To Tattoo Or Not To Tattoo

Anyway:

1) Get something you REALLY REALLY REALLY like.
2) Get it from someone who is REALLY REALLY REALLY good (leave town if you need, pay whatever absurb amount is asked, etc, it is worth it.)
3. FOLLOW ALL AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS!
4. IF YOU GET AN INFECTION GO AND TALK TO THE ARTIST AND GET HIM TO RECOMMEND SOME STUFF.
5. Do not get HEAVY BLACK stuff (tribal, et all) in a place where you can see it all the time UNLESS you are sure that it will heal well on you (it doesn't on a lot of people.)
6. Have fun. Tattoos are great.

Think, first, about the meanings you want your tattoo to have. Then try to come up with a visual symbol that implies them all. You get bonus points for coming up with something that nobody's really had tattooed onto them before. You will be explaining it for the rest of your life; make sure there's an interesting explanation for it.

My only answer is this: I think I'd look better with some arm tattoos, looking at myself and imagining myself with them, today and when I'm older.. especially if it's the "right" tattoo.

I wish I could have had a more interesting answer like "because I want to make MY body my own canvas for iconic art that will define ME as a person!" or something more pretentious and confrontational... haha

I'm obviously being very cautious about it though, and may poo-poo the idea.. once again. See, I've been quietly pondering the idea for several years, and my feelings about having one (or more) haven't become more negative over the years. So, no, it wasn't really a recent impulsive case of "i think i want a tat" as much as "the idea of a tat is interesting. let me ponder it on and off for an extended period of time and see if i wise up to it or not."
Although, given the phrasing of the thread subject, I can see why you'd think that.

pleasent plains: tattoos don't have to be clever, nor as big as a t-shirt design.

Although you did remind me of another thing i do NOT want in a tattoo.. something that I can't hide using some standard form of clothing. I don't want "jobstoppers" -- not because I think they would look bad, as much as not wanting to fuck myself over as far as looking for a job (as much as I hate discrimination against "alternative" fashion in the job industry during job interviews, it's a sad facet of life that's not going to change any time soon, even in more dress code liberal cities; so, for now, I'm going to just swallow it and keep tattoos only in certain areas underneath clothing)

When I said upthread "For the first time in my life, I'm thinking of getting a tattoo", this was mainly due to my getting over the fear of the idea of the PAIN involved in getting a tattoo. As I just said, having tattoos have always intrigued me, but I was always scared off by horror stories of how painful it was... the way some people described the pain, it was as if it was akin to passing a kidney stone or giving birth, which is really ridiculous, now that I've seriously talked to a few friends who recently got tattoos and described to me accurately what the sensation is like.

please don't make one up! anytime someone gives me an explanation like that I can't help but think either (a)they're lying and they really just thought it'd look cool or (b) they are pretentious. hearing "cause I thought I'd look better with some tattoos" would be a breath of fresh air.

I too am a bit intrigued by them, but I don't have any good reasons why I shouldn't get tattoos nor do I have any for why I should. Though I guess you could say not having any reason to get one/not having any thing I really want to have permanently on my body is a 'reason why I shouldn't'.

Only one of my tats has any real meaning, I have a very fine column of chinese symbols down the top of my right arm meaning "Grandmother never forgotten"

My other (an impulsive one) is on the top of my leg so is easy to hide. It means very little but I'll never regret it, it reminds me of the Jen I used to be. I don't think I could ever regret a tattoo - I have a birthmark that I didn't select myself so if I'm going to dislike anything it will be that.

You sound pretty sure that you want a tat - do it! And when you have, post us a pic!

(not to denigrate the meaning of the content of your tattoo, rumpy)

And it looks good.

1. design-wise look inside. my first one was flash (from the wall) and while I don't regret it's the only non-meaningful one I have. Still it looks nice (it's a cat) and is in a spot on my back that never really shows.

My other seven all have very specific meanings tied to them. I got them as landmarks of my life and I consider them just as much a part of me as any other part of my body.

2. Find the best artist in town. Ask around. Ask people with good looking tats. It's definitely worth the time and expense to go out of town if neccesary (though I'm certain there are fantastic artists in town.)

3. do it. it's worth it. but be forewarned it's addictive.

I would already be half-sleeved if I had the money and have my next three already planned. My last one is a "jobstopper" and I'm wearing long-sleeves in 82 degree weather for it but it's definitely worth it.

The last really cool one I saw played off the heart cliche, it was a (stylized) anatomical drawing of a heart out of a biology textbook.

Why? Substitute another word for "tattoo"..."For the first time in my life I'm thinking of getting_________ (pregnant, buying a home, enlisting in the Foreign Legion..."

It's okay to toss the ideas around, which it sounds like you're doing, but, you wouldn't just buy a home or give birth because "I'm fascinated with it."

I didn't get my first tattoo until I was 42 years old; now, ten years later, I have 18 of them. Not a single one can be seen in business clothes or by clients, unless I chose to wear clothing that feature them.

Some are on my ankles and legs, 6 are on my spine, some on my shoulders, tummy and other regions. So far, I don't have any on my arms, which means that if I have to go to a formal occasion, I can wear a long dress to cover (or show) off my leg tattoos.

I, too, was always fascinated by tats. I was too chicken-shit to get my own, so I'd date people that had them: tats by proxy.

When I got divorced from the last asshole of a husband, is when I decided ENOUGH!!! I was going to stop dating the tattoo'd people and become one of them.

So, these are the steps I went through to over come the first hurdle/stigma/fear of my first tat. The rest came easy.

1) You must know SOMETHING that you'd like: an abstract, a green M & M, something. As an art historian, I was always drawn to cave paintings representing the sacred self, so went to Barnes & Noble during my lunch and just sat with loads of books, looking for something that intriqued me. Clip Art books are also GREAT for info, especially the DOVER series, and they're cheap.

2) I then went to Kinko's and Xeroxed the hell out of the picture I selected, which was initially 4 x6. I blew it up, reduced it, flipped the design. I printed it out in color and black & white.

3) Then, cutting out the various designs, I started to tape them to the part of my body, my lower leg area, to see where I'd like to see it and be seen with it. Standing in front of a full-length mirror, I'd place it here, there, etc. I tried different sizes.

4) Once I had the general area down and size, I got the design made into a rubber stamp, which cost $6.00. I again bought permanent inks in different colors.

5) Each day I went to work (Starbucks) I'd stamp myself with the design and would ask my co-workers and good customers, what they thought: how was the size, the placement, the color.

6) More than anything, waking up each day and already seeing the design ON my leg, I could begin to imprint on what it would look like. I did this for 3 months solid, to see if I'd get bored, have finger pointing, etc. It finally passed the test.

7) Because the ink was permanent, when it came time for me to get the tattoo inked in, there was already a nice outline for the artist to follow. I had explained to her my process of how I did it and she was impressed. She said that she wished all her clients had put so much thought and effort into it.

Ten years later, I lovingly look at my first tattoo and know that I did everything right, by me. When it came time for me to have 6 large Japanes characters run down my spine from my neck to butt, I did the same thing.(shout out to Rumpy Pumpkin) My lover took photos of my back with different size templates and different spacing; when it came time to have them inked, we had used Magic Markers to denote the size and area for them to go. This tattoo artist had the same admiration for my process and actually reduced his services by $100, because I had made it so simple for him.

An alternative that you can do, especially if you are clueless as to WHAT you'd like, is to go and have a henna tatto done in the area, which lasts several weeks and then goes away. Give the artist SOME input: floral/non-floral; abstract/non-abstract.

This way, you'll have the visual impression of what a tattoo would look like on your arm and what your friends impressions would be.

I love my tattoos and get new ones every couple of years. Yes! they are addictive. But, I've never regretted getting them and hopefully, when you've reached the point of having one done, you won't either.

Good luck and I hope something in the drivel above helped you.

This is where a good artist comes handy. the best artists draw up original work and will talk about your idea with you and help come up with a design.

My newest one was totally conceived by my artist. I gave him the elements I wanted included and what I was getting it for and he started working on sketches. It took him about 6 weeks before he came up with something he was happy with (very frustrating for me as I wanted it righ away) but it was worth it. here's a kind of blurry photo. it was my elliott smith tattoo.

I have an original design I drew myself for a Dallas tat, and a cowgirl pinup that I found online and altered to suit me (has a TX and some musical instruments included.) And then I have a little image from a 1942 issue of Ranch Romances that I want.

uhh, anyone want to become my tattoo sponsor?

(I'm serious about this, btw)

why? if they're not creative enough or if they're not a good illustrator that should become obvious rather quickly. Again, ask people you know who have good tats.

i don't think you can swing a dead cat around here without hitting a tattoo artist but there's only like 3 (maybe 4) i'd let touch me. but I just see the one.

I also got it At a very good time for it to have a reason and real value for me. Quite a lot of the time I forget it is there (it's on my back) but I have never ever wished that it wasn't there.

I spoke to the tattoo artist a few times before doing it, working out inks and things. The actual artist insisted that I took all of the traces and artwork for my tattoo, insisting it stayed a complete one-off, which was really encouraging and kind.

It does remind me - I got it about 4 years ago. It probably needs touched up now.

Two more tips from tattooed friends of mine:

1. Pick your tattoo artist based on the style of what you have done. The best guy in town won't give you a bad tattoo, but if he's a tribal guy and you want something cartoony, you're better off looking somewhere else.

2. Never, ever think that lasering it off is really an option -- it hurts about as much and is about as expensive as gettiong cover-up work done, and most of the time you're left looking like a person who just got a tattoo removed.

This is really important I think. It took me three years from deciding that I'd like a tattoo in principle, to actually deciding on a design that a. I was sufficiently sure I wouldn't get bored of and b. was in itself sufficiantly easthetically pleasing and abstract not to date badly or hark back to too specific a time frame.

Thus, the one I have, while clearly representing a specific band *if you know a lot about the band in question*, is also just a cool-looking Bridget-Riley-esque symmetrical design; and even though the band in question is no longer among my favourites, it is nonetheless hugely important to me and always will be.

At least I hope so!

They're grebt.

Whatever happened to drunken spontaneous tattoo-getting? Geesh.

two of my best friends got drunk off margaritas and went into some no-name shop they found a coupon for (coupon!!) and got a couple of shitty tattos. I mean they were crooked and lopsided, just ridiculous. I was *furious* as they could have called me and I would have driven them to my artist (who wouldn't have tattooed their drunk asses anyway). One of the friends has since had that tragedy in ink covered up by my artist, the other one never wants a needle to touch her again but is now (ironically) living with the artist.

long story . .but yeah people still do dumb shit like this.

I have two that are band-related and my still-far off planned back piece will include an old 97s lyric.

this is such good advice. i found my artist by spotting people who had designs similar to what i wanted and asking who had done the work.

form a relationship with the person doing your work! especially if you get more than one this is so important.

Don't get a lasagne tatoo!

That is fucking genius.

I just have the one tattoo (of a coffee cup on my left forearm done in a cartoony 50s diner style). I don't regret it, I think it fits my personality well (both the content and the cartoony style), I designed it myself and found an artist who did a good job of recreating it on my arm.

I have been planning for some time to have the companion period Farberware percolator done on my bicep, possibly also including an outlet on my back into which the percolator will be permanently plugged.

DB, if you decide to go through with it I'd be up for looking for an artist and/or going with you to get it done in seattle. I think it's a lot more fun to go with a friend, particularly if you're both getting something done. But even if you can't find someone else who wants to get one at the same time, it's always fun to have a friend there when you go under the needle.

Also, the pain factor depends a lot on where you're being inked. When I had mine done it didn't hurt much at all.

I think maybe we (mostly Gen X Americans posting to this thread) worry too much about permanence and eternal meanings and etc. etc. etc.. Picking a good artist and all that is important, but I think it's enough to have a design on you that speaks to you at that moment or are just fun. (but I prefer smaller individual designs that work with others rather than giant one-theme sleeves and backpieces, etc.)

I think milo is right... After a while you get used to having the thing on your body, and it's no longer as big a deal. As long as you like it/find it fun, it's unlikely that you'll regret it later. You may not be as interested in it later, but that doesn't mean that you'll want to disown the part of your body where it lives.

The only cases of tattoo regret I've ever seen were cases of poorly done tats (i.e. didn't find a good artist) and moronic choices like a girlfriend or boyfriend's name. (I've never heard a pro tattoo artist not advise against that when asked.)

I'm not proud of my silly-ass tattoo (it's a, uh, peace sign. God help me), but it doesn't embarass me. Now it's just a reminder of where I was and who I was with during that time in my life.

*cringe*

i really really really want some more. i'm hopping i can afford one this summer.

I disagree, most of the tattooed people I've known are quite nice. Including Hank.

Best. Tatoo. Ever.

That's the only good reason I can think of to get a tatoo -- to display an ostentatious portrait of Adam Ant. Otherwise, I'm not really a fan.

On the lighter side, a friend of a friend reportedly has a lawn mower somewhere around his appendix area and shaves a diagonal line out of his chest hair for comedic effect.

I also know a bloke with half a tattoo - he passed out seven times while it was being done and the artist (rightly) refused to keep trying.

don't know how i feel about comedy tats.

permanent makeup is pretty dud.

May I suggest:
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs228.snc1/7532_142136583665_606058665_2714215_2113658_n.jpg

Here is my suggestion:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RwMqt39Crp0/RniONUWDZbI/AAAAAAAAALs/Wcr8z2Hymb4/s400/lionel+richie+sculpture.jpg

Do you tip tattoo artists? I'm inclined to think yes, but the girl I know who will be getting one doesn't think you need to.

i always have

if you're tipping them, what are you actually paying for?

General rule I've heard and followed is to tip ones who just work at a shop and not to tip the ones who actually own their own shop.

xp - If the artist is self-employed or it's their own shop, it doesn't make sense. If it's a shop set up with multiple tattooists, similar to a hair salon, I could see tipping if that's what you do at a hair salon.

i have no tattoos but i would tip. i tip whoever cuts my hair. makes sense to me.

i only have one - my friend did it at her kitchen table - i paid her a flat fee.

They're service professionals. I give 'em a tip, and as I tip them, I wonder why I tip people so goddamn much.

if you're tipping them, what are you actually paying for?

Just realised what a dum britisher thing to say this was. I didn't when I had mine done and now I feel bad.

It wasn't a dumb question- i tipped the guys who did mine, but am not quite sure why I did. I usually tip for decent service, haircut, bartender, etc. so it's just reflexive.

can we please focus on what is important here, namely that it is TIME FOR THE PERCOLATOR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVTvzqIHiNk

^^^^ otm

You def tip tattoo artists btw.

I always have tipped em, must say.

"Excuse me sir, what time is it?"

I am considering having that entire video tattooed across my body, frame by frame.

I think I'm going to get the Texas "Come And Take It" flag on my chest - just below my collarbone, centered.

Decisions to make:
- star, cannon, words or just star and cannon
- black outline (as original), filled in star and cannon or use them as the base but have the artist work up something in an American traditional style (old-school/Sailor Jerry color)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Gonzales_Flag.JPG/800px-Gonzales_Flag.JPG

Is this like a double entendre type thing?

Sailor Jerry styling would work well with this. And, yes, without knowing the history of that image, I'd have to say it reads as a pretty blunt sexual come-on. But if you're happy with that, or don't expect to be anywhere where people won't immediately get it, go for it.

To tattoo little bitty crosses on the hands of your children and stepchildren or...

"This is crazy, and this is blowed up so bad."

A Georgia couple is facing child-cruelty charges for tattooing their six kids.

Georgia authorities say they used a homemade device to tattoo black crosses on the hands of their children. But, the children's mother says they weren't hurt and she doesn't understand why she was arrested.

Patty “Jo Jo” Marsh said, “I don't understand why this got blowed up so big, I love my children, we'd never do anything to harm our kids.”

Marsh was proud to show reporters the tattoos that her boyfriend put on her arms and legs. But Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett said Marsh and her boyfriend, Jacob
Edward Bartels, went too far by tattooing their children - a 10-year-old, two 11-year-olds, a 12-year-old, a 15-year-old and a 7-year-old. Everett said, “We've never seen anything, or heard of anything like this in the surrounding counties, or anywhere.”

Sheriff Everett said the children were tattooed with a black cross on their hand - in the web between their thumb and forefinger - with a home made tattoo gun.

The device is made with a variable power supply, an electric motor, wiring, an ink pen and a sharpened piece of guitar string used as a needle. A vial of black ink was used for coloring. The sheriff says the needle was used on all six children by Bartels.

Marsh said, “We have kids from separate marriages, Okay, so I have four and he has three but they're all ours, you know. Anyway, so they wanted one so we're like Okay, so it's just a little biddy cross right here, Okay?”

The sheriff learned about the tattoos from the mother of some of Bartels' children. Everett said, “The mother picked the two children up and noticed the marks on their hand and she brought it to our investigator's attention and we did the investigation and found there was six children.”

Marsh and Bartels are charged with illegal tattooing, cruelty to children and reckless conduct.

Marsh said, “I don't think we did anything wrong, the kids don't think we did anything wrong, this is crazy and this is blowed up so bad.”

It's a crime in Georgia anyone under 18 to be tattooed.

that percolator tat is one of the most brilliant tats i've ever seen. i mean, it is just breathtaking.

okay, so here are my decisions for the next tat. either this or another Frans Masereel woodcut (the other is in a book i have):

http://www.histoire-image.org/photo/fullscreen/arc135_masereel_001z.jpg

OR getting a Rimbaud "mask" complete with cut-out lines, a la David Wojnarowicz:
http://roadside6.tripod.com/rimbaud_onsubway.jpg

either way, it would probs be on my bicep area.

the only problem, as i see it, is that even though the Rimbaud one would be more about Rimbaud and less about Wojnarowicz, i already have a Wojnarowicz tat. so...

Wow, I never saw the innuendo. It's a flag from the Texas Revolution, a town militia challenging Mexican forces to come take their cannon.

Somestimes a cannon's just a cannon.

somestimes a dick's just a dick

cum and take it

Just lost my tattoo virginity. Already thinking about my second one. Yes, I already know which one. lolz