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Post by spookymonster on Apr 4, 2007 8:46:24 GMT -5
I'm considering getting my first bit of ink. I've been Photoshopping some ideas, but I'm not sure exactly what can and can't be done with a tattoo. Are gradients (a fade from one color to another) possible? Does it depend on the color or brightness (e.g., dark blue to black, or yellow to orange)?
I know a lot depends on the artist's skill level (I'll be looking at their portfolio first), but I also want to have realistic expectations. Any info/advice from tattoo owners (better yet, artists) would be appreciated. Thanks.
Post by sharingintheroo on Apr 4, 2007 8:51:03 GMT -5
Yeah a gradient is possible. You really want to find a quality artist that will shoot you straight though. Not someone that would tattoo any design you brought in on you without any concern for how it will look.
my experince says that unless the tattoo is really large, you're better off with a simplistic design without too much detail. The detail stuff looks great for the first 6 months or so, but then starts to look muddled after a while.
- Avoid fine detail, my first design was simplified by the artist quite a lot and is still a little too busy. - Avoid rigid geometries. I have a design (a buddhist prajnaparamita) in a circle, but it's hard to maintain a true circle on skin which is flexible, same goes for hard straight lines.
my advice is to ultimately find a good artist and don't skimp out because of money, you get what you pay for. find an artist who isn't just a flash artist. In other words, someone who can design something sweet themselves. most artists will work cheaper and happier if they are tattooing an original design on you that they drew out. it's kind of like a band, you know bands are more enthusiastic about playing original material than cover songs, same with tattoo artists. just get with the artist and go over your ideas but ultimately i would let the tattoo artist make the final design based on your input, they will know their limitations and can produce something more true to the original design than if you bring something in and say "i want it just like this".
Post by spookymonster on Apr 4, 2007 12:45:41 GMT -5
I'm currently thinking along these lines:
I've got another variation I'm going to try tonight, something along the lines of ccrgmac's "keep it simple" philosophy. Basically, a less complicated version of the spade, with the flames cut out (instead of painted 'on top'). Might also vary the color of the font. Photoshop's a beautful thing!
Post by sharingintheroo on Apr 4, 2007 12:47:44 GMT -5
That is completely do-able. The colors might be changed a bit and the flames more realistic but as a design it would work fine. I am pretty sure I have seen similar stuff before.
that design is great! and totally do-able too, only thing to consider is that white ink very rarely shows up on skin and will generally fade out. As a general rule, you shouldn't try for any colours lighter than your own skin tone. in addition, if you don't mind i have some important advice, as this is your first ink. when interviewing artists, ask for a tour of their studio, if they refuse, you don't want to go there. also make sure they use new needles every time, sterilization is not acceptable. also, make sure there is an autoclave with which to clean any other instruments (gun, etc.). i would also "hang out" for a while and observe their habits. for instance, if they answer the phone, do they change their gloves? i believe that the cleanliness of a studio and of an artist is even more important than their artistic ability. a good artist will go over your design with you and let you know what is and is not possible, and will have suggestions for anything that he feels will not work. one more thing to keep in mind is that you will have to minimize contact with water and sunlight for at least two weeks after getting inked, so get it done before too long. i like getting tattooed in the early spring so there's time to heal before summer and you don't have to deal with the extra dryness of winter. hope this helps.
Post by spookymonster on Apr 4, 2007 16:55:38 GMT -5
My cutout idea didn't pan out. Think I'm gonna stick with what I've got.
Here's the place I was going to 'interview' first - Tattoo Nation: tinyurl.com/ysm5uu
They're located in a nearby mall (!!!). They have several artists, lots of flash books, and look like a real clean, professionally run joint. Their storefront window looks directly into one of their studios, so you can see a job while it's being done - there's almost always a crowd in front.
"Chicago is known as the Windy City, and Montana is called the Big Sky State, so I think that we should somehow combine the two to create the ultimate kite-flying experience. "-Mitch Hedberg
If you think you'll be out in the sun a lot and have the tat exposed a lot during the summer, wait until the fall to get the ink. A tat takes about 9 months to fully heal. For the best results, you should try to avoid the sun as much as possible for that time. I made that mistake with the first tattoo I got (of 15), I got it in the spring, and spent most of the following summer out in the sun so it ended up fading a lot and looking really crappy. I eventually got it redone and it looks good now, but it was stupid on my part.
Post by sharingintheroo on Apr 7, 2007 16:19:05 GMT -5
They will just leave the white as his skin tone. It will work fine no need to change it. I just got a tattoo that was mostly white and its all just left empty.
Post by spookymonster on Apr 7, 2007 19:03:10 GMT -5
Unfortunately, that isn't white. There is no way to print white on the inkjet transfer sheets. That's my natural skin tone. I'm the palest Puerto Rican you'll ever meet.... you could lose me in a snow storm...
- Avoid rigid geometries. I have a design (a buddhist prajnaparamita) in a circle, but it's hard to maintain a true circle on skin which is flexible, same goes for hard straight lines.
My artist warned me about that when I went to get my design, so he suggested adding some "clouds" around the circle to break it up a bit. It works pretty well like that.
I went to a well-known place with a good reputation, and you do get what you pay for. I'm very happy with my tatt, and the guy worked fast too. I've seen much simpler and smaller tatts that took as much time to do as mine did. Ouch!
I figure if you are going to have it forever, you should be willing to pay top dollar for it. And be sure it's what you want. I carried my design around with me for over a year before I finally got it done.
Post by spookymonster on Apr 30, 2007 12:11:11 GMT -5
Got my appointment scheduled for tomorrow after lunch. The artist loves the design, even asked me where I found it on the Internet. I laughed and told him I did it myself using Photoshop. I'd wanted some sort of poker-themed tattoo since I went to the WSOP in '05, and I also wanted one to memorialize one of my greatest achievements - losing over 100lbs (I used to weigh 326 pounds).
Wish me luck, and if I don't make it back... Nshvllebound gets my VIP ticket...
very exciting - I like the symbolism you have used - great way to memorialize the weight loss - if you don't mind me asking - how did you drop the weight?
I am doing WW right now - I tried Suth Beach but it was too harsh - 3 years ago - I lost 80 lbs with WW - but thanks to 2 ankle surgeries and a pregnancy - I gained about 40 of it back - so I am back on the WW bandwagon
Post by spookymonster on Apr 30, 2007 13:25:40 GMT -5
WW is the best way to do it, IMHO. Some people think it's too slow, but I feel that's actually one of its advantages. Eating healthy isn't a quick fix; it's a lifestyle change. The slow pace of the WW points plan gives it time to really ingrain itself into your life. I haven't gone to WW in over 2 years, yet I've managed to keep over 100 of the pounds off just because I still eat on the plan - mostly . I have my good weeks and bad weeks, and I don't exercise like I used to (thank God... there's few things uglier on this earth than a 300lb man trying to Tai Bo for 60 minutes without drowning in his own sweat... ugh!). But I also don't eat like I used to, and I can go modestly 'off plan' without feeling like a complete failure.
I'd love to lose another 15 lbs before 'Roo, but it doesn't look like it's gonna happen. Still, I'm not going to let it ruin my fun. I make sacrifices now for my excesses later ;D.
