taylorn 1 Posted April 4, 2014 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deadsp0t 27 Posted April 4, 2014 <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. 4 AverageJer, Diehardonvhs, Zillah and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaun1105 276 Posted April 5, 2014 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? 10 Phenixone, Zillah, CultExciter and 7 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
taylorn 1 Posted April 5, 2014 Thanks for the feedback-- I need a grounding perspective sometimes. My biggest weakness, like I mentioned, is thinking and analyzing things way too much. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Shaun1105 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAllen 75 Posted April 5, 2014 It looks good like it is 2 MadeIndelible and CultExciter reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deadsp0t 27 Posted April 5, 2014 It looks good like it is ...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAllen 75 Posted April 5, 2014 @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. 1 cltattooing reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deadsp0t 27 Posted April 5, 2014 @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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob I 501 Posted April 5, 2014 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 2 JAllen and Zillah reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaldwin 0 Posted April 7, 2014 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 :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HaydenRose 62 Posted April 7, 2014 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irezumi 50 Posted April 7, 2014 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. 6 gougetheeyes, JAllen, cltattooing and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
r6yzf600 0 Posted April 10, 2014 You should add more color to the background to make it flow instead of looking like a stamp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cltattooing 765 Posted April 10, 2014 I think it looks great as is. I'm also of the persuasion that when in doubt, add more black. 7 Zillah, irezumi, gougetheeyes and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
suburbanxcore 889 Posted April 15, 2014 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. 1 irezumi reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob I 501 Posted April 20, 2014 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. 2 guitguy and Graeme reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
temporarytattoo 0 Posted April 23, 2014 Probably no because it is looking very nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faolan 2 Posted May 14, 2014 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andrew12 0 Posted June 4, 2014 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Gray 0 Posted June 19, 2014 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloudkicker 0 Posted June 30, 2014 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vanessa 0 Posted August 9, 2014 I agree it looks really nice, at first I thought it said feel better lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clemsonscj 1 Posted August 17, 2014 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Graeme 2,588 Posted August 17, 2014 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. 3 exume, Fala and mtlsam reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clemsonscj 1 Posted August 17, 2014 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites