Tattoos

[A350Zisa]

I wanted to start a thread about tattoos. As much as I would like this to be a judgment free zone, with this crowd, I can guarantee it probably will not be. What you have to understand is that this body modification is permanent. Its not "constructive" criticism to tell someone how bad or ugly a tattoo is. What actually is constructive is to tell someone who thinks they might want a cover-up tattoo to tell them where to go and what studios are cleanest, safest, and have the talent and skills to help them.

I know from my own experiences and encounters that some tattoos are just terrible. The artist may not have known what they were doing, the ink may have faded, or the wearer may not have known how to properly manage their new body modification. nonetheless, people that get tattoos are a majority of the time, proud of their tattoo. So please, if you do not like it, keep it to yourself. if the person asks for advice on how to fix it, manage it, or where to get a better job done then suggest it to them.

These types of comments are highly discouraged and if i can say it, not allowed or wanted:
"WHY WOULD YOU EVER GET THAT ON YOUR BODY?!"
"What the F-word is that?"
"did a blind man draw that?!"

No one wants to hear that something on their body, that they cannot change or alter, is disgusting, ugly, or questionable. A tattoo is FOR the wearer. it means or meant something to them and while they might love to show it off, it is not for your entertainment or unwanted criticism. people with tattoos have to live with them every day! respect that!

so now, if you have them and want to share, post some pics of your tattoos! future plans are also welcome.

[A350Zisa]

[A350Zisa]

[A350Zisa]

the stick figure bodies, and the word RAWR are done with sharpie for my halloween costume, Lil Wayne (weezy F). those are not tattooed on me!

[fiveoh2go]

[Ryan T]

[A350Zisa]

very nice face, ryan!

kidding. please take it a little bit more serious!

[WRXtranceformed]

My brother and I are thinking about getting matching tattoos in the middle of our backs / shoulder blade. It would basically be a contemporary crucifix in the background with our family's noble crest in the foreground. I wish I could find a picture of our crest but it's really hard to dig up the actual one, not just one from a geneology website. We found a print at my grandmother's house and a wooden relief that we could probably use as the template.

The only three things holding me back are:
1) I have severe ADD with lots of things, and permanent body art probably wouldn't mix well with that no matter how much it "meant" to me
2) I really hate needles. I almost passed out watching some of the needle scenes in Trainspotting once
3) I'm on the fence about tattoos being gay or not. Sorry to fit the mold of what you mentioned, but 95% of the time they really are. I just remember this kid in high school who came into class once with a wife beater on to show off his new tattoo, and it was an alien holding a teddy bear. We were absolutely merciless to that kid.

[Apoc]

To the OP: I don't think there are many people who frequent this forum that are into tattoos. Maybe the topic has never come up seriously, but the only time I've seen it mentioned is to make fun of others. You might be fighting a losing battle.

[A350Zisa]

It's not a battle! Just a place for people to show to their community.

[A350Zisa]

that sounds pretty neat! I've always been a fan of people who are devoted to their familys name or crest to show who they are or how proud they are. A cross is a timeless tattoo piece, much like a rose. I'd say plan it out and get it! If you'd like a recommendation on a shop that is particular to fine detail please let me know and I can refer you.

1) I don't know what to tell you about the ADD, but I can tell you that this could possibly be a benefit to artwork on your body. The more precise you are with detail the more unique your tattoo can be. Depending on the artist you decide to go with, they can fit immaculate detail with custom needles, inks, and technique.

2) a phobia of many and one you are not alone on. If you are seriously considering it, I would invite you to venture out to a shop and see the equipment used and maybe watch someone get one. A tattoo needle is barely visible to the eye as it moves at a rapid pace, it goes into your skin at a rate of 70 times a second. You won't even see it. Also, if you are getting it on your back, you most definitely will not see the artist at work!

3) I will very much argue that 95% of the time they are NOT that bad. Just as much as there are people who modify their car, there are plenty of people whom you would call a ricer or a racer. It depends who you associate with and their choice of an artist and design. There's a beginning for everyone and you could probably thank this person for showing you what to not get on your body.

I'm going to be a jerk right here and say that you made fun of someone that conquered your fear of needles??? Man up!! This was only
one incident for you to see a tattoo that meant nothing to you (ie, wasn't to your taste) and you can learn how to get a better tattoo of something for yourself with much more creativity!

[Evan]

big fan of donnie darko?

[A350Zisa]

Yessum. Also a big fan of bunnies. I tried drawing several but they all came out to just look too cute and cuddly which didn't fit my theme exactly. I also have another skull on my upper leg, but I keep that hidden. Also a fan of skulls.

The one I'm getting this weekend is going to be a bit smaller than my other ones and will be my first one in script.

After that I have been planning a memorial for the loss of a friend that will take up the majority of my rib cage on my right side. I'm pretty excited to plan it! And do full color!

[CaptainHenreh]

So I've considered getting a tattoo.

My problem is that you age, and tattoos don't. When I'm 40, my kids ain't gonna know what Donnie Darko is, and I ain't going to want to explain to them. In the same vein any tattoo I'd think about getting now I'm not sure would be relevant in the future and as you say: It's permanent.

I considered (briefly) some kind of "traditional" irezumi, finding a real artist and submitting myself as their canvas. Alot easier to explain in my 40's, and (imho) a whole shitload less trashy than a snake in a skull eating the earth or whatever.

When I was young, I dated this girl who had a tattoo and I thought it was the hottest thing I'd ever seen. I grew up and she got fat, her dolphin probably looks like a bloated porpoise carcass now. (More things to think about!)

I'm not going to stand here and judge someone who gets a tattoo, if that's what you want it's certainly not the trashiest thing you can do to your body (that would be, I dunno, a tie between gauging your ears and the "monroe" piercing) but if you think a tribal band around your bicep "signifies your individuality" and "advertises your bootstrappy attitude" I'm going to make fun of you and you're going to deserve it.

[WRXtranceformed]

Lol, awesome website I just came across.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tattoofailure.com/">http://tattoofailure.com/</a><!-- m -->

[Mike]

i always thought getting a barcode tattoo of my ssn would be cool since it's one of very few things in life that's permanent... also has some practical applications (read: if i show up in a gutter one day, i'd be easy to ID). then "hitman" came out and everybody had the idea. then a friend of mine actually did get a barcode tattoo (alphanumeric spelling of his parents' initials) and i saw how quickly that turned into a black blob... i no longer have any desire to get one.

lee, getting an identical tattoo w/ your brother is definitely a sign that you two hook up in your spare time.

[Steve85]

I occasionally get the itch to do it, but like others can't come up with anything I really like...at least not without it being redneck. My wife wants to do a celtic cross with the kids initials at each point which I like the idea of but that's just not for me. I'm glad I've resisted to this point, I'd probably have bugs bunny pullng a tube on one arm and a vette emblem on the other, glad I don't.

Maybe I'll do something in a few years when I've reached certain goals...

[Sijray21]

i've actually wanted to get a tatoo commemorating my late father. funny how this topic is brought up as i was thinking of ideas the past few days. my problem is that i want a good tatoo artist, willing to pay, and need an artist to first design what i want.

[A350Zisa]

i've actually wanted to get a tatoo commemorating my late father. funny how this topic is brought up as i was thinking of ideas the past few days. my problem is that i want a good tatoo artist, willing to pay, and need an artist to first design what i want.

if you want the best tattoo ever you'll have to go to the best artists ever which could mean some traveling. If it's worth it
to you, then I'd say do it!
If you're looking for something a bit more local to your area I'd be happy to help you research some artists. There are two artists here in Harrisonburg that are not too well known only because everyone assumes "alley cat" is the place to be. These two artists have a combined nearly 40 years of experience in both art and tattooing. You tell them what you want with plenty of references (pictures, other media) and they can do it.

Their studio is called Artistically Inklined and they are cleaner than any operating room or hospital I have attended and worked at, including johns Hopkins!

[A350Zisa]

Mr. Rex,

You are being very harsh by openly saying people deserve to be made fun of.