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My collection by Jon West:

Latest and greatest- Great guy out of Portland. Dunno if he wants name dropped or not, but Im sure you could figure it out if you wanted.
Almost tapped @7hrs, but a 15m break and 2 fantas later, I was back in action. Had another tattoo re-done on the inner forearm during this sitting. 8/9hrs total.

Thought I would also upload and share this dope action shot. Plus you can catch a peak at my backpiece that's about 5 months settled in as well as Len's great hair lol ;)

Another reminder that it is the tattoo experience as whole - that truly makes the tattoo. that's what matters. Tattooing is a very powerful, deliberate and permanent act and series of events.
Last Wednesday was an incredible day. My work in the morning. Popping into the tattoo shop to just to say what's up and casually flipping through Len's book - I have 3 tattoos from Len now and each one was a spontaneous act with permanent results. Going and getting a dope haircut so I didn't get a cheap $25cent razor fade (found a new barber, an older black gentleman, he shared his cool snake tattoo on his dark skin, he got in 1967!). My tai chi practice in the park. An encouraging doctor's appointment. The boys keeping the shop open into the evening to accommodate me (shout out to Champion Tattoo Edmonton). The stencil and re-stencil to get the placement just right. The first 30 seconds when I thought holy shit man, this is brutal have I gone too far? Bishops Green on the stereo. Tattoo talk with the boys. Sweating through the table. Feeling my nose about to get crushed sideways on the table. the post-tattoo newport smoke, the vulnerability and the satisfaction with the end result. The morning after when the shower water hit the back of my raw tattooed skin. Even today walking down the street, walking proud and tall with this new tattoo. Hearing the lady behind me in the crosswalk whispering out loud 'damn that's a nice tattoo' to herself. Seriously, I am really buzzing off how this one turned out.
The butterfly symbolism is pretty obvious.
But also this:
I dreamed I was a butterfly, fluttering about, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly. Soon I awakened, and there I was, myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man. -Master Zhuang
I became aware of this taoist quote the morning after receiving my tattoo, and I too had the butterfly dream leading up to this spontaneous tattoo. I found it very fitting, not just in the context of the rest of my tattoos, but in terms of some personal growth I have been making over the last few months. And here comes this profound tattoo experience from a simple design that carries some complex symbolism to me, providing enlightenment when I needed it the most.
Thank you LST for providing a medium to share the tattoo experience together !

No pictures yet, but Sarah Hurst of Vivid Tattoo in Knoxville added the third cameo, this of the oldest daughter, to my left arm. In the soft, delicate "waddle". There was no happy place to be found! Healing great so far. Next will be some fillers and then a vine with leaves to tie it all together.

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

I have been hitting tough spots lately - collarbone, inner bicep, stomach
nothing compared to ribs imo but still tough
another inner bicep comng up in december
ah if only they all felt like the forearm

Inner thigh is pretty bad... :(

By Jon West @ Imperial Tattoo Company.

Today is the day.
Looks like I am collecting a shark.
Jon West, Imperial Tattoo Company.

Most of the outlining done today. Next appt is Christmas Eve, so will outline the underarm and then do all the shading. I don't think there will be time for color so that will be later. There is a mum at the bottom that curves around to the front of my arm, to tie in w/the mum on the opposite side. Then wind/water meet and swirl in the middle.
Sadly, I am not bad assed enough to handle this becoming a full back piece. That very bottom bit of wind/water he added today was the clincher. Yikes.

Hello Everyone,
My Name is Marc Taylor, I am the owner/operator of Gold Mine Tattoo in historic Jamestown Ca. looking forward to all the good to come put of this board

I would agree except the bickering gets higher ratings. I read the Facebook comments. "I love her work but she's so FAT. I hope she loses soon" "His tattoos may not be good but he's a dreamboat, I'd kill for one of his pieces." And on and on. They're the same crowd who watches Real Housewives of Wherever. I wish I had a dime for every time someone typed the word "jacked", or used a direct judge's quote for criticizing something they truly do not understand. People who may or may not have a single tattoo going on and on like they're real experts. Follow their comment to their own FB page (Stalk) and if they have a tattoo, it's generally something dismal. Nary a one understands the complex simplicity of American Traditional. And Japanese? Forget about it.
I have a group of a half dozen close friends who are tattoo artists and they are sick of folks coming in and acting like they're Toothpick Peck or I Hate Everyone Nunez. "Yeah, I want a Block "O" college logo but we need to discuss line weight and negative space." "Do you know Mystical Mike? I heard he was in Columbus once."
The episode where the "flash challenge" was nailing drywall finally did it for me. Call Fonzie, this turd has definitely jumped the shark.

First time I realised japanese/oriental doesn't have to be traditional

Thanks a lot mate, Ye that's the beauty of tattooing and many other things in life, we all like different things :)

meh ok here is a pic :)
from the amazing Steve Boltz
totally good time talking mostly golf
turns out Steve is an avid golfer and pretty good
I'm neither but I love stogies and beer with friends
and lets face it - thats more important than a decent backswing ;)
anyway - funky fish on my bicep...

So I went for my appointment with Tomas Tomas today.
Trying some different styles :)
Had me toes done lol, wasnt a lot we could do really with just toes but I think once it settles down and its the same colour as the snake, should fit in great.
He showed me a vid and said this pattern is from some tribe from the Amazon. Now all I need is some animal skin leather pants ;p
Hes a fucking awesome crack :)

i think give another 3 weeks and you'll have a better idea - i see what you mean in your description but i would def encourage you to resist overthinkin this piece - its dope - love it...and keep going with some more ink - every tattoo has imperfections but i think once you get your head straight on this one you'll be stoked to have it on you

Today is the day.
Looks like I am collecting a shark.
Jon West, Imperial Tattoo Company.

My collection by Jon West:

i`ll tell ya, after a decade worth of different pieces all over my body, getting a couple small bangers on the rib cage and love handle was a friggin sunny-beach-vacation.
oh yeah...don`t tattoo the front or back of your knee. it is as painful and dumb an idea as it sounds!