PhilB

Depends...If you want anything from South East Asia (best Chinese and Indian food in the world, according to all the Chinese and Indian people I talk to!), including fantastic sushi, and anything from the sea, Vancouver is it. For anything else...not so much.

Just got more work done on the Sleeve of Science. Last two sessions start on the 9th picture.

Awesome. You'll have a leg up on all the young kids. Motivation, work ethic, and paying for your own shit tends to keep things in perspective. I went back to school in my 30s and graduated last year with my BSc. in Computing Science. Try not to get mad at the kids' sense of entitlement. They usually had me speak at orientation, because I would lay down the polite version of "Nobody owes you shit, and no one is responsible for your success but you. Your profs don't care, they are here to do research and are usually forced to teach, which many of them hate (and it shows)." But, you know...with some jokes thrown in...Ahem.

I'm from Montreal originally, but left after 27 years of horrible, inhumane winters :p As far as getting in shape, that is the most common argument: "I can't start training, because I'm not in shape enough." Know the best way to get in shape for boxing? Boxing! I got my first tattoo at Iris, and was lucky enough not to get a horrible piece. You can see it, and how it got covered up this year in the gallery in my signature.

As @Dan S has said, stop putting Vaseline on that (is that what the artist recommended?) Also, at the time you posted, it was still healing. It's impossible to see how it will look until it is done peeling. Has it healed now? What does it look like now? Most artists do free touch-ups on new tattoos if some spots healed incorrectly, or were missed, etc.

Definitely looks like they are setting it up for self-destruction.

Bienvenue. Where are you getting your work done? I left Montreal 10 years ago, and it was starting to get more shops in by then. When I got my first piece 20 years ago in Montreal, there were only three real shops in town, all of them on Ontario street (Tatouage Artistique, Keith Stewart's place. Keith was *the* tattoo guy in Montreal, and the first one to bring the convention to town, Tatouage du Quebec...the owner had...issues, and Tatouage Iris, avoid (at least at the time)). Now, just like in every big city, looks like there are hundreds of shops around. I met Oly Anger at the Vancouver tattoo show, and was really impressed with his stuff, if you are into the really dark/horror style (obviously, big Paul Booth influences there, but in his own style). As far as Boxing, it's expected that you will die for the first several weeks, and 16 ounces is much heavier than most people think, specially when holding them up and boxing for over an hour. If you have time check out Tri-Star on Ferrier (near Decarie and Jean-Talon). You might run into GSP, etc. I haven't been there since Conrad sold it, but it has certainly made a name for itself in the MMA world now!

I had some blood drawn for my cholesterol test a few weeks ago (hours before driving down for a tattoo session, as a matter of fact), and joked with the technician that I obviously had no problem with needles. She told me that a lot of the tattooed people she sees are terrified of needles. I guess it's a different type of feeling between getting tattooed and getting a needle actually in a vein, but still...neither bother me, but I've been getting blood tests fairly regularly since I was a baby, so...

Hard to tell from the healed pictures because they are pretty blurry, but from the fresh pic, line work looks clean, shading is nice. Looks like a good, solid piece to my non-tattooer eyes. You're in trouble now, though, you'll start thinking of your next one soon enough...

Of course, looking at it now, looks like we'll have to add to it towards the sternum (specially at the top) to match the other chest panel. At least, that should be quick, and although I remember near the sternum sucking, I can't believe it'll suck as much as towards the armpit.

Good point. My squidpants started as a memorial to my mom.

Sorry to hear that, @Androosh. Lost my dad when he was 48 in the 80s, and my mom just passed a year and a half ago after her almost 3 year battle with cancer.

I'm originally from Montreal, but now in Vancouver. Quebec is the only place I've seen where they call them "The Hells" (or "Les Hells"). Even the rest of the francophone places call them "Les Anges" ("The Angels") when using that form! Just gave me a flashback, that's all.

Welcome aboard. You're in the right town for the music scene in Canada (it's Montreal or Toronto, really. Vancouver is oddly dead for music).

Unfortunately, my knowledge is now over 10 years old, since that's when I left my hometown. Old Montreal, obviously, has to be seen. For tattoo shops, Tatouage Artistique used to be the local Mecca (back when there were only 3 tattoo shops in town!), owned by Keith Stewart, who did lots of nice black and grey work, and put on the first tattoo conventions in town. No idea if the shop is still there or if Keith's still working. He had his son starting to work there over 10 years ago... At the Vancouver convention, I met Oly Anger, and I really liked his work. You can see tons of Paul Booth inspiration in there, obviously, but if I was into the really dark (meaning subject-matter-wise) black and grey work, I'd be talking to him for sure. Also, he was a nice guy to just talk to, originally from France: Oly Anger, Tattoo artist Of ourse, like everywhere else, there are a million shops in town now, so no idea what the deal is anymore. If you want the best burger you've ever had, and don't mind getting away from downtown, then L'Auberge du Dragon Rouge is where you want to be: Auberge du Dragon Rouge, Cabaret du Roy, Production Oyez Oyez Be prepared to be chided a little for being an "Anglo", though. It's a medieval-oriented place, so people are in costume, play around, etc, but not at all like Medieval Times...Much cosier, and the food is simply fantastic (and, like most places in Montreal, good selection of beer on tap, including some exclusive breweries, I think). The food and culture in Montreal is second-to-none, and I'd still be living there if it wasn't for the inhumane winters! Also, if you're not used to hot and muggy...well, you'll see!

Got more work done on the Sleeve of Science. Last week was adding the Abacus, and lots of background elements (blood lines for more smoke, some galaxies, line work for planets, etc). Abacus from elbow ditch to just below armpit was not the most fun. This week was the entire chest panel: (large version in the album, or you can click on the one above). This was done yesterday, so, obviously, imagine all the blues to be properly muted when it is healed (some of the same blues used in the wolf coverup on the other chest panel). Good news: As long as this heals properly, I never "have" to get tattooed on my chest ever again!

"The Hells"? Are you, by any chance, from Quebec?

I've been planning to make the Seattle show for over a year, since we started the squidpants. I was going to make a weekend of it with the missus, book a hotel, hang out... Turns out it's the same weekend we take possession of our new house, and have some work to do right away :( Maybe next year.

My usual response to the "Your body is a temple" comments is something like "Have you ever seen a temple without decorations on the walls?"

Welcome. What part of Ontario are you from? I'm originally from Montreal, but now in Vancouver.

He's either one of the worst liars ever, or the dumbest motherfucker around. If you're down, you know what's up. If you're not down, you're suicidal to get all this stuff. What is it? Pure luck? "I love the number 13, and, BTW, all these other affiliated items"? If you used to be down and are now retired, you can say that too.

Also, another friend of mine (a collector) found a few of her pieces on there so far.

I've known Shannon online since '95 or so, and still have one of his original BME shirts (had to send a money order for that...it was pre-Paypal!). Back when rec.arts.bodyart was still active...

Because it's well known that all the good artists tattoo people with the hopes that their piece will get covered up later on. "Not the work of a scratcher", you say? I beg to differ.

Hah...I was just asking Shannon on FB if I could share this with this forum. Beat me to it, Jennifer!