LVgeogeek, meeeeow!
That drawing is horrible. The mouth is all wrong. I’m a good inker (not as in tatoo, as in inking other people’s pencils) and if I did something so bad I’d spend months avoiding the wrath of the penciler 
My back, so there is plenty of room.
I went to a place in Madison that is very well respected. I’d love to get more suggestions, P-ville isn’t to far at all!
You know I just got a $250 travel voucher for getting bumped off my plane, Vegas would be a great way to use it! I think her legs are a little thick in the original, kinda like me 
however I agree that her left ankle and calf are really thick, I also agree with your other assessments.
I did see his portfolio before hand, that’s how I picked this guy. There were 2 girls that he did that I thought looked good. There was also one that looked like poop, but I figured that it was that way because of the original.
Well then it’s agreed, I need to find a new guy! Good thing my deposit was only $20.
If this guy works at a shop that’s owned by someone else, make sure you tell the owner in detail why you’re not going with this guy. You don’t have to make a huge stinkin’ deal out of it or be mad about it, but tattoo parlors stay in business because of reputation and the owner would want to know why one of his artists lost a customer. The owner would clearly be able to see if the guy’s drawings weren’t up to par but he might not be aware of the guy’s lack of professionalism.
I’ll chime in with the rest saying run, do not walk, to another shop. You don’t want to be the least bit uncomfortable about any part of the process, and there are enough good artists out there that you don’t need to compromise. I have 3 pieces, from New Orleans, Reykjavik, and Philadelphia. A part of why I still like them all is that I have good memories associated with the experience each and every time. If you have to travel a bit to find someone you’re comfortable with, make an event of the trip. You’ll have good memories for years to come.
And yeah, the guy botched the line art. It doesn’t have the same mood as the original.
Check out Fred’s section on pinups. The pictures he puts up are generally pics his clients send.
You had to pay a deposit? Is that normal?
also…
If really decide you wanna get it done out here (if you cant find somebody better in your area), check out his website and his scheduling policies and his message board/feedback forum. Really great guy to work with. Big pieces are about 150 per hour, but smaller pieces are done on a set price. Mine was 160.00 and took about an hour and a half.
mrklutz: Which shop/artist did you see in Reykjavik, and what’d you get? (I’ve got some family there, and was thinking of possibly getting a tattoo next time I visit as part of the trip.)
LVgeogeek: Fred does some excellent work, and would be a good example of how to do a pinup tattoo well.
As for the OP, I’m going to agree with everyone else and tell you to move on to an artist you’re more comfortable with who can do better linework. There are a bunch of problems with his drawing, a few of which directly stem from the artist not being very good at 3/4 angle perspective. The boots/ankles are wonky to the point that they stand out as badly drawn, and I’ve never seen someone IRL with ankles so thick that they were the same width as their calves. The facial features for some reason scream “Aunt Jemima had a baby with Ken and produced Stripper Midge” to me, and I don’t think that’s what you were going for. Also, did you want him messing with the shape/pointedness/proportions of the pinup’s breasts? There’s a lot more I could point out, but I think I’ll leave the rest alone. All in all, you want to be impressed with the linework that your artist does when you bring in a picture to them. (The only thing that the artist seemed to get right in that line drawing was making the gun holster look realistic and yet less phallic.)
I’m not inked yet, but soon enough I will be. I’m going to get work done by an artist that my fiance is friends with, and, although it’s a simple piece (skeleton key), I’m going to be meticulous about the appearance of the transfer and its placement because it’s going to be there forever, and I sure as hell want to LOVE it before it gets done. You really want to love any work that’s done on you, especially tatooing.
Hmmm. I think it was Tattoo og Skart, but I’m not certain. I’ll have to dig through my old travel info and see if I still have it.
I got a hammer of Thor that the artist there had designed, placed on my right upper arm.
Yep, that was the place. Just found the website for Tattoo og Skart and that was the shop I was in.
I think part of the problem here is that you selected a drawing from a definite “genre” of art, and the tattoo artist apparently has a drawing style that is not compatible with that genre.
Does that make sense? It just really doesn’t look like the same girl.
I think a deposit is a standard practice, but I could be wrong.
I checked out his website this morning. I loved it so much I am actually considering having him do it. His work is amazing and gives me a reason to go to Vegas.
I think you’re definitely on to something. I wanted an Eye of Horus for my first ink, and I just happened to have the good fortune to find a talented guy in New Orleans who was absolutely obsessive about eyes. He had no fewer than 6 eye-themed pieces on his own skin, and a big portfolio of eyes he had done on other people. He was really excited by the idea I brought him, and suggested some nice improvements to the basic design.
I thought he was good at the whole Pin-up genre, which is why I chose him. However since I’ve seen the version he did for me I’m thinking maybe the other ones were just luck. I would really like to see the originals the other tattoos were drawn from!
I was talking more about the 1950s-style “pinup” look to the girl, vs. the 1990s “pornstar” look to the girl, but I think you have the general idea! 
Where in Wisconsin are you?
Maybe I missed it, but did you look through his portfolio prior to booking with him?
And I will somewhat dissent on needing to like the tattoo artist - my best tattoo is from a guy who has the personality of a dead hedgehog. I knew he wasn’t the most sociable person in the world before walking into his shop, but his portfolio was amazing. He didn’t get the stencil done before I came back for the sitting, but I pulled it off the net again, told him the changes I wanted, let him add his opinion, and am VERY glad I did. So overall, the experience with him sucked, but the resulting artwork made me very happy.
My worst tattoo is unfortunately my most obvious one - across my foot and up my ankle. He is the cousin of my best friend and he is a very sweet guy with an established history of inkwork. I had looked at his portfolio, told him what I wanted and how I wanted it to lay across my foot, colors, blahblah. He said it would work just fine, assured me the placement would be no problem. The colors suck. The vinework looks like marks-a-lot drawing, and despite being told placement was no problem I’m missing almost 3" of it on the outside of my foot. I’m in the process of saving up to go through that hell again simply because it’s just so wrong.
My other tattoos - to be truthful I don’t remember much interaction with the artists much. Yes, I was sober, but they were so long ago.
I guess at this point I would rather deal with a talented ass than with a nice guy who promises what he can’t deliver. YMMV, of course. I do agree that the drawing he sent you looks more trashy ho’ than pin up girl though.
[aside]Platteville? Lil’ Platteville Wisconsin? That’s where my dad was from - we’re heading your way this summer for a mini family reunion. My uncle’s school reunion is in August so a bunch of us are descending on your fair burg[/aside]
Yes, chiming in as someone else who feels you should like your artist if you want an original piece.
Not necessarily personality-wise, but you should get a good vibe from them, or at least be able to be comfortable. My mom got a tat from an artist she felt weird about and she was all tense while she was getting it (not because of the pain, but because of the artist) and because of that, despite the artist’s talents (it’s the same woman who gave my my tat and I absolutely adore her - but my mom hates her) the tat came out all messed up because of my mom’s tense-ness. My two came out awesome.
On the other hand I absolutely love my tattoo artist, who is the same woman who did my mother, because our personalities go well together and I can relax while I’m in the chair, and we can talk and she can distract me from whatever pain there is (I’ll be honest, though, mine didn’t really hurt that much - one on my right upper arm, and one over my right shoulderblade).
Also, be sure that the artist you’re going with doesn’t just do a certain set of predesigned tattoos - I know some artists that are HORRID at doing originals.
~Tasha
Yep. My family lives not far from there, and it’s where my mom grew up.
Barrels, I haven’t been able to get a hold of my brother, but I’ll keep trying.
I’m between Madison and Milwaukee. Near a town with outlet malls and a truck stop
Yes I did.
My thinking on this was that it’s not that I didn’t like him, I just didn’t think he was awesome.
My hometown is about 60 miles from Plattville