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Mike Wilson did this dagger, snake, and roses on me at the SFO convention in 2012. included a #livedintattoos comparison of the day of vs today (wth poor lighting).

Just finished my first half sleeve!!! Woohooooooooo!!! 15 hours, 12 of which were inking, the other two were mini cigarette breaks and stenciling and freehand drawing the lotuses, done in two back to back days in Thessaloniki (Greece) Pics were taken a few minutes after the top lotus was done, will upload some pics when it's healed!

Here's last month's work, finally healed. By Randy Muller at Eyecandy in New Orleans: Tomorrow we finish up the inside.

Just the logo would make a fine linework tattoo. Be very careful with realistic wolves - serious bad tattoo material, even with competent artists. Please listen to your artist, simpler and bigger are almost always the right choice.

I just joined the ranks of the tattooed last week at age 42. I had a design in mind for about 20 years, but I never acted on the idea until now. I don't know why I waited so long. The experience of getting it was great--I want another one as soon as I can manage it. My wife isn't thrilled by it (this tattoo or any potential future tattoos), but I think she's coming around to it all. I asked the artist for a design I could have gotten 20 years ago, since that's when I had the idea. I think he did just that. The DNA sequence is from the FOXP2 gene, which is part of what we need to talk. (I'm a language teacher.) I'm so thrilled that I have gotten my first tattoo. I'm looking forward to more.

Raven cover up now finished for the moment. A few peony additions and a good luck pentacle for protection and nature connection. What's the thoughts? Plain skin people in sauna will obviously think I worship satan but that already makes me laugh... its nice to get the sauna to yourself

Hey Sipes23 - really cool snake dna design. I like the ouroboros symbolism - it all just keeps going round! Sorry that a total tadger decided to spam your post. Some folks have no common decency. Stephen Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Do you mean something like this? If so I've gotta say, that would look pretty cool, and fit well. I hadn't thought about that.

Forearm might be on the small side for something like this, but if the artist has skill it'll look good regardless.

Welcome! Cool tattoo. You hang out here and you'll be asking for advice on what to add in a month. We are enablers. :)

Ok well I definitely wouldn't put any color in the actual cat, but you could definitely frame out the bottom with some nice bold flowers and the juxtaposing styles would look really nice together. Overall, not a bad tattoo, but I do think it could have been applied by someone with more skill. Unfortunately, there is not really a middle ground between lackluster photo-realism and outstanding photo-realism. It's just one of those styles that tends to fall short if you're not at the very top of your game. I think if you go to a seasoned artist who works in several styles and has 20+ years under their belt with a solid portfolio, that person could probably do a lot to make that tattoo more crisp and visually legible. Just my .02 edit: and just to be clear, I don't think it's a bad tattoo, but I can see where your dissatisfaction comes from. It's definitely an easy fix with the right artist. If you let me know where you live, I can help point you in the direction of someone who can do it.

@Makar You ae winning on all fronts - especially in the sauna. The colors are on point and the detail looks amazing. Congrats!

really nice @Makar who is the artist?

I know your pain.. I had a cover last year on my other arm that I totally regretted as soon as it was started so I'm currently in the process of having it lasered off so I can start again.. Hence why I'm being so cautious about my approach to this arm.. It can definitely get to the point were you feel your heads about to explode !!

So many styles, so little brain to take it in...that's my experience. It can become a bit wearying making that decision. Just got a large cover up finished off on Monday. I was actually getting fatigue thinking about it... whether to go full sleeve, Japanese, neo trad, bit of realism somewhere. Started to make me feel ill. So I stopped and just went back to what the artist suggested. Pics soon. Feel good now its done too! Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

That's totally spam.

Welcome to the forum! I'm partial to wolves - my first tattoo was a wolf. Find a solid artist and have him/her create your final design as well as making recommendations on size, placement and level of intricacy. I look forward to seeing the finished work.

Not sure if this is the right place for this question, but since this is the "definitive" American traditional thread... Who are your favorite present-day American traditional tattooers? Both well known and maybe not so well known. One artist whose style I'm really drawn to is Justin Tyler from my home state of Michigan. I love his super bold linework. https://www.instagram.com/justintylertattoo/ I also love Ashley Love!

Put a few more hours in today. Knocked out a few sensitive spots in the inner arm as well as some shading..... until next Tuesday

Dan, as I see the difference here is that there are many military and civilian applications related to the sea, sailing and anchors. And, as the OP mentioned, there are daggers in all forms and types out there. In this specific case, the Death Before Dishonor does have a more specific military history and link. Again, people are free to do what they want - and it's certainly not my place to judge. Just offering my humble opinion. If anything, I am very much against PC.

Thanks. I like it a lot. If it were a competition, I suppose I am better on the timeline. Ever increasing numbers of tattoos from here? I'm going to get another, but I'm not sure when. Thanks.

Benjamin Chen, Toronto Ontario Simple design, but the details are beautiful! cute little elephant :) www.northyorkink.com

Let me try again.

Scott Sylvia, Elm Street Tattoo Fest, Dallas, 2015

The fact that it is older and a bit faded will indeed assist in blending in with black and grey around it. More roses, and bury a skull in there somewhere. Nice name by the way . . .

I'll throw mine in the ring. Scott Sylvia, done at the Richmond Convention a few years back.

Missed skulls, so I'll enter this month for fun (not a chance of winning with @Gingerninja's back in the competition!). It's by Joshua Henderson, Brainstorm Tattoos, 2014.

Okay, I'm in. Dagger by Grez (Kings Avenue) done at Pagoda 2015.