Hands On

hey @kvaz... i think you have at least three other threads for this same issue. http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-advice/6905-can-you-add-white-already-exsisting-purple-black-tattoo-lighten-parts.html#post120159 http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-advice/6904-looking-artist-who-can-tattoo-over-black-blue-purple.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/initiation/6896-looking-tattoo-help.html#post120137 be patient, listen to the advice that is given, and the answers will present themselves. my advice... Fremont is not part of the Bay Area tattoo mecca. look into the list of shops given in one of the other three threads. take a deep breath. it'll be all good! oh... and try to keep the same topic to one thread. ;)

welcome to LST. glad to hear your 2nd daughter is strong and well!

ahh. there's always an argument either way, to just keep getting tattooed!.. ;) if you're ready for a half sleeve now, you can start that process and slowly build that wardrobe while the half sleeve is in progress. by the time the half sleeve is done, BOOM!.. full sleeve work clothes are ready to go. be sure to consider what you'd put on the lower sleeve to add to the koi on the upper half. the right artists are able to make this addition appear seamless and might even be able to give you ideas of what you could add. you might even add something different on the upper half and put the koi on the lower half, if you can hold out that long.

to get back off topic, @sophistre, did you get something at Liberty?! i definitely feel the apprehension and know that i'll have the "here we go again" thoughts when finally decide what to get on my torso. fuckin ribs, chest, and stomach... spots where i know i'll be earning it. you're so right... as wise and wussy as we get, we still overcome it and get tattooed because they're that worth it. it's all part of the wizardry.

if you're already considering it now, you'll only consider it more once you have two half sleeves. elbow is bearable. gender doesn't matter. light blonde hair doesn't matter. do it! (you're talking to LSTers here). it's a big jump to the forearms, if you don't have any visible tattoos. there are other threads about this that you can find with a quick search. if you get a full sleeve now, the artist can make it more cohesive and have a fuller vision rather than moving down to a full sleeve later and tying it together.

in case you haven't heard... Original works by Ed Hardy presented by Varnish Fine Art at The Midway, 900 Marin Street, San Francisco. "...a large scale exhibition coming up in October of new works from Ed Hardy... The Artist Reception will be Thursday October 29th, which will also be the opening party for the Bay Area Convention of the Tattoo Arts. Doors open at 7:00, and will be open until midnight." anyone going?!

i think this depends on what you're trying to accomplish. if you're just trying to see the sights and take in the vibe, i think saturday is good. definitely the busiest and more likely to run into more LSTers. if you're trying to get tattooed, it could definitely vary... Friday - if you can get there right when the doors open, you can make a mad dash to folks taking walk ups and be the first to book, hopefully for Friday! Saturday - same as Friday, if you can get there early. but i think some artists book for the weekend on Friday night, so Saturday could be tougher to find someone available. Sunday - i think it's generally a lil slower, so there's a chance folks'll be open.

@JaredLee! dude... you almost made it a year from your join date to first post! yowza!! no need to apologize for jumping in... that's what the forum is all about! @sophistre, you'll be surprised how many great artists aren't booked in advance. if you're really lookin to get something, i suggest you get there early on friday and see what you can book. some artists will even be free friday and some might not be open til sunday, but there's only one way to find out! ;)

^ laziness wins, @Graeme. i thought there might be a secret message in the upper cases from the last post, but it turns out it just says "BLACKHTIDHSTG". that's worse than "be sure to drink your Ovaltine" now it's your duty, @Isotope. check out these shops, book a flight, hotel, and an appointment, then post pics!

the snake's got him right where he wants him.

do it! you can start with buying prints, ogling tattoos, and adding to your mental list, but being around it all just makes you want to jump over to the fun/painful side of the tables. ;) i enjoy searching out that perfect little pre-drawn $40-$60 filler piece to scratch the itch and pass the time.

@Andrew Robinson, re-read the advice from PackMan... keep following the instructions your artist gave you. if you want, you can also keep yourself busy here:http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-advice/3060-tattoo-healing.html and maybe get a little laugh here: https://youtu.be/Vxq9yj2pVWk ;)

congrats! that's insane to think about! i graduated from college 11yrs ago and i'm on my 6th company. did they give you any cool company paraphernalia?

i believe it! imagine if he had the chance to do a Japanese bodysuit... it's basically guaranteed to be badass!

welcome! if you're meeting with artists in Vietnam, then it sounds like you're willing to travel. If that's the case, then this list could grow out of control! this sounds like a "vote for an artist to do an LSTer's bodysuit" thread, which is pretty damn awesome. you've just gotta take all the suggestions, scroll IG til your fingers get numb, and find the artists whose work speaks to you. a few thoughts... - i'm not sure i've seen a full japanese body suit from Chris Garver, but i'm positive it would blow minds (if anyone has pictures of any, i'd love to see 'em). - it would be cool to see a few artists who don't specialize in japanese get the chance to do a full body suit... a chad koeplinger, jeff rassier, or jondix buddha/mahakhala bodysuit would be unique and amazing. - on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are artists who've been banging out japanese body suits for a while like Chris Treviño, Filip Leu, Shige, Mike Roper, Mike Rubendall, Henning Jorgensen, etc. - if you're going japanese and you're willing to travel, how about japan? - for practicality's sake, staying in the bay would save you $ on travel and you'd be able to work on it more often (see @cltattooing list above). happy researching!!

intro post and already knowin' about squid pants... that's some thorough lurking! =) seems like you'll do just fine here. welcome!

my question is, how did we get to post #13 of this thread with no photos or even a single request for a photo. all these words are gettin' me down! i don't have any work from him, but i've admired it for some time. here a few for our viewing pleasure. I'm pretty sure these will all age alright.

my thoughts exactly. based on the tiger, he will likely just be strengthening some of the lines and leaving the detailed lines as is. i love when tattoo placement is so good, it looks like the new tattoo was placed there before the others.

it's definitely a big step, but it hasn't really changed the way i live my life. it's great having the enrichment that tattoos bring me visible for myself to see at almost all times. i don't have to go to the bathroom and pull up a sleeve or drop trou. i get to see the work of artists i admire and pieces that remind me of the things i want to be reminded of whenever i look down. not much better than reminders of home, loved ones, one of my earliest memories, stay calm, life is short, death is certain, perseverance, and WAKE UP! All in a glance. definitely attracts more wandering looky loo eyes who don't get any of those reminders from looking at my arms. they're all mine! i might've said this in another thread, but now i realize why woman want you to look at their eyes and not at their breasts! hahahaha... i definitely notice folks stealing peeks at my arms mid-conversation. that's life changing in that it's made me more conscious of my own eye contact! O_O i'm obviously a proponent of forearm tattoos for those who are ready for it. now, different threads already address the bolder placement on hands, neck, face, etc. that's a different story.

if you're purchasing art, think of how to transport it. a large tube could work, depending on how much art you plan to get. with all all the shops in the Bay, you can easily go broke on this trip! Tattoo City! You might even be able to connect with Trevor for the good stuff, if you're so inclined. (IG trevor_lee_ewald) keep an eye out for what Analog has up in the gallery here. between The City and Santa Cruz, you'll likely pass San Jose. drop by State of Grace for some moichandizing. Monmon Cats, dude. i'm not even a cat person and i have half a dozen prints.

This is just a list of places i'd like to get tattooed. Most likely not all of them are realistic, but a man can dream! This list can basically go on forever, but here's a start, in no particular order: The Leu Family's Family Iron Inksmith & Rogers Seven Doors Absolute Art Smith Street Invisible NYC Yellowblaze Dynamic Temple Skull and Sword Three Tides LTW Into You Rock of Ages Immaculate Time machine shops: China Sea 222 Wherever Horiyoshi II tattooed Realistic On some Pacific Island beach under a palm tree

i'm sure you can find one on melrose... or hire one! hahahaha. that just adds to the tattoo cost tho. two tattoos or ONE COLLABO!!

ahh... i know the pain of plans. as i think of it, i would vote to brave the 5 and have the Spotlight experience.

Do it! I'm pretty sure he's a regular at the SOG convention, if the I5 is too daunting. ;)

Here you go... http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/3532-shops-pacific-northwest.html