pidjones

So many symbols are common among various religions, cultures, tribes, organizations but mean completely different things. Should someone from one group be denied use of a symbol because it is also used by another group? The "swastika" is used in India as a religious and political party emblem with no connection to the nazis. Various Masonic emblems are incorporated into US symbology. Rainbows are used for "pride" symbols, but also are heavily used in Hawaiian tourism and many other things totally unrelated. Don't get too tied up in the sybology (but, use your head - no star of Davids on a Muslim). No one really "owns" the symbols other than that covered by copyrite laws.

I hope this keeps going well for you, @soraya! Little steps, staying comfortable. Nothing wrong with that. Keep it up and some day you will wear a spaghetti strap top to church!

Somehow, I think they will always be by your side. Very nice art!

Hello, Valentin! Welcome to the forum. We like pictures!

@peterpoose, I've not been a fan of many of the styles that you have, and have never really thought toe tattoos looked good... but damn, damn, damn man! You've changed my opinion so many times!

Yes, a reputable artist will tell you a) if it can be covered or needs laser, and b) if they don't like to do cover-ups. Just ask!

Yes, give it a few more weeks at least. And Welcome! It is striking art.

Sorry, but I don't see this as "preserving the art". I see it as another commercial venture that came about because of the recent popularity of tattoos. Preserving the art can be done photographically.

I'd love to have some good photos of my grandfather's tattoos. But the actual skin? NO THANKS!!!!!

No, because it is at least once a week that I see a request like this on one of the forums that I visit, always from someone newly joined, to fill out some survey. Usually it is from a lazy college student that is supposed to be doing research. Sometimes it is from a commercial venture. I give you the same response. Please - do your own work and don't ask forum users to do it for you! Now, this may sound as I'm being a douche, but as I said - it happens weekly (I'm on too many forums, I'm sure).

My artist brews her own aftercare that is used from immediately after first wash through full heal. There are so many methods, and about 50% of the artists post their recommendations on their web sites.

Agree with the others. My artist's instructions include no shaving of the tattoo for one month. A light slap and moisturizing usually handle the itch. Make sure you stay clear of any personal allergens, as the fresh wound will be extra sensitive to them.

Hello from the mountains of East TN!

Last night showed that no master is permitted to be sent home before the apprentice. Kruseman's portrait was sad, sad, sad. Duffy's only added a few pounds and had a slightly higher hair line. I felt sorry for the father and son both in Kuseman's case - the face on that thing was awful. But, Duffy was sent packing. I think I liked the flash challenge on this one better than some of the others.

Hope they hit the right spot! I lucked out with a heal spur shot that hit the nerve dead-on. Caused me to pass out from the pain, but killed the nerve and hasn't bothered me in a decade now!

So we tanned his hide when he died, Clyde - and that's it hangin' on the shed.

They seem quite faded. I kind of like the big cat on the wall - it could be redone, I'd think. If you want to go big, you could possibly cover both with something like wings or a full back. The real judge as @SeeSea said is the artist you choose. Some don't like or won't do cover-ups, but some do a lot of it. Sent from my LePanII using Tapatalk 2

Both you and the 3 1/2 yr old have awesome tattoos! Actually, I'm a bit more partial to the butterfly.

She looks ready to kick some booty.

Interesting to hear politically correct nomenclature creep into tattoo culture. I guess it was inevitable. Sent from my LePanII using Tapatalk 2

Steve, something that you might check is that (when I try to like an LST post) I sometimes get a Tapatalk message that it failed to connect to the forum. There may be a port that the forum needs open for likes to register from the app. Sent from my LePanII using Tapatalk 2

How many of you folks that think the parents would be so rough on their children have children of your own? They may still dislike tattoos, may be upset, disappointed, etc., but they aren't going to stop loving them. Your perspective changes a lot when they are your kids.

Thanks for the link! You definitely get less repetition and more customers per episode than on Tattoo Nightmares. It is a bit hard for me to understand them at times, but I'm going deaf slowly anyway.

According to Google maps it is about 180 miles to Dallas. I'm sure there are plenty of folks on here that have had great experiences and tattoos in the DFW area. I'm in East Tennessee, so I don't know any there myself. Your description is very good and vivid. It should be easy for a good artist to make a great sketch from it, and adjust it as necessary to suit you. I suggest research of artists that are within your travel range and then contact them by phone. After narrowing the field of artists that you have gotten references for with phone interviews, you will know which one to send your description (and deposit) to for a sketch. It sounds like you want realism of a fictional character, but that is no big problem for a good artist. You may want to point out that you don't want it cartoonish (or you do). And good luck with the migraines! I used to get ocular migraines (no pain involved), but haven't had one in almost a decade. I did have a classic migraine only once. I was in India on a mission trip in 2012, and luckily had a migraine pill (Axxert?) in my wallet that my wife had me carry for my ocular migraines. I was blessed that it worked in about 30 minutes. The pain was so bad that I couldn't even hold water or other medicine down, but 30 minutes after that pill I drifted off to a good sleep and woke the next morning feeling fine. Of course, I think that is one of the medicines for migraines that has been outlawed now.

Go big or wimp home.:cool: - - - Updated - - - First photo in my gallery, I believe. Copied from my Navy dolphins and patron pin. I actually pinned them on black velvet, photographed them, and emailed her the photo to go from for her sketch and the stencil.