DJDeepFried

The good thing is you don't need to. Find the right artist and tell them what you want. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you give us a general idea of where you live maybe someone can give you some good shop/artist recommendations. Many of the regulars on this board really know their stuff. Identifying a particular style will help as artists do have their specialties. I'd start my research there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No need to be embarrassed. Isn't that the reason that any of us get tattooed -- for the aesthetic? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When I get my hair cut I have a general idea of what I want but I don't cut it myself because I'm not a barber. Your drawing is perfectly fine as a piece of reference to take to a tattoo artist who will then draw you up a nice design based on your idea and give you a great tattoo. That's if you choose your artist wisely and let him/her do their thing. Your 30 year old self will thank you for being smart. Or you can be stubborn in which case you'll have a date with a laser instead. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like the idea but not sure a tattoo of that image would read as a book. Maybe if it were at a slight angle. A good tattooer could advise on this and draw up a nice design. Smaller tattoos look best in smaller areas of the body. Wrist, ankle, back of neck, etc. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Who's your artist if you don't mind me asking? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Some use stencils some do freehand or a combination of the two. Guess you'll find out. Post a pic when it's done! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd stop using the stuff. Was it recommended by your tattooer? I wouldn't worry about the blowouts. You're still healing and the tattoo isn't finished yet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is it finished or are you adding color/shading? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did I miss something or did OP edit his original post? Is it out of bounds to talk about rotary vs coil in terms of the client's experience (lack of pain, noise) or the different "look" they achieve? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mediocre Japanese style. It should be said that good Japanese style tattoos are meant to be bold clear and readable from a distance which is the opposite of this. The problem here is a lack of contrast. Color would have helped Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Planet on other wrist would mirror nicely in a kind of micro macro way. Voting against the text which doesn't really make sense in that context unless you're quoting Bohr or something. +1 on a giant Sagan portrait which is clearly your best bet Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He's on my A list for sure Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Custom means the artist draws up a one of a kind design for the client vs picking a design from a sheet of flash. One is not necessarily better than the other but a shop might charge more for the former. Most do both these days at least in my experience. There is a difference between a street shop that takes walk ins vs by appointment only but again one is not better than the other though the latter might charge more. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think so but ask your artist. Bigger the better. My concern would be that lines tend to get fatter and blurrier over time so if you want longevity there needs to be space between them. A good artist will know this and will be thinking about five ten years down the road. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wouldn't say anyone has been nasty -- at least not without provocation. What I will say is that people are very opinionated about what makes a good tattoo and have limited patience for those who refuse to take good advice. Sometimes the best kind of tough love comes from strangers. Because we kind of but don't really give a shit what you do. Make sense? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Planets and stars would look good. Not a big fan of free floating text unless it's in a fancy script font Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

His stuff looks clean and bold. Don't worry about the money so much. Seeing as you'll have this the rest of your life the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive artist becomes minimal if you divide the cost by the number of days you'll have it on your skin Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No lasting side effects but I'd try airing out and/or using less ointment Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hear you@a_beukeveld but of course you can have full coverage down to the wrists and ankles and still stay covered up under a suit or whatever (for men). But I agree with you that the Japanese style may have been designed with more modesty/privacy in mind as opposed to the showoffyness of the West. Personally I like that I can roll up my sleeves one or two folds and still keep my tattoos hidden. But even when I had a half sleeve you could see it with a t shirt. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Double post

Personally I like words in banners (as opposed to randomly floating) which goes well with traditional style images. But I agree the first step is to find the right artist. He/she might like the challenge and freedom of coming up with a design to fit those words. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's funny. The atomic whirl was my first tattoo on my upper shoulder. It is now covered by a kickass dragon 3/4 sleeve. So that's how I feel about that particular design: future cover up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have two 3/4 sleeves and I plan on chest panels next. I love the look of full sleeves and may go down to the wrist sometime in the future or cap them off with some bonji. I will say it's nice to be able to roll the sleeve back a bit without any ink showing especially when I'm teaching. My first sleeve started out as outer arm only then turned it into a half and finally down a few inches to match the other arm. While it may have looked more cohesive as one design instead of a bunch of add-ons, I'm really pleased at how seamless it all looks.

Kim Saigh @ Memoir in L.A. added on to my half-sleeve to match my other arm. Impressed by how seamless she made it look. Healed pics by @TrixieFaux.