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Hey all, Today I started my back piece with Scott Rusnak out of Lucky Strike Tattoo in Edmonton, Alberta. We are doing something a little out of the traditional notion of Japanese tattooing--a large octopus with some of his rad lightning laid over top. This is only my third tattoo (the other's being only palm sized jammers) and after my four-hour linework sit today, I am humbled. All of the spots feel like bad spots, but now a couple hours after things are feeling good and I'm looking forward to the next sit where we will finish the linework and start some shading, hopefully. We're planning on bringing it down to the knees with some rocks and heikegani crabs. The bare patch near my left shoulder will also probably be filled with some more water and another crab. Ultimately, this first experience was intense but totally manageable and very rewarding.

So my wife got in on the Chad Koeplinger world tour when he was at Aloha Monkey in Minnesota. Obviously I'm happy for her but also I am a little jealous.

well then, I did not make this post to get a status upgrade, but I'll take it haha !

yes, it is by post count, but I see now that bongsau should be 'champion'.. i will look into that. Ex-Lurker 0 Initiated 10 Regular 50 Contributor 200 Champion 600 Hero 1200 Autobot 2000

Flashback, anyone?

Just got my first tebori from Bunshin Horitoshi. Tosi is a great guy! Highly recommended. I went with something classic and simple for my first japanese tattoo

I'd totally do both. Go for it! Like the other's are saying, simply be sensible. How did the tattoo come out? Photos? @Tatgirl97

This made me laugh. So spot on! Hahaha.

@AverageJer damn

I just looked at Airbnb for the convention weekend and it looks like there are a lot of inexpensive options there too.

Some more work on my arm ...

Got the pig to go with the chicken from Chris Partain.

got my first tebori from Toshi(Bunshin Horitoshi) the other day. Great experience, and Toshi is a great guy. Went with something simple and classic for my first japanese tattoo

The black harpy

@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.

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.

Just a quick follow-up, in the end I had no swelling at all and I just took off the tegaderm since the tattoo was feeling great and I wanted to be able to see it again. Seems like it's ready to peel, no scabbing and no tenderness whatsoever. This has been my easiest heal ever (including two tiny ones with just really thin linework). Definitely not what I expected, but I don't mind lol. Sorry for the crap pic, and the 'derm wrinkles! Tattoo is just under three days old.

Funny rereading this thread. I figure there are alot of artist asking each other the same question. 'how much should i charge?'. One of the best feelings is when a artist is very enthustiastic about your idea. You can feel the magic. And it seems they charge you less

so thigh tattoos heal like shit but its a great spot to be tattooed imo front row seat to the action not too painful imo and lots of size / placement options i have 3 thigh pieces lava lamp (which my wife calls my teenage girl tattoo :) fish in an espresso pot and a smoking frog have fun

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.