Zillah

I just ate the most disgusting thing I've ever put in my mouth (and I've eaten camel). UNREFINED COCOA BEANS. Just a few flakes gave me an instant headache- my body wanted to reject it instantly, I thought I was allergic for a moment there. Nope- it's just pure evil, and the cursed ghost of it is haunting my digestive tract.

I need to get that book. Thank you @DJDeepFried Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

That's it! Botan mikiri! Thank you @Graeme and @Fala you are awesome! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

I... don't know... *checks google* I believe so. Thank you. The scalloped edges are called something starting with 'm' I believe, heh. Sorry for my newbieitis!

I read a book the other week that had specific terms for different types of shading but I've forgotten now, and I can't seem to find it online. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm getting a 'large cohesive' koi tattoo on my upper arm this Saturday, and the artist has just sent a sketch through for me to look at. He has stated "shading and colour to your liking". I want to let him know that I want the shading to be "dark and stripy, with scalloped edges", as they say in Japan. Ok, they don't say that... I don't know the correct terminology. Can someone please help me out? :p

Wow. New Zealand only went digital a few months ago, heh.

Easter eggs. In the witching hour.

Well, shit.

Can't stop the signal!

I just wondered because I am gay and getting a koi on Saturday and was like whaaaaaaat?!

Awesome. I'm hoping to get something from Dean Sacred in the near future... I'm getting tattooed by Nick Agnew from Kingsland Ink on Saturday...

Totoro and I

Come again?

Hello also from West Auckland! Who are you getting tattooed by?

Hello! I'm fairly new myself :)

Thanks @TrixieFaux and @BrianH for the links. I searched for cultural appropriation and it came up with nada. Apologies for rehashing something already discussed, although I have enjoyed reading the replies :)

One guy who got crap online was a custom tattoo designer from NZ called Sam Phillips (whose stuff I really like btw): Custom Tattoos - Sam Phillips - Artist . Illustrator . Graphic Designer http://instagram.com/samphillipsillustration His response was, "I've never claimed that my 'gypsy' designs are in any way historically accurate. There are many types of 'gypsys' not just Romanian. I use the term 'gypsy' loosely as a nomadic traveler. I'd say my work is more fantasy than anything. There are always going to be people that find offence in art. Art is interpretive."

I once painted my face for halloween up like a sugar skull. I was really happy with it, until I read an article about cultural appropriation and I felt conflicted. This article tore strips into non-Mexican people who wore sugar skull makeup or had sugar skull tattoos. I figured, as a white westerner, it's not up to me to decide if it's cultural appropriation or not. Then a friend of mine who is Mexican said she fully supported sugar skull makeup/tattoos. So... I guess the question is whether it is a case of cultural appropriation or not... the opinion on which seems to be pretty individual. I guess get what you want then?

I've read some stuff before on 'teh interwebz' about cultural appropriation and tattoos, specifically around the idea that if you are of one culture and get a tattoo from another culture (specifically if the latter culture is considered a minority) that it somehow devalues their heritage and traditions. Some blogs (I will not link to them here) take photos of people with tattoos they consider to be cultural appropriation and post them online, calling them racist. Specific tattoos that are targeted appear to be anything American Indian, Romany, or Dia de los Muertos related. Thoughts?

I was considering buying that shirt!

I've been nervous of this myself. Had 2 clients last night talking about wanting to commit suicide, and one with capgras syndrome. I love my job but it can be pretty draining.

I think the ladies thread is becoming infamous!

We went to this awesome place (I can't remember the name) where you could see birds and butterflies, and the birds would sit on you and you could feed them. Cool that you visited New Zealand!

That would be @HaydenRose and her 'large cohesive upper arm' tattoo ;)