, too...it's all just depends on the person. Trying to predict what anybody else is gonna feel seems like a fool's game to me. Plus, some people just do not feel pain like other people do, and that is science fact. Anyway, this thread is about thigh tattoos, so here are mine! I'm including a healed pic of the one that @cltattooing did on me, too, since I don't think I ever sent her one! It's very difficult to take pictures of your own thigh tattoos without warping them.

Did some shading with Greggles today. Not even in the same league as lining, though anytime he gets close to that one area on either scapula I have to bite leather. That will probably always suck. But hey - since we focused on the upper body this time, I didn't have to be completely naked in public for a whole day! Bonus. I am finding that 4 hours is about the time that I consistently have my pain response start to fail. Tattoo flu every time.

hi Exume, the namakubi is by Joe Farrell from Kilburn Tattoo. The second, not sure what you call this, is by Julian Suarez, i got this at a convention. The others are all by Danny Rossiter, from rain city in manchester.

Thank you. It all took a brutal toll, but my elderly mother came through her 7 hour open heart surgery like a champ and is back at home, and getting back to normal.

Nice, welcome =) Thats a pretty good tiger.

Welcome to the forum, nice tattoos, who made them? Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Sending positive juju your way! Hope you're doing alright!!

The black harpy

Before I discovered that getting tattooed is the best, I thought I might collect miniature books. Also stupid expensive. I have one.

If I'm honest, I think the only kind of "collecting" that I really struggle with is the kind that implies that there are maybe a couple people who do The Best [tigers, lady heads, insert your subject and style of choice here] and that you are somehow falling short if you don't make the time, effort or money to get to those people. While I understand that there are highly specialized tattooers who are justifiably sought after...my hourly wage is modest, most of them will be out of my reach forever, and I still want to get tattooed. And more than once every five years. It's also possible I'm creating a straw man. But it does seem like a social media -fuelled thing. On the other hand, it really doesn't matter what anyone else does.

@marley mission I hear you. A local tattooer recently posted a drawing that I love, but it would require multiple sessions and I want to be able to swim this summer.

Thanks Graeme and Oboogie Looks like I'm getting a photo realistic tattoo on hip, exciting!

Nice! That's my Executive Chimp, Tarquin. He's very fancy! Hahaha. I like your guy, too.

That sounds like an ideal day. Nice.

About to drive down to Denver and meet Oliver Peck, woo hoo Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Yeah, I think you are right.

It was hot and humid here yesterday. After worl, Lynn and I went out and finished putting up the fencing around her flower garden - just short of 300 yards of fencing - then went out and crewed for a hot air balloon flight. We got home about 8:45 and went down and jumped in the pool to cool off - water temp was 82 deg. Aaaaahhhhh. I love this weather.

Todd Noble did a Percy Waters girl for me and I took a really bad photo of it (sigh). I love it, though.

Started this little fella:

These were all selected and drawn for me. Part of my leg collection — a work in progress. I'm definitely a collector. :-)

I think that's the most fun way to get a tattoo. I'm getting tattooed by him on July 8th and have zero clue at the moment. Planning on picking something out of his book of drawings. @Bmore @Synesthesia I think you are worried over litterally nothing. Your tattoo looks great.

I picked up this little heart and dagger at a local shop's flash event. Didn't realize until I got home that the top of the handle is jacked up. I think it'll be an easy fix so I'll just swing by one afternoon after it's healed and ask him to fix up the diamond-y part. Don't really blame the guy considering how insanely busy the shop was that day. Other than the handle, I love it, and it helps fill in an annoying gap nicely. EDIT: Silly me, I forgot to give credit. Atom Lenhart at Golden Ages in Lancaster, PA did this. I've been tattooed by two guys in that shop now and will probably get a second from Atom (I have an idea he would be awesome at) and will probably get stuff from the other two guys too.

Making an appointment for me and my wife with Mario Desa when he passes through town in the fall. Very excited!

I'd love to collect watches. Way too pricey for me, though. Instead, I've been collecting fountain pens (new and antique) for the last few years. I must have a thing for sharp instruments and ink.

You're approaching this the wrong way. Don't look for people who do a lot of food tattoos, look for people who do excellent tattoos, and approach one of them with your idea. I would suggest Dynamic in Melbourne.

I got this little one shot eagle yesterday at the Quebec City convention from Trevor McStay. It wraps a lot because it takes up most of my thigh so here are a couple of pictures.

I walked into a shop the other day to scratch that itch and when the tattooer saw my legs he said, "Oh - you're a collector." We then spent 30 minutes talking about the various tattoos and where I got them. It was supposed to be a quick in-and-out, but I ended up sticking around and talking for a while. I've been busy with other things over the last year, so it was nice to get back into it all again. Yup. Collector.

I've amassed a lot of stuff during various bursts of enthusiasm (stereo equipment! impractical shoes!) but I think of "collector" as implying that the person has a very particular taste and is discerning. In a way, it also implies, to me, that there's an audience for the collecting. Like a record collector is different from a person who just has a lot of records, because the former might seek out specific pressings. I've had the good fortune of getting nice tattoos thanks to this place, but I don't have anything like the knowledge or refinement to think of myself as a collector. Mostly I want to spraypaint this old jalopy so that it looks better.

hey there welcome! the thigh is pretty manageable pain-wise for a tattoo. certain spots like closer to the knee, towards the butt and inside will be a bit tender. But a 5x6" tattoo is a pretty easy one-shot sit. have you considered going bigger? the thigh is a great spot for big full tattoo. also, colour does NOT hurt more than black and grey, a common misconception. its not the ink that makes it hurt, it's the needles penetrating the skin. lines will feel much sharper than shading which uses a a larger, spread out needle cluster. I do suppose it takes a few more passes to really pack in colour ink into the skin vs soft passes of certain grey shading. it all hurts like a son of a bitch, anyone who says otherwise is lying!

Re-reading some of this thread and it's cool to see the pieces come together. I personally have no plans to start my back anytime soon, but if I ever did, I'm thinking I'll probably go the route of a more piecemeal approach, like this (but in color): https://www.tattoodo.com/images/0/3148.webp I love seeing all that negative space and seeing how several small tattoos can come together to make one cohesive piece. Plus it looks so old school and tough.

it's coming out wonderful. I like it. Also, confirmed consultation date earlier this week. June 4th with Tim Hoyer.

BAM

I've only had one short lining session on my back, but I've had a few other gnarly-sits (a few 7+ hour sessions on ribs/full shin in one sitting etc). When I know I've got a big-sit coming up I try to "stack the deck" in my favor with a 2 week anti ritual of: no caffeine, no sugar, no booze (in fact I'm in one of these phases now for a back session). All in my head? Probably. But I like the discipline leading up. Small snacks (during) with some protein and fat make a difference for me too. And, most importantly, THE STOKE WILL PULL YOU THROUGH (someone on here said that about sitting multiple sessions/days in a row...can't remember who or the context or I'd give credit. Its one of my favorite quotes). It's been my experience that the day after a big session is worse than getting the tattoo. Your mileage may vary ;) Good luck!

I have posted these before, why not post them again. Greg Christian, left outer thigh Stevie Edge, right outer thigh

True enough. I hate when people say "but tattoo artists HATE it!!" about something. Here's something: Some tattooers are douchebags. Them being a tattooer, even a GOOD tattooer, doesn't make them right or profound. It makes them another asshole with an opinion and there's nothing special or unique about having one of those. If you think you're a collector, you probably are. It's a way to describe what you do- collect tattoos from people you dig. I collect toys. I collect dvds. I have a lot of passion when it comes to my collections; I think about which swatches to buy, know when some obscure film is going to be released on dvd, read articles about toy production. I guess if you looked at it like that, I collect tattoos too. I find myself interested in the whole culture of it, not just "gettin' a new tat'. Verdict: It's not bad to be called a collector/call yourself a collector. It's not bad to not WANT to be called a collector/call yourself a collector.