HettyKet

I really love lady heads but I must admit I'm still dubious about having a straight up, classic lady head done. I think, for me, the issue is that I worry it could come across as a sort of idealized image of self and seem vain, or something. I can't really even express my reservations clearly when it comes to it. A pin-up I really couldn't hack though. Not to criticize those women who have the ovaries to to wear a classic lady head or other straight up image of idealized femininity - I'm not generalizing at all, my reservations are purely based on my own insecurities! Am strongly considering nice big a lady-rose (I think they're called) bush instead. One with a good number faces and busts. This kind of idea but then with a lot more girls some empty roses and more variation in the type of lady head: (By George Burchett on Edith Burchett)

Had a few relevant looking 20's girls hanging about in my reference piles, here: Argentine film actress Mona Maris (“The Pride of the Pampas”), photographed by E. O. Hoppé in 1929 Anna May Wong c1920 Jetta Goudal Katerine Burke

THere's no reason why you can't take the Lina Stigsson drawing as one of your references, it's just asking for an outright copy that wouldn't be on. She looks 20's inspired to me so a quick google of flappers and you should find more than enough additional reference material.

Indeed! But, of course almost all of the fab artists regularly mentioned on here are on the other side of the world for me...

Oh, interesting, I assumed it was an Angelique Houtkamp piece at first glance. I like her work a lot but find it (and Kim-Anh Nguyen's) a little too 'sweet' for my taste when it comes right down to it. Will have to have a good look at Lisa Stigson's work, hadn't come across her before. - - - Updated - - - (am an hour or so from Amsterdam, y' see)

It seems to be the impossibility of having a visible placement that's the biggest obstacle to you. Would you maybe consider your sternum? That'd allow you to have a 'proper' tattoo that you could see often but would be simple to hide away too. - - - Updated - - - WRT 'hardship'- do people know how 'hard', generally ball breakingly tough and motivated a chick needs to be to make it as a professional ballerina? Sheesh.

Thanks @TaeTae - it's obvious now you say so. He always has a good look at how stuff has healed but with it all having been fine up to now, well, yeah... :o @TrixieFaux thank you kindly! I've often admired your roses.

So, elbow is about 2 1/2 weeks old - my healing is always a bit slower than average after the first week, I'm told. Despite managing to avoid scabbing I fear I may have managed to damage a couple of little lines during healing, is it even possible to lose ink without scabs or is the fading on these lines likely to be an occupational hazard of tattooing the thicker skin on the elbow? :confused: Am back in for my next session on the 16th, obviously I'll ask then but, well, I'm impatient! - - - Updated - - - The point being, I'd be very embarrassed to have to ask for a touch up if it's my fault I lost ink (or if I, in fact, haven't lost ink and it'll all be alright when it's healed) and less so if one should know to expect it here. Excuse my ignorance, I've only been getting tattooed since October, elbow is tattoo number 4. Haven't buggered things up before!

I usually take some Oxazepam with me as well as the standard antihistamines and ibroprofen. I've never actually used the 'pam (for tattooing) but knowing I could if I needed to was a certainly helpful when we got to the irritating bit of my elbow. Never tried numbing cream, I thought I'd read somewhere it could cause a temporary and non-advantageous-for-tattooing thickening of the skin?

Failing that, you might be able to get private prescription for Oxazepam or another benzo.

@TaeTae when I still lived in the UK Syndol contained a muscle relaxant, IIRC it was marketed for tension headaches and period pain. Mind, that was 10 years ago so they might have changed the formulation by now, maybe worth a look though.

Mmm, that's interesting. I don't take cool showers but do do rather a lot of cooling with a ziplock bag of iced water. Am really pleased with the healing I'm getting with the tegaderm in any case.

Thanks for the like @JakeWolfSkin, but, is that the sort of thing you're after or have I totally misunderstood?

You might like Tim Beijsens work @JakeWolfSkin, he does a lot with colour but is clearly perfectly at home in black and grey too. Works at Black Wolf in Rotterdam some days. Great shop. - - - Updated - - - Sorry, should have said, he'd definitely want to draw.

Hee hee, I don't hold you personally responsible, of course! Am somewhat neurotic...

Philip Yarnell does some great wolves - - - Updated - - - missed the Yarnell devil/wolf Love this from Florian Santus too

Read @Cork 's post before bed last night (CET) and spent all night dreaming that my poor elbow was all scabbed and cracked :rolleyes: Scary stuff! I have skin that's a bitch to heal even a graze or scrape on - it dries out and splits at the drop of a hat, even just from too many showers, but I've not had any of that with my tattoos. Started off with re-wrapping but that was a bit too touch and go for my liking so moved over to tegaderm sharpish and it's been fab. Progressing nicely, I think (end of day 5, if I'm counting right, not sure): - - - Updated - - - Not sure why the photos have come up so massive - sorry! -derm thread for Cork: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/4795-tegaderm-saniderm-tatuderm-healing-process.html

IIRC that wasn't a valid defense ;) But, yeah, go with the flow tomorrow - sounds like fun!

Remember reading someone, somewhere, saying that every time you get a tattoo you should ask yourself why it's not a dragon. Don't have a dragon myself (plenty of space left though) but it seems like valid advice!

Probably best to @whateverhisnamewas him instead of @HettyKet me then :) But, yes, thanks anyway. Pleased to see something from Jerry I do like. About time too. - - - Updated - - - Yes, I have looked in actual books :rolleyes: (;

Just into day 4 now, but I find the itch worst just before the tegaderm can come off at the end of day 3. Horrid. Urgh, and the crusty feeling from the plasma and ink. Am used to eczema so the later, dry itch isn't such a bother but that day 3 itch <shudder> All better now though. Elbow is looking good, nice and smooth but not drying yet. So, fresh -derm on there, another 2 days at a guess. The colour only bits are 'cooked' and -derm free - shedding the sweetest, thinnest, almost colourless flakes.

Thanks @Graeme. I'm not looking for the flash, no. I love wolf tattoos but I'd not want one on my own skin. Was simply curious.

Itchy. Itchy. Itchy. :)

I'd love to find out whose design it is too. Anyone know?

:o thanks again. He's finished that one for me too now. Only have bloody, warped and blurry photo though (one under it is also 1/2 fresh)