suburbanxcore

@David Akers, that's not particularly my favorite style, but I really like the way it looks in that picture a lot. I think @cltattooing is right that in certain shades and done well, it could mesh neatly with traditional. That's an idea for the future... @SlowMoe, I like that umbrella and lightning bolts. Who did that one? Very nice.

Not a street shop, per say, but last weekend I was in Kings Avenue getting tattooed, and Zac Scheinbaum was cranking out walk in after walk in while I was there. It was nice to see someone that you'd think of as kinda having a style and typically be booked in advance just doing names and script and Stars of David and treating it just as importantly as the bigger/custom one he was doing when I left.

@Kimmie I texted my artist and he said it was Emla cream. It was the only time I've used it. I don't remember much about it though, to be honest. It lasted for a bit, but not crazy long if I recall. No adverse healing issues. Sorry I'm not more help, but it was a few years ago. Like I said, what I hated most about ribs was the way I had to lay with my arm stretched across my body and my hand kept falling asleep. Hahaha. My piece isn't gigantic, but decent sized I suppose. I believe there is a thread somewhere else on here about numbing agents.

I always get a little bummed after a tattoo if it's not going to be a while before my next one. Right now I'm working on my biggest tattoo to date, and it'll take quite a while. After the first sitting last week I was immediately bummed that it would be a month before the next one! I keep hoping I'll get a cancellation call.

I've never noticed any effects from caffeine while being tattooed, but I'm sure everyone is different. I feel like the ribs are a different ballgame and it's almost about survival. It's also harder to talk or laugh or anything because you don't want to move around too much. Like you with headphones, that was the only time I used any numbing stuff. I didn't plan on it, but my artist had just gotten some and wanted to test it out. He'd tattooed me a bunch and figured I'd be as good a guinea pig as anyone. Haha. I remember the worst part of my ribs being laying with my arm stretched out awkwardly.

@Cork haha. Soon enough. I'm waiting for a few more sittings. We actually didn't even get all the line woke done yet, so I'm not gonna post for a bit. You can see a teeny bit in a picture I put on IG (same username as here).

I can't back what @CultExciter is saying enough. No excuses for bad ones in the greater NYC area. I haven't been to the LI King's Avenue, but I obviously can't say enough good things about the Manhattan shop.

Just snagged (the outline of) my first dragon this weekend. Can't wait to watch it continue.

Most of my tattoos are by two people (Grez and @KeithReed), but I have started branching out a lot more over the last few years. I love getting to see new shops, see how new artists work, and get new stories. But I also love that I have developed a pretty solid relationship with two people over the years, know how they work, and can trust their judgement/ability.

My principal and department supervisor have no issues with my tattoos in meetings and in services and stuff, but I never wear short sleeves in my classroom. Half of the reason is because I don't feel like fielding questions from twelve year olds every day. My students mostly know that I have tattoos as they see me at track and xc practice. It's funny though. For my first few years, I made a point of keeping covered. Whenever kids would see, it would be a big deal. However, as I've been there longer, and I have a lot more tattoos, they actually seem to care less.

It also doesn't hurt that Scott is fast as hell. Haha. But yeah, getting tattooed by him was a blast. I can't do headphones either, like some people have said. Like @CABS said, I just kinda chat and zone out as best I can with that. The shops I get tattooed at most often are pretty open, so I usually have people in and out, flash/art to look at, and other tattoos to see. Plus, the artists tattooing me the most lately are great guys who are easy to talk to. I did four hours the other day without batting an eye. Lots of hilarious conversations with Grez, my buddy, and tons of other people in the shop. Like @Graeme said, the more you get tattooed, the easier it'll be to find your"happy place." Or just look at butts on the internet.

Finally started my left arm with Grez at King's Avenue NYC yesterday. We got most of the outline done, but there are still some spots to finish lining next month. I'm doing at least one sitting a month, unless they can squeeze me in elsewhere. We'll see. I'll probably post little detail shots along the way, but not really the whole thing until it's done (or close to it).

Yoooooo. Definitely gonna head down to at least one of those.

I saw that too. It's definitely a neat new take on it. I also like my wolf from Ron.

What day is the backpiece contest? When are you guys going to be in town? I'll be in NY on Saturday to get tattooed myself, but I'd be up for an LST meet up on Friday or Sunday. There are a ton of good Asian restaurants within spitting distance of the convention (it's in Chinatown).

Very cool. Thanks. I'll have to check this out when I get home.

I can't watch this quiet yet either, but I remember Kings Avenue posting pictures with him when he was in the NYC shop about a year ago.

Very nicely done. Thanks for posting this!

@Graeme, I don't remember your morph and it's not in your gallery. Lemme see that shit! Haha. And I seriously love @Hospitelli's as well. One of my favorite tattoos.

Not sure how well this will upload from my iPad, but Grez posted this one today. Edit: should be more clear. This is not on me. I wish!!

@daveborjes Oh, that rules. I may try to make it out to that.

I went to this convention for the first time last year and got tattooed by Ron Wells. It's kind of a shit show with the amount of people and things going on, but it's ok. There are a ton of terrible artists there, but there are usually a decent amount of solid ones. If I wasn't already getting tattooed at Kings Avenue that weekend I might go try and snag something.

A good friend of mine lives about 30-40 min from Portland and has a bunch of tattoos from John Biswell that are rock solid. He also has tattoos from a girl named Gemma who used to work there and now opened a shop called Gemstone Tattoo. Don't know as much about that.

Dude, seriously. Every tattoo entered so far could win and it would deserve it.

@KBeee, that's funny. Yesterday I saw your panther/rose on the main page and pulled it up to look at it again. So nice. It's awesome to see the matching set.