PackMan

If you were in NC you could go to Deran Hall. He keeps posting on instagram about giving away a free LOTR or Hobbit tattoo. He's done some really amazing LOTR related stuff in the past. To bad he's on the wrong side of the continent.

i am not nearly as tattooed as many of you but my experience so far....the elbow ditch and the flabby skin where your arm and chest meet have been the most painful so far. I fully expected my inner bicep to be the worst but it really wasn't bad at all. Will Lollie is so amazingly smooth i literally almost fell asleep a couple of times. I do want to add that this is the first time i was in a laying down position while getting work done. I must say that i really prefer it. It just seemed like i was able to focus and breath much more consistently.

Here we go again...just got outline done so it shouldn't be too bad.

Sorry for picture quality. Still swollen.

Just got home from appt with Will Lollie at Empire. Will is a fantastic guy and an even better artist. 4 hours today to finish outline. I don't have picture and it's all wrapped up for now. Will get a picture after I shower in a couple hours.

Go in Friday to get foodog outline done by Will Lollie. Super stoked...will post pictures Friday evening.

You'll have to wait until Nov 14.

I was supposed to meet with Will on Saturday to look over the sketch he put together. I ended up being volunteered to play in a charity golf tournament so i had to postpone until Sunday. Well on Sunday my sons baseball team made it to the Championship game and there was no way i could make it to Asheville by their closing time. Anyways, long story short, i called the shop to let them know and i messaged Will. He ended up sending me a picture of the drawing he put together. It is just exactly what i am looking for and i can't wait to get started. Do you think it is ok to post up a picture of the sketch or would that be uncool?

Remember to post up what you get done. His sketch for my foo dog is supposed to be done by this weekend. I'm getting anxious to see it. And yes...I like to put a deposit down. It helps me stick to my guns of saving or setting aside the money for the work. Otherwise it would be spent on my wife and kids ;-).

Thanks...just what I was looking for.

I was impressed. Excited to see the sketch Will works up for me. Should be ready by next weekend. Then hoping to start sometime in November. I will update as we go.

what software or program do you use to create these 2 and 3 view photos? Like a sleeve picture from 3 points of view all cut, pasted, and blacked out. thanks

Met with Will Lollie of Empire Tattoo yesterday. Working on a Foo Dog sleeve. Sketch to be ready in couple of weeks. Hopefully get started on tattoo in mid November.

I will be sure to pass the word as to how highly recommended they have been.

Meeting with Will on Sunday for a consult. Can't wait to hear what he comes up with. Time to start saving my pennies ;-).

@sighthound thanks for the info and recommendations. I am working on getting in contact with Will Lollie at Empire tattoos. From what i have seen on his instagram and website he does some very cool japanese stuff. I am very interested in seeing what he can do with the rest of my left arm. thanks again for the help.

She likes the flower idea. Just got to make the plans and pick an artist. Plus save the money.

most likely, yes. My plan is to have numerous artists' work. Gonna finish out the left arm with japanese/asian style theme and plan on my right arm as more traditional americana.

Alright i need some assistance. Other than some touch up work, my memorial dragon tattoo is complete. If i had known that i would want to continue getting tattoos i would have probably done the dragon differently. It's done now and I'm happy with it, but I'm excited to start on the rest of the sleeve. I really really like the "patchwork" look of the work in the Tattoo Silhouette thread that Hetty posted. But i am not sure how that will look with a chinese/japanese theme. Has anyone seen something similar? Every time i google or search for stuff, all i get is full suits or sleeves all flowing together. One more thing...although i really like the negative space stuff, it may be better to finish the lower half of the left arm with a full covering and somehow tie it into the dragon one. Maybe a B&G tiger, foo dog, or even a Koi. Any ideas? Sorry for the rambling and if i sound like an idiot remember i'm new at this and still learning all of the jargon.

My finished tattoo. Still needs some touch up work and some more pink in a couple of the flower petals, but overall healing nicely and I'm pleased. Now onto the next one.

addiction was the first word that came to mind.

i know Asheville very well. Used to live very close to there. I will definitely check those places out. Thanks!

I'm in Hickory, North Carolina. There are a couple of local artist here that i am excited about. One guy is in his early 20's and is doing some really nice stuff. Other than that, I am pretty open. I don't have a giant cash flow so i can't travel cross country to get one done, but within 3 or 4 hours i'd be good to go. I know there is a really good artist in Greensboro area (i saw him on the bragg art list or whatever its called)

because it is going to be kind of a patchwork look, I'm thinking different artists would work awesome. But that may be completely wrong.

At first my plan was to get my memorial tattoo for my mother and be done; and then something happened. Maybe it is the adrenaline "high" after a 4 or 5 hour session or maybe it's the history and enigma of the art that i find so fascinating; especially after the research i have done since starting this endeavor and joining this forum. Either way my new plan is for "sleeves". I have quoted the sleeves part because after reading some comments on these forums, what i want may not necessarily be considered sleeves. My plan right now is to continue the asian/chinese/japanese theme on my left arm. I know my current work is not traditional but it is still a chinese style dragon. So far, i want to add a Foo Dog, a Buddha, and a Lotus. My right arm i would like to have a traditional americana theme. I hope that is what its called. So far I'm thinking about a traditional wolf head, a pinup girl, and i think a WWII bomber or fighter plane would be cool. I still need to do some research. Anyways, i just wanted to share. I dont have a plan of attack yet as far as when and where, just sorting out what i want. Let me know if you have any opinions or ideas on what would work cool. Other than the Dragon covering my entire upper outside left arm/shoulder, I'm a clean canvas.