9Years

That Lehi Tiger / Snake on your back says otherwise...
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That Lehi Tiger / Snake on your back says otherwise...

Good idea.

Good idea.

If you go big and bold it's going to look fucking rad. Tattooed flesh looks better than non-tattooed flesh. Fat doesn't figure into it at all.

Many people have seen this all ready I guess. By Jondix, 11 days ago. Had such a great time. Stayed at the shop past midnight, talking and eating after the session.
Everybody should get something from him. Super good heart, attitude and knowledge of tattooing and art.
Wrathful offering of the five senses by Jonas Nyberg from last year.

Spider webs! Spider webs everywhere! Get Cheyenne to do 'em!
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Spider webs! Spider webs everywhere! Get Cheyenne to do 'em!

@JBluewind
-1. Is there anything I can do (or not do) before the appointment to help with the healing? As with any healing process, the healthier you are going in, the easier/faster you will heal.
1. Can I use white Dove bar soap to clean it? Yes
2. I don't want to use an after care product as they sound like a nightmare for a girl with lots of allergies. It there any normal first aid treatment I can use to help? You won't need any aftercare product or first aid treatment. It's just a tattoo. Reading your other threads about the tattoo you are getting, it looks like it's going to be pretty quick. Keep it clean and you'll be fine. There are lots of people out there trying to make a buck off of convincing those getting tattooed that they need some particular brand of snake-oil for things to heal well. This simply isn't true.
3. Which lotion (or at least what to look for in a lotion) and how often? The typical recommendation is something non-scented. Since you have a lot of allergies you probably already have a moisturizer that fits your needs. Use that. Use a small amount if you feel the tattoo start to dry out. Some people prefer nothing at all.
4. Does Bert's Bees make any products I can use? I don't know
5. How do I keep from having a nightmare situation when I wake up? (upper ankle piece) Do I wrap with sterile gauze and ointment or something? Not sure what this means? If I'm reading the situation correctly you are getting a relatively small, quick tattoo. I think you are making a mountain out of a mole-hill. You are going to undergo some minor skin-trauma. That's it. I understand that you want to do it right since it's your first, but don't overthink it...the most tried and true method of healing tattoos since forever is keep it clean and wait.

Man, I hear you on this one. I have the most abrupt gap between an El Monga lower-leg-total-domination and a Tim Lehi big-ass-tiger with full background...Monga comes up high and Lehi comes down low. Not sure what I'm gonna do to fill it up but it's driving me nuts! I was thinking a panther or monster etc head-on but with no bottom jaw.
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Man, I hear you on this one. I have the most abrupt gap between an El Monga lower-leg-total-domination and a Tim Lehi big-ass-tiger with full background...Monga comes up high and Lehi comes down low. Not sure what I'm gonna do to fill it up but it's driving me nuts! I was thinking a panther or monster etc head-on but with no bottom jaw.

@JBluewind
-1. Is there anything I can do (or not do) before the appointment to help with the healing? As with any healing process, the healthier you are going in, the easier/faster you will heal.
1. Can I use white Dove bar soap to clean it? Yes
2. I don't want to use an after care product as they sound like a nightmare for a girl with lots of allergies. It there any normal first aid treatment I can use to help? You won't need any aftercare product or first aid treatment. It's just a tattoo. Reading your other threads about the tattoo you are getting, it looks like it's going to be pretty quick. Keep it clean and you'll be fine. There are lots of people out there trying to make a buck off of convincing those getting tattooed that they need some particular brand of snake-oil for things to heal well. This simply isn't true.
3. Which lotion (or at least what to look for in a lotion) and how often? The typical recommendation is something non-scented. Since you have a lot of allergies you probably already have a moisturizer that fits your needs. Use that. Use a small amount if you feel the tattoo start to dry out. Some people prefer nothing at all.
4. Does Bert's Bees make any products I can use? I don't know
5. How do I keep from having a nightmare situation when I wake up? (upper ankle piece) Do I wrap with sterile gauze and ointment or something? Not sure what this means? If I'm reading the situation correctly you are getting a relatively small, quick tattoo. I think you are making a mountain out of a mole-hill. You are going to undergo some minor skin-trauma. That's it. I understand that you want to do it right since it's your first, but don't overthink it...the most tried and true method of healing tattoos since forever is keep it clean and wait.

I might answer in hours.
I've noticed that since both calves are mostly covered, drivers don't hassle me as much when on the bike.

My calf tattoos have held up really well, but my legs haven't changed much in the years I've had em.
I shot off an email yesterday about getting my knees worked on. I have an awkward gap between my "calf sleeves" and the work on my thighs. Here's hopin I can make this work.

And here we are.
This pic is post 6 hour session. Probably about 45 mins of tracing/freehanding etc and 5 hours of tattooing. I was very worried about how knee and ditch was going to feel but overall I found it Ok. Lower leg probably swelled up for about 5 days after the session and it is definitely taking slightly longer to heal. I hobbled around walking for about 3 days after so I can recommend taking a few days off work afterwards.
Overall not as bad as I was expecting. :)

gotcha - cool man - make sure to say hello
its gonna be a long day for me
probably 6-7 hours in the car round trip
and i guess an hour or so getting tattooed
i hear chad is fast - beyond fast
and i am gonna pick from his flash
have no idea the what or where its going
which i really enjoy at this point
his style of tattooing is definetly the type of tattooing i most enjoy
so i have a feeling i'm in for a treat
he'll be in jersey at the end of his tour
but the date wasnt working for me when he announced them
anyway - the idea of the travel / new shop part of things
is fine with me
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gotcha - cool man - make sure to say hello
its gonna be a long day for me
probably 6-7 hours in the car round trip
and i guess an hour or so getting tattooed
i hear chad is fast - beyond fast
and i am gonna pick from his flash
have no idea the what or where its going
which i really enjoy at this point
his style of tattooing is definetly the type of tattooing i most enjoy
so i have a feeling i'm in for a treat
he'll be in jersey at the end of his tour
but the date wasnt working for me when he announced them
anyway - the idea of the travel / new shop part of things
is fine with me

Yesterday I got this skeleton with a videogames system from the '80s on my calf.

@Naiemh
If you are collapsing and having some pretty adverse symptoms multiple times after big tattoo sittings...it's your body telling you you're putting it under too much stress and to take it easy. Try eating a simple healthy meal mid-way through the session, that may help. Or talk to your tattooer and perhaps you can schedule more shorter sessions.
Being impatient may be your other problem. Finishing a back tattoo in under a month is biting off more than most can chew, especially if you're having adverse symptoms like fainting and blurred vision. Finishing a big tattoo project in 3-4 months is still very quick and respectable. You need to give your body enough time to recover from the tattoo session and deal with healing the areas.
The numbing gel isn't going to solve your problem.
It may help you get through the last 1 hr if you and your tattooer are strategic about where/when to apply it. But you're still going to have to sit through some times of feeling everything. After the numbing wears off it is going to hurt waaay worse.
good luck

Thanks buddies. :) I feel kinda like death warmed over today, but I'm happy we were able to get through all of it. Now it's back to saner amounts of discomfort, I think! (Can't imagine doing a backpiece over a few days -- more power to the folks that have, but I think I would die!)

I vote for a Jesus head with a dagger through it.

That is killer. Aaron rules. Spider Murphy's rules. Great life decision!
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That is killer. Aaron rules. Spider Murphy's rules. Great life decision!

I sit here, sore, swollen, in a daze... but I have to share my story. I am an apprentice tattooer and have been in my apprenticeship since September of 2014. I have always had a deep respect for tattooing, but it has now been solidified even deeper. Last year at the Lady Luck Tattoo Convention, my teacher was asked to receive a traditional Samoan tatau by Sulu'ape Si'i Liufau of A-Town Tattoo. My teacher has known Si'i for about 10 years through the convention circle. We were sharing a booth with A-Town, so I was preparing for a pretty close view of the event. As they were preparing, Si'i came to me and told me that he only had his apprentice, Genesis, available to stretch skin for the tatau and they would need my help. I have a previous post describing the experience, so I won't elaborate further on it here, but it became one of the biggest honors of my life to be involved in that tatau on my teacher.
Fast forward to this past weekend: We were working the Lady Luck Convention again and had a pretty slow schedule of clients. My teacher intentionally did so, because he wanted to hopefully help stretch on a tatau. It is a huge honor to receive a tatau, but it is an equal honor to assist in one. Saturday night, we are all in the bar, relaxing and having a good time. It was a group of about 20 tattooers from all over the country. Talk of the process of tatau began and I took the opportunity to interject and publicly thank Si'i for asking me to assist on my teacher's tatau. I told him it was one of the biggest honors of my life and I would never forget it. He nodded to me and said, "What are you doing tomorrow?" I said, "No tattoos, just working our booth." He said, "I should give you tatau tomorrow." Without hesitation, I stuck my hand out and said yes. We shook on it and he went over to discuss it with his apprentice. They were making gestures around the lower thigh area and kinda laughing a little. I jokingly said, "You guys are laughing too much! You gonna fuck me up tomorrow?!" Si'i responded, "We're gonna try something new on you, Nate. You're not gonna like it... but you're gonna like it."
The next morning, I went over to the A-Town booth and Si'i had me remove my shoes and put on a sarong. Without discussion, he started shaving my knee area, all the way around. He drew on a couple reference lines, where he then called over my teacher and told him he would be assisting his apprentice with stretching of the skin. I've already written a lot, so I will skip along. It took 3 hours of, by far, hands down, the most painful tattooing I've ever received. Almost my entire knee, and all the way around back, through the ditch. At the end, I was congratulated. I didn't move. I didn't squirm. I made no sounds. Inside my head, it felt as though they were cutting my leg off, but I knew I had to show my respect and gratitude by being silent. It was incredible. To be a part of my teacher's tatau and for him to be a part of mine has bonded us even closer. We are both so humbled and blown away by it all. As he did a final cleaning of my leg, I asked Sulu'ape Si'i what I needed to pay him for this (I was actually kind of worried, because I'm a broke apprentice). He said, "Meaalofa. It's a gift for you. You earned my respect when you sat for hours and stretched for your teacher last year." He also said, "Now Nate, this tatau has the ending placement of a traditional Pe'a, so when a Samoan sees it coming out of your shorts, they are going to question you. When they do, you tell them it was a gift from Sulu'ape and if they have any more questions, they can come talk to me." I'm still in awe. I look at my leg now and it is so much more than a tattoo. It is history. It is honor. It is respect. I just wanted to share my story. Thanks to all that read it. Here are some pictures of the whole thing.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Today I learned that the posterior of my body is home to multiple portals to hell! Seriously, I kept expecting cenobites to show up and drag me off with hook chains.
Whoever said the butt crease is magical sure knew what they were talking about. But the most surprising thing for me (and for Greg, actually) is that there were a couple of spots near my shoulder blades that actually made me burst into tears instantly! It was the strangest thing...it wasn't like I just bottomed out and couldn't take it anymore, it was a huge surge of adrenaline and emotion that felt completely involuntary. And just in those spots! We tattooed well into armpit territory and it was honestly a relief after those other spots. So strange.
I would post the Instagram but I'm on my phone. :( it's on his page, though, butt crack towel and everything.

Melt Banana, Melvins, and Napalm Death last night.

I've been lazy as all hell and haven't posted any new bangers in a while.......

Right BUTT cheek - Alex Boyko - December

MOM Cover up on the wrist AND LEMMY tribute- Jon Larson - January

©Ankle - Jon Larson - February

Wrist banger - Jon Larson - March

Left SWELLbow - Chad Koeplinger - March

Yeah Aloha and La Cobra Negra gallery...really excited. Rotor and Dimoni work at Barcelona Electric. My family and I got an apartment right across the street from Santa Caterina Mercado which is like 5 minute walking distance to both shops....... should be epic!

I've followed Kelly for a while and finally got to meet him Saturday at the Houston Tattoo Extravaganza. He had a few hours open and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. He is all that you mention above and very humble. I'll certainly have him create something special for me in the future.
Here's a photo of the very fresh, drawn on hanya he tattooed above my knee. It looks like it will settle in nicely when the grey wash lightens up.

Jon Larson - April https://www.instagram.com/larsontattoos111/?hl=en
Joe Chatt - May https://www.instagram.com/ihaveadeathwish/?hl=en
El Monga Sasturain - July https://www.instagram.com/elmongasasturain/?hl=en
Vinny Stevenson - July https://www.instagram.com/vinny_stevenson/?hl=en
El Rotor - July https://www.instagram.com/elrotortattoos/
El Dimoni - July https://www.instagram.com/dimonibcn/
SUPER STOKED to be in Spain this summer....