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Completed these three recently. Life size Kiyo-hime bodysuit painting, a dietzel girl mash up and a kitsune running through grass with a stolen namakubi.

What a great discussion! As a new guy on the block - first tattoo 6 months ago and second 3 weeks ago - I can comment on this from both sides. I was always fascinated with tattoos - don't think I ever consciously stared but definitely looked. I was intrigued by the designs, the colors, the placement. I didn't ever approach someone to ask about them though - I knew nothing about the culture or the process and so I didn't intrude. I also never judged someone based on their having tattoos. My father had one that he got while in the Marines at the end of WWII - he went on to be a college professor and electrical engineer so I learned as a kid that having tattoos doesn't tell you who a person is. Now at age 61, retired from the Army and serving as the president of a college, I work with many people on my staff who have tattoos and see many students with them as well. I have a mix of friends, family, students and colleagues both past and present on my FB page and I openly post pictures the show my tattoos. I wear sleeveless shirts that expose them so now I get the stares. Although I've had a few negative comments from friends along the lines of "What were you thinking?" the majority of reactions have been positive. I enjoy a bit of breaking the mold of expectation of what an Army Colonel or College President are "expected" to be. And, when I see someone with great tattoos I compliment them and ask who did their work. I'm always looking for an interesting design or great artist. I hate the question "Did it hurt?". Pain is relative and everyone experiences it differently. How do you explain your own pain to someone that makes sense or know that the person has the same level of pain tolerance? So, I always just answer that "It feels like being kissed by a baby unicorn." At my age, I don't have to worry about what my tattoos will look like in 50 years. I'll be happy if I'm still here in 30.

hey @Kracov welcome to the forum Everybody wants a unique tattoo. But the strongest and most powerful tattoos are ones that takeoff of classic imagery and timeless themes. Tattoo design is more than the drawing/image - placement, scale, composition, simplicity, black and contrast are very important in making not just a good tattoo but a unique tattoo. Your design - it's waaay too busy. A strong tattoo you can tell what it is from across the street. All the smaller items around the perimeter - the spikey eyeball, moon-spider-web, pictographs/icons, latin writing, asian/tribal markings - those all take away from the main idea but could work as one shot tattoos on other parts of the body like the arms. Maybe that would be a good starting point for you to get experience. Then you can go bolder and bigger with your battle-axe-predator-sword-demon-IDK idea. I'm not sure what exactly you're going for. Really a consultation with a tattooer is a first step to making any tattoo a reality. But you need to be able to answer this question: "what exactly do you want on your back" with the simplest, no-bs, get-to-the point answer. Suggest you cruise the LST forum threads, gallery and check out the tattooer interviews to gain some insight into what makes a good tattoo. cheers

Started painting a bit lately, pretty happy with how this one turned out. Lots of Horiyoshi reference, hyottoko and okame lines from the Google Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

You all are insanely talented!!

Maybe I shouldn't post here since I am still in the planning/saving stage for my back piece and otherwise have only one tiny hidden tattoo. So I don't know how I will react to stares. But I admit that I have been guilty of "staring" sometimes, because when I see a great tattoo, I want to really soak it up. (Maybe "stare" is too strong of a word. I keep a respectful distance, and my eyes don't bug out of my head, and I keep my mouth closed). But I think my experience as one who has "stared" will inform my future reaction to people who stare. I'm probably going to keep covered most of the time, but sometimes I'd like to be able to show my half sleeves, and I suppose some will stare. My current theory is that they can stare all they want, as long as they don't say something obnoxious or disrespectful within earshot. If they ask me a respectful question, I will gladly talk, because I have greatly appreciated it when I have politely commented on people's tattoos, and they engaged me in conversation about them. It is amazing what a polite and respectful, "Excuse me, I want to tell you that I think that is a really nice tattoo," will do. I have had people react with their faces lighting up, thanking me, and then without being asked rolling up their sleeve and showing the rest of their piece, and talking animatedly about it. I want to be that person.

I like the stares,and questions and comments,and just general tattoo conversation with other tattooed people or plainskins,I don't even really mind cost questions.I like the attention my tattooes get me.

Chris O'Donnell did a #dronereveal last week - next level! Holding out hope for #catreveal.

i think you have a lot of great subject matter there that can become a great tattoo. let us know where you are located and/or if you are willing to travel and we can make some artist recommendations. i am imagining so many different tattooers using your design as a starting point and making some really great pieces.

Here's the start of my jaguar.Unfortunately I have to wait until December to get it finished.....

You guys seen what Todd Noble has been up to? His reveal game is lit! Cawfee filta stylez an' erythang!

Ressurection of a very old thread. Any other painters out there? I posted some art I did on here a year or two ago but thought id show you some if my recent stuff! Thanks for looking! https://www.instagram.com/a_beukeveld/?hl=en

No tattoo artist worth his salt is going to just tattoo this on you. You need to give him your ideas, and let him draw it. Please, please, please listen to us. I don't want you to end up with a big old mess on your back.

@Devious6 pumpkins are hard @a_beukeveld fantastic work!

This thread is great motivation to go ahead and get my sides done. I've always told myself that I would do them once I got skinny, but as the years go on it's becoming obvious that I'm always going to be a big guy. After lurking this forum for a few days, I decided to join just to say thanks!

I hate that question, not so much because it's rude, but because you ALWAYS get one of two responses: 1) "Whoa, that's a lot! I'd never spend that much!" and/or "You could have bought a [insert expensive object here] for that much!" 2) "I know a guy who does them for $20, you should go to him!" Nobody ever thinks it was reasonable, they act like I have to sell my organs to get even a little traditional one shot.

I absolutely hate the "how much did it cost" question.I used to answer that question to a few people,but now I ask if they are interested in getting a tattoo.If not,I don't answer the question. Its pretty interesting to me seeing the reaction of co workers when they see my tattoos. They are people that I have seen and spoken to for a lot of years. I notice their eyes looking right at my tattoos,but they don't say a thing. Its kind of funny when the ones who are closer to me, make a comment and feel that its ok to let me know how much they dislike tattoos. I really don't care what anyone thinks,anyways.

We do have this thread for art, though. To get an apprenticeship, you need to continue to build your art skills and create relationships with local shops and tattooers...a forum isn't really the way to go.

@Kracov, I highly recommend sharing your ideas with a tattoo artist and let them create something for you.

Yes ask your tattooer but my forearms and hands were swollen for about a week after getting tattooed. Advil and ice are your friend. As long as it's not hot / throbbing / seeping greenish fluid / or red you are probably fine. But always ask your tattooer if you are uncertain

Welcome! I'm thinking that you like the Chili Peppers. Maybe just a little. :)

Finished!!!! If anyone ever asks you for tattoo advice: "get enough sleep" needs to be at the top of the list. I've barely slept but a couple hours each of the last three nights.... and I could barely make it through the final 4 hours of tattooing needed to complete my sleeve. After about an hour, everything just hurt bad, and I had very little tolerance for pain this time around. Here's a pic of the final sleeve. Some of the oranges are really yellow but inflamed... and there is actually no red in the swirling spiral on the back of the arm -- just red from the work. Going back in a month for some touch-up work (not a lot of green held in the dragon's head first time around) and I will post healed photos in a few weeks.

Its the pits to take photos of this thing.

I will get it finished in December.

#spaghettireveal is the new foam reveal.

so I went to a tattoo/bike show in Dixon Ca today and met Anthony Michaels,pretty cool mellow dude,and I won 3rd place for my B&G tiger side piece. .

I like this season's format a lot more than the Rivals/Mentors/Apprentices thing they were doing for a while. The additional drama was just stupid.

Ooooh great thread. I've just uploaded loads to the gallery but I won't post all at once. Here are some hands I've painted : I'm always up for trades btw.

Old Guy At Home Depot: Hey, those tattoos look expensive. How much you pay for those? Me: Well, you know what they say, "Good tattoos aren't cheap and cheap tattoos aren't good." Old Guy's Wife: His were cheap.