How did you choose your tattoo??

[kanonfodr]

Greetings, folks!

For the inked ones among us, how did you decide what you wanted indelibly inked on your skin for the rest of your life?

I've got a few days of leave left and want to get a tattoo right before I head back, but still can't decide on SH*T!!!

Peace,
Greg

[Mark Latimour]

I don't have a tattoo, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but it seems to me that if you don't know what you want to get, now is not the time to be getting a tattoo. Like a puppy, a tattoo is for life. If you are sure that you want a tattoo, why not wait until the image that speaks to you comes into your mind naturally and then think it over for a few months and then have it done. You don't need to be spontaneous with a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life.

Of course, if you choose to ignore me, my recommendations are:

(a) a 1/16th scale image of john turner with doubleneck;

(b) a limp bizcuit 4 ever motif; or

(c) a tribal arm band made up of stars and koi fish which turns into an anchor when you flex your arm.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I don't have a tattoo, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but it seems to me that if you don't know what you want to get, now is not the time to be getting a tattoo.

+1

I'd known what I wanted for years and had picked the date for the branding (my 30th birthday, oddly). Where I screwed up was telling my brother who has the same link to the image I do and got it tagged on his leg before my birthday. When I found out, the idea got tossed. I have another that I put together that I've beeen considering for about 6 months. It might make the cut.

I've wanted a tattoo since I was about 17. The issue for me was finding or drawing an image that would last for me. I think you should wait until you've found something that isn't as fly-by-night as my friends Pearl Jam tattoo.

Mike

[Jim Nazium]

I have two religious symbol tattoos: a cross on my left shoulder, and an "endless knot" which is a Buddhist symbol on my right shoulder. They represent two religions that have been tremendous influences on my life.

Plus, I think they look cool.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

+1

I'd known what I wanted for years and had picked the date for the branding (my 30th birthday, oddly). Where I screwed up was telling my brother who has the same link to the image I do and got it tagged on his leg before my birthday. When I found out, the idea got tossed. I have another that I put together that I've beeen considering for about 6 months. It might make the cut.

I've wanted a tattoo since I was about 17. The issue for me was finding or drawing an image that would last for me. I think you should wait until you've found something that isn't as fly-by-night as my friends Pearl Jam tattoo.

Mike

I'm 5.6 months into my "waiting to see if I still want it period" for my "mike_v_s for mod" tattoo. 10 more days and it will be a slam dunk.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I don't have a tattoo, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but it seems to me that if you don't know what you want to get, now is not the time to be getting a tattoo. Like a puppy, a tattoo is for life. If you are sure that you want a tattoo, why not wait until the image that speaks to you comes into your mind naturally and then think it over for a few months and then have it done. You don't need to be spontaneous with a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life.

Of course, if you choose to ignore me, my recommendations are:

(a) a 1/16th scale image of john turner with doubleneck;

(b) a limp bizcuit 4 ever motif; or

(c) a tribal arm band made up of stars and koi fish which turns into an anchor when you flex your arm.

I agree.
And this is coming from someone who has around 45hours of tattoo work done.

[Mike N]

Being a drag racer, have a piston/connecting rod surrounded by fire in my left upper arm, and a "christmas tree" (the tree used in drag racing) on my right upper arm.

[Unrepresented]

+1 to all above

and... what artist did you plan on getting your work done with? As a rule of thumb, most quality artists are not going to have space for a walk in. The guy I've been working with is still re-establishing himself locally and he's got a six month wait, which I'm sure will grow as people become more familiar with his work. Others in his shop involve years for a wait. They're not necessarily typical, but my point is: if you want a great tattoo in terms of quality, and you want something that's meaningful and satisfying for years to come, don't rush it. Do your research.

[etoncrow]

The hawk is my spirit animal. I have a hawk and dream catcher on one shoulder; the eagle and Harley-Davidson on the other shoulder. I designed the other two on AutoCad: a cross based on the Celtic knot on one forearm and a fish (Christianity/Pisces) based upon the Celtic knot on the other. The multi-cultural blend of religious symbols is because I would describe myself as a Christian Mystic.

[illidian]

I have a few ideas floating around.

I look at pictures of them everyday.

Been looking at one set of pictures for, oh, maybe six months. I might get that one done in December. I have a good idea of what I want done with it, but I want to be sure.

I want to put a celtic cross somewhere, but I have neither come up with the perfect design nor the right place to put it.

[EricF]

The tattoo on my right arm has the names of my two daughters and my father's initials included in an old-school heart-and-ribbon design. My test-wife was quite irritated when I told her I wouldn't get her name tattoed on me. It turns out my decision was a good one. My daughthers will ALWAYS be my daughters, but there's no guarantee that a marriage will last forever.

I also have a small sea turtle symbol on my back. It was a souvenir from a life-changing trip to Maui a couple of years ago.

[Chipsonfire]

I have college friends that will post things on their facebook/MySpace like "I'm getting a tattoo on Saturday and still can't decide what I'm getting!" and I can't help but think they are some of the most myopic people I know. A tattoo isn't something to be taken lightly, take some time and think about it.

[sonic assassin]

i let myself sit on an idea for 6 months or longer. if i still like it, it goes on.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

+1 to all above

and... what artist did you plan on getting your work done with? As a rule of thumb, most quality artists are not going to have space for a walk in. The guy I've been working with is still re-establishing himself locally and he's got a six month wait, which I'm sure will grow as people become more familiar with his work. Others in his shop involve years for a wait. They're not necessarily typical, but my point is: if you want a great tattoo in terms of quality, and you want something that's meaningful and satisfying for years to come, don't rush it. Do your research.

Yup. I've spent countless hours digging through the available artists in my area portfolio. They all have their own "style" and finding one that would work with what I want has been interesting.

Some of them are obviously better at certain types of work. The piece I'm likely going to be going with is original, so I've been digging through the portfolios looking for bits and parts that are similaa to get an idea of how they would do it. I'm still not settled.

Mike

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I'm 5.6 months into my "waiting to see if I still want it period" for my "mike_v_s for mod" tattoo. 10 more days and it will be a slam dunk.

Awesome. I nearly got the same thing, but I think I'm going with either "underscored for life" or "underscored by trials".

Mike

[i_got_a_mohawk]

If you only have a few days then dont be daft and just go and get inked for the sake of it.

Believe it or not, i've put years of thought into my ink, even tho most people will think it's gash :P

[HailCorduroy]

Well, I have 2. 1 was a spur of the moment thing and the other was well thought out. I have regretted the spur of the moment one for the last 18 years. I still love the well thought out one (4 years).

I think anything you put permanently on your body should have some meaning to you and be based on something that isn't likely to change. I knew that my belief in personal liberty wouldn't likely change in life, so I looked for something to symbolize that. I kept coming back to the Gadsden flag (the rattlesnake coiled w/ "Don't Tread on Me"). I designed the snake and had a good friend draw it.

That's another thing. I plan on getting at least 2 more tattoos. I will never get something that is on the wall or in a book. I may use it as a base, but it will have to have something unique about it.

[Mr 600]

I drew all 3 of my tat designs myself, a knotwork Celtic dog design that I got from the ancient "Book of Kells" to symbolize my Irish heritage, a rather abstract design based on a wading bird, which I absolutely love, and a Japanese koi fish on my leg, which I actually tattooed on myself (I dabble in skin art) which is a symbol of my fascination with Japanese tattoing. I thought about each of them for SEVERAL years before I committed to them. I also made sure that each one follows the natural contours of my body, so they don't look out of place.
Funny story about the koi fish. I had done the outline a few years back, and never got around to doing the color. I had a class called Communications for Engineers in college last year, and the instructor wanted us to do a presentation with step-by step instructions on how to do something. People did presentations on things like "how to play chess" or "how to bake cookies." I did mine on "how to give a tattoo." I actually went in front of the class and proceeded to set up a gun and ink and the whole shebang. I then pulled up my pantleg and did some of the color fill on the koi fish. I was hoping for more squeamish people, so I could make them uncomfortable, but everyone was fascinated. Nothing I have ever done onstage in music will ever compare to the nervousness I actually felt while doing the ink! I had to give instructions detailing each step as I did it, too. I think the quality suffered a little, but it was SO worth it. Needless to say, I got an A in the class.

Don't get a tattoo unless you are absolutely sure!!!!

Think about the things that mean a lot to you, and find an artist that can custom-draw something for you.
Just my 2 cents

[MatticusMania]

I didnt think too long and hard about my current tattoo, but its something that symbolized a drastic change in my life, and 4 years later I dont regret it at all. I have a few more ideas planned out that Ive been working on ever since.

[KPAX]

I wasn't yet 30 when I might have wanted one.
By the time I was, I wasn't interested.
I feel cheated.