General Discussion

Planning my first, advice welcome

Cherish — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:39:47 GMT

First, has anyone ever dealt with Life Itself/Kathy Body-Cooke in Barrie, ON? From what I've seen of her work in her online portfolio, it looks like she is the one who can take the dream from my head and do it justice on my body. Unfortunately, she is still on mat leave until February 14th (co-incidentally, it that would have been my nephew's 14th birthday, and the tatt is for him), so I can't just call her up and ask these questions of her.
I am an utter and complete newbie, and never thought I would actually get inked. Then my nephew died, and that all changed. Basically, I'd like some info on the process. Do I expect several sessions - one to meet with the idea, one to see her drawings, one for the act? Will I be able to see an example of it on my body before we go ahead? If I chicken out, will I just owe her for the drawing, or more? Since she owns her own shop/is independent, do I tip? Do I go armed with pictures that are examples of what I want, or just talk it through? Do artists charge more for doing a portion of it more as a portrait (I would love the faerie boy to look like him)? What should I do to prepare myself/my body for the act?
I am getting it done on my back, between spine and shoulder blade, basically directly behind my heart. How is that area in terms of pain? I'm not skinny (though not obese), will it be badly distorted if I lose weight? Is wording generally done freehand or with a stencil? What kind of price range should I be expecting for about a 4" x 4" tatt?
Sorry, so many questions... Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Help needed - there's so many tattooists, i don't know who's really good

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:34:21 GMT

I'm thinking of getting my first tattoo, and i don't know how to spot who's a good artist, if they're ripping me off, or if they're technically good - what do i look for? Are bigger studios generally better -like do all the good tattooists end up with big companies and shops? Also, can you hire people just to do the design, and then give that to the tattooist? does it cost loads? and where do i find the best designers?

I know that's a lot of questions - I'm just a bit frustrated as i see lots of people with similar tattoos, and i want something i can be really pleased with for the next 50 years, not regret in a few.

Any body else here from Ireland?

JD75 — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:42:54 GMT

Hi All,

Im just wondering if anybody on here is from Ireland? I'd love to hear from you if you are but equally I'd like to hear from any1 from anywhere

Most Painful tat?

tat_angel_uk — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:16:08 GMT

Mine was on my hip, but I've heard people talk about spines, feet and hands being the worst places - there's a lot of pictures on this site of people with their entire rib section inked, and I'm think ooouuccchhh! but I'd love to get something done further up my ribs - my question is, how much does it really hurt, is it worse than other places?

what does 'new school' mean?

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:54:31 GMT

There's a lot of people talking about 'new school' designs at the moment, but they're all really different - like one girl i know's got a knuckle duster on her shoulder, and another's got a bit of graffiti and a car on fire, they're all different, so what's new school and what's just getting called new school - a lot of it looks like japanese stuff too - like carp and stuff.

My virgin body

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:42:41 GMT

no, not that kind of virgin!! I've got zero tattoos and zero piercings on my body. The reason I think is that while I find them attractive I feel that it is a massive commitment, almost like a conscious decision to adopt a personality aspect. That's why I have never had any works done.

Do you find body modification is such a large commitment? I want to see how lightly others take it.

Self taught and getting hate for it :(

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:00:27 GMT

I've been tattooing for 8 years, my designs have developed from my lifetime love of art, i was always drawing as a kid. I built my first machines when i was 14, started on pig skin, and learnt all i could, but there were'nt any tattooists anywhere near me, and even if there was, there's no way i could have afforded apprenticeship costs like they are now. So why are there loads of people giving me flak just because they did an apprenticeship and i didn't - some of the best artists in the world are self taught, yet i've still got idiots on other sites i've posted in giving me all this hate because i didn't do what they did - it's sad, unecessary, and detracts from the community as a whole - I'm sure there are great and bad self taught & apprenticed artists out there - what's with all the war?

Flowers and butterflies back piece - Denirsublime tattoos,Brazil

Tom — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:35:22 GMT

Freehand phoenix by Tramoño, Celtic Tattoos, Spain

Tom — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:37:39 GMT

Hand Tapped Polynesian Tribal Tattoo done on Moorea Island

Tom — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:42:09 GMT

Freehand Dragon Koi by Tramoño, Spain (part 2)

Tom — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:21:38 GMT

Freehand dragon koi tattoo by Tramoño at Celtic Tattoos,Spain (part 1)

Tom — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:19:27 GMT

Next Part

New School tattoos - Japanese-style free hand Koi on arm

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:21:54 GMT

Freehand Maori tattoo on calf, Spain

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:44:13 GMT

New School Tattoos - Imp on calf, São Paulo, Brazil

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:19:43 GMT

Not quite Miami Ink - :) a little comedy ...

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:12:25 GMT

Johnny Tattoo Studio, Brazil - Oriental full back piece

Tom — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:38:58 GMT

8 people tattoing and getting tattoos at same time! U.S.A

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:29:18 GMT

Some thoughts about tattoos, piercings, Bayside, and the Jacksonville U.S.A Tattoo Convention

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:51:00 GMT

Junior Tattoo Studio - beautiful Polynesian tribal on leg, self-tattoo

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:04:40 GMT

Ohara tattoo studios - Rio de Janeiro Brasil

Tom — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:05:09 GMT

I hate Miami Ink!

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:43:00 GMT

That show sucks!!!! I've watched parts of the first season on this site, and why's everybody so into it? It's full of try-hard wannabe tough guy idiots, and pseudo emotional and psychological 'advice' which is only there to try and hook in people who must have absolutely no idea what real people are like... This show is the fakest, most skin-crawlingly embarrasing thing I've seen in ages, but everyone loves it!!!!! WWWHHHYYYYYY? There's not a real character among them - maybe the little guy, and sometimes i think that Hoshi apprentice guy's going to turn out o.k, but then BAMM! out comes another trite or fake little comment and i realise once again just how stupid a large proportion of the world actually is.

MIAMI INK SUCKS

Natural Tattoo Studio - Brazil- Medieval Knight on arm

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:45:03 GMT

Practice run for 50 hours Guiness World record tattoo session

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:40:58 GMT

I think the guy at the front is gonna puke ...

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:29:24 GMT