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Got in a short session with Jess Yen on my in progress back piece https://www.instagram.com/p/BIbWbdxjxB3/

Hello, everyone! My name is Aaron and I am a tattooer of 5 years. I enjoy learning and really love art; there is nothing I enjoy more than giving someone a rad new tattoo! Well, maybe just spending time with my family...they're pretty amazing. I am very excited to be a member, I first discovered LST by watching the interview series on YouTube. I was instantly stoked on it, getting to hear the stories from artists who I had already been familiar with from tattoo magazines and other media sources. Then also being introduced to some extremely talented artists I wasn't that familiar with. To be in a forum where I can experience so many wonderful aspects of this culture and witness the continuation of this sacred craft much older than any of us, one that will outlast us all. Sorry if I'm gushing here, tattooing just means very much to me, I don't want to undersell that. Although, I'm sure you reading this feel the same. Why else would you be reading this? I look forward to interacting with many others who share a passion for tattooing!

Well, first, let me introduce myself. I am a 45 year old teacher who always dreamed about getting tattoos. Finally realized my dream, with a tattoo of a heart surrounded by a vine and leaves, all the way to my hand. I love it; very feminine yet expresses my vegan believes. Well... People are rude! Staring, frowning... And mainly women! Positives from men ( hubby not happy lol)... But how do you react to people ? Would it be because i am older??? One lady told me at the store i should not do this to the temple God gave me... What the hell is that about???

I saw her post and I grabbed it! Thanks for thinking of me!!! @polliwog

Don't make the same mistake twice. It shouldn't be that hard to find a design that will cover it. You just have to go a lot bigger and bolder. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah my current tattoo is upside down and I hate it. I could see how the banjo being upside down wouldn't be too weird if the flowers and birds flowed up my arm.. sorry, it does sound confusing. I do know what I want, just conflicted on placement.

@Gingerninja Virginia Elwood just posted something about having a couple spots open up due to cancellations on her Instagram account.

Welcome! We love pictures here, could you post some of the tattoos you've done?

Anyone who'd like to fund my round-the-world trip to get at least 5 tattoos from each continent? Feel free to pm me for bank coordinates ;).

You're just here to ask for money. I won't pay for anyone's tattoos but my own. Get a job.

@TattooloverRS you're trying to get other people to pay for your tattoos - you're an idiot oh - but welcome as well

LOL this is about you getting other people to pay for your tattoo ? LOL sorry but that sucks IMO, . pay for your own tattoos.

ya,that swelling thing,when I had the top of my hand done,it puffed up pretty good.I have tattoos all over my body and this is the first one that has swelled up. you can clearly see the swelling in this pic of it.the day it was done. . . and today long after the swelling is gone,5 months later

Not all of us are nice.

My lips. Hahaha. I tend to lick my lips a lot when I'm getting tattooed (nerves or coping with the pain, I guess—maybe both), and without the lip balm, my lips get really dry. :-)

Went to Seven Doors Tattoo in London yesterday for a drawing session. Had to bring the little one (their suggestion, as we had trouble finding a good date)... So I haven't actually got a new tattoo yet, but my son got two! A butterfly and a crazy design from Deno. Both put on by Yutaro who was really sweet to him. He's very proud now and thinks they are super cool :-)

Here's the thing about pictures of tattoos on the internet: that may or may not be what the tattoo actually looks like. Maybe it looks like that. Maybe it's been adjusted in Photoshop or with some kind of filter. This isn't unheard of. For me, I'd rather see tattoos in real life, preferably settled in for a number of years before I determine who makes really bright tattoos or not.

Second session down! Did want to sit for longer but the heavy shading over the spine did me in for the day. 4 and a half hours here. Definitely feeling better now that the majority of lining is done (although more on the thighs later, but the shoulders are blocked out and it's starting to look more like a backpiece now. Knowing what to expect in what area as far as pain definitely helped make the sit easier and go by quicker.

The most frequent question I get when people see that I got my first tattoo is focused on the pain. "Did it hurt?" "How much did it hurt?" The answers to both are easy...but they really don't get to the root of the question people really want to ask - "How much pain would I feel if I got a tattoo?" In my case, the answers to the first two questions are No and Not at all since I never felt anything I would really call "pain." Scratching? Irritation? Yes. Pain? No. But, there's no way for me to answer the real question of how much would it hurt someone else since we all process pain differently. And, I also recognize that my tattoo is done on what is one of the least painful spots so my frame of reference is limited. Still, this comes from someone who once set a fractured bone in his own hand thinking it was a dislocation. My brother in law, the ER Doc, told me I set it as nicely a he would have...but he would have given me some Novocain first.

went to Seattle and got crabs by Jake Whitson @ Liberty Tattoo Seattle my lady also got a really nice wrist tattoo from Jake. She liked it so much we went back into downtown on Friday nite and she got a midnite walk-in to get something matching on the opposite wrist. one of the coolest tattoo shops I've been in and really nice folks, great hospitality. can't wait to go back Seattle was an awesome city.

I am somewhat of a weirdo in that I look forward to ordeals of all types. I prefer full day sessions because of the ordeal aspect more than the results. I used to run marathons for the same reason. Stay up for weeks at a time, hunger strikes, you name it. I have a masochistic streak or something. Not for intensity, but for endurance. I don't know if this came from my past (child abuse survivor) or whether it is just an innate aspect of my character. Anyway, does this resonate with anyone?

Of course I'm glad tattoos hurt: I agree it's an integral part of keeping them for the dedicated only... Willing to sit and take it for the lifetime reward of the tattoo. But... I got to admit that I stopped philosophising too earnestly about the educational or self improving nature of the pain the time I got my front lined out. It wasn't a relevatory experience for me ... I just felt like I got carved up! I guess I found my personal tipping point that day. Small tattoos, or decent pieces most places on the body... I can grin and bear it and, yes, I probably learned a thing or two about managing pain mentally. Even my back piece was pretty Ok. But a really long sessions on a sensitive place like the torso or ribs... mostly just makes me miserable end of story. Can't make a purse from a sow's ear.

Leviticus 19:28 You shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord. The pagans would mark themselves so that the newly dead would not recognize them. The Jews were not supposed to do this because it was a pagan practice. I guess if someone is following every other command in the bible, there is no reason not to follow this. Most Christians just follow the commands they want and then justify why they don't have to follow the others.

I don't mind if people stare as long they don't have a dirty look on their face, I see it as curiosity. I also 'stare' at someone who has an interesting tattoo in public.

For me it was far worse when I was bodybuilding , people used to cross the road and parents clutch their childrens hands ,I even once unwittendly and without consent appeared on a documentary said to highlight "how big some of these people can get " .

If that were me I would have just showed her my.

I will learn to stare back.... It is a non-threatening gesture. My husband is really surprised by my reaction, and so am i! I am an animal activist, and i also work closely with the children aid society . I am vocal plenty in other situations. I dont judge others, but try to help as much as i can. I liked your quotes of the Bible. I will use that . Thanks..,

The Bible does say you should not mark your skin. Next time tell them it also says "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned," "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." and "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" These hypocrites only read the part of the bible that allows them to be judgmental blowhards. As to the stares, I'm 6'2" 195 with hair halfway down my back. I stare back :-)