Tattoo on the mind

[twinjet]

Hi gang,
I'm not a huge tattoo guy and never really have been. However, the thought of getting a few small ones has crossed my mind.

A few years ago I considered getting the signs from The Witcher video games, starting with Yrden. Anyone familiar with TW3: The Wild Hunt knows how powerful a sign this can be. I'm still unsure how I feel about this one, and it has been six years. It's a cool design (second from left), but not much else.

The most recent idea I had was the symbol for electrical grounding. As an apprentice in the electrical trade, I thought it would be a cool sign to sport on my forearm. Additionally, it would serve as a visual reminder to not allow myself to short out in high-pressure/emotional situations, to "stay grounded", if you will. When a potentially adverse emotional response is formed in my mind, the sign serves as a reminder to stop, think and provide that return path back to the mind as opposed to shorting out on someone. Cheesy, I know.

Again, I'm not a huge tattoo person and haven't got any to date. Thought it would be a cool thing, with a useful secondary purpose.

How long do most people take to plan tattoos like this? What's it like getting on on the forearm? What meanings have your tattoos got?

Thanks for indulging me.

 

[two fingers]

To me, a tat is a very personal thing. So it's almost never "cheesy". I've gotten very close to getting one a few times and just never committed. I've been thinking on it for YEARS. My sister died in 1994. Her initials were ACE. I've been thinking about an old-school traditional ace of hearts thing like one of these.

 

[Mike N]

The dog is on my right leg and the 'tree is on my right arm. I've got more on my left side, just have to find pics....

 

[J_Bass]

My approach is different.

My tattoo artist is like my doctor, or my accountant. It's very personal and they are involved in the decisions.

I went the other way.

Fewer tattoos, but big and meaningful.

The final art is a cooperation between me and the artist. We have a meeting, I explain what the tattoo is about, what I want, what I don't want, I give examples and previous art by her that I like, and the drawing is up to her.

Her job is to to create the art based on my ideas and thoughts. I don't show up with the drawing. She creates the art.


The profession for the professionals. That's my view on things.

 

[beaglesandbass]

It all depends on the tattoo. I’ve had a couple where I’ve gone in with a sketch of what I want and the artist just pretty much did that. I have some where it was more improv on the artist. My last one was like that. I emailed him and told him I wanted the Jersey Devil playing bass, for him to have fun with it.

He drew it on my back, I saw it in a mirror, I gave the approval and then he actually did it. Turned out better than anything I had envisioned.

As far as how is it on the forearm? Well none of it feels good, but there are definitely spots that hurt more. I have one on in the inside of my bicep, that was probably the most painful, especially when it got towards the armpit. However your design isn’t very intricate so there won’t be too much actual needle work. It’ll be quick and won’t be too bad.

 

[Mike N]

My approach is different.

My tattoo artist is like my doctor, or my accountant. It's very personal and they are involved in the decisions.

I went the other way.

Fewer tattoos, but big and meaningful.

The final art is a cooperation between me and the artist. We have a meeting, I explain what the tattoo is about, what I want, what I don't want, I give examples and previous art by her that I like, and the drawing is up to her.

Her job is to to create the art based on my ideas and thoughts. I don't show up with the drawing. She creates the art.


The profession for the professionals. That's my view on things.

I've known far too many people through the years that walk into a tattoo parlor and ask for #14 on the wall..... I certainly don't want the same McTattoo that everyone else has.

My tats are one of a kind and unique to me.

 

[J_Bass]

I've known far too many people through the years that walk into a tattoo parlor and ask for #14 on the wall..... I certainly don't want the same McTattoo that everyone else has.

My tats are one of a kind and unique to me.

Oh yes, agreed.

My tattoos are exclusive and unique art, too.

 

[J_Bass]

It all depends on the tattoo. I’ve had a couple where I’ve gone in with a sketch of what I want and the artist just pretty much did that. I have some where it was more improv on the artist. My last one was like that. I emailed him and told him I wanted the Jersey Devil playing bass, for him to have fun with it.

He drew it on my back, I saw it in a mirror, I gave the approval and then he actually did it. Turned out better than anything I had envisioned.

View attachment 4564123

As far as how is it on the forearm? Well none of it feels good, but there are definitely spots that hurt more. I have one on in the inside of my bicep, that was probably the most painful, especially when it got towards the armpit. However your design isn’t very intricate so there won’t be too much actual needle work. It’ll be quick and won’t be too bad.

Definitely, some areas are worse.

If it has bone underneath, it hurts more.
And if it's a sensitive area, too.


And it depends on the size of the tattoo. When the artist starts, you think, well, I'm a tough guy, this doesn't hurt anything!

But if you're in a 4 hour session, well. It gets difficult. Especially when the artist starts repeating lines, and using the needle where it has passed before.

The final stretch, with the color being applied on areas that are already tattooed and sore, is difficult.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Definitely, some areas are worse.

If it has bone underneath, it hurts more.
And if it's a sensitive area, too.


And it depends on the size of the tattoo. When the artist starts, you think, well, I'm a tough guy, this doesn't hurt anything!

But if you're in a 4 hour session, well. It gets difficult. Especially when the artist starts repeating lines, and using the needle where it has passed before.

The final stretch, with the color being applied on areas that are already tattooed and sore, is difficult.

100% all that. I have one on my left shoulder and on the top, whatever that bone was, was super painful.

My jersey devil was a 3-4 hour session with a break or too. by the end I was definitely ready to be done.

 

[Mike N]

Oh yes, agreed.

My tattoos are exclusive and unique art, too.

Pics??

 

[Katoosie]

I spend months if not years pondering my tats. It's always been a long process and I got a sleeve that is not finished, literally half of my entire arm is covered in an unfinished tattoo.

I got ideas and as the months pass by, I just add my inspirations to a folder and let it stew in my head.

Current ones are as follows.

Right arm.

Left arm, wraps around to my elbow.

Back of the neck, nape.

And a strawberry behind my ear, on the side of my head. Don't have a pic of it, though. It's there.

 

[Funky Ghost]

The thought I would suggest is that if it's personal to you, it will likely last the test of your lifetime. A cool thing now could be an annoyance in time. Especially so, things we become enamored with. Personally I've thought of differing pop culture things from my past. The only one that has remained even an idea still is the symbol of the Federation Everything else is of the "thank goodness I'm not impulsive!" variety.

I have two tatoos.

A Phoenix rising from the flames. My second wife and I lost our first child. The pain was incredible. I had no tatoos at that time. For some reason I still don't understand, I dropped into my local shop, saw the Phoenix and had it done. It hurt like hell, was poorly done and he railed the crap out of me ( it feels like canals were gouged into my skin and the tatoo was so deep the lines bled and spread after a few years. I don't regret it.

I really enjoyed the process.

The second is an Okinawan Female Shisa. A guardian of women and children. I've had a painting for years and decided to have it put on my skin.

 

[scott sinner]

Hi gang,
Again, I'm not a huge tattoo person and haven't got any to date. Thought it would be a cool thing, with a useful secondary purpose.

How long do most people take to plan tattoos like this?
Thanks for indulging me.

I have a lot of tattoos and I started getting them at 18, am now 47. I have never gotten anything I really regretted, like nothing individually that is regrettable, but if I could go back in time I'd have had a little better overall plan for some.

My collected advice is

• Be very sure about what you want - Though I have no individual tats I regret, the people i know who do just went in on a whim, spur of the moment. I have sat on ideas for years but it also it depends on how certain you are, age, maturity. If you have an idea and feel 100% that is the perfect fit, sit on it a few months, I'd say that is a minimum. Also, tell friends, family, ask. I took Chinese in college, lol, I know people that have their 'initials' tattooed in Chinese. ....it is not a phonetic language, you absolutely can not do that.
• Don't cut corners - Removal or cover ups are hard. Find an artist that is capable.
• Learn about what is possibly and lasting in ink - not everything really lends itself to tattooing. You do not have the full color palette you would in painting, some colors last longer, etc.
• Learn about styles of tattooing - there are different techniques and different schools of style. People specialize in them sometimes. Black&Gray, New School, Traditional, Water Color, illustrative, realism, it is helpful to know so you can pick a good artist.
• Decide if you want to go in with a reference or have the artist design something. No right or wrong here and depends on the piece. I've done both. I think going in with a reference is intuitive as to why that can be good, but sometimes I've just had an idea, and I've worked with artists that came up with an original piece that was waaayyyy better than what I had imagined. Eh...most of the ones I have that people just stop and say 'holy snap, that is beautiful,' were my artist's creations, my concept.

Honestly, watching some seasons of Ink Master is a good way to learn the last few.

Bonus point

• If you think you'll eventually get a bunch, Have an overall plan. My only real regrets is I would have moved some things around, to leave better space for some other things. Individually, I love every tat.

Hi gang,
What's it like getting on on the forearm?

Thanks for indulging me.

Top of forearm is one of the easiest places. Nice amount of muscle, not usually squishy skin. My only caution is that's one of your most visible places, unless you go face, If you might get more, save it for your best idea(s).

Hi gang,
What meanings have your tattoos got?

Thanks for indulging me.

Overall torso....
Left arm is dark, old, cold, includes octopus, sea stars, other water stuff, extinct water animals, a bristle cone pine based creature
left back is still under construction but is earth, to include earth goddess Prithvi
right back is sky, god Varuna
Right arm is bright, new, warm, future, has a sun, celestial stars, circuit board, cybernetics.

 

[Ash Jazz]

To each his own. Personally, they are permanent. It's not like putting on a hat or changing a hair style. There is no argument that could convince me to have ink injected in my skin. I am just not interested in going that far to try to look cool. But that's me. I have plenty of friends that have them. Just not for me.

 

[J_Bass]

To each his own. Personally, they are permanent. It's not like putting on a hat or changing a hair style. There is no argument that could convince me to have ink injected in my skin. I am just not interested in going that far to try to look cool. But that's me. I have plenty of friends that have them. Just not for me.

I wouldn't do it either, if I did it to look cool.

 

[Mike N]

Got this back in December on my left leg.

 

[basscooker]

I got one.
Very glad I waited and never succumbed to impulse. I was pretty into many things that sparked a (after some time) fleeting or very dated concept or idea. I'm not very impulsive and proud of myself for not getting any of them.

The one I went with is a badge of sorts on my left arm at my shoulder. It's a carving knife and 2-tined long fork crossed over flames. I did it to "commemorate" 20 years of "playing" with knives and fire for a living. I never went back to add "XXX" to it for 30 years. I guess I could since I'm well past that now. Four more years I could get "XL" maybe.

I started in the biz at 14, washing dishes, but it isn't like the chefs never had me doing prep and teaching me stuff.

I've always wanted this but I've seen it, so, not very original or creative.

 

[Gaolee]

I thought about it at one point but couldn't think of anything that would be good to wear for the rest of my life. Especially considering that skin and shape changes over time. The other thing is that if you are going to do it, I figured it should be all in. Start at the bottoms of your feet and finish at the top of your head, like some kind of tribal wild man from the forest. That would make getting a job harder, and it also would require sitting still far longer than I can accomplish. Plus, there's the cost. Spending money on music stuff or things for the house seem like better ideas these days. Back when, spending money on beer and chasing women seemed like a better idea. It seems to have worked out OK. That's just my own personal take on tattoos. I don't like them on women all that much, though. That's probably generational and the fact that I'm turning into an uptight old fart.

 

[jvanoort]

Just to chime in: I have no tattoos...yet! However, my oldest daughter is a tattoo artist (and a really good one at that!) and would love to tattoo me.
I'm not really a tattoo kind of guy, but one designed and set by your own daughter...who could say no?

It's probably going to be either a black-tailed godwit (I love birds!) or a flying spaghetti monster...or both

The way I see it: if you're old and dying and your tattoos are your only regrets, you've done well in life!

 

[Gregc57]

One rule: You Do You!
personal info: I got my 1st tattoo at age 50!
I made it meaningful.
I spared no expense. Search out the best. I went to guys like Chris Garver, and Mike Rubendall; world class artists. Your skin is not a place to go 'cheap', IMO.... and YMMV.
I like 'one shot' tattoos, so I'll sit for 6-8 hours at a clip. Not everyone can do that, physically or financially.