Tattoo advice
 

So I've decided in the celebratory spirit of making it most of the way through my (admittedly mild) midlife crisis to get a tattoo.

I was looking at designs on the intarwebs since I have an idea of what I'm looking for but can't draw for crap. Is buying a design and transfer (?) a decent way to go or a ripoff?

What other advice do you have? I'm heading to Vegas this weekend and was planning to get it there.

If you want a custom design it will take the artist time to draw it up, if thats what your asking.

That's part of it, I'm a total noob to tattoos. I don't mind extra time necessarily, but if that's what the artist is going to have to draw anyway, I guess 10 bucks or so to print one out and take it with me is worth it.

I guess I should go to a nearby place and see what kind of designs they might have.

I'd recommend going and telling the artist your ideas, and have him draw some things until you're set positively on the custom work.

I get one of De Plane! De Plane!

I'd take in a basic idea of what you want then get some ideas from the artist.

Get something that means something to you, explain it to the artist, maybe have some samples of what you are thinking for the artist.

I am in the process of working on my 4th one, it will more than likely be on my left calf.

My 1st one is of the Red and Yellow M & M on me left arm for my wife and daughter.

My 2nd one is the Celtic Tree of Life on my Calf with two runes that represent my boys.

My 3rd one is a Celtic Cross with the family crest tied into it on my right arm with the runes of the first letters of the family going down the base, it symbolizes the loss of the catholic side of my family (All my grandparents are passing away) and is dedicated to them.

Unless Vegas has some symbolic meaning with the tattoo you are planning on getting, I'd possibly think of getting it done elsewhere. Last time I was in Vegas I had the same idea, but the prices were outrageous (as much as 3 times what I'd pay for the same tat here in LA). If price isn't an option, go for it. Just make sure its something that means something to you, because you don't want to have to look at it the rest of your life and be thinking, "WTF?"

get a tramp stamp :)

Don't do one of those things like go to tattoofinder.com and order one (I have no idea if that site exists). All of that, in the end, basically comes down to being flash and is utter trash. In theory, in getting a tattoo, you want something that means something to you, and getting something that you see on the wall of the tattoo parlor or see online means it's not "just for you."

Do you have a CONCEPT of what you'd like? And where you'd like it? And how big you want it?

I have 2 tattoos currently (yes, call me a tramp if you like, I'm done defending myself to those that just don't understand). I am also completely hopeless at art.

My first one is of a bat in a tribal style. I had a concept for what I wanted, and asked my brother (who is amazing) to come up with the design based on my input. I then took his drawing to my tattoo artist and he tattoo'd it on me.

My second tattoo is of a lotus bloom. There is a TON of flash out there of lotus blooms, and it all looks like crap. So I contacted a tattoo artist at a highly rated shop (i.e. I went in and asked to talk to them), and together we came up with a design. In the end, we actually took a photo of a lotus bloom and used that as the baseline for the design, and added the colors and styles I wanted.

So. If you're going to get something inked on you that you find online or on a parlor wall, I have no advice. My advice is to figure out "generally" what you want, then find a good tattoo artist in your area. A good tattoo artist will be quite happy to sit down with you and work out the design. It will cost a little more for custom work, but it will be WELL worth it. And if the artist doesn't want to do that...find another shop.

/tm

I hear there are some interesting tattoo's posted on the Sacramento Kings' message board...

Good advice, thanks. I do have a definite concept in mind for what I want, the size, and I know where I want it to be (upper back between shoulders). I did see some designs on sites that are close to what I'm thinking but not exact, which is why I was hesitant to download those since I'd want some changes made anyway.

I also appreciate the other advice in the thread. I think I'll end up not doing it in Vegas and wait until I'm back home so I can visit some sites. Luckily I live in tattoo central up here, so I know there's some quality places.

Get a FOF tatoo and maybe you'll get a discount on the next game.

Excuse me....it's the Golden State Warriors, thank you very much.

When I got my first tattoo, I had this idea about a sun with my initials inside of it..I drew a "prototype". I cannot draw well at all. But I brought in my very rough draft, and the artist, whose name isn't Rumplestiltskin, spun my straw into gold.

Warriors/Kings... The main thing is you have the giant penis/merman thing on your back! :D

your not a tramp, its just what a certain tat in a certain location is called

I wasn't necessarily referring to you per se. Others on this board have insinuated some very not nice things about girls with tattoos. Personally, I'm ok with the decision I made to get them. And the plans for more. :D ;)

But yes, as soon as I read the tramp tat, I thought off the aforementioned T-Mobile ad. :p

And I find it odd I didn't realize that before I'd signed my name "tm" instead of "tk."

/tk

Fantastic.

As opposed to Mr. Warm Ice?

Mr Vanilla Ice