First tattoo: should I add more color?

[taylorn 1]

So a bit of background for a bit of context. I got this tattoo a few weeks ago. I was my first and although I had planned on getting a tattoo, the final decision to take the plunge was more spontaneous and prompted by a set back in my life. (The full quote is "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.")

I probably didn't have as clear of an idea of what I precisely want that I should've had and the inspiration pictures on my phone weren't opening. However my tattoo artist did a good job despite having little to go on.

Despite the fact that we had an appointment, I waited a good hour and a half. (They were super nice and gave me a discount for waiting.)

So by the time it was my turn, the shop was closing soon. In addition, besides the fact that I didn't know what to expect, I didn't want to be super picky about every detail. (I know this sounds silly about something permanent-- however I do tend to over analyze and be a perfectionist so it's difficult for me to strike a balance.)

Sorry-- that ended up being too much background. Anyhow.

Here's my question for all of you guys that are much more experienced: should I add more color? If so, what is possible and what suggestions do you have?

I like the idea of adding a light orange in the un-colored petals and then adding a more blue-green shading to the leaves and darker pink/red to other petals.

I really like the idea of adding more color-- but I do like it now so I just need some perspective.

Thanks for slogging through this monologue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[deadsp0t 27]

<img src="http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10470"/> So a bit of background for a bit of context. I got this tattoo a few weeks ago. I was my first and although I had planned on getting a tattoo' date=' the final decision to take the plunge was more spontaneous and prompted by a set back in my life. (The full quote is "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.") I probably didn't have as clear of an idea of what I precisely want that I should've had and the inspiration pictures on my phone weren't opening. However my tattoo artist did a good job despite having little to go on. Despite the fact that we had an appointment, I waited a good hour and a half. (They were super nice and gave me a discount for waiting.) So by the time it was my turn, the shop was closing soon. In addition, besides the fact that I didn't know what to expect, I didn't want to be super picky about every detail. (I know this sounds silly about something permanent-- however I do tend to over analyze and be a perfectionist so it's difficult for me to strike a balance.) Sorry-- that ended up being too much background. Anyhow. Here's my question for all of you guys that are much more experienced: should I add more color? If so, what is possible and what suggestions do you have? I like the idea of adding a light orange in the un-colored petals and then adding a more blue-green shading to the leaves and darker pink/red to other petals. I really like the idea of adding more color-- but I do like it now so I just need some perspective. Thanks for slogging through this monologue. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote']

You can get countless opinions on color and such, in this case like many others, it's going to be best to sit down with your tattooer and discuss options on what will work best.

[Shaun1105 276]

So you failed to get a perfect tattoo*! Stop worrying about it, and go fail better...by getting more tattoos.

If you want to add more colour, go ahead. I think it looks fine as is though.

*is there even such a thing?

[taylorn 1]

Thanks for the feedback-- I need a grounding perspective sometimes. My biggest weakness, like I mentioned, is thinking and analyzing things way too much.

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[JAllen 75]

It looks good like it is

[deadsp0t 27]

It looks good like it is

......

[JAllen 75]

@deadsp0t, adding three or four more colors to a small mostly filled in tattoo isn't going to do much more than making it rainbow colored.

[deadsp0t 27]

@deadsp0t' date=' adding three or four more colors to a small mostly filled in tattoo isn't going to do much more than making it rainbow colored.[/quote']

I should have been more clear, my bad. I agree I wouldn't add more color, I was referring to the overall execution which is why I recommended sitting down with the tattooer. Again, my bad fir not being clear.

[Rob I 501]

I think it looks great. Also, the op mentioned that it was a few weeks old. That's exactly what tattoos look like at a few weeks old. Give it a few more weeks and watch all that ink settle in, then enjoy it!!! And then get more tattoos!!! Don't over analyze your tattoos!! (oh, we all do at some points, but we shouldn't!). I really think this looks great as is. Just needs about 25 more surrounding it :)

In my opinion, all that new tattoo needs is a few more weeks of healing and more tattoos. Colors look great! Don't add more!!

rob

[Kaldwin 0]

I think it looks great how it is. Particularly since it's in the 'Sailor Jerry' style, which normally doesn't features tonnes of complex shading and 'out there' colour choices.

Take the advice of your tattoo :) even though it wasn't a fail by any means (as i mentioned, it looks great) Get more, try different styles, build around it :) You mentioned that the text was part of a longer quote. I thought it might be cool to have a sleeve based off of that saying and have different parts relating to the different parts of the quote. Just an idea :)

[HaydenRose 62]

I think its great. And based off my own experience and other more heavily tattooed folks experiences, you'll wind up loving it even more as you continue getting tattooed (which I hope you will!) You started with a solid piece and I love the way you condensed the quote.

[irezumi 50]

Bunch of good advice from all sides here.

Agreed on these fronts;

If it really comes to it and you are determined then sit down with your tattooer and talk about what works best.

Too many shades and tones in a flower and leaves that size esp in a traditional tattoo doesn't look 'proper'.

Over analyzing.

Live with it for a few months before making a decision to change it; it might grow on you just as is.

That being said, if someone said they are just dying to add some other colors the best options imo would be either a small one color burst from behind it or a color (maybe 2!) in the banner but not both options and not too much of anything at all. That's just too rainbow-y and looks like a bad fail not a good fail. That was my attempt at a clever witticism with the banner quote but that's the best I have at the moment.

Consider colors not used already but not pastel-ish or muted tones. I would offer the idea of whipping some golden yellow from the fail side in and whip some blue or aqua from the better side in. Gold being a lighter color will balance with amount of red green and black on that side and blue being a fairly mid tone color will work since there's not very much else close to that part of the design.

More green or an orange just would look too similar to what's there.

But mostly just live with it for a few months. It looks fine.

[r6yzf600 0]

You should add more color to the background to make it flow instead of looking like a stamp

[cltattooing 765]

I think it looks great as is. I'm also of the persuasion that when in doubt, add more black.

[suburbanxcore 940]

While I personally prefer my tattoos a bit more vibrant or with more black (ala @cltattooing), I don't think you really have to add anything to that at all.

[Rob I 501]

You should add more color to the background to make it flow instead of looking like a stamp

it doesn't look like a stamp. It looks like a tattoo, and a fine one at that. The only thing that should go around it is more tattoos.

[temporarytattoo 0]

Probably no because it is looking very nice.

[Faolan 2]

If you like it how it is then dont, if you don't like it and think it needs more color then i would get some copies of the design and color them in. When i designed one of my tattoos i wondered what colors would look best and i colored in lots of variants to see what i liked best. So color some in and see what you think, if you make one you really like put the drawing up on the wall for a month, and see if you still like it better than how it looks now. Remember, first worry about how it looks to you and then how it looks to others, and consult your artist on what colors to not put next to others so it will age well.

[andrew12 0]

It looks awesome. It didn't need to add any more color. I have also the same tattoo in my left arm. It is very nice.

[Daniel Gray 0]

I would leave it as is. Sometimes less is more.

It is a Simple, bold and bright traditional piece. Beautiful and timeless as it stands.

As already said in other posts, adding more and more to this small beauty won't really do anything for it other then make it more complicated.

In the end it is your tattoo your skin your call.

On the other hand though, I was reading through your original post. It seems like you may have been surprised by the style/end result of your tattoo. I know that you didn't get to show him your reference pictures but was there no way to get them to him before your actual appointment? Did you look through his portfolio to see if he had done tattoos that you liked? Did you see your tattoo design before your actual appointment?

It's important to get what you want. I'm not saying be closed off to artists interpretation! I'm just saying don't set yourself up to be surprised.

[cloudkicker 0]

i think it looks good the way it is. it's a very classic, simple style.. and making it more complex will take away from it. just my opinion though

[vanessa 0]

I agree it looks really nice, at first I thought it said feel better lol

[clemsonscj 1]

Hey don't mean to hijack the thread but I don't have enough posts to start my own thread so I have a quick question about color. I am wanting to get a half sleeve/shoulder/chest tattoo in black but a lot of the ones I've seen are super shiny on google images and I hate a shiny looking tattoo. What do I need to do to make sure it's not all shiny when I get it? Might be a stupid question but I just like flat looking tattoos.

[Graeme 2,588]

Hey don't mean to hijack the thread but I don't have enough posts to start my own thread so I have a quick question about color. I am wanting to get a half sleeve/shoulder/chest tattoo in black but a lot of the ones I've seen are super shiny on google images and I hate a shiny looking tattoo. What do I need to do to make sure it's not all shiny when I get it? Might be a stupid question but I just like flat looking tattoos.

You can try letting it heal.

[clemsonscj 1]

You can try letting it heal.

I don't know what that means. I guess my question is, if you get a black tattoo, is it going to be naturally glossy or is that from them putting a lot of lotion or whatever on it? Like in these 2 examples, one is very glossy and shiny and the other looks more normal.