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Returned last week from two weeks in South India. In one of the villages that I visited, a young man approached me with a photo. He said "My name is Paul - you named me." In the photo taken in 2002 I am praying for a baby. The mother had brought the baby to me and asked me to give her son a "Christian name". Pretty awesome to meet him 15 years later. Sent from my Le Pan TC802A using Tapatalk

here's a little butterfly babe I got from Matthew Houston. Glad I managed to get tattooed by him before he headed off to Vancouver!

Got the suggestion to 'work up' to the chest piece I'm getting (gnarling scarring I want to get covered) so I went back to Brittany at Hot Copper for something else I saw and fell in love with. Think I'm going to have to keep adding to the leg, carry on with the outdoors theme I seem to have got going on It's completely round irl, the angle I'm standing at just makes it look a bit thin at the bottom end in the pic.

Me and the lady on the phone both said "March" when she asked when I wanted my appointment and I said I would need a little time so I could get my schedule for college, so we went with it. I only have so much figured out so far: Back piece, something Horitomo is excited to do with MonMon Cats, something Horitomo hasn't gotten to do at all or wants to do on a large scale but hasn't yet. I'm going in loaded with a notepad of ideas and references from my university library but I want to decide together. I have these very basic ideas so far, Fuujin/Raijin, Momotaro/Peach, Nekomata with Obake/Yurei inside. I'm still doing homework on it slowly but I ultimately want his wisdom on the subject especially since I don't understand the back as a canvas very well.

So far 2017 is rewarding me for the challenges of 2016... - Finally driving the turbo race car I've been dreaming about - Slayed another Dragon Dance with my kung fu group and took our routine to a new level. - Won an engineering contract to develop a major high voltage distribution system - Working on the succession plan for me and my partners to takeover our engineering firm this year - Reconnected with my tattoo sensei with my idea for a 2nd layer tattoo this season. - Still thinking my armpit tattoo idea is not a bad idea lol - Got tickets to DRI in April ...and who said tattooed people won't amount to anything ? thats what I thought! f*ck the status-quo GET TATTOO & BE AWESOME :cool:

How Jewish? What the F***ing F***?! Please tell me that's a typo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My wife has tattoos, and at this point has more than I do. But to tell the truth, she is not “into” tattoos in the same way that I am. It is something that she did in the past, reached a point where she was satisfied, and stopped. She has no regrets, but I think it is sort of a “been there, done that” thing for her, in a good way. I’m going to be flying cross-country multiple times for long sessions for my back piece. I told her that I hoped she would go with me. I had hoped that she would sit by my side for long sessions and support me, But she said that she might go with me on one or two trips, because she could shop all day. Well, to each his/her own! We talked about it and she said that she wanted to support me, but she said that if we were going to spend money to fly to an interesting distant place, sitting there for 6 hours watching me get tattooed, with nothing else to do except perhaps read a book was not her idea of fun. When she puts it in those terms, I get that! For me, getting the tattoo is the sole reason for the trip, and that is enough for me. But it’s not fair to her to expect her to just sit there.

@Gingerninja If it is, it is. If all I do is dispell some mystery, I'm good too. @Dan That would be cool, but I won't hold my breath. Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

I'm not great with photos but here are a few progress pictures from this last month with Lehi.

Here's a little party shark I got from Scott Sylvia recently. I meant to post healed pictures but it's a difficult area of my arm to photograph. Thanks for looking! starting the left sleeve next.

Made another Oslo trip last week to start a cover up on my lower stomach. While i was there i picked up a namakubi from Nicholas at Blue Arms. The cover up is ongoing and i don't mind admitting i'm very apprehensive about the next session! This was not a fun tattoo to get although Marius did his best to keep my spirits up and a visit from LST's own Mr @Iwar definitely kept me distracted from the significant pain!

@Gingerninja Who's doing yours in March? A friend of mine got a Conn girl back in August just before he moved to Germany, and it's stunning. Throwing it in here.

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Ya I am very open to the artists Input , all I can do is be a good client and be flexible , thx everyone.

I just joined the forum, have been professionally tattooing since 2002 and currently work in Green Bay, WI at Artrageous Ink. Just wanted to say a quick hello to all. I am the shop manager at Artrageous Ink in Green Bay, WI and we are currently seeking to fill a full time artist position. We are looking to add someone strong with black/grey & realism to fill a vacancy from an artist that recently moved. We have been in the same location from over 20 years. We are a mostly custom shop but have a heavy walk-in customer base as well. If you are interested please contact me through email at: [email protected] Steve W.

don't worry about it. if you're open to giving them some freedom to change it up some or do their interpretation then it will be fine...most likely. also, it sounds like it wouldn't be the best experience if the artist is just trudging through something they aren't really into. and if they aren't into then keep looking or maybe rethink your idea some. i've def had ideas that i decided i wasn't into after a little time.

I find that dealing with the same shop and artists over a long period of time, they treat me right. Nothing is ever free, but is what some people seem to be looking for. A good experienced artist will work faster than someone with less experience. I have known artists that would purposely drag a tattoo out longer than it should have, just to make extra $$. I've noticed that some shops are not that busy, it seems that at least locally here the winter is off-season for tattooing. And big in the summer. I want all my tattoo work in before mid May. So an artist will appreciate the work a little more in the slow season. I now spend what I want on tattoos, but before I would save up for one. Put away $20 and $10 there and it adds up quick.

It was terrible, I can imagine what the home life was like. My ex-wife was there when I got a large tattoo and she was fine, just watched, not a peep. Regardless, we were done as a couple in the next 6 months.

Unfortunately he doesn't travel much at all for tattooing. Would certainly make my life a little easier if he did!

nice shot, @Iwar ! @ItsNewport this is awesome. i go with the ol' hat over the face when it's bad enough to grimace.

Got this kitsune from Matt Arriola yesterday.

No at all but try to make sure her energy is good! Don't put any pressure on her and don't get in a fight about it. Give her a true, loving option to opt out. Like no harm, no foul, it's-all-good-option. If she doesn't take the out, then she needs to be love and good energy to your appointment. @sipes23 I do this all the time with my hubby when there's something that I want to do (and love) doesn't match up with his headspace. Be kind, compassionate and honest about what you'd like to share with her. If it's a good match, great. If not, accept it graciously and move on. My two cents.

not really what I did,but what my wife did,she surprised me with this rare collectible surfboard for xmas,she's pretty awesome.our home has a "island/tattoo" theme. (front & back)

That's too bad.

Friends don't let friends drink and post. ;-)

Welcome and good luck on beginning your journey!