Memorial tattoo idea?

I've been trying to find a good tattoo forum, to get advice on an upcoming design... but I can't find anything, so maybe my fellow herp folks can help! After all, don't tattoos and snakes kinda fit together? :D Here's the story:

It's been a rough year, as I have recently lost a few loved ones... I would like to commemorate them with one tattoo, incorporating symbols to represent each person. The problem is, I can't figure out how to tie them all together! They do fit into an overall nature/animal theme, and I would also like some essence of spirituality (Jewish, Eastern or New-Age). Here are the items I want to include, with a * next to the ones that are mandatory - the rest are optional, as I realize this can't ALL be in one tattoo.

Purple & green butterfly *
Bluebird *
Turkey (don't ask, LOL) *
Roses *
Pansies
Rainbow
Tree of Life (the Jewish symbol)
Dove

Any ideas on how to put these images together?? I could also use help on where to place it... I already have ink on the following body parts: Upper left arm, upper right arm, upper back, left breast, hip, left anklet, back of left foot/ankle, and inner right ankle. I was thinking of putting it on the outer right ankle, or trying to squeeze it onto an upper arm. Unfortunately I can't really go below the elbow, otherwise I'd love to go with the inside lower arm. I'm not too picky on size, but probably can't afford anything ginormous.

P.S. I already have an artist (the same guy who's been doing my backpiece), so I really just need a concept - at least something to put into words, when I go see him next month. I'm completely useless and laughably bad at art, and therefore can't sketch a darned thing for him. Thanks for any help!!

Sounds like you should be doing a "scene"
Since it sounds like your back is taken up already, how about o your side/ribs?
Colors are key for a good scene.

Depending on how big you want it you could do the tree of life with the various animal in it, or around it. The roses, panseys and rainbows could be incorperated into the base, the turkey around those, and the other various fliers sitting on branches.

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Originally Posted by Bleepr

Depending on how big you want it you could do the tree of life with the various animal in it, or around it. The roses, panseys and rainbows could be incorperated into the base, the turkey around those, and the other various fliers sitting on branches.

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Yeah, that's kind of what I was imagining... do you think that would work together? And not look really weird or crowded? I guess I'll have to go BIG on this one, or everything will just get jumbled together. :oops:

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Originally Posted by Corvid

Sounds like you should be doing a "scene"
Since it sounds like your back is taken up already, how about o your side/ribs?

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Hmmmmmm. That would look cool, but I'm a 32 year-old woman who might want kids eventually... so it's probably best to avoid the mid-section, or I could end up with a very stretched out tree. :D

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Colors are key for a good scene.

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True... my artist does amazing color, and I think he'll have fun with this one. :) He's been working on a cover-up for me for the last 2 years, and it's impressive what he's done so far.
Here's a link to his portfolio (Aaron Hodges of Idle Hand): http://idlehandsf.com/section/39376_tattoos.html

Wow... look at this one I found in his portfolio: http://idlehandsf.com/artwork/381373.html
I want a bluebird in mine, so clearly he can do that! :gj:

That's an awesome bluebird! I like the originality of it. Not like all the other bluebirds you see on every other persons shoulders now-a-days!

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Originally Posted by Elise.m

That's an awesome bluebird! I like the originality of it. Not like all the other bluebirds you see on every other persons shoulders now-a-days!

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He does REALLY nice work, huh? I originally went there hoping for a tattoo from Holly (the owner), but she was booked for the next 18 months... I'm too impatient for that, so they suggested Aaron instead. He's done 3 sessions on my backpiece cover-up, and I'm very impressed so far - except for his heavy hand. Youch. :cool:

He really does! I just looked through his whole portfolio and his tats are so detailed and original! Normally I could just tear through a portfolio but his had me looking at each tat for a min or two.

I know what you mean bout not wanting to tattoo anything in the mid section.. I am 32 too and I have a teen age daughter and let me tell you pregnancy was not nice to me :mad: I also have a back piece and I have one hip tattooed from the top to about mid thigh. I would take all your ideas into your artist and and have him draw up some options and put it on your hip/upper leg this way you will have a good amount of area and you will be able to get more detailed work.

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Originally Posted by Jamie-n-Heith

I know what you mean bout not wanting to tattoo anything in the mid section.. I am 32 too and I have a teen age daughter and let me tell you pregnancy was not nice to me :mad: I also have a back piece and I have one hip tattooed from the top to about mid thigh. I would take all your ideas into your artist and and have him draw up some options and put it on your hip/upper leg this way you will have a good amount of area and you will be able to get more detailed work.

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You are 32 and have a TEENAGE daughter?...

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Yeah, that's kind of what I was imagining... do you think that would work together? And not look really weird or crowded? I guess I'll have to go BIG on this one, or everything will just get jumbled together. :oops:

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Big is not needed if the artist is good enough and you have a great design in mind to have drawn up. I dont think it needs to be huge. But it may need to take up some space.. For instance. Instead of doing a sleeve (which isnt my "thing" as a woman but i love it on men) I have a thorned vine which goes from my pinky to my shoulder. It flows in a natural way and then spirals a bit at the top. I then incorporated a "vine dragon" taking up most of the empty space on my lower arm. A small praying mantis higher up. And an orb weaver spider hanging from a thread from the vine on my upper arm.. Its a complete scene but its not crowded at all. Nothing is actually "big". It just spreads a big distance..

I also have an idea for one to honor my dad incorporating a hibiscus bloom, an end-loader Yes im not sure how to do that and make it look right), the italian horn (corno) and the italian sign of the horns (mano cornuta).

All being things that held strong meaning for he & my family.. Im at a loss at where to begin though.. The end-loader kind of throws the design off lol!

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Originally Posted by Hock3ymonk3y

You are 32 and have a TEENAGE daughter?...

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It's really not that uncommon. A 32 year old with a 13 year old child would mean 19 when the baby was born... I'm 31 with an 11 and 9 year old...


Now, to the OP - if you already have an artist picked to do the tattoo, the best idea would be to talk to your artist. If it's someone who has worked on you before and is confident that you will be coming back to him for the work, give him the list of ideas like you gave us, brainstorm with the artist and have him draw up a custom piece for you. You can discuss size and placement with him as well, and will end up with something perfectly sized and designed to fit the area of your body...

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

It's really not that uncommon. A 32 year old with a 13 year old child would mean 19 when the baby was born... I'm 31 with an 11 and 9 year old...

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Teenage doesnt have to mean 13, it could mean 13-19...

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

It's really not that uncommon. A 32 year old with a 13 year old child would mean 19 when the baby was born... I'm 31 with an 11 and 9 year old...

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My roommate has a 10 year-old (who lives with her dad) and she's 30... so she'll have a teenager when she's 33 - actually 32, since her birthday comes later than her daughter's. ;)

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Now, to the OP - if you already have an artist picked to do the tattoo, the best idea would be to talk to your artist. If it's someone who has worked on you before and is confident that you will be coming back to him for the work, give him the list of ideas like you gave us, brainstorm with the artist and have him draw up a custom piece for you. You can discuss size and placement with him as well, and will end up with something perfectly sized and designed to fit the area of your body...

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Obviously that's the best thing to do, and I already have an appointment with him in a few weeks... I just wanted some help with the brainstorming, so I don't walk in without a basic concept. :oops:

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Originally Posted by Hock3ymonk3y

Teenage doesnt have to mean 13, it could mean 13-19...

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Not trying to hijack the thread with this topic. PM sent...

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Obviously that's the best thing to do, and I already have an appointment with him in a few weeks... I just wanted some help with the brainstorming, so I don't walk in without a basic concept. :oops:

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Awesome. Maybe it's something you could talk about just in casual conversation during your next session. Personally, I would think that to tie that many elements into a single tattoo, the tattoo would have to be VERY large. Even with just the required elements, in order for it not to blur and become unreadable in 5-10 years, it will require a fairly large slice of real-estate in order to provide space between, thus definition of, the elements. Good luck with whatever you decide on, and definitely post some pics... :gj:

plenty of people who are in their early 30s have teenagers and the way u said that comes off rude when u grow up u will see lots of people who had kids young. My mom had my older sister at 19.