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Well, it's still a bit shiny, but I heal so slowly in my old age that it'll likely be another month of more before it finally settles down. Very pleased to have had Henry Lewis fill in a very weirdly shaped knee gap with this deconstructed, decomposing alligator skeleton -

@Devious6, pretty awful, just like the first one. Haha. Glad it's done! Love how it turned out.

I grabbed this just before my flight home on Monday morning, Steve was great and came in early to get it done

I wouldn't do anything to this tattoo man, looks great. Who is the tattooer?

gingerninja: yeah that makes sense. i just wanted to make sure. it didn't feel right either, but i thought i'd make sure. thanks for the recommendations!

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping t lightens up just a touch because I have fairly brown skin already. It's been a fun process.

@Boiled Dove This! I remember calling my husband as I left the shop after having my right ribs done (four hours). I told him to remind me of that moment if I EVER said that I was doing my left ribs. Well, that lasted about 48 hours until I was planning to get the left side done. :) Congrats! Enjoy your bender!

obessive stuff we think about our tattoos,that happens to me too,as soon as the machine is off,I am thinking of the next one, lol pics yet ?

So, when I got done with that piece on my ribs Tuesday I walked out of the shop thinking "That was intense, that should do me for a while" But then I woke up the next day thinking "That was a pretty awesome looking mace they had drawn up hanging on the wall. I wonder if they are just waiting for someone to get that?" Turns out they had just put that on someone but I was kinda surprised that after the most painful session I have had I was ready to jump back in before it had even scabbed up. I feel like I'm about to go on a run of a bunch of tattoos in really short order.

Love that, @SStu. Very cool.

Hey! There are so many great artists in San Fran. Start checking out some of these shops...see what resonates with you. IMO, yes, it's not cool to work with a tattoo artist then not get something from them. Again, in my mind, you are pumping them for information, using their time and not paying for it. I suggest going to shops, looking at their books and flash and getting a general vibe from the shop. Look at the different styles, see what resonates with you. Instagram will be your friend in doing your research! These are four that popped into my head at 6:15 this morning. There are a bunch more shops.. Black Heart: https://www.instagram.com/blackhearttattoo/ (Scott Sylvia started this forum!) Tattoo City: https://www.instagram.com/tattoo_city/ Idle Hands: https://www.instagram.com/idlehandsf/ Spider Murphys: https://www.instagram.com/spidermurphystattoo/

just about done

I think I found my wall at about 2 hours on the ribs. Thanks Ashley @senslessadornments

Guess who had a cancellation today? Lunch hour tattooing is happening now ...

Since it's Tattoo Tuesday, here's a sneak peek at a WIP by Grez. The outline is done for the entire piece but only got to finish the dragon kite. In June, we'll finish the rabbit, her kimono, the moon and the background. I know that everyone thinks that their tattoos are cool but I really do think this is super amazing! Grez took my random concept and executed it to perfection. The kite is so freakin' awesome. Love this guy!

First off, I am very sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the pain you are feeling. Remembrance tattoos have deep personal meaning and a tremendous tradition...but remember that they are (unless you want to go the laser route) permanent. A signature will always be there to remind you of her, but it will also always be there in the future and, at your age the odds are great that you will eventually enter into another relationship. In terms of the concept of appearing feminine there are many examples where traditionally feminine images are unisex in application in tattooing. Roses and other flowers are a prime example that are seen in tattoos on many people. In the end, this design is yours - it holds deep meaning for you - and I would personally not even give this issue a second thought if, in the end, it was the design that achieved your desired goals. You don't have to defend yourself to anyone. I would suggest several things. First, seek out a good artist and have a face to face consult about your ideas. Seek out an artist with a great reputation for listening to the desired outcomes of the client - not someone who will just do what you ask. Talk with him/her about your intent and get guidance on placement, design, and style. Talk about options. For example, instead of a signature, is there some other symbol that had deep meaning to your wife (or perhaps you both), that can replace the signature? That approach might be a way to achieve your intent yet not present future issues in another relationship. The artist might also offer a design on the birds that appear more "masculine" if that's a concern for you. Next, I would suggest you let some time pass before you commit and have the work done. Of course, I am not sure how long it has been since your wife passed, but emotions can cloud our decisions and since this is generally a permanent thing, you might want to wait until the initial grief passes and then make your final commitment to go ahead or not. Getting your first tattoo is stressful enough. Doing under the pressure and grief of losing one's spouse is much more difficult. Don't let grief drive your decision. You have one chance to get this right so take the time it deserves. An impulse choice is generally not good under any circumstance. In the end, go with what achieves your intent and makes you happy. There is an argument that says that no matter what happens in the future, you will always have an attachment to your wife and no future person you enter into a relationship should expect that you would forget her so the signature shouldn't matter. Still, I would seriously consider finding some symbol to replace it...but that's just my opinion. I hope I've helped a bit. I am sure others will chime in as well. Again, I am so very sorry for your loss.

I have a new little friend! Snake and cherry blossoms by Chris Garver. My homage to spring. She fits the space so perfectly. He drew it on, made the stencil and we were tattooing in less than 40 minutes. Boom. (I'm swollen AF but whatever).

I think the image looks interesting and depending on the style and tattoo it could look great! Ultimately, compare a lot of artists work, then go with one who has done something in a style that resembles what you are going for. Show them the picture, explain what visually you like most about the image and see if they can replicate it. In my recent case, the artist told me my image wouldn't translate well as a tattoo. He drew up something pretty different but it looked really good so I got it.

So, I got to spend a few hours yesterday with Jack freakin Rudy at Shanghai Kate's shop. Such a wonderful experience. Jack's a very cool guy and we talked throughout most of the tattoo. At the end we all agreed that it looks like an old-school Jack Rudy tattoo.

+1 Not every image is suitable as a tattoo.

OK thanks man, as long as i'm not laughed out the shop for taking in something so stupid i'll be happy haha

Bring this image to a good shop and tell them that you like it but you also want to make sure you get a tattoo that works as a tattoo and then show us the cool tattoo you end up with.

Started my back yesterday by Steve Byrne at rock of ages Austin picture from his IG stories

Got some work done a couple weeks ago. Finished up this sailor moon piece since I ended up getting sick right as we were finishing up! Had to do some color packing and the white highlights in a second session. Then she filled that elephant outline with the flowers! I've had the outline for a good 3 or 4 years (when I was a stupid tattood girl) and never knew what to do with it. She had some cute flower drawings and decided to slam those in there! Also got this shin piece done by Jordyn at Classic Tattoo in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada back in January! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got this at the space city tattoo expo over the weekend. My artist is Cory Cartwright. I'm in love with it and can't wait for it to heal. I'm healing this one with tegaderm. I'm having a little trouble with it though. I put it on yesterday, it was juicy underneath it when I went to sleep. This evening though, it's all dried up underneath. I can't remember if it is supposed to dry up this soon or not. I've only used it once before on another tattoo. Anyone know if that's normal? I don't see any holes in it. I posted in the aftercare section too, maybe I'll get some answers. Anyway, thanks for looking!

New one today. By Will Lollie at Hotstuff. Drawn on.

Yup money Congratulations!

Here is a Fudo/Dragon sleeve I started on April first with Scott Sylvia. Still need to line the scales on the dragon and line the inside of the arm. This took roughly two and a half hours. I go back in early June. Biggest project I've started so far (my right arm I pieced together).