August Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Salutations y'all, New to the crew. I've got some idears regarding two or three new pieces, but I have hesitated for several reasons (and given my first experience, such hesitation is probably warranted). I hope with all of the collective knowledge on this site, you'll be able to help me keep an open mind and choose the right pieces and artists. Before I go into any further detail, let me regale you with the story of my first tattoo: Like any regrettable tattoo story, it begins with a (slightly) inebriated eighteen year-old. My grandmother, also slightly inebriated, had insisted for years that if I really wanted a tattoo when I came of age, that she would not only take me to get it done, but she would also get one herself. In her pre-AA days, grandma was a fucking riot. So one fall day, I google'd around and found a decent shop and took her up on her offer. We were both a little "toasted", (the sort of distinctly grandmotherly euphemism she was of course fond of) but we managed to find this shop in the metric middle of nowhere. Context: rural South Carolina. If you are the betting types, you might wager that the shop we came upon was a biker tattoo shop. You'd be correct. While I myself drive a motorcycle, I am not a part of the bike club culture at all, and to this day still find it strange, alien, and somewhere between whimsical and intimidating. I don't even know if grandma knew what crystal meth was. I chose a Cheshire cat with my mother's name on it. My grandmother chose a Tweety bird holding a martini glass. I wanted mine above my right shoulder blade. She wanted hers on her right ankle. The tattoo artist handed me a traced google image of a Cheshire cat from the Disney adaptation, with my mother's name written on one of the stripes. I looked it over and pointed out that "Ellissabeth" was, as far as I knew, very rarely the correct spelling of my mother's name. Adrenaline levels: spiked. So as you might imagine, it's not a great tattoo. The lines are rough, the coloring is dull, and one of his eyes appears to be much more focused on my left shoulder blade than I had intended. Perhaps surprisingly, the inevitable cover-up is not my primary reason for seeking your guidance (though dear god, if anyone has any advice or suggestions, sock it to me). I want to get a half-sleeve based on a painting that my friend's father did. It's a bit abstract, and not only do I not know if it would work (especially as a half-sleeve), I don't even know how to begin to find the right artist for it. I've scoured the internet, and there are a couple shops that might work, but I just don't get a great feeling. I don't even know what "genre" of tattoo it could be considered, as abstract and new school don't exactly seem accurate? Help a brotha out! I'll post a picture of my first tattoo at some point, and I'll post a couple of the inspiration paintings. OH, and one more idea... I have a particular scene from a movie that I've thought might make a great tattoo, but it's a) a black and white movie and b) a night scene. Is there any precedent for such a tattoo? Does anybody know of any artists that could excel with something like this? Thanks for having me, y'all. Drop a line! Best, August Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CultExciter Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Mostly, anyone here, can give you advice on the more talented tattooers are in your general area. Where are you located in North Cackalack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 Shword! Thanks for your response, CultExciter. I've always wanted to meet a hero, online or not. I'm in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. Outside of Raleigh, for the unfamiliar. As far as I know, regionally there's good stuff in Raleigh, Asheville, Richmond, and Atlanta, but I'd probably be willing to head up as far as Baltimore/DC if I found the right artist for the right price. I know there's good stuff here locally, but most artists I find are pretty much exclusively into flash, old school, sailor jerry sorta stuff or Japanese stuff. I think eventually I'd like to have my left side in black only, with Henna/Indian influenced stuff meets abstract lines and circles, with colorful stuff maybe veering on abstract Japanese on the right? So in the long run, I do want multiple styles, but right now I want to focus on an artist who could do something similar to those paintings. Any specific ideas for artists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CultExciter Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 I personally like Glenn's Tattoo Service and Legacy Irons in Greensboro, but I think I like different styles of tattoos than you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Shit Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 For the painting these artists will do a good job.. Instagram Instagram did a tattoo that looks like that painting in the 2nd row. Body Art by Hayley. Mark Evans « Anything's Possible Tattoo Candace & Steve@ mad-ethels Instagram does nice Japanese work. Instagram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Shit Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Instagram would do a good job on that painting. Instagram has some examples of good henna tattoos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 I personally like Glenn's Tattoo Service and Legacy Irons in Greensboro, but I think I like different styles of tattoos than you do. A friend of mine got some great lettering done at Glenn's. It's definitely a great shop, and it's nice that it's so close, but it's just not what I'm looking for right now. - - - Updated - - - For the painting these artists will do a good job..Instagram Instagram did a tattoo that looks like that painting in the 2nd row. Body Art by Hayley. Mark Evans « Anything's Possible Tattoo Candace & Steve@ mad-ethels Instagram does nice Japanese work. Instagram Instagram would do a good job on that painting.Instagram has some examples of good henna tattoos. Joe Shit, thanks for your responses. I think there are at least three potential artists there I could easily work with. Have you, or anyone you know, gotten any work done personally with any of the artists you sent me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sighthound Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Virginia Beach area has some good shops/artists that would excel in that type of tattooing. Can't think of them off the top of my head, at work at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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