Devious6

Welcome and I love your pieces! I look forward to seeing your art work as you work through the apprenticeship. By the way, have you ever heard about those things called tattoos?

This one. Sorry for the mixing of the Queen and King. In my defense, it was early and I was just working on my first cup of coffee. Scale and placement are important - I would also prefer to see the shadow bold and black, not muted as in this example. IMHO, that makes it a more definitive statement and not just a mere shadow. Just my own $.02, though.

I actually like the shadow - lots of potential meaning in it: the true strength of the Pawn,; the desire to grow and improve oneself to become a King; How one sees oneself, not as a Pawn but a King....... If you're just a chess fan than the pawn itself is fine, but if you're looking to portray something than just being a fan of chess, your original is much better, IMHO. Placement, to me, is related to size and your future plans for tattoos. I would first find the trusted artist who understands your intent and then talk with him/her about where and how big it should be.

Looking forward to the picture!!

I read it all the way through - and I'm willing to take it at face value as you wrote it. I've seen other people decimated by social media - either because their reputations were killed or they took it too personally. Post your work as you can. Let us get to know you as you are - not as others portrayed you.

Congratulations, @Boiled Dove!!! This is exciting!!

As a newbie in all respects - both to the forum and to tattooing - I have to say that I've received great assistance and acceptance here. People have been tolerant of my enthusiasm which leads me to sometimes comment on issues even though I have limited experience - and all have been friendly. So, from my perspective, keep doing what you're doing.

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service!! I waited until years after I retired from the Army to get my first tattoo....and my second. There are lots of great people here who will help guide you on your way.

Welcome to the forum!!

Great pieces, Dan!!! I'd love to get a piece done by Oliver Peck!

I had to go look it up. I guess I AM getting old! ?

First step is to let it heal completely allowing it to peel fully and for the scabs to fall off. That will take at least two weeks. Once that occurs, I'd consult with your artist to assess your options. Some people's bodies just don't take certain colors well - my last tattoo had to be touched up for both blue and red. It seems that yours had light saturation and muted colors to begin with so that might combine with absorption to be part of the issue. In any case, don't sweat it now - let it get to the point where your artists can make a good assessment.

@sophistre I am really looking forward to seeing it after you heal!!

Nice!!

I would love to get this done - my Charlie aka the Big Brown Butthead. I lost him about 2 years ago to cancer.

@oboogie That totally rocks!!

Going back to the same artist will help to ensure consistency, if that's your desire. That would be my recommendation. I think you can begin to start threads in other areas after 10 posts.

Welcome to the forum!!

Spent a long weekend on a trip down to The Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. About 7 years ago we signed up to be Maker's Mark Ambassadors - costs nothing and they send you a present each year at Christmas. They also put your name on a barrel plate and, when the barrel matures - 6 to 7 years later - you get invited to the distillery for a free tour, tasting and you can buy bottles from your batch. They put a special label on the bottle(s) and you get to hand-dip it in the traditional red wax and seal it with the Ambassador's seal. It was a blast - and we hit several other distilleries and great restaurants along the way. The weather was warm and, since we took the Z3, we enjoyed some top-down days. Here are our bottles and Lynn watching while I dipped mine. And Lynn dipping her bottle.

I believe that there is always room for a new company to emerge if it can capture a market share with a different or better product. And, I try to support US owned companies and products made here when possible. in terms of my opinion, remember that I am a newbie to the world of tattoos - just have two, both done in the last 7 months. And, I'm at the upper end of your age demographic at 61. That said, here are my thoughts. Someone needs to begin the process of driving the continued cultural acceptance of tattooing and its recognition as an art form. It seems that most shirts I see, with few acceptances are black and most designs depict the "darker" images - skulls, zombies, villains, etc. Trying to eek out a new market for similar designs on black shirts with US costs would be tough - not impossible, but tough. Personally, I'm looking for that new trendsetter. Colors, different and artistic designs and even classics that show the depth and breath of the art form. That is something I would buy. I've got enough black t-shirts...my wife will tell you I have too many. ? As a retired Army office and now president of a small college, I take every opportunity to show off my tattoos and to break the perceptions of tattoos and people who have them. I wear t-shirts often outside of work so having designs that show the art and artistry of tattooing would be both helpful and refreshing. Just my very limited and personal $.02.

I'm really not sure why you continue to post asking for advice since you obviously don't ever follow it and do what you want to do anyway. Many experienced people have offered you good advice, you state your intention to follow it and within days post again with something that shows you just ignored the advice. At this point, it almost seems like a game. Why waste people's time? I hope you have a great vacation and wish you luck with your tattoo journey. But, I'm done responding to your posts.

Welcome to the forum! I'd suggest finding an artist you trust to help design options for your forearm or do as Marley Mission suggests and just fill around them with good tattoos.

Welcome! You definitely followed the go large or go home mantra on your first! Gorgeous!

My wife and I have been watching it this season, too. Ryan Ashley is from a town about 20 miles away from us.

I started a light work-out regimen when I got serious about losing weight last March. I'm doing push-ups, sit-ups, crunches and several stretching/toning exercises I learned in the Army - 26 years of morning PT taught me something at least! I walk around quite a bit at work and have lots of stairs in our building - always avoid the elevators, too. I'm up to 85 push-ups and 100 sit-ups, 40 crunches X 3 - front, left and right obliques and at least 30 reps of the other exercises. Then I finish out with light weights - 3 sets of 25 reps of 4 exercises where I focus on biceps, triceps, deltoids and pecs. I've dropped 35 pounds now and have toned up quite a bit - not bad for a 61 year old.