Tattoos

My first tattoo was on my shoulder and it's black and grey. It's been surrounded by a colour sleeve but it stands out there as the sleeve was worked around it.

I think it all depends on what we're talking about. Find an artist who's on the same wavelength as you and see what you guys can do. A lot of my tattoos were put on knowing I'd get more, but not knowing what. I don't tend to change my style though so it probably depends more on whether it's a radical departure stylistically rather than just a colour vs black and grey thing.

So how do people out and out decide on a tattoo? can the artist draw on with a marker pen or similar first? i'm trying to decide between a claddagh or a triquetra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLEi4n1pjqI&feature=player_embedded

Bloody hell she is even worse than the other lady. At leadt the other screaming lady wasnt moving so much.

Sleeve booked for the 15th!

i usually decide on a tattoo by seeing a picture or getting an idea which i then e-mail to myself or write down. after a few months (or sometimes years) if i still like the concept i start looking for an artist whose work matches what i have in mind. however this is kind of a moronic and perfectionist process and i often wish i could convince myself to get impulse tattoos.

So how do people out and out decide on a tattoo? can the artist draw on with a marker pen or similar first? i'm trying to decide between a claddagh or a triquetra

Some artists work freehand, some with a combination of transfers and freehand etc.
The artist that did the majority of my work (Bugs) used about 30% transfers and freehanded the rest on so that it flowed over the area.

I found giving a rough brief, asking to see some preparatory sketches and then giving an artist a decent amount of skin has resulted in the work I am happiest with. Make sure you're on the same wavelength and remember at any point up until the needle hits your skin you can ask for revisions.

Mine's sort of free hand, the larger drawings I have already seen, which she will do first then shes filling any gaps with smaller/freehand stuff

i usually decide on a tattoo by seeing a picture or getting an idea which i then e-mail to myself or write down. after a few months (or sometimes years) if i still like the concept i start looking for an artist whose work matches what i have in mind. however this is kind of a moronic and perfectionist process and i often wish i could convince myself to get impulse tattoos.

I've got a fair amount of tattoos but I did tend to plan them for a long time. Of course in the last few years I've been going to an artist who is on the same wavelength as me and we do tend to just say 'what shall we put here' and then make a piece up.

Tattoos aren't for everyone and I wouldn't encourage anyone to just jump in and start getting ink. I've seen a lot of horrendous tattoos and know people who have regretted getting them. I've never regretted any of mine.

Some artists work freehand, some with a combination of transfers and freehand etc.
The artist that did the majority of my work (Bugs) used about 30% transfers and freehanded the rest on so that it flowed over the area.

I found giving a rough brief, asking to see some preparatory sketches and then giving an artist a decent amount of skin has resulted in the work I am happiest with. Make sure you're on the same wavelength and remember at any point up until the needle hits your skin you can ask for revisions.

Spot on!

I've not got a lot of ink but that's the way my leg sleeve is being constructed.

Giving a few ideas and letting the artist do their thing is a great process and it turns out better than you could imagine in your minds eye.

Freehand work is great if you want things that flow with your body. It works well with tribal-ish designs and the like but I've seen some people showing off ghastly lettering and traditional styled work that is all out of proportion whilst proudly telling me that 'it was done freehand!'.

It's all horses for courses and I'm not knocking it by any means. But my tattoos are drawn and sized and employ a mimeograph. The only freehand things I have are background clouds and swirls that were put on with a biro as the stencil.

Just depends on what you want to get.

Depends on the artistic ability, versus being a draftsman, versus the technical ability of the artist you go to see too!

Plus, some people have different tastes/ perceptions. As you say they are proud of their tattoos and the happiness of the person with the piece is surely the most important point.

No matter how they were constructed, all of my tattoos change day by day and will throughout my life as my body does. Luckily the designs are pretty forgiving :) It'd be interesting to superimpose an image of them in 10 years to see how much.

^Better advice than what I gave.

I've aged and my tattoos have as well. And as you say, the individual happiness is the most important thing.

Well said inkymitts and D. Generate, well worded views.

Started the sleeves with a couple of swallows. Decided the bumblebee will wait until I've enough of the old school style I love so that it fits. Budget allowing, I'm hoping to have a couple of crucifixes added while visiting family in Rome next month. Long shot, but if anyone knows of a good artist over there, hook me up.

Pic taken when 2 days old. Not the best time to be showing it off I guess, as it's neither new nor properly healed.

Really like the leaves on the rose

Love the colours

Oh my god

the right arm is awesome, I would have that.

Far out, that's awesome.

the right arm is awesome, I would have that.

Would you give your left arm for it?

Ha!

I fucking hate that style of tattooing. Couldn't be more 90s. Still, it'd be a boring world if we all agreed.

Laaaaaa de daaaaaaaah