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I love that hawk! We had a red-tailed hawk hanging around our farm today. We have them here often. What a wonderful way to remember your Dad.

Thanks, Devious6, I've enjoyed reading your posts . And thanks for the welcome, sighthound. Below is my new hawk (pic taken right after it was done; three weeks healed now). It's a tribute to my Dad who died in 1990 and loved red-tailed hawks. Kind of nice to have him "with" me permanently.

I would have to disagree. My experience has been totally the opposite - people have been helpful and tolerant. Again, this is a tattoo forum. People who frequent it tend to be passionate about tattoos and that sometimes leads to strong opinions and discussions. In the end, though, it's a personal decision as to how much stock one places in another's opinion or idea. I have only one tattoo - and it is not of the prevalent style. No one has ever made me feel unwelcome.

Totally spontaneous addition today. Had the day off so I stopped into Royal Tiger in Austin to drool over BHR's new flash sheets. Bailey was there with nothing to do sooooo about two hours later, I walked out with this beauty.

I love a good back piece or a solid sleeve, but my obsession is hand tattoos. Here are a few of my favorites from the collection I have saved on my computer. Tim Hendricks Seth Wood Ron Wells Ashley Love Annie Frenzel Peter Lagergren Peter Lagergren again I'd love to see some other favorites, or hand tattoos that LST members have!

I gotta say IMO stars are way overdone,kind of like Duane johnson tribal, but if that's what you want, find the right artist in your area and tell them your idea and let them make a design for you.

Any forum, even those that are "must be a member to post," is going to have people who are going to make negative comments. And some people are going to be blunt in their honest responses, and maybe sometimes a little too blunt. For example, there are two ways to tell a newbie that traditional tattoos hold up well over the long term: "That watercolor s**t is going to look like dog puke smeared on the carpet in ten years, so if you decide to get something stupid like that, don't come back here whining about it and asking how to fix it. Get a REAL tattoo instead of some trendy impressionistic crap that you saw in some fancy magazine." or... "Tattoos without outlines often don't hold up well over time. The ink fades and the images might become indistinct, expecialliy if you spend time in the sun. Take some time and look at some tattoos that are 20 or 30 years old and see what happens to the colors vs. the line work, and then make a decision." I think the second is a more helpful response. But you are probably going to get some responses like the first one, so you have to have a filter. I have certainly seen some mean spirited responses to sincere questions. For the most part, I think LST is good and supportive environment.

tattoos go through many stages while healing,and they take months to heal,they will never look like the day you had it put on,EVER again.I have both knees and both wrists and both elbows covered and they do not look any different than my other tattoos.even after years, after the healing is done, 1)keep it out of the sun or use sunblock forever. 2)keep daily lotion like aveeno on them forever.

@ligatortat didnt you just get your tattoo relax and enjoy it - it aint going nowhere touchups...meh

I have two holes in each lobe and one helix piercing. Had my nose done a few years ago and loved it but to be honest it got caught on one too many shirts/towels/washcloths and I just had enough of it and took it out. Hole healed up just fine. I've had three tattoos and the helix healing was worse than any of them by far. The pain and tenderness went on forever. No infection or anything, just pain. I'd love to get another one, but I don't think I want to deal with the annoyance for months again. Impressed with you folks who have industrials and septums done. I think I'd pass out.

@mmmsarah where people run into problems at LST is when they beat a dead horse - post or create in 3 or 4 different threads looking for some sort of validation of their tattoo or tattoo idea - no one is bullied or picked on here - but you'll get honesty - and if you're desperate to get honesty in 3 or 4 different threads about the same damn thing - then thats what you'll get - yeah obviously traditional styles win the day here - but thats also because they tend to make the most solid looking tattoos

I think people are more negative about badly done tattoos and not necessarily their subject. If the critique done is constructive (even if it's blunt) then it's great, as it builds and develops your taste toward good tattoos. Again, talking more about the technical side and less on the subject. But if you have a realistic black&grey flying di*k tattooed on you, then it's open to interpretation :P

I actually find this community very negative. I used to come on a lot but definitely feel like if you don't have the "right" style or aesthetic you are not welcome

Custom just means they have designed something for you, and you aren't getting a piece of flash off the wall. Many use stencil transfers (my artist almost always does, but he sketches in other stuff around it, too), but it depends on the tattoo.

Welcome, Kate!

@polliwog - I love going to conventions for the same reason that I like LST: Even though there may be some who are there just to gawk, by and large people there (or here) “get it.” When I went to my first convention, it helped me realize that it’s ok to be tattooed. Even though I had seen pictures of heavily tattooed people before, I had never seen a person with a sleeve or back piece live and in the flesh. It may sound stupid and (I’m sorry) was exactly the kind of stereotyping that we fight here, but even though I was fascinated with the idea of having extensive tattoo coverage, I imagined that heavily tattooed people were some weird subculture leading bizarre isolated lives. At my first convention I talked to heavily tattooed people for the first time and saw that they were just people, like me. Duh… They were nice, helpful and encouraged me to go for it. That really helped me turn the corner on my tattoo interests, and not feel so weird about wanting to be heavily tattooed. Yeah. Tattooing is outside most people's range of understanding. I keep imagining a conversation that I might have with some of my friends: (excitedly) "I'm starting my back piece next week!" "Back piece?" "It's a tattoo" "You're getting a tattoo?????" "Uh, Yes." "Where on your back? Like on your shoulder blade?" "Well, it will cover my whole back." "A tattoo covering your whole back????? Seriously????" And the conversation spirals into the abyss from there.

He's on my A list for sure Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got this yesterday! A lot of firsts for me here. First real post on this forum(barring the introduction thread), first real large scale custom piece for me. It was also my first time under a rotary, and first time trying a new healing method. The machine felt quite a bit different than what i was used to, but this was my first leg tattoo, so that could simply have been the tighter skin on my legs. In general, more of a light pressure, then a pinpoint stab. James Mullins of Lotus Tattoo, Hemet CA, was very patient with my 3 or so hours embarrassingly twitchy leg, and constant nervous tattoo chatter. (Also my neurotic aftercare questions, and emails.) Obviously, yes, I'm a Fallout Fan. I put a mid way tattoo up because I honestly thought he was nearly done here. I laid back and let him finish the final pass without looking too much. When I saw the final pass, I was pretty much giddy. He asked, just before I sat down, if he could go a little crazy with the color. I was super glad that I agreed. I hope it's ok to post this pre-heal! If not, I can pull it down and repost when it's done!

Agree with @Lance - I really love what Chris Brand is doing with the Japanese/Chinese / LA crossover. If I wanted to get a tattoo like what you want Gareth98, I'd go to Chris. He travels enough, so you might be able to make it work.

So I wasn't expecting another large scale piece. But Steve Byrne loved my basic idea, and I DID specifically tell him, apparently, quote "go nuts". I am a wreck this morning kids. Link to video:

confirmed with Shige at Diamond Club to finish up my stomach. bittersweet ending...

i went from doing my best not to book anything since my last appointment on February 1st. Welp, Mark Mahoney is coming to Jersey and I couldn't pass that up. Also, I inquired for a 2nd tattoo with Garver and was proposed to take over a possible cancellation. All within 10 days, so much for having no more debt lol. /positive rant

sounds like shunga to me!

I just got the artwork for this one,and I am in love with it ! it's going to be full bold color.

Mr. Dave Cummings just sent me this sketch for my arm in Montreal. The 2 x's are my elbow and ditch. Beyond stoked.

There're really nice tattoos on the pics. I'm not sure yet, if I want one on my hand, but I'm eager to know if it hurts much. Can u tell?I'm having a tiger on my left arm, like here. This is my first tattoo.

My 3 year old niece wants to grow up to be a badass. Tattoos by Pixar, I believe.

thought this quote was appropriate for this thread. If anyone knows the source i would love to have it. ‎''The tattoo is the mark of the soul. it can act as a window Through which we can see inside, Or it can be a shield to protect us from those who cannot see past the surface"

The night is dark and full of terrors.

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