Here's my second tattoo of a planned four. This one is a stylized hurricane icon that you see on weather maps.
I showed the planned design to my mom, and the first thing she said was "not only does it look like the hurricane symbol you see on maps, it also looks like the number 69!" My mom is cool, and she's also right so BONUS FOR ME!

≡ Click to see image ≡

I thought you were a Carolina hockey fan for a moment. But it's not really that close.

Hah! See? They are like potato chips. Only permanent.

I like it.

Thanks! Two more to go and then I stop. I think. Hope.

I'm having a HARD time finding something iconographic/symbol-like that represents California. I want a symbol! An icon! No palm trees, no dolphins, no surfboards. JUST CLEAN LINES AND SURFACES DARLING.

I thought about getting an earthquake jittery line, but trouble is, that also looks like a readout from an EKG. I don't want the flag (or the bear from the flag, even though I are one) ... something simple. My artist and I racked our brains tonight and couldn't come up with anything to go with the theme I'm building ... zia for New Mexico, hurricane symbol for Texas and ??? for California. Anybunny have any suggestions? I might have to take this to AxMe.

avocado
artichoke

Miko, I'm looking for abstract. Symbols. The perfect thing to represent California--or Santa Barbara, where I lived the whole time I was in California--would be a rose, because Santa Barbara has LOVELY roses. But it's not abstract enough. I'm sooooo dang clueless.

What does California mean to you?

My own personal iconography:

Golden Gate Bridge

Half Dome

Golden poppy

His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico

Something earthquake related? Like these readings (what do you call those? Richter/seismological readings?).

I know you said no surfboards, but what about a silhouette of a wave?

This surfer is pretty cool though.

How about the atomic structure of californium?

I think a rose in abstract could be lovely. Sort of like this, though that particular design might make you look like a Vera Wang brandwhore.

Otherwise - a mission-style bell? Grape leaf? Silicon crystals? Banana slug?

Nice.

Hey, WolfDaddy - nice one. Also, I'll second what elizard said - yup they're potato chips (or breaking windows) - you can't stop at one. But as addictive as they are, remember; measure twice, cut once. I've got one, and I'm sure I'm getting more, but getting the proper ones is (imho) more important than getting them because there are more chips in the bag. Or you could just chuck my advice out the window, as it seems you got good taste with the design ideas. ;)

I'm all about flower symbols, so I would get the poppy bmarkey suggests, if I was in California.

Especially with the red (warm colors) motif you seem to have going. Where will the California one going? So far, it's a calf and a bicep, right?

Usually I drive through Santa Barbara while on PCH/the 101. Maybe you could get a PCH or Route 101 tattoo. Or how about Tony Delap's The Big Wave, which is located in Santa Monica? There's also a nice statue in Huntington Beach.

Nthing the poppy.

Sorry about taking so long to respond to everyones ideas and comments. I've been up since 5:30 this morning and have been non-stop til now. Long day.

bmarkey asked a good question: What does California mean to you? -- I think that will inform ultimately what kind of tattoo I'll get to represent my life there. California--and specifically Santa Barbara--is where I became a self-sufficient adult, it's where I fully came out of the closet, it's a place where I made a family of my own comprised of life-long friends and lovers, it was paradise, it was where I battled addiction, found peace, found love, found beauty, found joy.

The two tattoos I've got so far are both on my calves. The next two will be on my upper arms (keeping with the idea that they can be easily covered by clothes if need arises). The two I have so far has generated so much positive response that I want something equally unique for the other two. I like the idea of a California poppy. halonine, I had considered using the US 101 highway sign, as that's the only major thoroughfare that goes through SB.

Ultimately, though, I think I like mullacc's idea of a silhouetted wave. After spending a good portion of my life near the Gulf of Mexico where the water was brown (though warm!) I have always been attracted to the Pacific Ocean. Blue water. Sparkling water. Where I've seen enormous whales and been surrounded by thousands of dolphins. Plus, the very best place I ever worked used a symbol of a wave as their corporate logo.

So I think I'll be going with the wave. Thank you SO much everyone for your thoughts and ideas. I really appreciate it!

I'll be getting my next tattoo in about a month (they ain't cheap ya know). Stay tuned!

You've made your decision, but I thought about a CA condor.