Saturday, April 09, 2011

During my last session we went and filled in everything waiting for some red ink.  That meant mostly work on my arm, and some on my torso.
We're getting very close to completion now! Shinji and I are already talking about next steps, and have a few ideas we're considering.  Nothing huge, more like finishing touches.
It's difficult to imagine what it's be like when we reach that final day, we've been working on this project for so long that semi-regular tattoo sessions just seem like a part of my life.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Mike,
Looks every so great each step of the way.....congratulations!
In my case I've made the decision to go for the full suit.
I begin the next part of the journey in one week.
It really was inevitable that I would eventually do my legs as well.
As incredible as Shingi's Munwari is on you; as they say in Texas.....more is better !
Don't stop !
Dmitri :^)>

tattooed toff said...

This is a really beautiful sleeve and the quality of the photography is better than I have on my blog. I am most envious

You might like to check me out on www.blogspot.com/tattooedtoff.

Stephen

Mike Crash said...

Hey Dmitri - nice to see you're still about. As far as the legs..never say never, but right now I don't think it's going to happen. I prefer the look of the munewari. But if I get the tattoo bug, I'm not sure what I'll do..
Tattooed Toff - thanks for the kind words. Nice blog!

Anonymous said...

Hello again Mike,
I don't know why Ive never thought to ask you this question until now.
Do you know the proper Japanese names for a full body suit ?
There's a host of names for a range of various sleeves and such that I am familiar with, but have never come across one for the full suit...or the "Shorts" for that matter !
If you have some answers or could pass on any resource it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx
Dmitri

Mike Crash said...

Hey Dmitri - digging out my copy of Kitamura's "Bushido: Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo", and I see he has a handy glossary in the back. Per this book: "hanzubon" for "shorts" (inner thigh completely filled with tattoo work) and "donburi soushinbori" for a full-body suit without the munewari split in the front. Let me know if you come across something different..

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU MUCH!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey mike.. I jest came across Your blog..,and I've read the hole thing I'n one day lol.,and it's awesome to no that the person on the back of my appointment Sheet has a hole blog on his project And work of art!! So thank you for letting us I'n on the last few years of your life! There is no words to describe what a beautiful job Shinji has done,,I no you are very proud! I have a question...how long did it take for your shading to heal? The rocks on my forearm Seem to look blue and still a bit wrinkly,,and it's bin almost a month..I jest didn't no if the tebori method takes longer to heal or what..thanx again for your blog! I love it!

Mike Crash said...

Thanks for the kind words Mr. Anonymous. In answer to your question, there really is no "standard" healing time - it's all very personal and different for everyone. That being said, usually I'm pretty healed after 2 weeks, especially parts that are only lightly shaded. The very black background parts take longer. But I've had some places a month, even longer, to heal. As long as nothing looks red and infected, I wouldn't worry too much.

reggie said...

How can you ever be "done", when there still a significant amount of real estate left?

Mike Crash said...

Reggie - I initially went to Shinji for just a back piece (if memory serves.."kame no koh" is the term or "turtle back" style, extending from shoulders to mid-thigh). But I started thinking about extending it to a full munewari about halfway through and pretty much started to as soon as that was done. At this point, I'm not planning anything else. Never say never, so we'll see. Before Shinji I had a long tattoo dry spell (8 years or so), but that was just me realizing that I was getting terrible tattoos in high school / college and I should chill for a minute before I make any more mistakes.