misterJ

Be careful, I know asking about how to tattoo in this forum is both taboo and massively frowned upon. If you are serious then I would find an artist in the style you appreciate most and do whatever necessary for a legitimate apprenticeship. I wish I remembered his name offhand, but a man saved his teaching salary for ages to take an apprenticeship in japan so he could properly learn. If so driven this may be your avenue Since you came from an athletic family you know the concept of muscle memory, don't make bad scratcher habits muscle memory. Learn properly.

Can I suggest looking up some of the geometric designs from The better artists in that realm? I am not that knowledgable in that style but look through the gallery for ideas. Also start asking around shops, LA has some Great artists

Thanks it was inspired from a few Horiyoshi II pieces. I am familiar with 1 and 3, but got schooled on 2 when it was being added on me which was cool IMO.

very nice man. You have some really nice coverage, how many hours deep are you?

After this most recent episode with the "hannya" mask. How much weight should the actual drawing play into judging a tattoo. I thought much more, but that was just brushed aside because it had "solid application." While the elephant wasn't much better it didn't assault me as hard... Who knows I may be wrong

Cool thank you, I was thinking that but didn't know if it was something tailored for the wearer. Still looks really good

@KeithReed I feel like what is going on is a reaction to the image of those who are invested deeper than the "fad scene." I may be wrong and anyone feel free to correct me, but it seems that people want the image of the business/industry of tattoo to be perceived in a positive artistic way and the scratching aspect is ruining that. I liken it to modding cars. I love to tune my cars, but it's frustrating when I am associated with some punk kid putting an exhaust on his car and pretending it is a Ferrari. Then I also don't compare to the people building top fuel drag cars for weekend sport. Thoughts?

@Wilhell I really like your back, what is the dragon holding onto. The scale work in the body is too good. Ps you're a bum, I need to get in shape lol

May I add input as a collector and not a tattoo artist. Conversation is about give and take, you often thank for the feedback from others but just trod along the same mindset/ path. If you are looking for an informed educated discussion then reflect and react to the information being offered to you. I will defend the tattoo artists I have worked with as being true professionals to my last breath. That is one of the reasons I am a patron of their work. Can you share your tattoos? I am very curious to see the quality of them. Not in a mean spirited way, but I feel someone as passionate as yourself would put the highest quality work on. I am Interested to see what this translates to. I am also torn. I partly agree with your identification of tattooing and collectors being exclusionary (not all), but appreciate this sphere that wants to come Together and change that with knowledge and acceptance. We need more like LST Edit: I do believe the "me" matters in tattooing because it's an experience based activity, and I cannot speak to that which I have not yet experienced. (Assumptions being made by the vagaries I am reading)

I feel like I'm channeling Bobby Hill on this one, but I believe in the concept of Wabi Sabi. Beauty often lies within imperfections. All handcrafted art has varying degrees of imperfections, I can see them on my tattoos. Tattoo is/ and should be more than the comparative yours is better than mine, but within each culture you will find the elitists that point at everyone else. Even if you have the money for a world class bodysuit, it doesn't make you a better person.

@Zillah how is your arm doing today? hopefully the redness has gone done along with the tenderness.

Oh man... Looking through these pages gives me crazy anxiety. The lucky you tattoo is a logo for lucky jeans. Awesome and creative. I feel like I could do better than all these with my zero experience. What frightens me is people had these stencils put on them and said hell yea lets do this

welcome welcome, my only advice is to go slow, research, and learn all you can to make the best decisions about your future art.

that took me by such surprise the first time as well. My first tattoo was a large piece and I did not expect such a toll taken on my mind/body once the endorphin rush and adrenaline wore away. I honestly felt like I had the flu. I felt similar but not as bad when my back was outlined, but after my 5 hours last night I feel fine today... so who knows.

a 7.5 hour session in such a localized area is monster. The trauma your arm must have taken is wild. When I had my half sleeve done my artist went so hard on my arm that it ballooned up quite a bit and I had big arms already. It took nearly a week for the redness and swelling to go away, but I wasn't concerned about infection. I feel like you are hinting about that in a nervous way? My advice that is often overlooked is keep yourself well hydrated beyond the typical tattoo after care, that has always helped me heal up quicker. If you are genuinely concerned I would consult someone that can give you more concrete answers

@BrianH I agree I have always been drawn to the simpler traditional And more powerful (IMO) images from japanese tattoo. I spent about 6 months collecting a folder of ideas and they were all so different. It's wild boiling it down to one sometimes

hello- wanted to add my new work to the thread. I just sat through another double session with Mr. Rubendall. We finished the outline added a skull peony and started shading up the ribs and lower back hard. coming along quicker than I thought, but still slowly. EDIT: Thank god the shading hurts way less than the line work I'm so not sure I could sit through if it was worse.

Low to mid butt. My wife really doesn't want my butt tattooed so I'm trying to respect that. I do want my thighs done so we shall see what happens

Yea I was like third in line... I got there at like 5:30am and was shocked when I wasn't first. In the picture they took of the line outside I was the big guy in a red shirt at the front. (I think it was a red shirt) They posted it on instagram ages ago. It was funny how many people walking by asked if we were waiting for concert tickets. I hope the pic uploads but its a tiger fighting 2 smaller oni with peonies wind bars and waves. In the pic I'm like 4+ hours deep and felt like death. Rubendall is the man for coaching me through the session. He is an absolute professional and super cool EDIT: the big purple circles on my back are spaces reserved for 2 more peonies he didn't yet draw up he kept it there for visual reference.

arg I got six hours on my back today... And I feel like I am handling it like such a wimp. But, the focus on being calm and breathing helped me get through the first session.

should have quoted this, but the person who said it was 100% correct IMO. White guilt... I used to be friendly with someone who was all about the Carlos Mencia (he probably stole it, awful stealing comic) joke in which he asks a white guy about his tribal tattoo then asks what tribe he is from. har har har My initial gut reaction to this is disgust because all these complainers are the first to claim that america is this great melting pot and that they just don't see color (+ Stephen Colbert :D) then the minute someone like me gets a giant japanese tattoo, an indian head, a gypsy pinup, ganesha, etc. etc. tattooed on them they are the first to be ever so outraged. Phony outrage makes me ashamed of white people (not getting side tracked) I always understood my love for tattoos and tattooing as my way of connecting to a primitive and forgotten world. This is something that humans have been doing for thousands of years and regardless of imagery, transcends basic borders. I say this as an atheist, who may be replacing a use of religion to connect to the ancient world with tattoos. I feel as though being able to speak to your tattoos, and the heritage of the imagery in the tattoo culture (oh yea, forgot that's a culture too.) sidesteps this shallow attack of appropriation. I believe this need to connect to a primitive being explains how most of tattoo imagery depicts warriors of various cultures (indian braves/ samurai/ vikings) and even pin-ups being born on the noses of bomber planes. I have a giant love for american traditional tattoos, but with their strong nautical and or military themes I guess I can never get one without appropriating because I am not a sailor nor have I served. Oh well... sucks to be me. And as for racism, it is in the damn name. If it is racist it must be attacking a race. All these dumb bloggers/ complainers calling things like the Ganesh tattoos racist when it represents Hinduism a religion not a race. people with white guilt should be shot.

That second to last picture of the tiger dragon is wacky I'm feeling it as a concept. (if it is a thing like the koi dragon then this is the first I have seen it)

Hello and welcome You mention that you are posted up in West Point, respect for serving. It is an experience I am sad I did not do. I was curious I know that there has been discussion on budget (I don't want to label it as overall tattoo pricing) affecting the upcoming experience. Would breaking the tattoo up into sessions make it more feasible to get something closer to what you are envisioning? I know $600 is a good chunk of change, but in this world it can go very quickly. I have never felt a deadline /rush to get something ASAP so another option could be just keep saving until you have a better idea of what you want. I only say this because reading the posts I believe your tattoo was labeled "something american traditional or black & grey" So also curious what were you thinking of getting? (huge fan or american traditional)

Thank you I appreciate the support. Yea I have a few choice pictures from the first session. My favorite was my body being saran-wrapped for the car ride home. I have I believe until 10 posts total to create my own thread. I wasn't sure about jumping in to the back piece thread or making one I have to admit I'm hoping to make his damn instagram. I feel like that's how I know he's into it.

I don't really have a normally. Right now I am getting work done by Mr. Rubendall at Kings Ave. I am headed for my second session on my back piece this Saturday. I am beyond excited and am sure this will slowly evolve into a way too expensive bodysuit of some variation as long as he will be patient with me lol. Part of the reason I joined up was I wanted to journal the progress of this piece (possibly). thanks for the welcomes