keepcalm

Maybe not that spectacular, but I've booked my first 'all-alone' trip. I've always been fascinated by people who travel the world alone but was always afraid that I couldn't handle it.
It's just a 5 day trip (to Krakau, Poland, hooray), but it's a big step. And the fact that I'll be able to say hello to Victor Portugal, whose studio is 10' walking from the hostel, is a nice bonus :)

I'm going to India in October/November! (!!)

To me, symmetry and balance are two separate things. Something can be balanced without being symmetrical -- in fact I think with tattoos especially, too much actual symmetry might be strange.

I'm going to India in October/November! (!!)

I'm going to India in October/November! (!!)

I'm going to India in October/November! (!!)

I'm not balanced, but I think the asymmetry is cool/sexy. It won't stay that way for long, just b/c I want (need) more.

I'm going to India in October/November! (!!)

I'm going to India in October/November! (!!)

I live in an apartment building that has rooftop access. Sometimes it's really nice to go up there in the morning with a cup of coffee and just look at the bay.

I think I met someone, he's pretty nice, not sure where this is going, but enjoying myself for now :)

Got a new job at a spot I've always wanted to be at. Best thing of the year for me so far.

Didn't when I started out and boy do I wish I had. More than the planning, wish I'd known just a bit more about style and color and what I liked and why I liked it and how it looked on me. Or maybe it's that I've just changed my opinions and understand the bigger picture. But as far as how I look to other people being a "tattooed person," no. Only that this place is full of guys and gals with a handful of tattoos so it just spurs me on to get even more.. if that makes sense. All or nothing.
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"This place," meaning Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

Allow me to reintroduce myself....
I have always strived for balance in my tattoos. In fact, it's bothering me right now that I have both sides of my right knee open. Then again, as I start to run low on real estate, I notice every single blank spot.
And I'm with Diehardonvhs: you get one back, your biggest uninterrupted canvas. If you want a ton of coverage, you'd be a fool not to give serious thought and planning to placement.

Well I quit smoking four years ago and added about 50 pounds of "negative space". Right now I'm more worried about my overall look as a person, period!

I think this is kind of it for me, too. I like the way tattoos look on skin, and I feel like I still need to be able to see some skin to really appreciate them. I also think it's really cool when a tattoo flows perfectly with the part of the body it's on -- like one that follows the curve of the back or hip, or curls around the shoulder or elbow perfectly. It looks so cool to me because it highlights the natural shape/movement of the body, and to me, those kinds of tattoos always look like they really BELONG where they are, especially when there is negative space around them that makes them stand out. I just think it's neat. I would love to get more work like that.

I think this is kind of it for me, too. I like the way tattoos look on skin, and I feel like I still need to be able to see some skin to really appreciate them. I also think it's really cool when a tattoo flows perfectly with the part of the body it's on -- like one that follows the curve of the back or hip, or curls around the shoulder or elbow perfectly. It looks so cool to me because it highlights the natural shape/movement of the body, and to me, those kinds of tattoos always look like they really BELONG where they are, especially when there is negative space around them that makes them stand out. I just think it's neat. I would love to get more work like that.

For those who are not necessarily going for full-body coverage, do you ever think about the overall look you have as a tattooed person?
Like I imagine many people here, I am an appreciator of aesthetics, and when I consider getting new work done, I think long and hard about where to put it and how it will change the way my body looks in clothes, out of clothes, in swim suits, etc. It might be slightly different for females since we tend to have more variety in the clothes we wear (different cuts, lengths, dresses, etc.), but I do wonder... Do you pay a lot of attention to keeping your work balanced on your body? Do you take into consideration places on your body where you don't plan to ever get work? I guess one approach would be to prioritize the design, and pick the place on your body where that design fits best. Another approach would be to think about where you'd like to have tattoos, and pick designs you like that would flow well in those spaces.
This post is partially inspired by this thread about negative space with tattoos.
I am a huge fan of negative space and have spent a lot of time thinking about the best way and location to place substantial tattoos on my body, with space in between them. Some people might say this is overthinking it, but I can't help it, ha. I've considered putting most of my work on my left arm and right leg, leaving the opposites mostly clear. I've also considered mainly tattooing my torso and leaving my limbs mostly clear. When you think about it, following each of those two patterns would make for a really different overall look.
Maybe as a still-kinda-newbie to this world, I do think about this stuff too much, but I'm still curious as to others' thoughts :)

For those who are not necessarily going for full-body coverage, do you ever think about the overall look you have as a tattooed person?
Like I imagine many people here, I am an appreciator of aesthetics, and when I consider getting new work done, I think long and hard about where to put it and how it will change the way my body looks in clothes, out of clothes, in swim suits, etc. It might be slightly different for females since we tend to have more variety in the clothes we wear (different cuts, lengths, dresses, etc.), but I do wonder... Do you pay a lot of attention to keeping your work balanced on your body? Do you take into consideration places on your body where you don't plan to ever get work? I guess one approach would be to prioritize the design, and pick the place on your body where that design fits best. Another approach would be to think about where you'd like to have tattoos, and pick designs you like that would flow well in those spaces.
This post is partially inspired by this thread about negative space with tattoos.
I am a huge fan of negative space and have spent a lot of time thinking about the best way and location to place substantial tattoos on my body, with space in between them. Some people might say this is overthinking it, but I can't help it, ha. I've considered putting most of my work on my left arm and right leg, leaving the opposites mostly clear. I've also considered mainly tattooing my torso and leaving my limbs mostly clear. When you think about it, following each of those two patterns would make for a really different overall look.
Maybe as a still-kinda-newbie to this world, I do think about this stuff too much, but I'm still curious as to others' thoughts :)

I'm with @Cork in that balance was a huge consideration. Started with a half sleeve which then was made into a 3/4 sleeve on my left arm. In my mind, had to 3/4 sleeve my right arm as well and from there went below the waist to my left thigh, then began a shoulder to back of knees back piece. Eventually will get a piece on the right thigh to balance out the left. Hadn't planned on anything for my chest/stomach area and chatting with an artist about a calf sleeve but it's just a thought for the moment. My motif is Japanese, strictly animals/creatures and florals. As much as I love them, won't consider any gods or demons for superstitious reason in which I addressed in a separate thread on the forum. Placement was a big consideration for the subject matter.

I would say that I try to balance myself out. I am getting much more particular about placement and available real estate on myself. I like for the piece to fit the area of my body. I like to place things where I can decide if I want to show them or not.
I started off with only torso coverage and have been slowly branching outwards. I still have nothing from the waist down. I think my first piece would be on my foot and then possibly work my way up.

I always think carefully about where to place tattoos, but I pretty much take it one tattoo at a time. Except I know my right arm is going to be an assortment of tattoos where my left arm I'd like to do a more cohesive thing (I'm trying to avoid the word "sleeve"... Lol). With my thigh piece I just had done it would probably have balanced out my other tattoos better if I put it on my left leg, but for some reason I just felt it was *destined* to go on my right, like it was difficult to imagine it on the left. Very strange...
I don't think worrying about placement or planning ahead is over thinking. Tattoos are permanent, so it matters a great deal where they go.

I don't think about balance at all.
When i get an idea, i think about where it would work best and look good, within my own limitations of available space (im not getting hands, feet, neck, head tattooed) That's about it.
Right now, i've got a bunch on my right leg and none on my left. Just the way its worked out. I don't lean to one side either. :p

For those who are not necessarily going for full-body coverage, do you ever think about the overall look you have as a tattooed person?
Like I imagine many people here, I am an appreciator of aesthetics, and when I consider getting new work done, I think long and hard about where to put it and how it will change the way my body looks in clothes, out of clothes, in swim suits, etc. It might be slightly different for females since we tend to have more variety in the clothes we wear (different cuts, lengths, dresses, etc.), but I do wonder... Do you pay a lot of attention to keeping your work balanced on your body? Do you take into consideration places on your body where you don't plan to ever get work? I guess one approach would be to prioritize the design, and pick the place on your body where that design fits best. Another approach would be to think about where you'd like to have tattoos, and pick designs you like that would flow well in those spaces.
This post is partially inspired by this thread about negative space with tattoos.
I am a huge fan of negative space and have spent a lot of time thinking about the best way and location to place substantial tattoos on my body, with space in between them. Some people might say this is overthinking it, but I can't help it, ha. I've considered putting most of my work on my left arm and right leg, leaving the opposites mostly clear. I've also considered mainly tattooing my torso and leaving my limbs mostly clear. When you think about it, following each of those two patterns would make for a really different overall look.
Maybe as a still-kinda-newbie to this world, I do think about this stuff too much, but I'm still curious as to others' thoughts :)

@keepcalm is a tough cookie, she can handle it :)