I’m not a big fan of that style – just have different taste. But it is so good that I REALLY like it.

Go forth and show it off.

@yodaddynukka 130965 wrote:

If u want portrait work in the west coast then nikko, roman, rich pineda would be my choices.

For a colour portrait those three, along with Mike D, top my list as well.

FYI Rich’s wait list isn’t too bad at all right now but it seems to be growing very quickly. I inquired in the spring and was advised 8-10 weeks.…[Read more]

@poxphobia 130946 wrote:

Your little girl is beautiful, by the way.

As a tattoo.. I love the idea of her on the carousel horse! The pic is a bit blurry, so if you’ve got other pictures of her with that smile, bring them along to your artist! Any picture that shows her face will help. I can see this working very well as a big piece, with her on the…

[Read more]

I feel your pain Sam.

I am a shift-worker and our office is open 24X7X365 so I also sacrifice many weekends and stat holidays to the paycheck gods. Lucky for me we do a compressed work week so I only go in 3 days or nights a week. 🙂 (They are really long 12 1/2 hour shifts :(.)

There are lots of good ideas here. I personally kind of like the more new school/slightly cartoony version that was suggested, if you pick the right artist they would certainly be able to capture her likeness. Not the style I usually go for but I can see this working out as an excellent tattoo in that style. But you should get the style that…[Read more]

Congrats- hope you are enjoying your unemployed weekend!

Looks really good. Congrats.

GO Canucks Go!!

I have great work from my local artist. I have also traveled to get work from a more well-known artist.

The work I get from the more well-known artists is different from what I can get locally – I am seeing them specifically to get their work/style, so when I travel I don’t feel like I am taking work away from my local artist.

My local artist…[Read more]

The first time I saw the artist that I see locally I took in some art from a plate that I wanted (a hummingbird and some hibiscus flowers). She asked if I wanted the same colours. I specified pink flowers but told her to use what she wanted on the bird, actually I said to use whatever colours were in her head. Love my delicate hummingbird. The…[Read more]

@poxphobia 130824 wrote:

That being said; It’s okay to ask about price!! Just say that you just need to make sure you have enough with you, and you should get an estimate. It’s okay 🙂 You won’t do 7-8 hours in one sitting anyways. Most shops, even if they don’t have hourly rates etc, will have a basic idea of what they usually charge for a full…

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@Sam-I-Am 130775 wrote:

Please don’t get discouraged. As long as you’re job is secure don’t try to please everybody else. Don’t hide your skin art. Flaunt it.”

Quoted for truth!!

I once sat through a meal in a restaurant with friends while the people at the table behind me had a conversation about how they thought that females shouldn’t get…[Read more]

Traditional Japanese going the way of dated tribal?? How? It has such history, tradition, beauty, culture, style … do I need to go on?

I don’t think anyone here is against Polynesian style tattoos if they are well executed. It is just the 1990’s tribal crap that is, well, crap.

So if you like Traditional Japanese then go for it (and if you…[Read more]

@Tecratt 130764 wrote:

Picture works for me, but is super blurry.

Maybe he kept moving his arm while he took the picture. 😉 (I can’t stop giggling. Thanks Sam!!)

And to cover that??? You are going to need a MASTER at coverups, and like Arni suggests first laser laser laser.

@Tecratt 130665 wrote:

That’s a lot for a 16 year old. I don’t think I would have done it. Especially not that much. Maybe a little flower on her back.

The top part looks like a decent start to a sleeve, it doesn’t come together very well at the bottom to me. If it’s not going to be made into a finished sleeve I don’t like it at all.

What he said ^^^^.

Welcome to the forum. I agree 100% – get it done right!!

I don’t have any artists to suggest to you, but have you checked out PeterPoose’s list of amazingly good artists? He has a link to it in his signature.

Apparently there is a point when enough is enough (for me, anyways). Well, sort of.

I had a large piece done that was about 24 hours total but it was spread over 9 monthly appointments. When it was finally finished I had had enough – was so over it. I swore I was done getting tattooed. Done done done. No more. I think it was healing 9 times…[Read more]

I think that the more you add to it, the more I’m liking it.

I was quite amazed at how many of my favorite tattoo images were on your list!

I am not one to “follow” a blog, but I have been making use of the link in your signature every once in a while, whenever the mood strikes me. Very well written, too. Keep it up. 🙂

(And not to leave out our other resident blogger, I have been enjoying yours the same…[Read more]

That looks good!! I really do love a well done b&g sleeve.

But I agree with poxphobia – if you don’t fill in that elbow there will always be a hole in your sleeve. And after all, how much could it hurt? 😉