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@BrianH - cool - I am looking forward to your session progress reports. Being tattooed in a big room like this, you should have lots of good stories to tell, to complement all the gratuitous butt shots :) BTW - I love pictures where you can still see the marker drawings.

Welcome! Sorry no one responded - nothing meant by that. Nice tattoos - are they all on you?

I saw the review. He give them 2 stars but misspelled chikin.

Here is a variant done by Stefano Alcantara - Stefano Alcantara "Piece I did at @milanotattooconvention of a picture took it during the 60's of a woman from the South American jungle. "

Emphasis mine. This is exactly why there is a process problem. Not blaming anyone - stuff happens from both the service provider end and the consumer end - not just in tattooing. Distraction, differing expectations, differences in comprehension levels, etc. This is why things like check lists get created, signatures required, etc., to catch dopey little things before they become big things. Look at the process for making sure all the sponges are removed after a surgery - why? Because everyone's mind is on something else. Look at the form you have to sign for a surgical procedure outlining the risks - that form is used to make sure they remember to tell you the risks, and that you are forced to think about them. Ok, most people just sign away, but that form was created as a check-point (and also a huge CYA for the medical community) and part of the risk management process. Ugh, yeah, this isn't suppose to be a bitch-fest, but if clients have to sign the form to get tattooed, why not make a form for tattoos that include spelling? Perhaps overkill, but that would go a long way to preventing distraction errors made by both providers and consumers. This might sound like I am blaming tattoo artists - I am not. It's just that tattoo artists are in the position to introduce the process and use it for consumers who may arrive clueless to what the expectations are for them, and as a checkpoint and CYA for themselves. $0.02.

Bam. And this is one reason why LST kicks ass.

Laughing ... I just end up trying stuff because it sounds fun. I only rode a couple years, but had a blast with a cool instructor friend of mine. I really liked barrel racing but only did it in the ring messing around but I did eat dirt a couple times - can't really be a real rider unless you eat dirt, right? Sometimes I think my family must think I am a little crazy, but really, if you saw me, I look completely boring. :-) - - - Updated - - - So after much searching, here's what I'm gonna wear for the backpiece contest at the Philly Convention on Sunday. I couldn't find a true halter top that completely shows the back with only a little string tie across the center of the back and I'm not doing a bikini or <shudder> pasties. This is actually quite classy looking. I can pull it down around my hips so the whole tattoo shows, and I'll wear black leggings. I wanted to do something like this rather than just turning a shirt around backwards because I wanted to show the tattoo walking around the show a bit. My only concern is being cold so I am wearing a neck scarf and we'll see how that goes. Deep Open Back Halter Top by VENUS BTW - Venus makes amazing bikinis. many have tops like bras for good support and padding. I could never wear a string bikini or many other styles, but these are very flattering. I love this one. It comes with a little insert padding but you really don't need it unless you want to vavavoom. Enhancer top, low rise bottom, scoop bottom, wrap skirt Swimsuit

My final vote - love handles - below the hip bone FTW. Beats out spine, kidney and lower back. Ribs near armpit are a verrrrry close second.

Cool, @Ashley76. I've done Western Equitation and Western Pleasure classes. But the horse I was riding was sold. :(

Guess you're sleeping on your stomach for a few days, @bongsau. Nice when they jump all over like that.

Really good reads - thank you for sharing all this.

I used these. It's nice to have the double mat - it lifts the glass off the print and gives it some depth. However, I went to Michael's directly rather than ordering online. This company seems to have some quality control problems and many of the second mats are mounted crooked, so you need choose in person. They are generally 40% off when they have frame sales. Studio Décor® Airfloat Gallery

Thanks for this - I can understand why @2bacanvas is wondering about how the mouth looks when comparing it to a realistic octopus, but this print sums it up quite nicely. With color I think it will look much more obvious. I hope the suckers really stand out!

...if this were posted anywhere else but a tattoo healing thread...

Somewhere there is a thread about this and I can't find it. Grrr.

... :D

Covering up will do the trick, as long as the clothing you use provides protection. Many T-shirts let light through, and a wet T-shirt is SPF 4! I've been surprised looking at the shirts I own. I wear UV clothing for bright sun situations or when I am outside a long time. In the picture I attached, the ThinkBaby product is a sun block (mineral-Zinc/Titanium based), the other two are sun screens (non-mineral based), to use your terms. I did a significant amount of research to understand the chemicals and minerals and their effects on UVA and UVB, and sometimes I use one versus the other. Block if I don't care if the skin is white/hazy and if I need protection immediately. Non-mineral based requires some time for it to become effective. I started the thread below last year, and around pages 3 and 4 I included research I had done into the chemicals used and why some entities (e.g., Consumer Reports) rate some higher than others. If you'd like to continue chatting about sunscreens, we can take it over to this thread. Thanks for the question! http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/5584-sunscreen-sun-vacation-threads.html

I have no doubt that many people getting tattoos treat the tattoo artist as the knowledgeable one - and assume that the artist will ensure that the design will be "correct." Many people can't spell or just don't do the research - just come in with the phrase verbally. Then they are asked to approve the stencil. There is a strong chance that someone who isn't sure about the spelling or who isn't even thinking about the spelling will defer to the spelling provided by the artist, even if it is incorrect. You'll also get people nervous and anxious at that point, knowing the needles are coming, that they are not completely thinking straight. That's not a terrific time for a grammar test. I'm not saying blame the tattoo artist, but I would really expect the artist to double check the spelling/grammar as part of their job. It's not fair to place the blame for that part of the design on the client. Own the entire design. The internet is right there to check. I am involved in software and I see the same stupid programming 101 errors happening from apparently good companies. Why do these stupid errors happen decade after decade? Everyone knows these are common errors, but we don't have good processes in place to catch these errors and stop them from making it into the final product. The spelling grammar stuff in tattoos - this is just a process problem. Rather than blaming the customer or the tattoo artist, develop a process to catch these problems before the ink flows. Is it so hard, as part of the process, to say, "Let's both check the spelling to make sure we have it right?" Kinda like, signing in the surgical center that yes, we all agree we are operating on the left leg and not the right.

Some more thoughts: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/3433-tattoo-shaving-ingrown-hair.html Shaving in other threads: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/278-good-client-behavior-page27.html

Thanks! Oh, let there be no doubt in your mind. After tons of research I did last year, these are three of the ones I am using, along with a Neutrogena one I must have purchased elsewhere. Amazon makes it easy to drop in and repeat orders :) Wetsuits are also SPF 2,000,000.

Big reveal in the wild. Diving in the Maldives. On this trip, I saw several of the creatures on my back, which was pretty cool. The response from my dive buddies was overall pretty positive, and it changed a few attitudes towards tattoos. I had been chatting with three of the women before I let them know I had done it, and unrelated to my tattoo, they all spoke down on tattoos, including the "Why would someone do something permanent - your tastes will change over time" and the "What will it look like when you get old?" Sigh. One of these women really liked it and said it was the best she had ever seen, and she is in the medical field and has seen a lot of bare skin. A lovely woman from Austria was just in love with it and gushed about my "sea" that I can take with me. :-)

Congrats on your new tattoo. I wouldn't do what you are thinking. It sounds like you are considering covering a lot of real estate on your back just to connect two tattoos, and a color trail would be boring. This tattoo stands on its own just fine - no need to mess with it. Instead, think about a completely new tattoo on your back. The back is a huge flat surface and it would be a shame to eat up some of that great room with a long filler. My $0.02.

@Ashley76 - take a read back through this thread for lots of suggestions. I believe a common suggestion was something soft with the sports bra on top of it. You might also consider taping some Saran wrap over the tattoo first if it seems likely to leak/stick and/or you will be doing a lot of moving and jumping. Good luck! English or Western?

@SStu's advice is good - find such an artist and ask the question. It's not necessary for you to try to imagine how such a thing should/could be done (your Q's 1 and 2). That's what an artist is for. You don't have to have it all worked out in your mind ahead of time. And congrats on your weight loss!

I'm starting to really love these moths.