Devious6

Welcome to the forum!!

I didn't even notice the lines until you mentioned it. Looks fantastic!

I don't get out very often - but really enjoy shooting Sporting Clays. I just need to find more time to go do it - maybe when I retire in a few years. I've been thinking of getting an auto thrower for here at our farm - one with a foot pedal release. Who knows? I went way overboard when I got my shotgun for clays - Lynn got it for me for Christmas a few years ago; a Browning Citori 725 Sporting Clays model.

As a newbie, and an over 60 one at that, I appreciate this. As I looked for my first tattoo, I wanted something that had meaning to me - did the same with my second, too - and ended up falling in love with a wolf head that had tribal lines associated with it. It spoke to me and what I wanted it to say for me - and had it done. This first picture posted on another web site got responses of "dated" "hello 90's" etc. I was initially taken back a bit...and then just let it roll off my back. What I get is about me - not anyone else.

I noticed a post on Instagram where Megan was doing a book signing - would be cool to get an autographed version!

After Thursday afternoon's touch-up work primarily on the red and blue areas on my eagle/flag, I went from nothing to substantial peeling between yesterday morning and last evening. Just some mild itching along with the peeling. Life is good.

I would definitely agree that you should wait. First, let the 5 tattoos that you've gotten in the last 3 or 4 weeks heal. Second, take the time now to think about your long-term concept of what you want it all to look like when you're done. Do you have an idea for a unifying concept (as you did for the last 4)? Are you looking to stick with American Traditional? Are you, perhaps, interested in creating a unified look that might ultimately include sleeves or a back or chest piece? Just placing a random filler tattoo now might ultimately prevent you from a more completed look later and seems rash to me at this point. Given your reactions to the first 5, wait! Plan. Research. Discuss. IMHO, you are just leading yourself down the path of ultimate disappointment.

Come on, Dan. Tell us what you REALLY think!

No doubt in my mind - it's wrong, IMHO. It's not art, it's insensitive brutalizing of an animal that has no choice and for no meaningful propose.

I received this one today from the photographer my college hired to shoot pictures of the Sporting Clays Tournament - he asked me to pose for this one (shotgun was not loaded).

Ok so I caved and took a photo - crappy cell phone because I tried to get a close up and with an iPhone 6S Plus it's huge and hard to steady in my hand. But, you get the idea. Even though it's still healing I am so psyched at how it turned out.

Welcome to the forum!! Would love to see some pictures of your work/art.

Welcome to the forum!!

Spent yesterday shooting in a Sporting Clays fund-raiser tournament that benefits our College's school of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Beautiful weather and a chance to shatter a bunch of clay birds...although if I shot more than twice a year I might actually hit a few more. That's me in the middle.

Had the touch-up work done on my eagle/flag on Thursday - figured I'd let it heal before I post a final pic. I'm hoping that my body doesn't eat the red and blue ink this time. My artist packed it in pretty well. So far, so good. He it one of the lines that seemed to fade a bit as well as a little black here and there - love that he takes so much pride in making it the best he can. I know he likes this one a lot - and so do I.

In my very short time here and now with two whole tattoos, I remember seeing two comments most frequently. "Get a panther." And "Go large or go home."

Crap!! If only I'd seen this before I got my eagle!!!

^^^^ This. Or a panther.

I wholly agree with @marley mission. I think what you have looks great. It seems to me that no matter the recommendation, or what you choose, you're still going to be disappointed. You seem to be fixated on perfection...and that doesn't exist in the art of tattooing or anywhere other than in Photoshop. The 4 pieces you had done were custom designs you gave to the artist - they are now one-off pieces no one else has....done by human hands on a medium that is filled with bumps, imperfections and distortions. Please, before you do anything, let these heal. Take time to research, to look at the works of various artists, to spend time deciding how you want to proceed...or not. You've had reactions from some of the most experienced folks here (and me, the newbie) who have responded positively to the pieces you've gotten - that should tell you something. You are surely over-thinking the work. That said, you always have the option of trying to cover or laser your work. Both require a lot of research, thought and a clear commitment to what you want done. Pick an artist who you have had time to sit with, in advance, who's work you want and have him/her design something for you. And, when you totally approve of the design, then go ahead. From your reactions to your work so far, it appears that any chance of satisfaction would require you to seek out one of the top-notch artists - understanding this will take perhaps a year or more to get scheduled and a significant investment of money.This is permanent. I hope you find peace and satisfaction.

And I am so missing the warm weather already. At least it will hit the low 70s today and tomorrow but after that we're into the mid 60s at best. Ugh. Now I have to get out the sweatshirts.

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

You've obviously made the leap and are hooked. Was this the same artist who did your eagle?

As I said in your other post, I love your tattoo! Welcome to the forum and I look forward to seeing what you choose in the future.

Time for some shading touch up on my eagle/flag - in the chair at 4 on Thursday afternoon. Woo hoo!!

Good news!!! We've certainly seen a bunch of pictures of similar reactions to upper inner arm work but it must surely be disconcerting when it's your arm! And, when your boss, the surgeon, gets worried....................... Glad to hear you hung in there and all is on track!! Looking forward to the pictures!!