Very nice design.

He does wonderful work! :)

The thumbnail makes these look like wieners. ^^;

Lawl! Weiner arrrrrm.

Gorgeous, looks like Derek did a fantastic job, and I love the reworking of the woman. She looks a little Causasian, but otherwise absolutely stunning. The hair, just... Wow. I'm kinda excited to see how he decides to color the kimonos!

I suppose she does, but I'm still really pleased with how she turned out. The hair took a long time (and is one of the spots that hurts the most now!) but it was very much worth it! He does really beautiful work.

I can't wait to see the colour either! :D My next appointment is in June... If I can last that long!

That's your first?

Nothing like diving in with both feet, eh?

It's my first tat, yeah, but I've been pierced/scalpelled/suspension hooked more times than I can count :P I've wanted this piece for a very long time, and I've never pictured it being small! Actually, now that I think of it, ALL of the designs I have planned are pretty big... Works out, big pieces wear better over the years :)

oh my god! that looks amazing!

Thank you, darlin'!

Good job, going so big on the first one! I love the nekomata, too. :)

Aren't they precious? I especially love them as a concept because they basically just exist to be annoying. They start small fires and can use the dead like puppets... small-time bump-in-the-night stuff. :D

The Japanese have way more interesting stories of what goes bump in the night. :P

If I may so bold as to ask, why that design? Just curious since if someone is willing to spend that much time and $ for a tat, it usually means something to them. Especially after reand where in response to Bavarian, you said "I've wanted this piece for a very long time"

/has a 5" tat of his fursona on his upper left front leg
//has a 3.5" tat of a pawprint above the words FURRY FOREVER on his upper right front leg
///wants a tat of his icon

No problem, I don't mind!

When I was in grade 4, my music teacher gave me a little art book about cats as a gift. That's where I found this image. I was immediately drawn to it, the surreal quality of the scene, the monstrous paw on the lantern, the grinning, dancing nekomata. It was an immediate "THIS." reaction and I've wanted it as a tattoo ever since.

Over the years, my ideas for the rest of my designs has changed quite a bit- this one stayed constant.

I've always been a fan of Japanese culture, particularly the folklore surrounding mythical creatures. The geisha aesthetic has always had an appeal (I did a lot of research on those traditions in school), and I have ALWAYS been a crazy cat lady. This tattoo encompasses my love for all of these things, and monsters too. My fursona is a calico-patterned nekomata as well, so I like that I have two of them on my arm now :3

Does that work for ya? :)

Oh yes! I certainly see why that image is special to you and I enjoyed reading that story! Thanx for telling it!

Wow, that's quite a large tattoo for your first, how long did it take to just do the lines?

Well, not including getting the sketch on my skin, we watched The Fifth Element and most of Fight club... so maybe four-ish hours? :)

lol do you want to know what I thought this looked like from the thumbnails? This is a pretty cool looking tat but very, very large. I hope you know what you were getting into.

Somebody previously mentioned that the thumbnail looked like weiners :p

I've wanted this piece since grade four... and I'm 27 now. I have absolutely no doubts. ;)

impressive for a first tat. going full sleeve. looks great so far

3/4 sleeve, but it involves the back of my shoulder too. Thanks! :)

Holy crap, babe! For your first ink that's effin amazing!! Serious kudos to you. :D <3

Thank you! Derek is amazing, I'm so glad I went to him! :D

so basically we have to work together and create you a Lady-Samurai kimono dealy with an asymmetrical-1-sleeve-and-off-the-shoulder wickedness to go with your new tatttttttttttttt




aka Iknowwevebeensayingitforeverbutwegottahangoutandmakestuffu kthnxbai :3

I like this idea! :D

How bouts May 10th?

should be good unless i have summer school on thursday at which point you should come visit me and the dried up piece of ass rind we call OCAD :3 (loveyouocad)

WOW. This is lovely!

As a tattooist, i so dig this.

4-ish hours, Fifth Element and most of Fight Club. I approve of all of this. :D

Helluva first tattoo! Rock on.

Thanks, Fossil!

I have my next two appointments in November... both around the same length of time... and then one more and it should be finished up! I can't wait :) I'll definitely post pictures when it's done.