Tattoos

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13

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  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
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    While I am not inked, one thing I have heard a few times, and makes sense, is get an artist who does the style you want. Just like pencil/paper artists, not everyone can do every style.
  • clobern
    clobern Posts: 341 Member
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    Already have some so I don't know... hmmmm
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
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    Might as well add to the topic, getting my left arm sleeve with Japanese style and a few other small tattoos just as a reward for all the progress I've done, if I complete the Spartan trifecta I will get the Spartan logo with the 3 colours and the other is a secret lol
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
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    I was originally thinking to get a spinal piece that I designed for my UGW tattoo but I have since changed my mind. I am now thinking to get my favorite flowers done as a partial sleeve from my shoulder to above my elbow. Still am hum-hawing on my 1/2 way GW tattoo... What I originally wanted I was told would look bad in the area I choose and now I need to find a different sybolism/place for it. I was getting it in remembrance of my grandmother.

    Edit:

    969237_516603011726559_66753899_n.jpg

    In a style like this, this outline was done by my tattoo artist that did my other pieces. She has some freaking talent!
  • ThatSoundsHard
    ThatSoundsHard Posts: 475 Member
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    My next tattoo has been a great motivator for getting in better shape. I'm not getting it BECAUSE I'm getting in better shape. I have an appointment for June 5 to get an octopus tattooed my butt and thigh. I have no sweet clue what it's going to look like since I told my artist to do whatever he likes as long as it's an octopus.

    I do know that the last time I talked to him he had a hankering to do some biomechanical/steam punk inspired artwork accompanied by some brushstrokes and splats.
  • cherryd69
    cherryd69 Posts: 340
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    Im getting new piercings at certain goals, i say new piercings... Re-pierced :)
  • delilahcherry
    delilahcherry Posts: 3
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    before i put weight on i had a black hole tattooed on my hip and belly now i have lost 21lb i am having the rest of my side it is 3 things i love, Doctor Who (tardis), Star Wars (millennium falcon) and Star Trek (unsure of what Enterprise to have) all in progress to the death star that will be surrounded by Darleks, there will more than likely be a red shirt floating by.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
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    I tried using it as a goal for weightloss but then I got impatient and got new ink ... so yeah that went out the window because i know I will never jus wait until some number on the scale for new ink.
  • TammyS327
    TammyS327 Posts: 134 Member
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    And if I was to get one.. (thinking about it) what are the main things I need to watch out for when picking a tattoo artist?
    First visit many shops before you jump in.

    Go to a shop that has a good reputation. Also check their health department certification, if required in your area. Ask to see the artists portfolio and not just flash that is on the wall. Make sure the shop is CLEAN. It should be as clean as your doctors office. The tattoo needles cut your skin, so if you wouldn't want to have an open wound in the place, RUN! Make sure they have an autoclave for sterilizing non disposables and that EVERYTHING is wiped down with alcohol or another disinfectant including the table or chair you will be sitting on.

    When the day comes and you have made your decision, watch your artist put on clean, new, sterile gloves and open new tubes and needles. Check the stencil he will put on you and make sure it is straight and exactly where you will want it to be for eternity, there is no moving it or adjusting it after the work has started.

    Also take a picture or sketch of what you want or have an idea that you can relay to the artist. A good tattoo artist can make your vision a reality. Do not settle for generic flash just because the artist suggests it. That should tell you the artist does not have the real talent it takes to do a original work of art. He basically can trace and color.

    I know that sounds like a lot of nit picking, but your health and possibly your life could depend on it.
  • kgem4u2
    kgem4u2 Posts: 69
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    i got my wrists done after losing 77lbs.. i reached 250lbs.. i started at 327lbs. i never thought i would get that far and i wanted to mark my journey because i felt like i finally found myself. && i figured a reminder to love myself and keep believing might help motivate me to further my journey. =)

    kynw0.jpg

    my apologies that its not the best picture.. this was just like a few hours after it was done =)

    Congratulations... That tattoo is beautiful
  • runs4zen
    runs4zen Posts: 769 Member
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    I planned mine for years and the artist I went to was someone whose work I had seen, whose shop was scrupulously clean, and who has won awards for her work.

    I told her what I wanted and she hand drew a pattern just for me. Then we made adjustments from there. We discussed tone, color, flow, design, future tattoos and what they may look like with the one I was getting--everything.

    Sounds like a lot but it's something that covers the left side of my torso and curves from my chest, under my arm, down the left side and ends just above the hip. It does not show when I'm dressed for professional reasons and this was by design.

    I've uploaded a close up pic of part of it on my profile. It's a cherry blossom design in a 1940's kind of coloring scheme.
  • ThatSoundsHard
    ThatSoundsHard Posts: 475 Member
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    I just want to add that if your artist suggests flash. Don't get tattooed by that person.

    Also, you could be like me and make friends with your artist then just let them do whatever they want to. Not everyone is that crazy though. Apparently the entire style of my octopus is going to be completely different now. I'm going to see it for the first time ON my body, that takes a lot of trust and faith in your artist's talent.
  • SakuraRose13
    SakuraRose13 Posts: 621 Member
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    Make sure the place is clean first the artist is well versed and they are on the same level as you ,not everyone jives together you may have one idea, they may be picturing something completely different ,sketches are appreciated to ,no ones putting anything on me without me seeing a prototype first.

    I want a tree of life sort of but very fine lines swirly branches, black with red hearts hanging from the branches to represent my family and family is forever in italian or german, since I'm both, underneath in script ,Id prefer in on a shoulder blade and it needs to be small since Im petite myself,

    I want it to be very detailed and beautiful there will never be a time I regret this my family will always be my family, ie my husband, and our 2 daughters.

    I want this on my 30 th birthday which is Feb 9th 2014.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
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    Yes she is beautiful. Oh wait you are talking about the tattoo. I am covered but I got some space left. When I hit my first big goal in 9 lbs I am going to have my tattoo artist tattoo either "Stay Disciplined" or "Remain Disciplined" in a nice simple script wrapped around my entire wrist.

    I think it would be better stated to just have the word "Discipline". It's more concise, which I think delivers the message better. Just my opinion. :drinker:
  • amandahandstand
    amandahandstand Posts: 8 Member
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    Hooray, tattoos!

    I have a couple (and a lot more planned) but here's my most recent, I just got this done on my upper arm:
    BuN9brx.jpg
    It's a storm petrel - kind of the opposite to swallows (which are considered good luck to sailors) - storm petrels are considered a bad omen, haha.

    In regards to finding a good shop and artist, the best way would be to just do a whole heap of research. If you have friends with tattoos that you think look great, ask them for recommendations. Or if you're a brave sort, you could always ask people you see out and about who have great tattoos where they got them done. In all honesty, I regret my first couple of pieces because I didn't 'shop around', so to speak, and I also foolishly designed and drew them myself (I thought my art was great when I was 21, but at 27 I'm certainly a lot wiser!)

    If you don't know anyone in real life with tats or you don't like the idea of approaching strangers, then just do research online - look up every tattoo shop in your city and go through all their artists. Many tattoo artists have instagrams now which they use to post their work which is better than looking at a portfolio in my opinion, as they tend to post a mix of in-progress, fresh, and healed work. Healed work is the stuff you really want to keep your eye out for though, as a fresh tattoo can look amazing but lose colour and definition over time if it hasn't been applied properly (for instance, if the artist doesn't press hard enough, or presses too hard, or just if the person with the tat hasn't looked after it!)

    A good tattoo artist is worth their weight in gold though, as they can take something as simple as a few descriptive sentences ("I want a bird of this species, with some pretty flowers around it", etc) and work it up into a unique piece that nobody else out there will have. Don't go in with a piece of artwork or script from the internet and ask them to copy it directly, it's always best to let them turn it into something special for you!

    A final note, as someone who works as a graphic designer - if you want script, don't find a fancy curly font you like and have that tattooed onto you. Ask your artist to stylise it at least a little! I see this so much in fonts that are really ugly or that I know people downloaded for free off of dafont.com and it's ilk, and it makes me cringe every time.
  • janimei
    janimei Posts: 105 Member
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    Mine (birthday present to self at age 60) is a breast cancer pink ribbon with the initials of 3 friends/relatives lost to breast cancer. I knew only one person with a tattoo and took her recommendation.
    What I learned: when the recommended person isn't available, don't settle for the next available person in the shop; postpone the event till you have the right artist and the right shop; choose someone whose portfolio really speaks to you; and once the design is drawn on paper, don't feel obliged to accept it if you're not completely happy with it.
  • 215jenn
    215jenn Posts: 110 Member
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    bDH6eAF.png?1

    I got this done about a week ago (this is from right after it was complete), still have a ways to go for my goal weight, but at about 7 pounds away from half-way to my goal weight I wanted to get this done and I wasn't going to let my weight stop me from doing something.
  • sara_gets_fit
    sara_gets_fit Posts: 32 Member
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    Yup this is my goal! My first (well, second, already got one on my foot lol) tattoo will be after my 90 day challenge with my sister! Sissy tattoos, super pumped! My UGW tattoo is going to be one that I have wanted for a long time, along my side of my stomach up to my shoulder blade. It's going to be a tree with 4 branches, representing my family. Out of the tree, seven birds are going to be flying up my side/shoulder, representing my siblings that my mother miscarried. I have wanted this for a long time, but want a body that I feel comfortable enough with to show it off lol
  • EmmieBaby
    EmmieBaby Posts: 1,235 Member
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    When I get my body the way I want it to look I am getting a Spartan on either my back, leg or arm.

    for me the spartan is strength and power and that's what I want to be, strong and powerful.

    as for choosing an artist, find a nice tattoo parlor (clean, well lit, nice people, health certificates are displayed) and just talk to them, explain what you want and have them draw something, if you don't like it correct it until its perfect.
  • bethlaf
    bethlaf Posts: 954 Member
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    And if I was to get one.. (thinking about it) what are the main things I need to watch out for when picking a tattoo artist?

    Make sure you get one who knows how to spell correctly...
    ^^^This...LMAO

    check this out for a sad laugh , and time waster!
    its an awesome site!
    http://hanzismatter.blogspot.com/

    ADDED , please do not go to a tattoo artist and expect the tattoo the same day!
    visit 2x or more, and see the work , look at the books, pay the artist 50.00 for his/her time and a consult before getting work done!!
    plan on it for more than a week!!! get referralls, see that guy in the store with the awesome ink , ask him where ..
    i get asked about my arm tattoo ALL THE TIME literally!, and i refer everyone back to him, all the time, because he is that good.,and he listened,

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