Suiren

I don't think you'll find any one on here judging as long as you take our advice and get your work done from reputable shops and artists.

And 3 year maternity leave?! I need to move to Germany...

Yes it is pretty great. You can decide to go back earlier of course ,but if you want to focus on raising your children first you can do that. It gives me the chance to expand my creative home business.

I will take any good and friendly advice of course, and a reputable shop is a must! My first tattoo was done by an apprentice of a supposedly good shop and he really did not do a good job. That is why I want to learn more here and possibly get an opinion on artists.

I listen to mostly black metal and some folk or death metal. To name a few bands -summoning, darkestrah, agalloch, october falls, gallowbraid, ensiferum, amon amarth, wintersun, amesoeurs, wolves in the throne room, coldworld and many more where I prefer a few songs rather than whole albums.

I agree.

My tattoos are disliked because they are tattoos by people that don't have or like tattoos. And they are also disliked by most tattoed people here because they are too "simple", "boring", "typical", "mainstream" or whatever.

It does take strength to say "fuck everyone then" ;P and to still continue on with what no one really likes because you personally love it.

I am quite used to that with most things in life lol.

Well then what is it about people these days that they walk around with so many sob stories that they absolutely have to put on their bodies with typewriter font? I mean, my cats and dogs have all died, my grandparents all died, and in my 20s I walked around with dysthymia like nobody's business but I never once wanted to tattoo a word on myself about it. I went to meetings instead.

Well I would say everybody is different? Some like to have a lot of meaning to it, some don't care at all.

I like a mix of meaning and designs I like from the looks. Many people might be quite sensitive about their "sob stories", so I won't question or ridicule them. Afterall, I usually won't know what truly is behind these stories.

I think fonts can look great, but they are harder to adjust to the body's shape. Placement is key and of course clean lines.

As to why a lot of people like them - well, why do people like different things than you? Different music, movies, clothing...it is all just a matter of taste. I listen to Black Metal, my friends like Pop. I won't think too hard about why they like pop or critisize their choice ;).

Text can also be a smaller, more subtle or minimalistic option for people who are concerned about work or just like something minimalistic. There are many forms of art and minimalism and typography/ calligraphy are some of them.

I plan to get a small poem that can in no way whatsoever be described by images. I have been staring at this poem on my wall for years, I like the exact words, the sound, the old language

Thank you all for the warm welcome! Yes, ultimately it is my decision and I need to be happy with it.

The German forum had a pretty bad vibe since it is basically made up of users voting on other users images. 80% of the comments were just rude and to me it seemed like they feel big and important insulting others tattoos. :(

Oh well, not the place for me.

I will continue to explore the forums then :)

I don't have enough tattoos for it to apply exactly, but I do think about balance a lot!

Mostly I want it to harmonize with the curves of my body. I would not place anything large on a small part of my body and vice versa.

My first tattoo was a small symbol on my lower back closer to the hip. After a few years I decided that I find it a bit too small for that spot and that it does not harmonize with my hips well, so I got two more things added and although it is probably something typically girly I find it to be a uniquely balanced and harmonic lower back tattoo (But maybe that is just me lol)

I am planning something bigger and I actually drew the approximate size of it on my arm to make sure it does not overwhelm it. Having something on my left arm would make me want to add something to the right too for more balance.

I have done it the same way with my piercings for years too ;)

Hello!

I am asking this because I had a couple of rough experiences in other (German) forums and want to ask this before getting very engaged in a community.

There I did not even get the chance to post a picture, I was judged by what I said that I had done and planned for the future.

Maybe my tattoos are "mainstream" or were more popular at some point, but I really never gave that much thought because frankly I don't care. I just get what makes me happy, not others. (My tattoos are up to ten years old and I still like them.)

So to said Forums, the mere thought of a butterfly must have signalized "blasphemy" to them. I understand some designs aren't the best combination, or not tattoed the best way, but I would not go so far to insult the wearer, quote: "with mainstream designs like that you are already setting yourself up for a fail, it is boring and if I was a tattoo artist I would refuse to tattoo boring bullshit like that."

It is not like it was constructive and polite criticism either. The whole forum shared that opinion, aside from a few that asked to be deleted because of the bullys.

The designs talked about: a butterfly in only black and white with bold lines, a kanji (part of my name), a dead tree (also b&w), part of a rune poem in font, my son's name in gaelic font with a small design, a swallow, small birds, a deer, various flowers (not all together, but spread over parts of my body)

Few of these I already have, some are planned soon and some I like for the future. All of these have been planned for years and are part of a story. I have overcome great illness the past 10 years and every design is part of a continuing theme.

I was told font and poems, kanji and butterflies (or stars, symbols, flowers, tribals etc.) are a "no go", names of children frowned upon, and that the black and white and simpler designs I like are plain boring and unoriginal?

(But what I don't understand is how it is original to try so hard to be original and unique because others with tats will judge you? That would lead to a whole other form of mainstream imho.)

I have trouble finding a good tattoo artist because of the prejudice.

Long story short, I am wondering if it is the same everywhere, or if it is maybe just a German tattoo community thing.

I would love to learn more about tattoos and share future plans to receive some advice.

But if I am frowned upon because of my tattoo design choice, then I'd rather just do my own thing because it just would not be enjoyable.

Some more about me:

I am 31, mom to a two year old, usually work as a bilingual Administrative Assistant but am still doing my 3 year maternity leave while working from home a bit.

In my free time I knit, sew clothing, participate in medieval events and reenactment and bow shooting (mongolian recurve) or meet other moms and babies.

We are planning to have baby number two in the near future and I hope to get some ink done before that because I will have to take a long break when pregnant and after.

Best,

Suiren