ironchef

For now, I'm keeping everything from the shoulders down and nothing on or below my knee caps. I have 3/4 sleeves and have been toying with the idea of extending them but probably wouldn't do any hand tattoos. No interest in neck or face/head tattoos, nothing on the genitalia and no anus tattoos, though my back piece has come really close to my butthole, haha. The ironic thing is, I admire all sorts of tattoos and in all placements. Just have my own personal limitations. Working for "the man" also makes it tough too. I love my work (not my job) so I have to keep it professional. But maybe when I win the lotto or get to a point where I don't give a shit anymore, then I'll expand my horizons.

@a1steaks AMAZING! Love the color choices!

Hey Folks, thanks for all the kind words. I'm happy to be able to share the progress of this back piece as it evolves. More to come in a few months. Cheers!

Yes, there will be background in that space. Rubendall did all the background on the lower half of the back piece with the dragon. Henning will fill in the upper portion of my back with clouds and wind. Slowly by surely... :)

Updated full back progress pic. Pretty much healed up from my last session. Will be seeing Rubendall again in May to finish shading the back of my left thigh. Probably start some color too!

The Kings Ave crew has been great about putting up temporary screens when I have to drop trow, hahaha. Mostly because they don't want the other customers disgusted and throwing up from my nekkidness, hahaha. I usually keep a long sleeve t-shirt handy during breaks. I end up tying the sleeves around my waste so that the body of the shirt blocks the privates and nothing touches the back/rear that's being worked on. Then I can traipse around the shop or head to the bathroom. It works for me, still scares or surprises the other clients, hahaha. Here's a pic of one side of the Kings Ave Manhattan shop from opening week back in 2011. Yours truly on the left getting worked on by Henning, Rubendall on the right working on another client (Grez and Sara Carter (Schor) in the background). As you can see, sometimes the crew likes to be close by to keep good conversation going and things can get pretty intimate between clients proximity to one another and their state of dress (or undress) haha.

Hey Folks, Just wanted to share my experience from a few years ago dealing with contact dermatitis after a new tattoo. Back in late 2011, I had started a thigh piece on my left thigh which covered basically almost the entire front and side of the left thigh. After a couple of days, I developed a bunch of red spots on the back of my thigh, all outside of the tattoo itself. It wasn't a localized rash as it ran up and down the length of thigh and was in random areas but nothing on the ink itself. My artist unfortunately was just doing a guest spot locally and returned to his country. Best I could do was send me him pictures and even he was puzzled to the point where he recommended I see a doctor. But before seeing a doctor, I luckily had the benefit of three very good friends to contact. These were old college friends, all of whom were pharmacists and have encountered all types of ailments. One was even tattooed, so I called her first. She hit the nail on the head with her initial diagnosis. She asked if the spots were small and if any had popped and oozing clear serum. When I confirmed, she knew it was contact dermatitis. It basically happened because my skin is normally sensitive and was subjected to the trauma of tattooing. Add to the fact I normally wear briefs and switched to boxers to be comfortable and let the tattoo breathe but by doing so, added new cloth material contacting an area that was already irritated. Plus the shaving and the tape holding the saran wrap in place didn't help either. The fix? Good old Benedryl, both in pill and topical cream format in over the counter form. Within a couple of days, all the spots cleared up. More info on contact dermatitis from WebMD: Contact Dermatitis Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, & More I know everyone wants their tattoos to heal up without any issues and try to be diligent about aftercare. I know I do and sometimes verge on madness since it is a permanent investment in my eyes. I did myself a huge favor by getting to know my own body and what works with it. There's no one true formula or cure all that's ideal for everyone. Speak to your artist and the shop management about their recommendations for aftercare and then turn it into your own personal regime that suits you. Ideally, if at all possible, share your experience with the tattoo community so that others can benefit from your experience. Cheers.

I stopped by the local Bed Bath and Beyond yesterday while running errands. Saw the Coppertone Tattoo sunscreen and compared it to several different labeled sunscreens in the Coppertone line. Pretty much the same active ingredients at the same percentages. Just marketing and packaging changes.

It's almost a natural progression. Both good friends and business partners, excellent tattoo artists in the Japanese genre, and all around two of the nicest guys in the industry. Just makes sense. I'm just happy they both agreed on the back piece. Will have to see where the future leads me... :D

I have sensitive skin so I generally try to gravitate to something more mild. Also note that baby sunscreen generally is pretty mild with more natural ingredients and have high SPF ratings that block out UVA and UVB rays. I've done a bunch of personal research and there's concern among many circles (not just tattoo collectors) that certain chemicals in high SPF sunscreen may affect hormones after long term use.

You won't be disappointed, that's for sure! :p. I have one more appointment in May then I break for the summer. I then have one appointment in November and one in December. I hoping to see Henning in October so he can catch up on the head start Rubendall got, haha. I'm definitely getting some time in 2014 with Rubendall, hopefully finish up the collaboration back piece and maybe start something new.

What are you thinking about getting?

Same here. I look like a straight up square, yet I have a partial body suit! haha! I occasionally smoke cigars in the summer only and don't touch the spirits in any way. People can't believe that I have tattoos!

Enjoy! Interview: Mike Rubendall Talks the Legacy of the Bowery and Tattooing Off the Body | Complex

Same here! @BrianH My girl always teases me about going full monty in front of the crew at the tattoo shop and how besides her and my parents, my artists have seen more of my ass than anyone else, hahaha. The only part that really skeeves her out is when I start to peel. She says it looks like I'm sick or a leper and parts are just falling off!

@BrianH I actually have and she's been very supportive with my tattoo projects. Best part is when she helps me out with the aftercare on the hard to reach areas of the back piece!

Great thread and I'm enjoying reading about everyone's personal experiences. I'm ABC (American born Chinese) born and raised in Chinatown/Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC. Most people are aware of the negative connotations associated with tattoos in Asian cultures (think Triads and Yakuza). My younger brother was actually the first in the family to get a tattoo. He got it back in college with a couple of close frat brothers. I remember the first time my dad saw it, he actually flicked and slapped at it with a pair of chop sticks! Fast forward to 2009 and at the age of 33, after much planning and back and forth, I get my first tattoo, a koi half sleeve. I figure I could still hide it under a t-shirt. Summer 2010 rolls around my dad spots it. He doesn't really give me the riot act but questions my thought process. My mom was more concerned if I had now permanently damaged my chances of meeting a nice girl. Now we're in 2012. I've two 3/4 sleeves, which both mom and pop have seen. They don't know about my thigh piece nor the HUGE back piece I'm getting worked on right now. This summer could be a very interesting one, especially during Sunday family dinner at the folks.

Such a dynamic piece! Really powerful image. Here's the three pieces that true put it over the top for me from Henning. These will eventually be the inspiration for the one I want to get on my thigh:

@Graeme I believe Henning was working on Lucas Ford, machine builder and tattooer. Pics of his piece are at the bottom of the post above. AMAZING but I already made up my mind even before that to get a tiger from Henning.

I'm a bit biased being an ongoing client, but I personally love Henning Jorgensen's tigers. I plan on getting one on my front right thigh soon as he finishes up my left thigh and the collaboration back piece he's working with Rubendall on. Check out the pics!

@Cork I wear a couple of loose long sleeves and a zip up sweat hoodie and knit cotton boxers with sweat bottoms and sneakers that I can slip in and out of. Maybe a good idea to bring an extra pair of boxers or a towel depending on how your artist wraps you up. The reason for the extra layers for me is because I generally get inked in the fall through early spring and I layer for the cooler to cold temps. Add the fact that if I'm oozing or bleeding after the session and the wrap/bandage doesn't hold well, it won't bleed through all the layers.

How about a white tiger? Or a leopard or jaguar?

AMAZING! Love the details and colors!

@BrianH Henning did my 3/4 sleeves (koi, cherry blossoms, splashing water, peony on left arm, dragon and clouds on right arm) and also my left thigh as well (two koi with cherry blossoms and splashing water). Henning's thigh piece is still not finished yet. Have to finish coloring some cherry blossoms. Rubendall blended everything together so well, looks damn near seamless! - - - Updated - - - @Scott R HAHAHAHAHAHA! As Rubendall said, it's that Asian skin, hahahahahahahahaha

Quick update of more work from Rubendall on my collaboration backpiece. His attention to detail is fantastic and looking at his water makes me sea sick! More to come before I take a break over the summer. Hope to see Henning soon to continue the upper portion of the backpiece. Enjoy the pics folks. FYI, there's some work that's still healing and of course new work. Will have fully healed pics in a couple of months.