Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 9:22AM
When people meet me, they often ask about mi ink.
I totally welcome this because knowing someone with tattoos is a good
way to gain information you might not otherwise learn. When talking
tattoos, I tend to hear common statements and questions, like:
"I really want to get a tattoo, but I'm not sure what to get. How do you decide what to get?”
Because acquiring body art is a truly personal experience, there
really are no steadfast rules when it comes to figuring it out, but I
thought I would share what I have learned over the years that I have
been "going under the needle."
First and foremost, remember that the ink you collect is permanent.
You are going to look at it and live with it for the rest of your life,
so it's not the most opportune time to rush out on a whim and grab the
first piece of flash in sight, unless you really don't mind living with
the repercussions.
Choosing Your Piece
Though some might advise against relying
on tattoo flash, utilizing the concept of flash art can oftentimes be a
good option to begin with. There are a lot of excellent flash choices
out there, and a lot of lousy ones too. You will probably find that out
quickly when you are flipping through flash stands or books at a tattoo
shop. My very first tattoo was a flash piece; a cute little pair of
cherries that I chose to add to my ankle. The cherries have since been
covered up, but I loved them (and still do, it's just that now they sit
underneath Shea's portrait).
You might have an idea of what
design you want, but the flash option you find isn't quite "you."
Discuss it with your artist and tell her/him what components you dig,
what you want to change, the colors you want instead, etc. Any good
artist that really cares about the end result of a tattoo (which
includes both excellent art work and that the collector is pleased)
should be down with accommodating your request.
Custom
drawings are definitely a great way to accomplish a unique result. Once
again, bring your ideas to the table. Do research yourself before
approaching an artist and learn about the different types and styles
available. I don't know of any tattoo artist who ever wants to be
asked,
"What should I get?" because they aren't there to
transform your skin into their idea of beauty. The theme and idea of
your piece really has to be something that you dig, have thought out,
and are ready to commit to. If you have examples that embody your
vision, bring them with you; but don't expect to duplicate another
custom piece, as that is considered disrespectful to the collector
wearing it and the artist who inked it. However, using examples for
establishing a context and throwing unique elements into the idea can
be helpful in getting the ball rolling.
If you are interested in doing a portrait of a loved one, remember that
size, clarity and resolution is key when gathering together your
reference photos. Sometimes, this might not be possible if the portrait
subject is deceased; and in that situation, you will need to discuss
the options with your artist. However, if it is at all possible to
photograph the subject yourself, take clear, large format photos in a
variety of poses and positions so that your artist has ample images to
work with when deciding on the perfect reference image. If you are
interested in doing a movie character, singer, or well-known subject,
scour the internet, books, magazines, etc., for high-resolution shots;
again with the widest variety of poses and settings possible.
If you don't have any idea of what you
want to get, but you know that you want a tattoo, my best advice is to
wait. Don't force it. Like I said before, this is a lifelong commitment
here. Don't just get a tattoo for the sake of getting one. Wait until
an idea or concept hits you, you love it, and you just can't wait to
add it to your skin.
Speaking of
significance, this is also an area that is very personal. No one can
tell you what is best for you or wrong for you when it comes to
significance. Some collectors want their tattoo to be meaningful in
every aspect of the design and have ties of symbolism from top to
bottom. That's totally cool for that collector and definitely a good
reason to permanently place that representation onto their skin. Some
of my tattoos have very personal and symbolic significance, but some of
them don't have a deep meaning at all. Simply put, some of them are
just things that I like. They might be words, images, colors, or
something that is just a great way to remind me of that time in my
life. If you are into tattooing profound art - so be it. If you chose
something that you consider eye candy and just something you dig - so
be it. There really are no rules. It's YOUR skin. Add what YOU like.
Once you have your tattoo proposal in mind, there are a few other things that are good to keep in mind.
Finding a Good Artist
This may seem like a given, but having been through all sorts of
learning experiences when it comes to the quality of work in the tattoo
industry, I can tell you that it really is worth investing time,
patience and thought into who you want to transform your skin.
I
often have people ask me where they can get a good deal on ink work.
Frustrating as my answer always is, I truly admonish them to realize
that in this genre of the art world, it's often true that you get what
you pay for. Meaning, you might be able to find a "bargain" out there,
but you also might end up with results that reflect the price. Tattoo
work is not the time to search for a deal. This is something permanent
that you are doing to alter your body and if it means that you might
have to save up a few extra months to have enough bucks in the tattoo
jar, DO IT! It's not to say that there are some exorbitant rates out
there, where you might be paying too much for what you get; but taking
the time to research the artists you are considering is always worth it
in the end.
Look carefully through their online galleries and portfolio books. Be
sure that they really grasp your art concepts and seem receptive to
bringing those ideas to life. Be sure that you mesh well with them and
like their personality. I know that isn't always essential and that
everyone won't become best friends with their artist, but just from my
own experience, I know that getting a tattoo isn't just sitting down
for the art and looking in the mirror at the end of the process. My
memories of the day, the things I talked about with the artist and the
other patrons in the shop, the way I felt about the overall experience,
these aspects all have a huge impact on the way I feel about the tattoo
from there on out. It's an entire experience to get tattooed (or
ideally, it should be) and that's why finding a compatible artist has
always been very important to me.
ake the time to examine all sorts of elements when finding your
artist. Read, search, and educate yourself. The tattoo industry is
brimming with talent and finding the perfect match for your perfect
tattoo is essential and always worth the work invested.
Placement
When I first started collecting ink, I was certainly not as mindful
of the important concept of placement as I am now. It's fun to want
instant full sleeves or to cover that ritualistic "tramp stamp" spot,
but are those areas REALLY suited for the shape, size and overall
design of that area of your body?
Understanding placement is almost a science in the world of tattoo
art. Making a tattoo appear its most beautiful means utilizing the
contour and shape of each part of your body in the correct way. Just
because you want a portrait of your grandma on your forearm, doesn't
necessarily mean that the reference fits the spot. It might, but it
might not. Which way is the image facing? Will it be distorted if you
arm is turned a certain way? Will the area of skin surrounded by
existing tattoo work distract from the effect you are after? It may all
sound trivial, but placement is very important and something to talk
carefully with your artist about. I know this from experience, after
using up many key places on my own skin with pieces that were not best
suited where they were put. So my advice to those of you who still have
spots open: plan carefully, chose spots wisely and learn about the art
of anthropometry (the study of the measurement and proportions of the
human body) and the contour of anatomic body shapes.
Pain
Along with the "What should I get?" question, I can easily say that the Did that hurt
inquiry is asked just as frequently. Now I know that you will hear all
variations of this answer from all varieties of tattoo collectors and
that truly, no two people perceive pain the same (and how would that be
measured anyway, right?), but when I reply to this all-important query,
I always say, "To be honest, they all hurt."
Certainly,
some areas hurt more than others. The location of the piece, the artist
tattooing you, your physical health and stamina at the time, the length
of the tattoo session; these all factor significantly into the level of
pain that you experience. But come on, even in the "easiest" of spots
(if there is one), they at least sting, and even stinging equates pain
of some sort.
The short answer is that until you experience
it and learn your threshold for pain, it's hard to describe to anyone
just how tough (or easy) it will be. Don't psych yourself out though.
Don't panic. Don't think that you can't handle it. Just look around and
you will notice that a huge portion of the population now wears at
least one tattoo. Each of them made it through their sitting, so there
is a really great chance that you will breeze by as well. Think
positively and believe in the control that you have over your mind and
body.
I know it might sound lame, but I always mentally prepare for my tattoo
days, For days and weeks ahead of time, I
visualize and gear up in advance so that when the day comes, I'm ready
to go and excited to add to my art collection.
I also always seem to get "in a zone." I'm not sure how to explain
that except that if it's really painful, I just let my mind wander off
and try to remove the focus from what hurts and onto other things. As
my artists can all attest, I talk A LOT during tattoos and while it's
true that I just have a big mouth and am quite the rambler, I think
hidden behind that is the basis that talking to other people gets my
mind OFF of the pain and into another world for as long as I can occupy
it.
The main thing with the pain thing is to know that your
body is capable of great feats. Going into the sitting with a positive
mind set will result in a positive experience. Even if it hurts,
remember how awesome the end result is when you walk out the door with
a beautiful new piece. Knowing that somehow always makes it worth the
ride.
To sum it all up, take the acquisition of tattoo art seriously, but
also be sure that you are having fun and that the entire process is a
positive experience. It should be if you do it right. Take the time to
educate yourself. Be confident in the choices you make and be prepared
to permanently wear your ink proudly. Prepare mentally and also be
conscientious in the aftercare phase when you are healing the tattoo
(watch for another blog regarding this).
Welcome to the tattoo collectors club; or kudos for adding to your
existing collection. We all make the world a more vibrant and beautiful
place.
taken with permission of Jinxi Boo.she write it on her own blog,and this is an important info for all of us.