SnowyPlover

I have nearly 100hours and have never taken anything, but some ibuprofen to help with swelling. I suck it up and take it. I was pretty amazed to read that someone would need an opiate to make it through a 1.5 hour session, but I guess it's not my business. For me having a good session is where I have a clear mind and I can focus on nothing but sitting well. It takes a lot of focus. It's actually one of the rare times when I don't have random stupid thoughts floating through my head because all my energy is going into the "sit". A good sleep and a healthy solid meal before hand never hurts.

I have nearly 100hours and have never taken anything, but some ibuprofen to help with swelling. I suck it up and take it. I was pretty amazed to read that someone would need an opiate to make it through a 1.5 hour session, but I guess it's not my business. For me having a good session is where I have a clear mind and I can focus on nothing but sitting well. It takes a lot of focus. It's actually one of the rare times when I don't have random stupid thoughts floating through my head because all my energy is going into the "sit". A good sleep and a healthy solid meal before hand never hurts.

I mean, I know that tattoos hurt, sometimes a lot, but I had some medical shit happen to me in the past year that was among the worst pain I have ever experienced, like pain that makes you vomit uncontrollably (for which I was prescribed far LESS in terms of painkillers than what some people are describing in this thread), and it's made me have a low, low tolerance for otherwise healthy people (i.e. without chronic problems that exacerbate what it means to sit for a tattoo!) not being able to grin and bare it through a tattoo. It really sucks sometimes, I am not disputing that, but we all deal with it. And we are doing this voluntarily. We are feeling the pain because of something we want, not because our body is telling us that we are ill. The pain also stops as soon as the needle does. If folks want to use painkillers or muscle relaxants to make the process easier, that's up to them and their tattooers--I have never found it worth the side effects, and I really resist the notion that it is ever "necessary". Like do whatever you want, but let's remember that just because something is really painful, doesn't mean that we can't just... deal with it. We all like to complain about how much tattoos hurt as some kind of bonding exercise, but we wouldn't still be getting tattooed if it really required sedation to survive!

Full back was undoubtedly the hardest for me. I am able to sit for 5 hours, but was really surprised the level of pain - at points it was very intense. It probably doesn't help that I don't like laying on my stomach. At the end of one particularly painful session, I had involuntary leg spasms in one leg. I was anxious about having my ribs done, but it was not challenging at all. Everyone is so different, you might have an idea what it will be like, but you won't really know until it starts.

This!! Seth Wood.

This!! Seth Wood.

I understand what you are saying. I suggested John specifically because he works at Saved with Anderson - I considered it "keeping it in the family" :-) . I swear I've seen a compilation or two between artists at Saved (and other shops too).
A Yoni back piece is enviable!

I was excited to read that Marcus Kuhn (of Gypsy Gentleman) fame is tattooing out of Dragon Tattoo in Eindhoven now.
I visit the Netherlands quite a bit for work, and it's not so far on a train from where I tend to be. Maybe I can do a bus-man's holiday and get tattooed.
Could be wrong and maybe it's just a guest spot, but I got the impression he was going to be sticking around there for a while.

This!! Seth Wood.

This!! Seth Wood.

This!! Seth Wood.

This!! Seth Wood.

Full back was undoubtedly the hardest for me. I am able to sit for 5 hours, but was really surprised the level of pain - at points it was very intense. It probably doesn't help that I don't like laying on my stomach. At the end of one particularly painful session, I had involuntary leg spasms in one leg. I was anxious about having my ribs done, but it was not challenging at all. Everyone is so different, you might have an idea what it will be like, but you won't really know until it starts.

Full back was undoubtedly the hardest for me. I am able to sit for 5 hours, but was really surprised the level of pain - at points it was very intense. It probably doesn't help that I don't like laying on my stomach. At the end of one particularly painful session, I had involuntary leg spasms in one leg. I was anxious about having my ribs done, but it was not challenging at all. Everyone is so different, you might have an idea what it will be like, but you won't really know until it starts.

CaitlinBurnett10 - start at the beginning of this thread, there is lots of "boob info" there. Full back in three days, I'm wincing - power to you!

Amusing cartoon! I loathe the term "tramp stamp", but yeah, that was the placement for my first tattoo, back in 1991. It's covered now, full back.

Yeah, I agree that it's a good place for a tattoo. Not to mention painful as hell--all those women people mock for having "tramp stamps" more than earned it and went through something way tougher than a judgmental blowhard with an anchor on his bicep.

To get back to the questions originally asked, I'm not sure that any of us can really be honest about why we want a certain design or why we want a specific person to put it on us (I believe in the unconscious). For me, I usually decide I want a certain design, then think about who does that design in the way that I like most. (I like to think that) I'm not a sucker for big names, but I do think I am a sucker for "authenticity" and "soulfulness." For me, some tattooers and their works have an ineffable draw that goes beyond form or technical proficiency. Certainly, relatively unknown tattooers could possess that quality, but it's less likely that I would find out about them. In regards to masters and their successors, hopefully the successors would be doing something new or different enough to be recognized for their own work. As far as the experience of getting tattooed, the tricky thing is that you never know until after the fact. I am, of course, more compelled to go back to people I enjoyed getting tattooed by and talking to than not. It's such an intense experience getting tattooed that I couldn't imagine going back to someone I didn't enjoy regardless of their reputation or skill.

Tattooers tattoo over all sorts of scars, stretch marks, etc. Don't feel embarrassed or worried! This is the job, what makes it challenging and interesting. They have seen it all! I felt self-conscious when I started going onto my thighs because I have lots of cellulite. I wasn't sure how designs would turn out. The answer is obvious: my thighs are ten times cooler now. :)

Oh, it would just bum me out that anyone could print out posters and shirts of my tattoo as inspiration for their event and/or business. It's like the Stay Calm stuff...to me. I've also worked in a corporate environment for nearly 20 years now and the inspirational posters that hang in the break areas are anything but... just my opinion from my personal experiences with inspirational quotes.
I would get a big ass eagle across my chest or a panther with a kettle bell (nod to the crossfit stuff) hanging from its mouth. Good luck with the weight loss man...

I love flowers on the hands and I also really like this ...
Jondix

Gerhard Wiesbeck

I have a tip - you don't need a solid idea, you just need an idea. When you have a tattooer whose work you like, hamstringing them with your narrow artistic direction will not allow them to be an artist or fully use their talent/style. Why don't you just tell your tattooer what kind of placement and that you want colorful realistic moths (a couple pictures), possibly overlapping. People have a real hard time letting go of the process - you picked a tattooer because you like their style - let them use it. My best tattoos are a result from me finding the right artist and letting go; all the old ones I had, which I got all control- ly over are now covered.
Edit - I just saw there is a similar post in the General Tattoo Discussion area - go read that thread
http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/5829-need-advice-next-tattoo.html

I have a tip - you don't need a solid idea, you just need an idea. When you have a tattooer whose work you like, hamstringing them with your narrow artistic direction will not allow them to be an artist or fully use their talent/style. Why don't you just tell your tattooer what kind of placement and that you want colorful realistic moths (a couple pictures), possibly overlapping. People have a real hard time letting go of the process - you picked a tattooer because you like their style - let them use it. My best tattoos are a result from me finding the right artist and letting go; all the old ones I had, which I got all control- ly over are now covered.
Edit - I just saw there is a similar post in the General Tattoo Discussion area - go read that thread
http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/5829-need-advice-next-tattoo.html

Finally my tattooer put something up on his instagram so I can add an in-progress here! We are in the middle of a grind tonight. Adding tube sponges and corals along the bottom and up the right side.
And standard disclaimer - nothing is done except the snake, which is under my top.

I love flowers on the hands and I also really like this ...
Jondix

Gerhard Wiesbeck