Considering that for most people a tattoo is something that will stay with them for life, many put surprisingly little thought into it. Modern inks and techniques mean that tattoo art is limited only by your imagination within a few small boundaries.
After being certain that you actually want a tattoo and will still do so in 10, 20, 30+ years time when it's a little faded and your lifestyle has in all probability changed, the first thing to do is to choose a venue and artist. With the increased popularity of body art, from piercings and body jewellery to Tattoos, almost every town now has at least one practising artist or studio. However, using a studio just because it's local can be a very bad move.
The first thing to look for when checking out a potential artist or studio is examples of previous work. Far too many studios are covered with 'flash art' (coloured line drawings of available designs on sheets of paper) yet have no examples of actual work they have done. As a general rule keep very clear of these. Any artist worth visiting should be proud of the work done and at the very least will have a photo album containing pictures of previous tattoos. If the studio in question hasn't then it's generally advisable to move on to another that has, unless you have seen examples of their work on others and are 100% sure of its quality. Once you are happy that the artist in question is capable the next step is to choose a design.
Again, most studios are covered in 'Flash Art'. If you see something on the wall or in a book that you simply must have then this is fine. However, any competent artist will be more than able and willing to use any design for your tattoo, be it their own or one that you bring in to them. If a studio or artist is unable to do this you again need to question their ability and if you really want this person to mark your skin for life. A good tattoo should not just look good but also mean something to the wearer. Often the only way to achieve this is to supply the image you want, not to pick something out of the studios books because that's all there is. Spend some time discussing your requirements before hand and if necessary come back another day to get the actual work done - the worse thing you can do is to rush such an important decision.
When you are choosing your design a couple of points are worth bearing in mind. In theory, with a good artist, your tattoo is only limited by your imagination or that of the artist. However, certain colours and styles lend themselves far more to a good tattoo than others. Due to its very nature a tattoo will fade and 'spread' a little with age, which is especially true of bright colours such as yellow and especially white, although modern inks tend to be far superior to many of those used in the past. Even so age, and especially exposure to sunlight, will cause colours to fade and in some cases vanish, especially bright colours. The other consideration is outline. A good tattoo will benefit hugely from a strong outline for a couple of reasons - not only will a strong outline cause the tattoo to stand out from the skin and be crisp and clear, it will also resist the ravages of time far better. A tattoo with a strong outline will usually look much better 20 years down the road than a thin outline with a single needle or none at all. It's an important consideration when deciding on a design that many overlook. Try to pick a design that will lend itself well to a stronger outline in the images.
Another point to consider when selecting an artist is which styles they specialise in. For example, if you fancy a large, body covering, traditional Japanese design ensure that the artist in question has performed these before and has an interest in the subject. Likewise if you want a portrait of a celeb or family member, ensure that the artist enjoys doing portraits and has skill in that area. These days many tattoo artists will specialise in certain styles and it is well worth travelling to get to an artist that is among the best in the field you want. A few hours spent reading the various tattoo periodicals available can quickly help to identify such people.
Finally remember that you really do get what you pay for. Considering that a tattoo will stay with you for the rest of your life, do not skimp on the price to the detriment of quality. A decent artist may well charge more but the difference in quality can be huge. Rather than rushing off to get a mediocre tattoo, save a little more and pay for something that is good quality that you will be happy with.
About the Author
Elizabeth Brodie is the owner of Hot-Jewellery a UK site specialising in quality body jewellery for most common piercings.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Amazing Tattoo Designs
Let's face it, people who like Tattoos are always looking for the next amazing tattoo design to set themselves apart from the crowd and although this might seem like an easy task, anyone who has been through it knows differently. Sometimes it can just hit you, you see something in a picture or in a museum or even in a movie and bingo! that's it - you know straight away that this is your next tattoo. If you're one of the lucky ones (those who can draw beautifully from imagination) you can scribble it down and take your own amazing tattoo design to your tattooist and within no time at all your dream is a reality. However, most of us are not that lucky and whilst we have willing and creative minds which think up all these amazing tattoo designs we have weak and stubborn fingers who insist on not getting the picture (literally!).
Body art has been with us from the year dot when ancient cave men used it not only for camouflage but also to mark themselves and their tribesmen out from other rival tribes. Indeed, the word ' tattoo' is derived from the ancient Tahitian word "tattau" meaning to mark. Since then tattoos have evolved into a serious art form and most people are into their body art because it is beautiful and because it makes a personal statement about themselves. Choosing your amazing tattoo design can be a minefield though. Just think of all the Chinese symbols for example. Do you know what they mean - and moreover, do you expect your tattooist to know? A very good friend of mine had a Chinese symbol tattoo done a couple of years back. It was a beautifully intricate design on his left shoulder with symbols surrounded by oriental dragons and magnificent colours. He was born in the year of the dragon and his wife was born under the sign of the dog. The symbol was suppose to say something like ' dragon will honour dog in life and death". However he has since discovered that although it does say that it could also be construed as "dragon will curse dogs honour in life and death".
The same is true of Celtic or Egyptian symbols, and if you fancy something a bit out of the ordinary it's best to do loads of research first and be sure your symbol says exactly what you want it to say. Remember, your tattoo artist is just that, an amazing artist - NOT an expert in all sorts of ancient scripts and symbols!!
When you know it's time for another tattoo (or indeed when you've taken the decision to have your first) it is wise to take some time and look into various styles and designs and also think hard about where on your body you want to have it done. I know some women who have had amazing tattoos designed and inked all around their belly buttons only to discover that when they are pregnant (and subsequently left with stretch marks) the fabulous butterfly looks just a bit less fabulous than it did on a tanned and taut abdomen! Also, think about it from an employment point of view. Like it or not, a tattoo is not always viewed favourably by prospective employers. This is not such a problem for males, however lots of women get tattoos around their ankle or lower leg and, if in a professional capacity you need to wear a smart skirt suit, then it could make things just a little bit difficult.
Consider also, that your tattoo will be with you for life. Now, I know this is always the argument against having a tattoo, especially when it's your first one, however it is a valid one. You must be committed to the design you choose as it will be with you for a very long time. In my opinion, it's best to steer clear of the 'fashionable' tattoo styles, the ones that come in fad's and disappear a year or two later leaving your skin very 'last season'! Choose something that means something to you, something that has a little personal story behind it. Then, when people remark on your tattoo and ask about it (and they will!) you have something interesting to say about it and about yourself too.
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129362/1/Amazing-Tattoo-Designs/Page1.html
Body art has been with us from the year dot when ancient cave men used it not only for camouflage but also to mark themselves and their tribesmen out from other rival tribes. Indeed, the word ' tattoo' is derived from the ancient Tahitian word "tattau" meaning to mark. Since then tattoos have evolved into a serious art form and most people are into their body art because it is beautiful and because it makes a personal statement about themselves. Choosing your amazing tattoo design can be a minefield though. Just think of all the Chinese symbols for example. Do you know what they mean - and moreover, do you expect your tattooist to know? A very good friend of mine had a Chinese symbol tattoo done a couple of years back. It was a beautifully intricate design on his left shoulder with symbols surrounded by oriental dragons and magnificent colours. He was born in the year of the dragon and his wife was born under the sign of the dog. The symbol was suppose to say something like ' dragon will honour dog in life and death". However he has since discovered that although it does say that it could also be construed as "dragon will curse dogs honour in life and death".
The same is true of Celtic or Egyptian symbols, and if you fancy something a bit out of the ordinary it's best to do loads of research first and be sure your symbol says exactly what you want it to say. Remember, your tattoo artist is just that, an amazing artist - NOT an expert in all sorts of ancient scripts and symbols!!
When you know it's time for another tattoo (or indeed when you've taken the decision to have your first) it is wise to take some time and look into various styles and designs and also think hard about where on your body you want to have it done. I know some women who have had amazing tattoos designed and inked all around their belly buttons only to discover that when they are pregnant (and subsequently left with stretch marks) the fabulous butterfly looks just a bit less fabulous than it did on a tanned and taut abdomen! Also, think about it from an employment point of view. Like it or not, a tattoo is not always viewed favourably by prospective employers. This is not such a problem for males, however lots of women get tattoos around their ankle or lower leg and, if in a professional capacity you need to wear a smart skirt suit, then it could make things just a little bit difficult.
Consider also, that your tattoo will be with you for life. Now, I know this is always the argument against having a tattoo, especially when it's your first one, however it is a valid one. You must be committed to the design you choose as it will be with you for a very long time. In my opinion, it's best to steer clear of the 'fashionable' tattoo styles, the ones that come in fad's and disappear a year or two later leaving your skin very 'last season'! Choose something that means something to you, something that has a little personal story behind it. Then, when people remark on your tattoo and ask about it (and they will!) you have something interesting to say about it and about yourself too.
http://www.articles-hub.com/articles/129362/1/Amazing-Tattoo-Designs/Page1.html
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