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Went to Smith Street about two months ago and had the opportunity to grab this NYC rat from Bert. It's above my ankle. Pretty thrilled.

And here's what Mike made for me on Saturday. Next level chrysanthemum. I am so thrilled!

Whatsup everyone! I'm back with some more work from Alex. This guy is epic. I've fallen in love with another tattoo! My rib cages, back, and chest is finally completed after nearly 6 years of getting tattooed. :) Lets see how long I can stay outta the shop this time lol.

Rei at Inkrat Tokyo finished up my old school Japanese-American-Japanese backpiece last week. It took around eight sessions - roughly one a month - and I couldn't be happier. In a weird way, I'm going to miss my montly sessions under the needle. It was prickly at times but it taught me a lot about myself... j

@Olympian That's pretty cool.

@Gingerninja out of control! 10/10 past two tattoo posts :)

I've been gone for way to long but Timothy Hoyer will be hitting the road across the country. Keep an eye out, legends like that don't often come around.

Top shelf,@Gingerninja! Sent from my Le Pan TC802A using Tapatalk

So, tattoos hurt. Some more than others and the pain experience varies from person to person on the same spot. @Donelly1991 I've had my wrist tattooed twice and didn't even feel it. Other people say that the wrist really hurts. You won't know until you do it!

Meh you'll be fine dry healing, especially if you're used to the short-term discomfort of it. I've never had the desire to use the 'derm' products healing tattoos, maybe I'm just old and lazy haha. For an area as large as the back I'm not even sure how you would apply it on your own. Take an muscle relaxant (like Aleve) right before a session. It will help you stay relaxed and prevent you from getting worn out too quickly. Hot drink like tea or hot water helps too. Tattooing the back is hard on the body since it is such a large area. So maintain your health, keep in good physical shape leading up to the sessions and during, it will go a long way in helping you take the tattoo and heal afterwards. Wear an old shirt to bed. I slept on my back the whole time. I would just wear my shirt right in the shower and soak myself to unstick the shirt off the back tattoo. You'll be fine, good luck !

@Hands On Damn, those are insanely cool! Great picks!

I really really like going to my sessions alone. I like being focused on the experience and on connecting with the artist too. I know some artists don't mind having you bring a companion but I also don't want to be worrying about anyone else—if they're okay, are they getting bored, are they hungry—while I'm getting tattooed. (Unless we're both getting tattooed.) My brother went with me one time but that was a really quick session (less than an hour) and the two of us had fun chatting with the artist while she worked. My aunt who was hosting me in Seattle arrived too early to pick me up after my appointment and she soon got bored so she and her husband left to have dinner while I was finishing up (it was a 9-hour session). One time, two travel companions insisted on walking me to the tattoo studio in Denmark. I told them they can say hi to the artist but that they wouldn't be allowed in the tattooing area. So they did that, gushed over his design, and left. Then again it might be a different scenario if you're talking about a person you really really like. Maybe weigh if having her there for the entire five hours would make the experience better for you? Otherwise, maybe you can ask her to drop by when the session is close to being done. :)

I get tattooed while I travel. ❤️ It's become one of my favorite things to do!

Super inspiring stuff here @Gingerninja @Hands On @bongsau @Colored Guy and @Boiled Dove - giving me the itch! Now that winter weather is settling in up here it'll be much more comfortable to get tattooed, too...

Tattoo by Cody @ Black Heart Tattoo in SF. about 3 hours. That last half hour was misery.

I have a new GF that likes tattoos. She was there for both of my back sessions and one last night. She hit it off well withy my artist and she's welcome. She's getting her first tattoo soon. Totally supportive so far and I've known her maybe 10 weeks. There was someone in the shop recently, this couple were dating for a few months and had some sort of blow up ensued between them, the lady called her BF selfish to get a tattoo. Hope he punches the clock on that one quickly.

@Hands On Sick!

finally got the nerve to go onto the chest and decided on Walter McDonald at the Bay Area Convention. flipping thru his books of designs took FOREVER!.. the dude puts out so much work, Adam Shrewsbury called him maniacal. i fell in love with two different designs that fit the center and chest panel well. The center eye was actually dice in Walt's original design, but i asked him to change it up and he gladly did. he's a great dude with a glowing personality! now i just have to find something to fill that empty space to the right and perhaps the collarbone... although i'm not looking forward to the pain that would bring me. even just the tips of that glow were felt in my teeth. strange sensation, but damn stoked on the result!

Super honored to have new peonies from Henning on my right calf. Done at Kings Avenue last Friday. More than a little thrilled!

Back in to my friendly local tattoo emporium this Thursday - rework of 25 (ish) year old dragon - before and after in the pics -

Healed pic of tattoo got done earlier this month. Was quite impressed was able to get this pic by myself :) It's a Honda CB Twin Motorcycle, done in memory of biker friends who recently passed. It has healed so beautifully and I am beyond happy with it :) Done on my inner right thigh, by Tommygunn, Belfast City Skinworks in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

I just got back from the SF convention ,it was a beautiful day in the bay area,got this from Greg Christian. I met up with Zetroc and Hands On,both really nice guys.

I know a guy that did 17 hours over two days. He used numbing cream for the last four hours on the second day. I'm totally okay with that situation...