anomaly1964

@smiling.politely is on point. Tattooers can be pretty busy people (I don't know the person you are going to, but, for the sake of argument). A lot of the time they are not able to draw up your design until a day or two, or even the day of. Again, echoing what I said earlier, you might need to let go a tad. I'm very early in my career but I still typically don't work on a drawing until its time to do it, because its hard to spread energy around.

Thanks Cult...

Did you set the appointment? Or did you leave a deposit just for the drawing?

Just left the deposit so far, but I did tell them I would be setting appointment no more than 2 weeks out (my birthday)...

Of course you may need to pay a deposit for someone to work on an image for you... would you work for hours for free (researching/thinking, drawing, re-drawing, starting over when you realize the drawing could be better, etc.), only for the potential business relationship to fall through, or for them to never come back, or for them to take the image you e-mail them or they photograph on their phone to "show their friend/husband/whomever," then go get it done from someone else?

As far as what will work well as a tattoo, pick your favorite element of said piece of culture, whether it's Batman, the Matrix, etc. Do you like the idea of the duality of choice between uninformed ignorance and enlightened truth? Get the red pill and the blue pill in some context, shape, or form. Maybe not as part of an image of Morpheus, since the pills are the real meaningful part of that scene, not Laurence Fishburne. Highlight what is important symbolically, and you'll have a stronger tattoo.

Then, figure out what style you like... traditional, realism, new school, some combination thereof, etc. etc. etc. Like traditional style? Find the nearest Inksmith & Rogers to where you are in Florida, and go there. Like a more refined and rendered style, but with still enough of a solid foundation of good tattooing to last well in your skin until you're 80? Go to Redletter and get tattooed by literally anyone there. I'm not as educated in new-school or full on realism, but I'm sure you could find plenty of folks that do those styles.

Don't go cheap or quick, go for quality. That being said, sometimes great tattooers may be able to get you in within a few days, sometimes you may have to wait. Patience can be key.

There is a lot of work to be done to learn about getting tattooed (not as much as actually tattoing), but the burden of deciding what you want and how to go about getting it is on you, not strangers on the internet. Don't listen to non-tattooers giving uninformed advice. Take advice from tattooers giving informed advice, absorb it, but don't take it as the only way. Maybe Phil Holt or Jesse Gordon would have a different approach to the same idea than I do, or one another, or their co-workers. Like I said earlier in another thread, and a lot of other folks have said here and other places over the last few years, real life beats the internet everyday.

Remember: all I'm offering is truth, nothing more.

-Morpheus

Smiling...thanks so much for such an insightful reply, I truly do appreciate it...

Bonus points for the Morpheus quote!

My next question is this. I left a $50 deposit for the guy who did the tattoo in this thread to start on a concept design for me with some Star Wars symbols, the guy did a great job on my first tattoo and the shop is reputable, Las Vegas Tattoo in Ybor City (Tampa) Florida. It's been about 7 days now and I have not heard back from him, how much longer do I give him before I contact him and ask how he is progressing...?

Thanks again.

The newb doesn't know what he wants aaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahaa. WE ARE SO FUCKING LOCAL Y'ALL.

Feel bigger now? :)

Yes that is why I did exactly that. I apologize that my sense humor made you feel unwelcome.

Thanks...

its funny anomaly - but i have been a member of several enthusiast forums - running, biking, skating, paddling boarding, videogame, professional etc - you get the idea - and one thing never changes - there are always those who have the 'locals rule' mentality - and god forbid you don't agree with them or somehow cross the proverbial 'line of coolness' - then look out - classic internet bullying and trolling behavior - anonymity tends to bring this out in people - anyway - you did nothing wrong imo - good luck with figuring on a cool direction for your tattoo

Thanks Marley!

The best advice any of can give you is a good artist recommendation. The rest is up to you and the artist.

Wouldn't that have been much nicer to say in the first place...?

Maybe?

How many shops have you visited? How many artists have you consulted with?

3 of each so far...

The thing is, most artist want a deposit of some type if you ask them to come up with an idea for you...

I won't be able to afford the tattoo if I have to pay every artist I consult with...

Also consider this, I have been into tattoos for ONE YEAR, I DEFINITELY don't know everything about them...

On the other hand I have been building PCs for YEARS and if a NEWB asks a question on a site of which I belong to, no matter HOW MUNDANE it may seem to me, it's NEW to him, so I try to help as much as I can, not belittle them for my own self grandizement...

how do you feel about text? Maybe something like:

"I like Batman, Stars Wars, and The Matrix. But not necessarily in this order. Right now Batman is #1 but it is possible Batman could drop to #2 or #3 based on how good or bad the future Ben Affleck Batman movies are. I am also a fan of wearing bracelets. This might be obvious if I am wearing bracelets as you read this but I mention this fact here in this tattoo just in case I am not currently wearing any bracelets and you were wondering if I would except a bracelet as a symbolic gesture of friendship."

Is THIS really necessary...?

- - - Updated - - -

I never understand posts like these. If you don't have an idea yourself of what you want to get, even if it's something as vague as going into a shop and picking something appealing off the wall, maybe it's time to put a bit of thought into it yourself instead of looking to be handed answers.

To think that people managed to get tattoos before there was the internet...

People like you with an elitist attitude are what drive people away from forums. I'm NO ARTIST and so I am asking for ideas of what might work. I have downloaded 100s of images to consider and work with but still haven't seen THE ONE yet. Maybe someone can show me something I have not considered yet...

So if you don't understand threads like these, then stay out of them...

Would love to see more ideas...

I think maybe with a little abstract style like you have your batman it would be a sweet matchup for that inner piece

Yes...abstract would work well I think...

trippy ass keanue matrix

maybe some morpheus pill action - go matrix though

Love the Morpheus image. How do you think it would translate to tattoo where I want it...

Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it!

Thanks Brian...

Would love to hear from others...

Bruce Wayne and Luke Skywalker both human skulls.

Would love to see a concept image of something like that...

A skull.

Like a Batman or Star Wars skull?

This is the image I currently have on my inner right arm:

This is the area of my arm I want to get inked next:

I'm really into Batman, Star Wars, and the Matrix but having a really hard time finding an image that will fit well on my outer forearm.

I would really appreciate any suggestions you guys may have...

Thanks!

This does not need it's own thread and certainly doesn't warrant your spamming of other threads just so you could start this...

Well don't worry, I won't be back you elitist jerk. Never amazes me on forum how PISSY people get...

Got the first one Oct, 2013 and the 2nd one a few weeks ago...

This forum is full of many intelligent, helpful, and positive people. Unfortunately, adding nothing of substance to a bunch of threads until you hit your ten post minimum is not a way to get their support or help. I'm not trying to come off like a jerk, but don't expect people to bend over backwards to help if you're not offering much.

I TOTALLY understand what you are saying. I apologize for doing what I did to get to my 10 post quickly, I guess I just go anxious about some ideas...

I want these three symbols on my outer right arm, what, if anything, can I add to it background or filler wise that might make it look better?

Thanks for any ideas...

Some of these are just INSANELY cool!

some REALLY cool stuff here!

WOW, amazing ink here!

YIKES!!!!

VERY interesting...