9Years

Had my third session with Tim Lehi at Temple today. Made some serious progress. Things are coming together, but still a ton left to do. Loving the process. I don't know for certain (since I've never gotten a backpiece before) but he seems to work in a very unique manner. It's awesome to see someone so comfortable with such a massive project. 

Dude. That wrathful offering is killer. So is the Jondix work too, but you knew that already. Very cool stuff.
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Got this super-cool little moth from @cltattooing . It was a nice change of pace from the large-work I've got going on right now.
Pumped on this little guy!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEC8O07DEkE/?taken-by=handoftheforge

New issue rules. Santoro and Snodgrass interviews are totally worth it.

I've been getting mine through gentlemanstattooflash.co.uk they still had a few copies left at the Brighton show. I have managed to get hold of all of them so far except issue #1. They are a lot of fun and a really cool change from the standard tattoo magazines.

Finishing my ribs with Jason Phillips at FTW Tattoo next week! Excited/nervous!

What a steaming pile of bullshit.
If you can't handle tattoos being permanent, go get one of those fake skull n dice sleeves from the dollar store, get your temporary I'm-so-cool fix and fuck right off. Tattoos aren't for everyone.
 

Vic Ruggiero (from the Slackers NYC) played a solo show last nite in a living room in east Edmonton. It was super dope, we love Vic here. That's me on the left playing the red wurlitzer, the show turned into an amazing ska/rocksteady jam sesh with some cool cats (and close friends) from the Canadian ska scene.
Pretty awesome to get to play alongside one of your musical icons. Pretty jazzed. Life is full circle.
 

You're not punk rock unless you have Hep C.

I had my first sitting on my knee with Grez the other night. We ended up sorta running out of time because he had to leave right when the shop closed and it took a while for him to draw a lot of things on when we started. But he got done the outline and shading and it looks fuckin killer.
The real highlight of the trip was after we wrapped up though. He had told me last year that he was going to show me his tattoos from Hardy, Higgs, and Conn (his three favorites). So Thursday night he showed me tattoos he has from all three of them. Then he asked me if I wanted to see the art he keeps at the shop (aside from all the insane shit he has on the wall). He showed me a shitload of originals from all three of them, from flash sheets to commissions to sketchbook pages. He also showed me a bunch of originals from Sailor Jerry, Mike Malone, Timothy Hoyer, Tim Lehi, and a ton of others. It was absolutely bonkers.

Snake sleeve in progress by Yoni Zilber @ NY Adorned

Hi all! My name is Matt and I've been lurking on here for a while. Reading this forum has really helped me figure out what makes a good tattoo. I love seeing the variety of work everyone has and it's great to connect with such a like-minded community, especially when you're one of the only tattooed people amongst your friends! I'm excited to finally contribute!
I got my first tattoo in 2014 and became hooked as soon as the first line was put on my skin. All of my tattoos with the exception of a few small handmade ones have been done by Yoni Zilber at New York Adorned. We started with a shoulder piece on my left arm, then did a 3/4 sleeve on my right arm, and are currently in the process of extending my left arm into a full sleeve. The addiction is strong!
 
My first tattoo - Tibetan Skull by Yoni Zilber @ NY Adorned 

Bodhisattva style Virgin Mary, done @ Diamond Club Tattoo and True Nature Tattoo

Snake full-sleeve extension in progress, done yesterday @ NY Adorned

Filipino tribal snake scales and tongue design, hand-tapped by the legendary Kalinga tattooer Whang-od in Buscalan, Philippines

@JBluewind Are these tattoos you've seen in real life or in pictures on the Internet?  I did a google image search on "ear tattoos" and nothing that came up is what I would consider good tattooing.  From what I've seen in real life, if you're going to tattoo the inside of the ear you're best sticking with bold and heavy blackwork/tribal.  And if you're going to do that you have to be pretty much fully covered unless you want to look completely ridiculous.  All those delicate flowers and other complicated and intricate designs are not going to hold up to the kind of sun exposure that your ears will get.  Don't get me started on how many obvious photoshop jobs show up when you do that search either.  
 
if you want something to memorialize somebody who you loved and who meant a lot to you, you owe it to her memory to get something nice that is going to last a lifetime.

Got this panther from Steve Byrne when he was guesting at invictus in Oslo.
 

My full ass is tattooed and it definately ain't a secret anymore. Since my 7yo nephew saw the 'great wave' splashing out of my plumber's crack all he does is ask "Uncle Eric why do you have a butt tattoo?" and then all the kids laugh because he said "butt" haha.

I do like the idea of a future behind the ear tattoo though for myself, like silver dollar sized.
Tattooing in/on the ear though makes as much sense as writing "serenity" or some shit on the sides of your finger. Why? To be edgy? It will look silly unless you have a lot of other tattoos going on. That's where the put ID tattoos on animals.
A tattoo on the head will still show through when the hair grows in. You may not be able to fully make out the tattoo once the hair grows in, but there will be something fuzzy showing which will draw more attention to it and people will be curious and ask you.
If you want a secret tattoo, make a proper tattoo on the torso or the thighs and keep it concealed by wearing clothes. If you are worried about going to the beach or pool and people seeing your tattoo...well, maybe tattoo is not for you. It's not for everyone. 
Don't be a tat-tourist.

If I was driving distance to Switzerland I would go here:
http://www.leufamilyiron.com/site/tattoos/

I find it really strange that someone with only 1 small tattoo is comfortable making this statement:
 

I find it really strange that someone with only 1 small tattoo is comfortable making this statement:
 

The body will heal things like tattoos the same way it heals any other minor ailment (cuts/bruise/burn/abrasion etc): areas with poor circulation will heal slower than more vascular or central areas. 

I don't think I've posted this here--Todd Noble made this lady in a rose a couple months ago.  I really enjoyed getting this tattoo; he has a good bedside manner and just seems like an all-around good human.  I can't get an un-distorted photo of this but you get the idea.

I find it really strange that someone with only 1 small tattoo is comfortable making this statement:
 

The body will heal things like tattoos the same way it heals any other minor ailment (cuts/bruise/burn/abrasion etc): areas with poor circulation will heal slower than more vascular or central areas. 

nothing to do 
it'll heal
you'll move on
get another tattoo
mostly like factor imo is location of the tattoo
certain spots are tough - some a breeze

I find it really strange that someone with only 1 small tattoo is comfortable making this statement:
 

Live with the tattoo for a while.  Spend some time around here, watch the artist interview videos, read through the Latest Tattoo Lowdown thread, through the What Makes A Good Tattoo thread, learn about tattoos.  Get on instagram and see the kind of work tattooers are doing.  Do your research, get more and better tattoos.  Eventually lose the dandelion and birds in the background of a backpiece when you're ready.