Alright Folks. Here it is. My 5 1/2 HOUR tattoo

[matcom]

shading needs finishing on head and right wing

[MiniMandaRuth]

1. Stunning.

I remember you posting something about the tat and I was thinking that it might not be that great... but seeing it for real is pretty cool.

I like it.

[matcom]

3. he did an amazing job

when he got the stencil on HE stood back and said "woah"

[yellowdogintexas]

84. wow, wish my kid could go train with HIM!!!

she is getting better all the time but really wants to go train with a more accomplished artist than the current one

[Little Wing]

2. wow

[matcom]

4. likey?

[WindRavenX]

5. wow

That is easily one of the best jobs I've ever seen.

CONGRATS MATCOM!!! :bounce:

edit:

where/who is the artist? I may want this guy to do my next piece.

[matcom]

7. i wouldn't have had any other artist try this one

he is simply the best

[WindRavenX]

11. where is he?

I'm planning on getting a cherry blossom/tiger sleeve when I get engaged, and this guy looks like a guy I'd want.

[matcom]

13. just outside of Tampa

they won't let him enter competitions any more. he wins them all. his name is Litos and he only does these pieces now. no bullshit stuff

[WindRavenX]

16. hmm

What do you mean "no bullshit" pieces? Would my piece fall under that? I design my own (have you seen my phoenix one? I designed it), so while a tiger sleeve may seem cliche, the way I want to do it is pretty unique.

But seriously, that's simply unreal. I know how bad it hurts after 3+ hours, so I feel ya

[matcom]

17. would have to see the design to let you know

he has other artists who do the simpler ones (sorry didn't mean to imply 'bullshit')

[WindRavenX]

19. well, I'm a few years from getting it

So we'll see then

CONGRATS!!! :D :D :D

I think the coloring on the dove's wings are, well, perfect.

[auntAgonist]

6. There is so much to see in that beautiful artwork

Thanks for sharing ... I really like it!

aA

[jus_the_facts]

8. Fuckin' OUCH....

...looks more awesome than I *imagined* it would! :) :loveya:

[matcom]

12. fucking ouch doesn't cover it

[ghostsofgiants]

9. That's pretty damn nice.

[Madrone]

10. Love it!

Thanks so much for sharing - that's fabulous work.

[LaraMN]

14. Shouldn't he be eating a taco?

:P

That turned out amazingly! Very cool, Matty!

[matcom]

15. lol!

thanks kid

[Bzzzz]

77. Shouldn't he...

be smoking a joint?? Great tat!

[bridgit]

18. hippie...

:hippie:

[RetroLounge]

20. Wow...

Just. Wow...

That is amazing.

RL

[VenusRising]

21. That is amazingly beautiful!

I'm so happy for you!! I've always wanted a tattoo, but I just don't know what or where. I'm not one to be cavalier about the permanent marks I put on my body.

Just gorgeous!!

:loveya:

[matcom]

22. that is my last

i don't think it can be topped. i'm done ;)

[VenusRising]

24. No, I don't think that can be topped.

It was a fantastic idea. Did the artist draw it from a description you gave him, or did you or someone you know draw it? It's just a very unique concept. Very one of a kind like it's owner to be sure. I love the points of light reflected in the glaases. It's an a fantastic detail.

I hope it didn't put you in the poor house. PM me if you need a box of Ramen to get you through. :P

[matcom]

27. i sent 2 photo's down and Mrs Matcom's aunt took a pic of the memorial

which is at the top above the dove's head (in NYC)

he did the rest and redrew the dove

[SeattleGirl]

23. Wow! Great tatoo, matcom!

I really like it!

[SPKrazy]

25. Wow

That is a cool tat

kind of freaky too

freak!

:rofl: :yourock: :hi:

[LSK]

26. no taco???

:rofl:

[Crabby Appleton]

28. nice tat

[YankeyMCC]

29. Outstanding nt

[LaurenG]

30. Nice!

And the tattoo is really good too. :rofl:

It is beautiful matcom, truly a work of art.:thumbsup:

[rug]

31. Lmagine?

[matcom]

32. LMAO

i KNEW that was coming! :rofl:

not an "L" just a script

[applegrove]

33. Wow! Did you design it yourself?

[matcom]

34. part of it

sent a couple pics and a description of what I wanted. He did the rest.

[applegrove]

35. Beautiful statement.

[bigwillq]

36. Cool!

:bounce:

[Redstone]

37. Whoa. That's impressive. But I don't have any tats, because

the FBI uses them as identifying marks.

Redstone

[MissB]

38. Wow.

Or ow.

Nice, but ow.

[GOPisEvil]

39. Damn!! I was skeptical when I first saw the design, but it's gorgeous!

I'm really impressed! :thumbsup:

[matcom]

40. thanks man

i just keep staring at it. it is insane. he is going to be up here in MA in a couple months as a guest artist and i'm going to try and have it finished then. dude, if you want one you HAVE to drive over to Tampa and have him do it.

:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

42. If I can ever decide on a design...

:eyes:

Not sure where I want it yet either.

That's me: the decider. :rofl:

Seriously though, that is gorgeous.

[matcom]

45. well if you go to him....

give him what you like (multiples if need be) and see what he comes up with. i'll bet you would be amazed.

hey, PM me some thoughts you have and let me see if I can do some searching for you

[Sanity Claws]

41. Some men get hair on their backs as they age

I'd hate that to happen to you and your wonderful tatoo.

[matcom]

43. i'm a fairly hairless man

:rofl:

none on my butt either

[Left Is Write]

44. Pretty cool!

[SunDrop23]

46. Dude that ROCKS!!!!

Great work!!!

[matcom]

47. thanks

and to think i've never been that 'big' into tats :D

[SunDrop23]

57. Does the artist have a website?

[matcom]

58. not the greatest site but....

http://www.forbiddenimages.com/

[SunDrop23]

75. Thanks!

[SOteric]

48. Dude. That's not a tattoo.

That's body art.

:thumbsup:

[matcom]

49. THAT my friend is.....

PAIN

:D

[SOteric]

52. Every woman knows

that beauty is pain. :7 Welcome to womanhood.

[matcom]

54. fuck. now I have cramps

:P

[SOteric]

56. ...and

Pissy Mood Swings.

:hide:

[Mrs.Matcom]

59. he already had that!! n/t

[SOteric]

63. Heee!

:hi:

[TommyO]

79. Pain is just your body's way of making endorphins!

My ex, once the work got underway, would get a nice endorphin high when having major work done.

[Mrs.Matcom]

53. He did so good!!

I am so proud of him! Hell I gave birth to my son, using natural child birth, in 5 1/2 hours...and had the same body shakes that Matcom did! It was freaking me out to see him shake like that! Can't wait until it is finished! :hi:

[matcom]

55. YOU might get 'lucky'

as SOON as this son of a bitch STOPS hurting! :P

[Mrs.Matcom]

61. I'll check back in...

a week! Poor boo~boo!!! I have a totally new respect for you now my dear! :*

[NC_Nurse]

50. Wow!

:wow:

Nice work! I bet it hurt like hell! :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[matcom]

51. my body gave out

convulsions. not pretty.

[NC_Nurse]

60. Po' Baby!!!

It'll be worth it. :D

[matcom]

62. it should be. he tells me only about another hour to go

I can handle that :D

[Mrs.Matcom]

65. yup, just another hour...

he told you that three times!!! LOL!

[xchrom]

64. wow -- now that's beautiful. you said it's not finished?

you had convulsions?

what's the story? -- this sounds interesting.

just beautiful skin art -- gorgeous.

[matcom]

66. not finished

head of the dove and the right wing needs color. 5 1/2 hours and my body gave out. fighting pain for that long is a bitch.

about an hour to go to finish.

and thank you.

[Mrs.Matcom]

67. you can check out the artists work here...

http://www.tattooartists.org/ type the word Litos in the upper right search box, and it will bring up his work. This guy is awesome. I have one of his on my left thigh and my sis has two! :hi:

[xchrom]

69. have you made an appointment to have it finished?

is it scary to think about going back?

[matcom]

70. scares the HELL outta me but...

he is coming up to MA to be a 'guest artist' and he wants to show this off.

i'll go.

need to get it done

[xchrom]

72. wow -- that really something.

as cool as the tatt is -- the story makes it even cooler.

[Mrs.Matcom]

76. you will be fine!

and I will be with you to hold your hand! :*

[InvisibleTouch]

68. Impressive and beautiful! n/t

[Mrs.Matcom]

71. and Expensive!!! n/t

[Kat45]

73. That's a very nice looking tattoo, Matt. 5 1/2 hours??!!

I bet Mrs. Matcom is proud of you for making it through all that pain. I just checked out the tattoo artist's work on that webpage. Man, he's quite the artist. I'm impressed. He gets a great 3-D effect on his pieces; I don't know that I've ever seen that on tattoos.

Actually, I've noticed lately that most people I see with tats, particularly the young'uns, have really crappy looking tats. I always wonder what they were thinking, how they could want such a shitty looking thing on their bodies. But you done it right--the only way to get a tattoo, IMHO, is to go with the folks who are excellent artists.

:hi:

[graywarrior]

74. Fucking A, dude. That is incredible!!!!

[wildhorses]

78. awesome

fucking ouch is right:wow:

[GalleryGod]

80. Well done,indeed, Matcom.

I love the subject.

[leftofthedial]

81. Isn't that one of those guys from Oasis?

With a chicken on his head?

[Lochloosa]

82. Jerry's eyes....

[BreweryYardRat]

83. I like it A LOT. And you say he's outside of Tampa?!

I know who I'm getting to do some of the more involved pieces I want (eventually).

[Bucky]

85. What an awesome tribute to Albert Einstein!

(gotcha!)

[GenDem]

86. I love it!

I almost became a tattoo artist, and the portraits are what I like best. I think it is very, very, well done. Bravo!!!!:thumbsup:

[BarenakedLady]

87. I love it!

Did you come up with that design on your own or did the tattoo artist (sorry I haven't read the other replies, if you already answered that.)

Totally cool! :thumbsup:

[Blue_Roses]

88. Nice back

wow