MetaChat - Ink Consultation

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04 July 2006

Ink Consultation →[More:] Me and Pips both want to get tattooed. I definitely want a Buddy Bradley tat on my upper arm, either this one or this pic off a box minus the background, because he looks like me and I identify with the character. Pips wants this pic. She's not sure where she wants it. I'm soliciting advice, opinions, artist recommendations, cost estimates, whatever you got.

post by: jonmc at: 11:40 | 28 comments

Go to NY Adorned. Stephanie is great, but really anybody there will do a great job.

posted by thermopolis 04 July | 11:59

Wow, that's where I got my ears pierced. It was a very friendly place.I'm still torn between the two Buddy designs. But it's definitely gotta be Buddy.

posted by Pips 04 July | 12:03

That was actually me. I was on pips's laptop and forgot to log out.

posted by jonmc 04 July | 12:07

I'd go for the full-body picture of Buddy (the one with the beer).

Pips, talk to a few artists and see what part of your body they think that design would work best on. That kind of conversation makes a lot more sense when they can actually see your body in person.

posted by matildaben 04 July | 12:09

No tattoo advice except to say, dayum, Pips, that's a lovely pic.

posted by Fuzzbean 04 July | 12:16

Thanks, fuzzbean... (the tattoo, or the beach? appreciate it, either way) : )

I was thinkin' of the left shoulder, 'tilda... We're watching a marathon of Miami Ink, coincidentally, and one of the artists told a girl that the left shoulder alone would make her feel "unbalanced," but, what the hell, "unbalanced" is my natural state... and another artist also seemed to become nauseous at the thought of having to do yet another fairy on a girl, but I just love that particular picture (I've been carrying it around for years with the thought of a tattoo, and my 40th is coming up...)

Good to know adorned is good for tattoos, too... they did a great job on jon's ears... very professional...

posted by Pips 04 July | 12:37

I guess the only advice I can offer (I have two tatts) is to make sure the artist works in the style that you want and can do what you want them to. Check their portfolio (there should be a book of their best work in the shop) to make sure their art is top notch. I wouldn't hesitate to pay more as long as the artist is one that I loved.

I agree with showing the pic (very nice, btw) to the artist for recommendations on placement.

posted by LunaticFringe 04 July | 12:45

P.S. I'm jealous. I really want to get some new ink this summer, but I'm trying to save money.

posted by matildaben 04 July | 12:53

I'd go for the full pic, jon. Buddy is you. And Pips, that's a beautiful fairy. Any idea who the artist is/was?

posted by deborah 04 July | 13:13

I was thinking of maybe substituting a New York background for the one on the box, maybe with an elevated train with a yellow circle with an "N" just to celebrate something else I love.

posted by jonmc 04 July | 13:18

I dunno if Buddy would wear earrings or post pix of his tuchus online. I'm Buddy gone mildly metro.

posted by jonmc 04 July | 13:47

Thanks deb... definitely a confidence boost...

The artwork is actually from an old pocket calendar (from 1998... I didn't realize I'd had it that long...), with various drawings of fairies. Mine is by an English artist named Arthur Rackham, who apparently was a famous children's book artist, from his illustrated Peter Pan.

I'm glad you asked, by the by... I hadn't noted the artist before...

posted by Pips 04 July | 13:53

I thought I recognized the artist but couldn't put a name to him. Thanks, Pips!

Here's the whole thing. This page has links to lots of scans.

posted by deborah 04 July | 14:54

Pips! I had a poster from that same set of Arthur Rackham illustrations in my bedroom when I was a little girl. (I've checked all the links from Deborah's link, but it isn't there.) I used to work obsessively at reproducing it; I've drawn every one of those fairies and twigs and berries.

posted by tangerine 04 July | 16:40

Arthur Rackham also did a nice set of illustrations of Wagner's Ring cycle, which I have.

posted by matildaben 04 July | 16:49

Wow, thanks again, deb... great links...

And how cool, tangerine... what a funny coincidence... I love stories like this... synchronicity at its best...

'tilda, my ex-father-in-law, many eons ago, once made it through the entire Ring cycle... all eight hours or so, if I recall... he was never the same again...

posted by Pips 04 July | 16:58

pips, that fairy is perfect for your left shoulder blade. I know, you won't be able to see it, but on a good size you won't lose any detail. And it's so impressive when you're walking away! I, myself, have been toying with a design by Alphonse Mucha called "Dance" for my 40th. The shoulder blade is the only place that would do it justice.
Or you could put it on your calf.

posted by redvixen 04 July | 17:31

This one, redvixen? It's beautiful...

Thanks for the encouragement, too... the calf could be good... my father had nice calves into his eighties, and I have my father's calves (and flat feet).

posted by Pips 04 July | 18:08

I'll second what LunaticFringe said. You're paying them money, the tattoo's with you forever, so you have a right and an obligation to question them, see their portfolio and refuse if necessary. I finally got inked by the same woman who did Elizard's tattoo, and I was confident that she could do it properly.

No link to my tattoo yet - I've got the green and red done, and they have to be touched up, and then the white has to be done. When it's finished.

posted by Zack_Replica 04 July | 19:10

Hey, I've sat through the Ring Cycle twice and would gladly do it again! Not at the same time as getting a tattoo though. That would be a little too much.

/me can't wait to see Zack's tattoo.

posted by matildaben 04 July | 21:34

Ok, took a pic of my tatt tonight. Keep in mind that the colour needs to be evened out (but just a bit) and there's some small touch-ups to be done. Also, all the circular spaces inbetween the green are going to be done in white ink - that's what the original has, and it'll give it better clarity. No black, either! :)

posted by Zack_Replica 04 July | 23:42

Oh, and Pips & jon - re: the "unbalanced" comment... remember, you've got another arm to even it out with! Personally, I find a single tattoo on the calf (and nothing anywhere else) to be more imbalancing than one on the arm, unless it's big enough that it wraps. But that's me. Remember that if you get one on your back, you'll only be able to see it reversed (in a mirror), so you may want to think about that, if it matters to you.
Me, I'm glad I waited almost 40 years to get one (actually got it done ~5 weeks ago) so that I could be _sure_ what I wanted. It sounds like you've both given it a lot of thought, so good for you both. A friend of mine (who's heavily tattooed) once said to me, "If you're only 90% sure you want one, that 10% will come back to haunt you. Be sure."

posted by Zack_Replica 05 July | 00:05

err... that was to read "...be 100% sure."

posted by Zack_Replica 05 July | 00:06

don't do it, giovanni

posted by matteo 05 July | 09:39

Geez, Zack, then you're not seeing my legs until I get enough money to have the other one done.

posted by matildaben 05 July | 09:43

Note I said "and nothing anywhere else". One tattoo only, on the calf, I said. You don't have just one, so there's balance there.
And I would be a fool to pass up a look at your legs.

posted by Zack_Replica 05 July | 11:49

Also... so? In your tattooed opinion, what do you think? Good? Bad? meh? Wait 'till it's finished?

posted by Zack_Replica 05 July | 11:56

Thanks for the advice, ZR, and everyone...

Also, love your tattoo, ZR... great color... very unique... look forward to seeing it finished...

posted by Pips 05 July | 16:36

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