# Tattoo newb seeks advice from inked Dopers. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083 "2007-07-17T02:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/21 "2007-08-20T15:16:11Z")
Very nice. I’m glad it turned out so well. Now if only I could settle into a design I like and a placement, I’d get one. These days I’m wavering between a couple of personal symbols for myself or a bigger “tribal” design with small dots/dashes that follow around my hips. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/22 "2007-08-20T22:51:35Z")
Very nice! ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/23 "2007-08-21T02:39:02Z")
Welcome. Welcome. Glad you made it. So, how do you feel now? It’s a nice tat and one that should stand the test of time. Now you are one of us. When’s the next ink session? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/24 "2007-08-21T13:34:35Z")
Thanks, folks. **Nic2004** , I’ve heard from everyone: “Now begins a lifelong addiction.” Maybe, I dunno. It took so long to settle on this design! Even still, it’s only been a few days and I’ve already spent time thinking about what else I’d like to have done, & where. Maybe work it up into a half-sleeve? A complimentary design on the left calf? Heh. **nashiitashii** , alternating dots & dashes, or morse code? 🙂 (Mainly joking, but not really.) **bubble pop electric** , thanks, I’d forgotten I’d added the trigrams after I put the pic in the OP up. Needed _something_ there, and they correspond pretty dead on with the hermetic symbols in a weird way: “lunar + solar = creative.” ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/25 "2007-08-21T13:42:17Z")
Looks great! [QUOTE=Larry Mudd] Maybe, I dunno. It took so long to settle on this design! [/QUOTE] Ha ha ha, that’s what I said too and now I’ve got two. And my wife - she hated them and hated mine up until two years ago; she just got her first one expanded a couple of weeks ago… ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/26 "2007-08-21T16:22:37Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] Thanks, folks. **Nic2004** , I’ve heard from everyone: “Now begins a lifelong addiction.” Maybe, I dunno. It took so long to settle on this design! Even still, it’s only been a few days and **I’ve already spent time thinking about what else I’d like to have done, & where.** Maybe work it up into a half-sleeve? A complimentary design on the left calf? Heh. **nashiitashii** , alternating dots & dashes, or morse code? 🙂 (Mainly joking, but not really.) **bubble pop electric** , thanks, I’d forgotten I’d added the trigrams after I put the pic in the OP up. Needed _something_ there, and they correspond pretty dead on with the hermetic symbols in a weird way: “lunar + solar = creative.” [/QUOTE] \ Aw yes. You see, it is already too late for you now. 😃 I am currently in the middle of one that I played with in my mind for a year, perfected the design over 3-4 months after that, and have, so far, put three and a half hours into having the outline done. I think the tattooist friend of mine is recuperating from the outline marathon. Point being, think it through, find a concept or symbol that is meaningful _to you_, and get the design just right and it will be something you’ll never regret. Oh, and keep us posted please. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/27 "2007-08-21T18:07:58Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] **nashiitashii** , alternating dots & dashes, or morse code? 🙂 (Mainly joking, but not really.) [/QUOTE] Well, I’m a bit of a geek for indigenous tattooing styles, so something that mimics the _feel_ of, say, [harquus](http://www.harquus.com/gallery/), [tatau](http://www.mootatau.com/html/en/tatau_gal_09.htm), or other traditional tattoos that are semi-representational at best. The simplicity in design and a notion of “movement” within the lines, dots, and swirls is ideally what I’m looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/28 "2007-08-22T21:48:12Z")
[QUOTE=nashiitashii] Well, I’m a bit of a geek for indigenous tattooing styles, so something that mimics the _feel_ of, say, [harquus](http://www.harquus.com/gallery/), [tatau](http://www.mootatau.com/html/en/tatau_gal_09.htm), or other traditional tattoos that are semi-representational at best. [/QUOTE] Neat stuff! **Nic** , how big is this work in progress? Three-and-a-half hours for a partial _outline?_ Eeeesh. (Have you got the design scanned in by any chance?) ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/29 "2007-08-23T01:43:58Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] Neat stuff! **Nic** , how big is this work in progress? Three-and-a-half hours for a partial _outline?_ Eeeesh. (Have you got the design scanned in by any chance?) [/QUOTE] The tattoo is from the top of my shoulder to just short of my elbow and covers the outside of my upper arm. The outline is done but we have to do the black shading, bolding the lines and the color. I do have the design in a digital format but because I designed it and it is of a personal nature to me I don’t wish to make it public. Sorry but I’m sure you understand. It is in essence a collection of memory patches (In Memory Of Someone) and what are known as Broken Wings which, in Harley biker circles represents someone that has “been down”, as in injured or killed in a bike wreck and contains the names of friends and brothers lost. And yeah, it was a very long three and a half hours. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/30 "2007-08-23T13:52:55Z")
[QUOTE=Nic2004] Sorry but I’m sure you understand. [/QUOTE] Of course, man. Sorry you have enough source material for a piece like that. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/31 "2007-08-24T01:54:27Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] Of course, man. Sorry you have enough source material for a piece like that. [/QUOTE] Me too. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/32 "2007-08-24T02:13:09Z")
[QUOTE=Dante] Depends on the artist. I’d let [Paul Booth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg7ucUfnDlA) tattoo me free hand. [/QUOTE] I don’t consider that freehand. I’m talking “go at you with a needle with no drawing to follow”. Very nice work, Larry. Excellent tattoo! ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083/33 "2007-08-24T06:11:29Z")
[QUOTE=FilmGeek] NEVER NEVER NEVER get a tattoo done free hand. That is all. [/QUOTE] the one tat I have that is a mix of chosen design (which damn near anyone can do) and freehand is fantastic. the shading is something that is very hard to find and this guy was simply amazing. hes taken home several awards from the national show down in Vegas Scott from Flaming Dragon on 38’th in Tacoma is his name. I would be more than content to give him a design idea and let him work with it. the dude is astounding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tattoo-newb-seeks-advice-from-inked-dopers/412083.md?page=1)