Tiresius

It's certainly interesting to see how they do age and I love how shapely the lines of her arms, and figure is, generally!

I'm a relative newbie - still inspecting different styles and trying to decide what to put on my own skin so I'm curious about how different things last and what can be altered and what can't. 

You are obviously a long-time connoisseur with a deeper appreciation. Perhaps I will get there; perhaps I won't. :)

Oh! i was considering a swan so that where my tummy sticks out it might look like the breast of the bird pushing forward. ( and then getting the swan wings to fold over my back.) I was thinking my sticking-out tummy might never bother me again :D 

Isn't it great when one's ideas are met with enthusiasm? The artist I saw was also stoked with my idea - but he only had an appointment available in a year and really, I will probably change my mind two dozen times before then! I'm thinking 6 weeks though is a pretty good waiting period - as well as the date being so significant to you.

Old enough to see where this is going and decide not to go there ?

I actually don't see you saying anything wrong? It is hyper mascline posturing, but just look at the imagery of traditional tattoos- it's mostly aimed at men, so is anyone really surprised that a tattooer used the word pussy to describe wimps?
As for the other part, he kinda talks shit about all his friends too that wanted tattoos from him. Then again, most tattooers I've met have started the same way. I guess what they wish for is that people rather come and ask for an apprenticeship instead of just creating shit until they quit or realize that they need training. But the next legendary tattooers will probably also start out with moms india ink or a china machine..
 
oboogie do you ever play any other card than the age card?

Isn't it great when one's ideas are met with enthusiasm? The artist I saw was also stoked with my idea - but he only had an appointment available in a year and really, I will probably change my mind two dozen times before then! I'm thinking 6 weeks though is a pretty good waiting period - as well as the date being so significant to you.

I traded messages with my artist - gave him some thoughts on my idea for my right upper arm and what I'm looking for in terms of meaning. Got this back: "Yeah I really dig the idea. I don't have much time this week, but next week I'll be able to start sketching on it. I'll let you know when you can stop in and check it out." I'm psyched. Probably will schedule mid-September - I want to be well healed before we head of to Antigua in late November to celebrate our 42d wedding anniversary.
This is the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and, given my experiences that day I want something that expresses my feelings towards our Nation and the emotions of the day.

People are Asian. Rugs are oriental.

When I see other people's tattoos, I don't usually look at them thinking "that would look better if it was reworked."  I was simply observing the beauty of a tattoo that was done over 50 years ago and has been left untouched since.  Tattoos obviously can be reworked, as shown above.  But I enjoy seeing them like they were intended.

@Tiresius
here's a re-work my bud Scott Rusnak did..

caption: "Was honored to rework this Johnny Two Thumb tattoo today! The original was done in Singapore around 1983. Thank you Bob!! "

But maybe he really, really, really enjoys that one hour...?

I live in the Allentown area I go to Denis glavin. He does a lot of black and grey work I'll attach a pic of my quarter sleeve so you can see what kind of stuff he does. 

for that style I like 3/4 sleeves(both done) with connected L&R chest panels.when staying with 100% cohesive Japanese,I like that traditional Yakuza style/look.Like these

.

Just found this thread!
I like the stuff that the Buena Vista Tattoo Club puts out. I wouldn't get it, but a well executed tattoo in that style would most definitely catch my eye/interest over a traditional style tattoo if I saw it on someone in person.

It's not my thing personally but I'm all for pushing the envelope with techniques, I guess it has it's place in tattooing. Understanding what Stewart says, I also think some of the 'new skool' stuff is really stunning and tattoos are obviously personal so if someone wants a star wars or streetfighter sleeve for example then that has a meaning to the person so why not have it look as shit hot as possible? I don't think then it is being done to be original/different. No they don't look like tattoos in the traditional sense but are valid all the same imo.
I am a massive fan of both traditional and newer styles, which can lead to another question: do you think you can mix new skool & traditional styles on one person? Like could you have a anime type sleeve and then an 'old school' arm for example?

actually, it was the recent Lady Heads (and the lack of black women in it) that reminded me about this piece.
Erica Flannes:

This one is different - Matthew Crim:

I received the tattoo so I figured I share a pic. Will re-post when it heals. Got it done on Friday night. This was taken at the shop. I was bigger then I expected but very glad with the size. Omitted the rays around the head and had an idea about a halo but I decided to leave off & revisit later if I change my mind. Thanks to all who shared thoughts/opinions etc whether you liked the idea or didn't. ( or whether you like the tat or not lol )

I'm actually getting this tattoo done this friday ( 2/6 ) and I am somewhat going back & forth on the spider web on the forehead. I looked it up and most says gang affilation or jail time while other things say drug addiction. The picture is of an artists interpration of Jesus in the Victorian Era. ( the sacred heart, the way his hand is ). Anyways I am extremely stoked about this piece but I just don't get the spider web part which can easily be omitted ( look wise I do like it ) but in all honesty I'd feel funny if someone asked me to explain a part of my tat and didn't have a solid explanation albeit the work is for me and not them. Anyways as I'm new on the scene ( this will be my 5th tat & got my 1st just last june ) and I figured I could get an answer here. Thanks for reading this & sharing your thoughts.

Hey everyone!  I've seen a lot of cool work and good advice on here, and I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for a long time, so figured this would be a good place to go for opinions.  So if you care to help me out, here goes:

It'd be a super personal custom piece and the design is now something like 10+ years in the making, and there's a lot of things in it that would have a lot of meaning to me.  It'd be a gnarled tree in a black and grey style, and I really like tattoos that try to work with the natural body lines, but would need to be concealed by a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up (I work in a fairly professional environment).  It would have a single bodhi leaf on it, and the branches of the tree would be twisting around each other and the leaf like they're fighting to protect/destroy the one leaf the tree has.  I'd also put a notch in the base of the tree like it almost got cut down in the past, but somehow got spared and continued to grow. 

For the stuff I'm less sure of, and starting to get into what I need advice on.  Placement is one of the biggest things:  I'd probably see if the artist could try to center the leaf over my heart, or the other spot I like is a birthmark I have on my side that is already almost the right shape. With a little outlining and shading it could easily be turned into a leaf, which goes along with the working with your body thing I like so much.  I'm not sure how feasible it would be to lay out the tattoo to get it there, so I'd probably talk with the artist about that.  I've also thought about a split in the tree like happens when they get damaged and one side can't really be supported anymore, but that's beyond my limited drawing skills, so again would have to see what an actual artist thinks of that.  I'd be fine with omitting it, though. 

I'm by no means an artist, but I've drawn it a hundred times, so here's my most recent one.  And a picture of the birth mark for good measure.  Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions/comments? 

I went to an artist once whose work I really admired, but he acted like it was just a chore that he'd have to do, and didn't seem to have any passion or interest, so I walked away.  Anyone have any suggestions on artist near Philly that would get more into the personal aspects of the piece, and inspire a little more confidence?
 

Hi,
Just joined because we are huge fans of art in several forms, and some of the most expressive are tattoos. Here to admire the work and look for inspiration for projects in related and other mediums.

Words alone, no matter how they are tattooed, tend to be a waste of real estate. Only you can decide if that's what you want to do.
White ink often turns yellow, so I'd avoid a lot of it. Best talk to an artist.

Someone on my Instagram/FB page commented that it looks like I'm shedding.  I guess it does look like I'm just trying to blame Sunny.

A word, words, a phrase, phrases and all sorts of other tattoo variations and tattoo designs have revolved around this for a long time but it is extremely popular right now. So lets talk and show tattoo pictures of tattoo fonts and tattoo lettering to help this current trend be a better one than those of the past:
1) What's your favorite tattoo lettering or fonts to use and why?
2) Which tattoo lettering or fonts have you noticed look the best years down the line?
3) What is the smallest someone should get lettering or fonts without it looking terrible and a waste of money years even months later becoming a tattoo mistake?
4) Which tattoo locations for fonts or lettering hold the best? The worst?
5) ?????
Any other useful info you have I think would be appreciated as well as pictures. Thanks in advance.....