Need tattoo advice

[reptile_lover07]

I want to get a tattoo involving a snake but I don't know what kind. I have very light skin. I would love a Red tail boa or a ball python. I need advice on what will work for my skin. My favorite morph is a spider but I don't know how that will show up. Any opinons or pictures would be great. Thanks

[purplemuffin]

I'd say... do a lot of research on what you want the tattoo to look like (traditional tattoo style, photorealism, stylized, etc.).... then find yourself a tattoo artist who is good at that(Someone who does nothing but tribal will not be the best guy to go to when you want a photorealistic tattoo!)

As far as the snake, it's really up to you. It's AMAZING what artists can do with ink..
Check out mike devries, he does INCREDIBLE photorealistic animals:
http://www.jinxiboo.com/blog/2009/12...e-devries.html but he's very well known so he might be a little out of most everyone's price range still, you can find other artists who work similarly who I'm sure can work with you!

If the spider morph is your favorite find the best photos of spider ball pythons possible, talk to the artist, tell him what it is about the morph you like and the artist will work with you to create your ultimate tattoo! Light skin is great because you'll have a ton of contrast, meaning the darks will show up darker and you can get spots to look pure white/super light just because of the rest of the ink!

Red tail boas would also be great, considering the different colors on the animal..that bright red of the tail would look fantastic!! But it's all about taste. What I like might be different than what you like!!

Edit: also, make sure you really look into who you want to do your tattoo! That is what makes the difference, even if you have the coolest idea in the world, the wrong artist will not be able to give you the best tattoo possible(and trust me..I've seen some BAD snake tattoos..)
Make sure they are willing to show you their work..Not just stuff done at the shop, or flash cards.. See what they have done! If they have drawings on paper, that's a good indicator on if they will be good tattoo artists... if they can't draw on paper, how are they supposed to do good with skin on someone who might move? Yikes!
Might make the difference between this..


and this!



Also, spider ball pythons could easily be transformed into a more simple drawing(while still being recognizable) if you don't want to sit for the big realistic ones! The spider is all about the pattern, could be flat and simple while still excellent!

[purplemuffin]

I found some examples thanks to google, none of these tattoos are on me or by me, but a quick google search of python tattoo/ball python tatto/etc. etc. will help you find them and their owners





An example of a simple version of any snake..


and turning the snake into nothing but pattern...can have cool effects!

You could ask your artist to stylize a pattern based on real ball python markings instead of these simple tribal shapes. A cool style

[lance]

My best words of advise is before you get any tattoo of any kind wait a month or 2 and if you still want it research it more then talk to your artist draw up and discuss your ideas, placement etc... then wait another month or 2 and if you still want it get it. Otherwise you could end up with a tattoo you regret. Best of luck

Lance

[darkbloodwyvern]

Hey! Sounds cool! Be sure the place you go to has GOOD REPUTATION. They are sticking needles into your body and changing your body PERMANENTLY.
Bad artists can mess up the art or give you an infection free with your tattoo! Yuck... So go to a place that properly sterilizes equipment, is clean and the artist should not look creepy and gross. It sounds shallow, but someone who keeps up appearances and knows how to properly autoclave their materials is probably going to care a lot more about how happy you are with their work! A big tat can take a lot of time and money. Pick a place based on QUALITY not cheap, because you may get lucky with a cheap tattoo and like it. With an affordable quality tat, you will be getting the best service and keeping yourself safe and it will look like it is worth the money you put into it (or more!) If you don't like someone's art, don't go to them. If you have to drive a few hours to get tot the best place, I'd recommend it. Some areas only have 1 or no good places to get work done and the drive is worth the final product!

I also recommend knowing what you want before you go there. A big tatt will be expensive and tiny tats can fade more easily as the ink spreads over time. Some places on your body can be VERY painful to get tattooed. Splitting a big piece into multiple sessions is a good idea for many reasons, but plenty people power through a big project and are happy with it being finished. It's all a matter of choice in that case. Go to someone you can trust and that has a good rep and is knowledgable and looking out for your interests as well as your own. Sometimes a stable location will offer free touch ups on their products, ask around!

[Herp_Herp_hooray]

Just like snakes... Cheap tattoos aren't good and good tattoos aren't cheap!!!