Cork

Instagram filters will be the downfall of society.... or at least good tattoo photography.

Time for a bunch of pinups buddy!

If this had been my first tattoo then my entire tattoos collection would consist of one line because for some reason he started on my love handle and when he hit that with the tattoo machine I didn't think I'd last 5 minutes. I somehow kept breathing and made it through the session, but that was brutal.

I have my first back piece appointment in about 540 days....

Went to the State of Grace BBQ yesterday, where I met several people with super killer backs, torsos and suits by Horitomo, Horitaka and Drew Flores. And I took part in my first group "shirts off" pic:

And here's my with Horitomo (top) and Horitaka (bottom). Super awesome dudes, and Drew makes a mean carne asada!

Too much butt wink if I had a bar on my back, though. :)

i didn't even know that those tags are usually the artist signature :-)
The tag on the Tamatori-Hime chespiece has my wife's name, 'Kokoro no Tomo' (Soulmate) and 'Ei' (Eternity) in it.
In my dragon sleeve there's 'Futago' (Twins), the names of my twin boys, and 'Ei' (Eternity). (They are also born last year, in the year of the dragon).
The big kanji on my lower is the name of my daughter, 'Manamusune' (Beloved daughter) and 'Ushidoshi' (year of the Ox) as the seal.

So I just read the first 15 pages and I'm skipping the last 10. What have I learned from all this? Next time I go to get a tattoo, I am just simply going to point at the artist, point at the location I want something done in, and then point to the reference material I brought with me so as to not offend anyone.

When I met my husband, he had just a couple of tattoos but planned to get much more work, while I was untattooed and planned to stay that way. We were both fine with that situation, and it didn't figure into our attraction for each other. A few years after we married he confided to me that although he was still fine with my lack of ink, he did find tattooed women to be very attractive, and sort of sheepishly and politely asked if I would consider getting one. This was not something I wanted to hear, but I love him, so I asked him to tell me more. He said that he always found tattooed women to be extremely attractive, and sexy. I could see that it was something he really wanted. I asked him what what he would like for me to get and where, and he said he'd like something feminine wrapping around my upper arm, sort or of a quarter sleeve. I really had no interest in getting a tattoo, certainly nothing that large, and especially not in such a visible location.
But we discussed it. I heard his desire, and he listened to my objections. I understood that he would find a tattoo on me to be attractive, and he understood that I was very, very reluctant. He said he would accept a "no" if that is how I felt. But I told him that I would think about it. I gave it a lot of thought and decided I wanted to please him if I could. I examined my tattoo objections, and realized that it was the visibility that bothered me. After a lot of thought I decided that I would be willing to step out of my comfort zone and get a tattoo, but in a “non-public” location. We compromised, and I got a a tattoo on the front of my hip where it would not be seen even if I was in my normal one-piece bathing suit. It made him very happy, and I was happy to be able to please him. Most importantly, it was MY decision and I did not feel forcibly coerced into the tattoo.
And just to show you how things can go unexpectedly: He soon extended his tattoos slightly into fairly modest shoulder/sleeve caps, and surprisingly decided that he was finished, and didn't want any more tattoos. For me, it turned out that I loved my tattoo – so much so, that I now have eight, with no further prodding from my husband, including two including two half sleeves! In the end, hubby got the arm tattoo on me that he originally wanted, and much, much more! I am now planning a full back piece, and I'm sure I will get more after that. And now I'm pestering him to get more ink, because I think it is pretty attractive on him too!
I think that now if, heaven forbid, something were to happen to my husband, and I were to settle down with someone new, he would have to be tattooed. It is big part of my existence now, and I have come to find tattooed men to be very attractive. I don't think an uninked man could truly understand or appreciate me now.

I liked the tattoos. You should get them.

Balance was foremost in my mind since the beginning. I'm a huge fan of the full Japanese styles, and body placement is a HUGE deal. I kind of started on my back piece sooner than I thought I would be able to, but it was definitely in my head as to what would go where, and how I would tie it all together once the back piece was in place.
I never thought I'd be one to get a suit, but I think it would just look weird with empty space between my tattoos ;)

Look at this blackness! It was a bloody mess. Kongo Yasha is really going to pop once this background is done.

im going to be the grumpy old curmudgeon who offers nothing to the thread on topic save for mentioning my absolute hatred of the term plainskin. My friend Shannon tried to start that as a phrase years ago, not sure if this is the ripple from that, but its like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
Sorry for interrupting.

Balance was foremost in my mind since the beginning. I'm a huge fan of the full Japanese styles, and body placement is a HUGE deal. I kind of started on my back piece sooner than I thought I would be able to, but it was definitely in my head as to what would go where, and how I would tie it all together once the back piece was in place.
I never thought I'd be one to get a suit, but I think it would just look weird with empty space between my tattoos ;)

Balance was foremost in my mind since the beginning. I'm a huge fan of the full Japanese styles, and body placement is a HUGE deal. I kind of started on my back piece sooner than I thought I would be able to, but it was definitely in my head as to what would go where, and how I would tie it all together once the back piece was in place.
I never thought I'd be one to get a suit, but I think it would just look weird with empty space between my tattoos ;)

derek noble knee today.

8 weeks after my 4th session:

Dropped by Eye Candy just over a week ago and Randy Muller seems quite happy with the results and advises we're easily to a fade level that will give him good options for a cover. He took a couple of pictures and we'll consult again in a couple of weeks. Hoping to be starting on my back piece in September.

Look at this blackness! It was a bloody mess. Kongo Yasha is really going to pop once this background is done.

Figured I'd toss this up in here. Received my tiger painting from Tim Lehi today and couldn't be happier. I can't wait to get it framed and hung up in my room.

Tanners dragon and koi full back piece by Ben Lucas.
Professional Tattooing & Piercing | Chico, Ca | Eye Of Jade Tattoo

Got my first traditional piece from Chad K yesterday who was super cool. Just a simple wolf head on the top of my foot. Didn't hurt as bad as I thought it was going too and I must say it was nice to get a tattoo done in one sitting for a change! Super stoked to get it and am currently thinking about what I want to get on the other foot right about now. Oh and @Wilhell that's a rad piece and props to you for just one sitting.

Oneshot kirin done by Marius Meyer. Sorry, bad picture because it was finished late monday night.

Jordan Baxter from Hope & Glory suffolk UK did this monday! blast over some laser removal

I personally really like Dana Helmuth's snakes. I'm glad I got him to add one to my back piece.

I won't speak for eveyone @KegRN, but I think tattoos should look like tattoos.