Thinking about a tattoo...input?

I don't see anything wrong with getting a second, or even third opinion on something that is as permanent as ink. You certainly can choose an artist based purely on your own tastes, or even have your own child draw a picture. But for those who are looking for work that is impressive to other ink freaks as well as meaningful to themselves, I think Jen's offer is a nice one.

I think having good workmanship depends on the circumstances. For instance, I have a little snakey-dragon on my leg. Nothing special just black outline, and the lines aren't really even at all... to look at it, you'd probably wonder why I got the thing.

The significance for me lies in the fact that I got it in Prague, Czech Republic. A group of us decided we wanted mementos to take with us forever (we were all studying the language there for a month together---it was a great time!). I had been wanting to get a dragon tattoo for awhile anyway, and, even though it's not perfect, and not really anything spectacular to look at, I love it!

BUT... if you want something that's planned out and pretty and perfect, definately go to different artists and check out their work. Don't be afraid to ask questions or even for references... pictures of previous work. Kinda like buying a het... ;)

your right sarah it is a nice offer.... but how can you have someone you dont no approve, look over, or whatever, a tat and you dont even know him or his work, and if you do see his work(pics) how do you know its his.. and even then if you talk/ look at in person his work, it just might not be what the person is looking for.i mean shakky lines.. not notice by normal people....a shaky line is very noticable and is way beneath subpar.. i just think like you that it is a nice offer but i wouldnt have someone i have no clue about look/approve it...just sayin..
if i like the work i see i have that artist do wok on me..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

I don't see anything wrong with getting a second, or even third opinion on something that is as permanent as ink. You certainly can choose an artist based purely on your own tastes, or even have your own child draw a picture. But for those who are looking for work that is impressive to other ink freaks as well as meaningful to themselves, I think Jen's offer is a nice one.

---

Um....ok? I'm not sure what your point is, really. Jen made an offer to have her husband, who is a tattoo artist, look over and critique an artists work if someone is doing research. No one ever said you have to take her up on it. I'm not seeing what the big deal is, here.

Yowzah! You guys were really posting up a storm last night...THANKS! :D

I love all the responses...and thank you very much, Jen, for that offer. I have been looking all over the internet at artist work from shops that have good reps and have a few in mind already. The prices are rather frightening to a student living on loans, but hey, you get what you pay for.

I will give 'inkednation' a look and see if there are other artists I haven't found yet. I'm also limited by where I can get to by bus, so location of the shop is important. Also, that idea to see if an artist can do something based on pix of Nagini is really cool...I'll have to see if I can coax her into some nice poses for me in a few days.

As for the getting of something meaningful, no worries there. I have a special, lasting love for BT Skinks and Ball Pythons, and a skink wouldn't be that easy to picture. :) Location wise, I'm sort of restricted out of respect for my BF/partner, who is rather turned off by tats. So as to not offend his tastes, and still get something I want, we agreed on the ankle.

Now to keep looking at artists, send some samples to Jen, and figure out what sort of pose to get. :) Thanks so much, everyone. Keep the opinions coming!

Oh, BTW lord jackel: that snake of yours is really nice.

i have both my feet done and neither one hurt at all. my elbow was not a happy place to have 3 hours of work done on though. (i have a spider web on it)... the 'pocket' (your inner elbow) is a b!tch to have done... hurts, bruises up and is hard to heal.

my calf didn't hurt much at all. had 5.5 hours of work done in one sitting... the bone in your calf isn't a great place to have work done though.

i expect that an ankle bone would be another ouchie spot...

you could always start with a smaller tat somewhere else... and see if it's a pain you can tolerate/handle. i know of people who just can't handle the sensation of being tattooed at all... and others who don't mind it at all.

and... remember... there's always laser removal if you don't like it... and the way technology is progressing... i'm sure it'll be nothing to have done in another 5 years :P

(so far i have both feet, my calves and a full sleeve on my right arm tattooed)... more to come!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by recycling goddess

i have both my feet done and neither one hurt at all. my elbow was not a happy place to have 3 hours of work done on though. (i have a spider web on it)... the 'pocket' (your inner elbow) is a b!tch to have done... hurts, bruises up and is hard to heal.

---

Funny story, that started as a prison tattoo for white supremacists. I'm glad it's been appropriated to mean something else though, because I think it looks really pretty.

Quote:

---

you could always start with a smaller tat somewhere else... and see if it's a pain you can tolerate/handle. i know of people who just can't handle the sensation of being tattooed at all... and others who don't mind it at all.

---

Yeah, I was thinking about that. Argentra, I don't think you'll be able to get much detail on your ankle of the ball python. You should try a stylized snake of some sort maybe; it would still look really cool and cost a LOT less than a full blown ball. One of the ultra cool things about snakes (and spiders too for that matter) is that they're enormously important mythic symbols in a LOT of cultures, so finding a culture that you feel attuned too and using their snake symbol on your ankle might be a cool idea. You can always get a HUGE ball later on. :)

Quote:

---

and... remember... there's always laser removal if you don't like it... and the way technology is progressing... i'm sure it'll be nothing to have done in another 5 years :P

---

Really cool story, they're starting to inject a new type of ink in microcapsules. The ink breaks apart in the body, but the capsules prevent it from happening. Of course, if those capsules are just heated by a laser, poof, tattoos gone and looks like it never existed! It's really expensive now, but hey, you can remove it for $20.

As for me, I'm thinking about getting Aubrey Beardsley's "Socratic Lament" on one of my shoulder blades. I think I'll get it as a graduation present to myself.

I just got my first in Vegas this year the all seeing eye, on the back of my leg. My husband got one in the same place (diff tat). Mine didn't hurt at until he started shading in the eye my husband has 5 now and he said this one hurt the worse, but he's a big baby:D . I got mine at Diversity Tattoo & Piercing in Vegas (ask for Phil) the man should have his own art show! He had a pic of a very detailed tiger and to show the size he held a dime above it when he took the pic. Mine is about 6'' around cost 75$ but price depends on where you go. PLEASE shop around (DO NOT GET ONE AT THE FIRST PLACE YOU SEE) ask the see a book of there work and make sure they always use a fresh needle per costumer. And yes I know its sick but some places still reuse needles i.e. one place I first went to charged extra to GET a fresh needle they also charged 10$ per color! If you get it done we demand pics!:rockon:

Sounds cool :) The ankle is one of the best female places to get tattooed in my opinion. You can cover it up with a sock if needed, but also it is cute when you go out with shorts or capris and sandals/flip flops too. And if you get daring later on, you can continue the design up your calf and leg :) The one drawback is, I get chided all the time for having "no tattoos" though my husband is a tattoo artist.. usually because I wear jeans/pants 90% of the time I guess and people don't notice the one on my upper arm? I am working on designs for a half sleeve though :)

I guess I'm the odd one here, but I have a 4x3 tat on my lower back, and it hurt WAY more then any shot I've had (and I've had hundreds). I'd swear it even hurt more then childbirth. But don't let me scare you. :) I love my tat [celtic knot of motherhood] and will probably get another one someday.