Here's an alternate image. It's got a little more shine, but you'll get the idea.

This took me three and a half hours today. It felt good, and I feel tired. I don't know how people can tattoo all day... I need to build up some mental stamina.

I need to figure out lighting so I can take better photos. Oh, and I took some personal license with the final product, but here's my reference shots:

I had no clue that some people smell like death. I guess if I would have taken the time to process the information, I probably would have came to the same conclusion without having to digest the smell for hours: people stink.

And, honestly, I've been lucky. I distinctly remember three people - out of the past twenty tattoos - with an awful smell. So lets sit back and reminisce...

1. The first person smelled like corn chips from the kickoff to the final whistle. I think he came directly from work, or at least I hope so. There was no mistaking it. Even the shop felt the effects by keeping the smell alive a few hours after that person was gone - you know, for good measure.

2. Nervous sweat caused one client to emit some kind of onion scent from his left armpit. I was working near the right one, but, for whatever reason, the left was doing duty for both.

3. The last one I understood a bit more. About two hours in, this guy started to feel like hamburger meat and his body got exhausted. I think he was fighting the pain mentally, instead of accepting it, and just couldn't do it anymore. In a matter of minutes he was sweating like a coal miner.

You have to just get used to it. I don't think you build up a tolerance, because it'll still throw you back initially. Now, I've yet to tattoo a lower back and get hit with some internal body air wafting from the nether regions (AKA bottomless perdition). But I've got plenty of time to both accept it and learn how to work through it.

Do you have any doubts about your smell? Do you curiously ruin all of your white shirts with lovely armpit rings? How gracious and wonderful it would be of you to shower before your next tattoo.

Every shop is different, and the apprenticeship process varies. One of the highlights at working here at Bluebird Tattoo has been putting together the tools I work with. I couldn't have asked for a better way to gain confidence.

We ordered my frames from a reputable source and then purchased machine parts from Eikon.

Then it was a matter of coming in on one of my days off and figuring it out. I was helped with the first machine, then I put together the shader myself. I've still much to learn, but I appreciate my machines more. Do I understand them? Not as much as I'd like to, but I'm certainly on my way.

I remember being in the middle of a tattoo and the hum of my shader felt wrong. I didn't hesitate to make adjustments. There was no uncomfortable worry in front of my client, just trust in being able to problem solve.

Before this process, I was sat down with some flux and a soldering iron. Drew walked me through needle creation. Early on I was taught the basic differences between needle clusters. I remember it clicking... "Oh, so that's a magnum." Later, I was taken through spring creation: cutting, bending and alignment. It's been an ongoing process. Sure, I wanted to jump into some skin right away. But the continual learning in bits has built up layers in my learning experience.

When we're able to explore specific, minute details, and then step back to piece them together, our retention increases dramatically.

After the jump, I've posted a quick list of my setup.

Here's some of my setup:

Machine parts ordered from Eikon
Conventional armature bar.
22uF and 47uF pre-wired capacitors
22uF axial capacitor - liner
47uF axial capacitor - shader
Top and rear binding posts.
Contact point screw and one extra from Ace Hardware.
Springs springs springs.
1 1/4" 8 wrap coils
Also, conventional armature bars (one regular, one long), front and back springs, some coils, flat and shim washers and back binding posts.

And to round everything off I went with an Eikon EMS 200 power supply and a sexy Premier footswitch.

Monte Agee recently completed five more hours on my back. He concentrated on my left side and extended Jesus' arm to the top of my butt. It seemed to have lengthened Jesus and give the lifeless body more weight. I love it.

The back of the ribs sucks. It took awhile, but I found a mental relaxation zone by not tensing up and concentrating on my breathing. Oh, and the healing seems to be taking longer.

View a larger version of the image here.

Comparing this session with my first session. The process is great to watch.

I knew the skin around that area would be pliable, but I had no clue the effort my left hand was about to extend. To get taut skin, I had to maintain a strong stretch. Half way through and the meaty chicken leg part of the thumb (muscles of the thenar eminence) was cramping up faster and harder than normal.

We continued for about 30 minutes more and we took a break.
What to do? Well, I treated it like any cramp and covered all the bases:

Causes - temporary fixes
Muscle fatigue - * stretch, or Counterstrain - see below (thanks Sharon)
Heavy exercise - took a break.
Dehydration - drank water.
Pregnancy - nope, ha.
Hypothyroidism - nope, my thryroid is fine, thanks.
Reduced levels of magnesium or calcium - possibly.
Alcoholism - sure hope not
Medications - nope.

Why so detailed? Why not. Sure, I knew my muscles were simply worn out, but taking extra time and caution for my body is important.

* Related links: Hand stretches one, two, three. (PDF version of three) - Counter strain one, two, three.

We use skulls all the time. So this is a rendered version of a skull that has been rotated in 5º increments from front to side view. I've got more from side to back view I'll post in a couple days. Consider this my holiday present to you.

Download for print:
PDF - 1.07mb
EPS - 6.60mb
AI - 3.37mb (CS2)

Download for screen:
JPG - 72dpi, 1008x612
JPG - 72dpi, 4200x2550

My stomach is groaning and, for some reason, my jaw is tightening. I'm always a little out of sorts after finishing a tattoo, but right now... I'm just hungry.

Now that I'm tattooing some, time seems to disappear quickly. And with less time comes less availability. In turn I'm starting to mentally schedule and plan out when I need to use the restroom. So why do I place more importance on an empty bladder than a full stomach?

I need to figure out how to fit in eating. (And not the crap just picked up from J.J.s Pizza. Who puts olives on a salad? Seriously.) I've heard of artists sitting, eating junk, and getting fat.

I can't wait to gain 30lbs. Especially if it goes straight to my face. That'd be hilarious.

From side view to rear view, I've moved the light source to be able to see more detail. Later on, I'll be working on a few more skull references from different angles.

Download for print:
PDF - 3.69mb

Download for screen:
JPG - 72dpi, 1008x612
JPG - 72dpi, 4200x2550

View larger image.

My friend Rob was in town with his family. Our wives hung out with the kids and I took him to the shop and tattooed this sacred heart in the middle of his chest. Good times. He sat like a champ for three and a half hours... oh, and he brought Mentos after reading my post on smelly people. Nice.

Rob is an accomplished artist and I trust his eye, so I was a bit nervous at first. But after about 10 minutes of being in the skin, everything fell into place during concentration.

Go check out Rob Schwager's stuff.