Cork

I know the feeling. My artist has been on holidays

His Instagram had me cracking up a week or so ago. The chanting they did when he chugged the sake. Man I bet he was nursing one hell of a hangover the next day.

Major tattoo envy going on here. I knew those peonies were on guys here when I saw them on Instagram. And that damn Fudo Monmon Cat is on @ivarro isn't it?

Looks great @Mush! 7 hours is nothing to be ashamed of.

I use them to calm my mind for my back sessions. I'm not sure what I'll use them for in the future. Going in to the back it took me a good 4 or 5 sessions to decided I wanted to hop on to pain killers. I would get pretty bad anxiety and it really helped me. I would be a wreck for the couple days leading up to a session. Even for an appointment that was on my right butt cheek when I had already felt a session on my left butt while being straight. So I knew I could handle it, but I am my own worst enemy. I kept thinking over and over in my head "What if I have to tap out and can't last the session." I just wanted to get the most of my time and Dana's time.

In the future, I may use them for another multiple session piece where I get an idea of what it feels like first, then decide whether or not to use them for subsequent sessions. It really helps clear the mind.

I got a course for $50 from the DMV that is 5 hours class, 15 hours riding in 3 days. Then they waive the motorcycle license fee and the written and road test as long as you pass the course.

Tomorrow night is my first of 3 classes for my motorcycle license. Woohoo! I don't even own a motorcycle yet, I've never even taken a ride on one. But damn I've always wanted to do both.

Nice gold waves.

Interested to see what an organic line is. Welcome!

Looking good @misterJ The time you're putting in for lines is admirable.

Stay strong @SeeSea

Good decision so far, just remember that it would be best to let something be designed for you, instead of picking a koi off of Google and saying "Do that one." Especially since this is a coverup. The important thing is to trust the artist, they are the experts.

I'm hoping your gas budget is in action in order to help fill your tattoo fund.

I'll admit that when I got in to tattooing, I was directed to Richard Stell without knowing a damn thing about him. The guest spot news was broken on this website, and I was pushed by several members to take the plunge and get something.

Should I feel dirty about that by going to a big name and not knowing his legacy? Maybe. I put my trust in the knowledge here on LST, and I never had a doubt I was making a poor decision. I wanted to be part of a community, and experience the things that other people were experiencing, so I just went with it. Was asking him to do something uncharacteristic of his style wrong? Some people may think so. Asking an artist to do a different style could be considered sacrilege to some. In my naivete I asked for something he doesn't generally do, but damn if he wasn't excited to do it.

I have no regrets, and I also learned that you don't really understand someone until you meet them. You could follow artists on Instagram, and hear about them in other shops from other people's experiences, but until you sit with Stell and hear him, first hand, talk about his old biker days and how he had pet alligators and all the other crazy stuff, you can't fully understand.

I would hope that people who seek out big names, solely for the name, have a better respect for that person afterwards instead of just, "Yeah I got XX to do this."

Um I'm confused...? The link I posted is for a rebel muse artist. I felt Richard Stell is not quite the style I want. I was thinking I'd be open to ideas for add on to an arrow on my arm.

Just messing with you. What style are you interested in?

Good points so far about the trendy tattoo positions. I've never heard the term "skank flank", but that's pretty funny. Maybe some day rib tattoos will receive the same stigma. Then Robbie Kass will be starting a thread in 10 years telling people to get rib tattoos and be proud you aren't really a skank if you have a rib tattoo.

I avoided the stigma all together and just got the whole thing done, like you @Hogrider. Which by the way, that little avatar makes for a good tease with regards to your progress. Put some pics in the back piece thread! It looks great!

He seems fine. What is it you're trying to get done, and how did you decide it would be done by Richard Stell?

Don't add anything that has a "bottom" if you plan to go lower than that. I think I told you about my tattoo artist's admonition that if I went with a smaller tattoo on my back, that he'd never be able to do anything "below" the ocean floor, where ever I chose that to be.

The Marianas Trench would be a pretty easy addition.

To Scubaron, I agree with the other guys so far. But what makes you want one on your back next as opposed to an arm/leg/anywhere else?

That fire looks great!

Those bloody eyes! Great video @Iwar and huge congrats to @Wilhell wrapping it up. It looks awesome.

Aw yeah, it's really coming together now. Sadly, Dana says he can finish in 1 more session. Picture stolen from his Instagram. If you don't follow him by now, you should @danahelmuth.