hogg

Cotton Pickin' Hiro just posted a few coverups that don't look like coverups (especially the lion): COTTON PICKIN TATTOO:

At the risk of you hating me forever, @RoryQ, have you tried Bulgarian Split Squats? I hate them so much, but they really work your legs in ways that the leg press won't. I'm not sure if your current condition allows for them, though.

Nothing to feel bad about there, @lving4today. You're back at it, and you'll only get stronger if you stick with it.

Hi @Inkwitch, Professional tattooing techniques are not really the kind of thing we discuss here at Last Sparrow. Take a look at our Tattoo Newbie Guidelines and you'll see the following: Do not start threads asking about specific tattooing equipment or techniques, LST is not here to teach anyone how to tattoo. Ask your own tattooer, the next time you are getting tattooed. Maybe they'll answer you, maybe they won't. I'd recommend doing just that--ask your tattooer next time you're getting tattooed. And if you're not getting tattooed any time soon...well, you're missing out! Welcome, by the way. I hope you like it here.

^^^^^ RULES.

How much do you weigh now, @Cork? And what's your predicted goal weight for the BB contest? Our own @kylegrey has stepped on stage before, so he may have some advice for you. That will be one hell of an undertaking! Good luck.

@Stewart Robson, you can take the font nerd out of Photoshop....

How would y'all feel about logging workouts in this thread? Is that a bit much? I've found that it can be good motivation and can keep you honest. It's also nice to see what other people are doing. I've learned a lot that way.

Yes! Welcome, Clay. You do incredible work and I sincerely hope you stick around and share some of your knowledge (including but not limited to how to power a machine off of a MacBook in the event of a convention blackout).

I am from Texas and often play UGK records. I approve of you, @CultExciter. And welcome, Wilson!

Right on, my man!

I look like a freak, but I work in the non-freak world. That's why I cover up when I'm at work. It's a very small price to pay. @Stewart Robson, I seem to recall you saying that you worked as a designer before tattooing, right? I'm guessing you were heavily tattooed then, but probably not on your hands or neck. Hell, when Bob Roberts asked me if I tattoo, I said, "No sir--I work in an office. No hands or neck for me," he held up his hands and said, "Me, neither!" God, I sound old, but I feel like the latest generation of tattooed folks think it's their right to have their hands and neck done. If you're around tattooers or heavily tattooed people all the time--which most non-tattooers aren't--that's one thing, but it's nice to be able to get by in the real world without too much hassle, too.

Yeah, I'm really sorry that it didn't work out for you, but I have to say, I'm jealous of what you DID get from Bryan, so I don't feel too bad for you! BTW, I stopped by Dark Horse after my Spotlight session. What a gorgeous shop that is.

I just got home from our little trip to LA, and I brought a friend: I went to Bob Roberts and asked him for one of his tiger heads. He saw the spot I had open and furrowed his brow. "That's gonna be tough." He tried to sketch something on, but I could tell he was kinda flustered, so I said, "Ya know, I also really like your spiders." He lit up and said, "Now you're talkin'!" He drew it on and knocked it out in half an hour. All in all, it was a great, great experience. He and I chatted about music and, of course, tattoos. He asked to see my back, then said, "I got a snake on my back, too." He then proceeded to melt my face off by showing me his Ed Hardy backpiece, as well as his Horiyoshi III torso pieces. Coolest fucking dude ever, and I am beyond stoked on my black widow.

Awesome numbers, Kev!

Nah, my wife is speaking at a conference nearby, so I booked with Bob on the one free day I'll have. I just called Spotlight and spoke with Grant Cobb, who said that Bob's out today, but that he'd touch base with him later. He also said I should call back tomorrow, but that it shouldn't be a problem.

Hmm...my appointment with him is this Thursday. Guess I should call to confirm.

Dammit, @embers, that's on you? I saw it on Instagram last night and flipped. Bryan Burk is one of my favorite tattooers, and he does phenomenally good tigers. Like the one you now have. Enjoy!

Welcome, and thanks for sharing. I second that compliment on the Trump.

Hey, I'm from Texas! Welcome.

Nice intro! Welcome.

There was a group of Bandidos that rented the house across the street from me when I was about 7, and I'm sure they had tattoos, but we were all too scared to look at them for very long. But a few houses down from them, there was a crazy guy named Joe Bailey who would do shit like wrestle alligators for fun. (No, seriously. He once called me over to check out something in his backyard, and he had a six-foot alligator--with its mouth duct-taped shut--in a makeshift chicken wire pen. "We was in the bass boat fishin'. I seen him in the water and I just jumped on him and held on!") Anyway, Joe had a classic Hot Stuff wearing a diaper and holding a pitchfork with "BORN TO RAISE HELL" above it. Zero irony, just the God's honest truth. My dad used to talk shit on Joe's tattoos: "He's workin' on a shirt." In fact, he probably only had 4 or 5 palm-sized tattoos. It's funny how perspectives differ.

Last Sunday, I had Stuart Cripwell tack on some stems to the Tudor roses he put on me last year: Really hard to get a photo of them, and they're not quite healed, but I think they turned out great.

Thanks! I was (and am) super stoked on it. I'll have to post a healed pic now that it's 5 years old--still looks great. I've also had tebori from Horitomo, but that was a very different affair. He uses a much longer instrument and it definitely felt like more than just a little pressure.