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So at the grand old age of forty-something, I've slowly come to the idea that I'd quite like a tattoo. This has been slowly formulating in my mind for the last five years or so, so it's not a fashion/impulsive thing. Before then I'd never really wanted one as I always saw them as just a bad fashion statement, but I think, now at my age, I've finally matured and and kind of know who I am if that makes sense? And the tattoo will kind of demonstrate in a symbolic stylee a few main themes in life that are important to me.
With that being said, it's kind of a big thing for me, especially as it's my first. I've been keeping a scrap book where I've been adding ideas, and kind of roughly know how it should look. So what's the next step? How do I find someone good? Will they be able to develop my basic idea into something amazing? How long does it take? How much does it cost? Does it really hurt? 😊
I literally know nothing so any info gratefully received.
I'm an attention seeking weirdo who doesn't have any tattoos, but my advice from a mate who's covered in them is that if you phone the tattoo place and he can fit you in next week, don't go there under any circumstances. If they say they can sort you out some time in mid-December, thats the one you want.
He's had all his done by the same very reputable bloke, but he has to book in months in advance as he's always so busy
Doesn't hurt that much if you get a good artist. Think of a compass needle being scratched along your skin. YMMV and some bits hurt more than others. I have heard that the stomach is unbearable.
Speed also artist dependent. Kind of hard to say. You could probably get a pretty chunky bit of your arm done in a couple of hours.
Finding someone good / you like is probably the hardest thing. Have a look at instagram, they are all on there. Where are you? I can recommend a guy in Edinburgh...
I got my first at 44, and 2nd at 45 last year, same as yourself, been thinking about it for years, but didn't want to jump in. I spent lots of time looking at folks on insta, looking for styles not too dissimilar to my ideas, and came across a guy on boardinbob of this parish' insta feed.
Had a good few months wait, as above, and was really pleased with his work.
Now planning number 3.
Didn't find it sore, both on inner forearm.
I’m an attention seeking weirdo who doesn’t have any tattoos, but my advice from a mate who’s covered in them is that if you phone the tattoo place and he can fit you in next week, don’t go there under any circumstances. If they say they can sort you out some time in mid-December, thats the one you want
Haha, quite right binners. I'll be happy with the guy that can fit me in sometime in 2022 tbh. An important thing to get right the first time...
I am quite annoyed that I've finally decided to get one just as they seem to be in peak fashion as I've always thought of myself as a counter-culture sort 🙂 It's going to be under my shirt though.
I think they have been peak fashion for a while now!
Find a good artist that specialises in the style you want and be prepared to wait a long time and travel to the other end of the country or abroad.
'Fraid i know nothing either about this type of body art, but i guess the key it to wash the area religiously. Not wanting to put you off but it can lead to infection if its not kept as clean as possible.
as someone who is coated in the buggers there are few things to consider:
have a look at tattooists near to you, look at their styles, check their social media etc..
you may get a tattooist who is amazing a portraits, but is pretty crap at geometric design work ( mate of mine is like this, amazing at blackwork and portraits, hates doing dot work and symmetrical stuff)
Any good tattooist will be more than happy to take all of your ideas and help you work into not only a brilliant design, but one that also works with the shape of the body where you want it. you can have an ace image, but if its just placed without care and attention it will look crap.
pain is subjective and its also very dependent on area. As a general rule of thumb anywhere with little fat and over bone will hurt as will next to areas that are very sensitive. (If its a ticklish spot it will hurt to stick needles in it)
"fun areas" i've had done include the tip of the elbow, ribs, nipple, armpit and sternum.
a good artists will also be happy to work a couple of different design ideas for you. Its in no-ones interest to make you have something you are not 100% happy with.
If you are manchester way I can recommend a good artist, of if you are near Chester I can put you in touch with the guys I use.
cost depends but anywhere between £60-180.00 an hour is about the norm, depending where you are and how good the artist is.
hope that helps, and have fun with it. Also who gives a crap if its a fashion at the moment, your tattoos are for YOU , what someone else is doing is immaterial
Following, was planning my first tattoo for my 50th and now 52.....
Sit on your idea or theme for a while, to make sure its still what you want.
A good tattoo artist will refuse to do the piece if they dont think it will work. Or will advise changes to make it work.
Ideally find someone who specialises in what you are after. IE, if its a portrait, find an artist that does lots of them.
Whilst you might have to travel far and wide to find the right one, there could equally be one on your door step, so check out the local options. Ideally dont go to a place where you can choose a tattoo out of a book or off the wall. Ask for a consultation with the artist to see if they share your vision.
As mentioned, different parts of the body hurt more than others. And length of time in the seat can effect things. after 5 hours of being tattooed, my body starts to shut down! So i know i am done by then.
Be prepared to pay good money for a good tattoo (buy cheap, buy twice).
Thats all i can think of off the top of my head.
Been toying with the idea myself. The plan is that if I get my Black Belt to have a series of horizontal coloured stipes about 30mm wide x 3mm high done on the back of my calf.
White/Red/Yellow/Orange/Green/Blue/Purple/Brown with 1 black tab/Brown with 2 black tabs/Brown with 3 black tabs/Black with 1 red tab. And if I go further I can add to it.
They will have to be super sharp and dead straight.
Just an idea at the moment. The missus and kids have rolled their eyes at me.
You should feel really comfortable with the place you choose. Like, there's nothing wrong with black paint and skulls and leather, but, it's probably not for everyone. Place I chose felt like a cross between a modern gents' hairdresser and a hospital room, tidy and bright and professional, but also homely and comfortable, and the artist essentially set out to discourage me and pick holes in my plan... I really liked the bedside manner, how clearly and simply the aftercare etc was set up, everything just felt good and reassuring.
I mean, none of that means that the artist's actually any good. And there's nothing to say that their examples were actually done by them, or aren't postprocessed or whatever. But all that combined with good word of mouth and you should be on pretty solid ground.
I fell asleep in the chair, it was a nice easy piece- upper arm, not a painful site- and the whole ting was just so relaxing.
Following, was planning my first tattoo for my 50th and now 52…..
Me too, but I'm still 49 until September
Arms wise - I'm bulking up at the moment, but that can change from year to year. Currently have 15.5" biceps, but will get bigger, or could lose a couple of inch if I stop excercising.
How do people find the designs mess up with changing body sizes?
Don't overthink it, its just ink/art on your skin. I put off having one for years as I couldn't think of anything "meaningful" enough to have. Then I realised it doesn't have to "mean" anything, its just a drawing on your skin. If you want one get one.
Yeah I don't disagree with any of the above but I had one when I was maybe 22 I think. It didn't mean anything to me or have any significance but I'm 40 now and I still love it.
If you can have something that means something to you then great, but its not a pre-requisite so don't wait a lifetime for some sort of significant event.
Don’t overthink it,
Errr what now?
I would have thought putting some permanent disfiguring fashion doodle on your body would need a lot of overthought?
You may as well cut to the chase and get “put me on the b ark” tattooed on.
(wait for the butthurt tattoo fans replies 😂😂😂)
Get some Chinese ones. I'm told this is good.
豚尻吸
Lol, I think he means if you've already decided roughly on the design, don't be too worried about it being mega special to you.
A butt tattoo would surely hurt, yes.
I know a guy in calderdale who does absolutely stunning work.. But as above he's not the cheapest and is normality booked up months in advance.
Don’t overthink it,
Umm, nope. This is one thing I definitely don't want to underthink. But anyway, I already have the 'meaning' and general design idea. It's the practicalities I'm interested in.
Also, I'm quite prepared to travel, pretty much anywhere to get it done right. And I'm not looking for cheap.
Not much to add to the above, but I'd also emphasise that it's important to pick the style you want and research artists that specialise in it. To many a tattoo is just that, but like music, there's so many different styles (branching off core styles such as traditional, dotwork, portrait etc). Instagram is also your friend, it's easy to check out a back catalogue to see who / what you like the look of.
Do some research into what constitutes the different styles and go and speak to good artists and get their advice. You'll be able to get proper insight into placement, how body changes will affect the tattoo, aftercare, how long, cost etc. Assuming you're not picking off a flash sheet (pre-drawn designs), you should get a consultation on your design, formulate ideas and talk through options. If you don't like something don't be afraid to say 'no'. I've had my artist redraw bits I've not been happy with before it's inked on (I've also gone with a totally different design vs one that I'd originally walked in with the concept of).
Tattoo shops can seem intimidating, but the reality is they're mostly very friendly places, and if not, then take your business elsewhere.
I've got a fair bit of work done over the past few years (both arms, both sides of the chest, and one upper leg).
My biggest advice would be 'know your style'. There are so many styles in tattooing and understadning the key visuals of each will help you understand what you like and don't like, which will enable you to pick an artist specific to what you like, then TRUST THEM to do their thing with your ideas.
How Long? - Depends on scale, area and design. For reference my sleeves (both heavy black Japanese) took between 20 and 30 hrs each.
How Much? - Many artist will cost per hour. Budget from £65+ for a good artist.
Does it Hurt? - It'll be different for different people, but certain areas are more renowned than others. I go by the rule 'if it tickles, it'll hurt', but by-and-large the pain is manageable and it's more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
Feel free to PM if you want to talk though any worries etc, happy to help where I can.
I'd like to warn you that it becomes addictive, oddly so.
I've got a little tattoo on my ribs and that was agony.
I've also got a full sleeve from wrist to shoulder and some bits of that were painless, some agony.
Be prepared to pay more than you expected. My sleeve cost me £2k all in for 27 hours work, and it was well worth it. It's a brilliant piece of work and gets lots of comments - makes me uncomfortable every time.
Main thing I would say is look for an artist who's work you really like and speak to them. Like others have said a good artist will look after you and work with you to get what you want, they want to do a good job as it's their reputation. Take your time don't just rush into any old place. Somebody mentioned that not going to the local £20 a tattoo place that can do next day tattoos, absolutely bang on. My tattooist was booked up for about 9 months.
My stomach tattoo hurt an insane amount. Upper arm less so, but it still hurt!
Whereabouts are you based? That will.help with recommendations.
Dots to lines if travelling isn't an issue....
mattyfez
Free Member
I know a guy in calderdale who does absolutely stunning work.. But as above he’s not the cheapest and is normality booked up months in advance.
Ooooh, do tell 🙂
Yeah, some links would be cool.
I'm in Sheffield but will travel anywhere really.
Sheffield. Check out Joe Frost at white boar tattoo. I want his work on me next time I can afford to get anything done, he's got a very specific style but so bloody good.
https://instagram.com/hellomynamesjoe?utm_medium=copy_link
I didn’t have anything to recommend when I saw this thread title, but now i think of it I can recommend myself. I’m really busy until next February - but if you book now, I’ll get a pair of compasses and some Quink in. Don’t overthink it - just choose me!!!
I got my first tattoo aged 49 and 23/24ths or something like that 🤪
I’d toyed with the idea of a tattoo for a couple of years and did the internet trawl for inspiration (Thunderbird actually). I happened upon a Dr Woo one and knew it would be the inspiration for my one...
I then spent a good while researching the local tatt shops to see whose style I liked. I finally found one I liked then went in past with some paper print outs and had a chat. The idea was formed, deposit paid and waited expecting to receive a draft through by email but the Saturday before the Monday it was due I went in asking what was happening. The dude came out with the sketch, there was stuff I didn’t like, we talked, he changed it. We agreed pretty much that was that and I went away happy.
Went in The Monday, got it done. It hurt and yet it didn’t (it’s like, err, somebody sticking a needle in tens of thousands of times) and some places/techniques worse than others.
I was really, really chuffed with the result. I loved it from the off and it just got better every day for years. So pleased with it still.
It’s here: Tattoo if you’re interested.
I have got two/three more since.
The second ones didn’t seem to hurt much at all (despite a fair bit of fill work)... 🤷🏼♀️
5 hours of mostly dot work around the upper arm is about as much as i’d Like to put up with in one session. Saving the worst (inner part) until last wasn’t the best idea...
Love and hate on knuckles is Shirley your first tattoo 😉
Had 2 so far, Inner forearm and a wrist to elbow sleeve. Want the extend the sleeve to the shoulder next but never get round to commiting to it. I found the itching afterwards worse than the pain!
Had my latest one done just over a month ago, I was given a quote based on a quick look of my idea on my phone of about five hours, and about £260. Because I had my design fully prepared and sized, and it wasn’t that complicated, it took about an hour, and cost me £80. I’ve got several more planned, but not until September and they’re pretty simple line drawings and a text quotation, and I’ve got another idea which I’ve adapted from a drawing by a Mexican-American artist who works for a newspaper in Austin Tx, her name is Chiara Bautista, and she does amazing work.
My latest, it’s a bit awkward to photograph because it’s on the side of my right forearm…
Damn, just noticed a white mark on the wing of the bird in flight, it’s a bit of fluff that got caught on the hair on my arm.
The design does have significance, the birds represent Odin’s messengers, his ravens Huginn and Muninn, ‘Thought’ and ‘Memory’ in English, and they’re a reminder of my recent loss, and also Joey developed a real love of the birds we see around here, including the ravens that occasionally fly over.
This is the original illustration that Chiara did which I found on her site…
And this is the simplified version I worked on in Pixelmator…
It’s going to involve a lot more work that the ravens did, that’s for sure!
Oh, and the quotation I’ll be having done is from Aldous Huxley:
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music”
I found my local artist by trawling many a social media page, and talking to lots of artists discussing the design and positioning. Definately the long game is worth the wait. My last one was a 7 month wait, but was glad i did. He tweaked the design quite alot and incorporated other ideas i wanted and what he came up with was incredible in comparison. It was a complete elbow to shoulder piece and near 8 hours in the chair. IIRC it was circa £700 for that. Id had a few random tatts in my yoof that were done at various places and he even managed to make them look decent and flow them into other work. Once tou find a good one... Dont let them go 😂
I am quite annoyed that I’ve finally decided to get one just as they seem to be in peak fashion as I’ve always thought of myself as a counter-culture sort 🙂 It’s going to be under my shirt though.
I'm old enough to remember when tattoo's were only ever seen on ex-Sailors and criminals.
I’m old enough to remember when tattoo’s were only ever seen on ex-Sailors and criminals
Oh really? You must be really enjoying the sunny uplands these days then (if the bridge doesn’t obscure the view that is).
Always listen to your dad for aftercare 😂
i had a dodgy BWFC badge inked on when i was about 17. 25 years later i hate it (not the club!)
last time i went on holiday lying round the pool, i was jealous of the blokes with no tattoos! there were not very many!
its hideous and if on display gives people a very quick generalisation of the type of person i am not.
no matter how much time, effort and expense you go to on a beautiful intricate piece of artwork - you'll be in the same club as the guys with prison tats and homemade Luv MuM scrawls.
no matter how much time, effort and expense you go to on a beautiful intricate piece of artwork – you’ll be in the same club as the guys with prison tats and homemade Luv MuM scrawls
And what 'club' is that exactly? The person wearing the 'homemade Luv MuM' tattoo may love it, and that's all that really matters. The issue here lies with you and your perception, not the wearer of the tattoo.
I like the crow in flight @CountZero. That's ace! The new design is also pretty cool.
I had tattoos at 18 it was something I'd always wanted to do because my parents hated them. I'm 58 now and wish I'd not bothered, but at 18 you do plenty of stupid things. If you choose a design get it put on canvas in a frame in a prominent place where you can see it, why have it put on your body?
Learn a skill instead, any fool can get a tattoo.
Other options/opinions are also available. 😊
"Don't do it ..." ... said the little voice behind you ... LOL!
The question is what theme will your tattoo be? LOL!
Romance? Sentimental memory? Identify? Rage? Gangster? Happiness? Emotion? Culture? Fashion? Ideology? Adapting others culture? Same like everyone else? Religion? Animal? Insect? Bird? Scenery?
LOL!
Learn a skill instead, any fool can get a tattoo.
Bit pompous old chap. Any fool could do/buy a lot of things. I'm learning enough new skills as it is, I'm typing this sat in front of the piano. I can still get a tattoo.
“Don’t do it …” … said the little voice behind you … LOL!
The question is what theme will your tattoo be? LOL!
Romance? Sentimental memory? Identify? Rage? Gangster? Happiness? Emotion? Culture? Fashion? Ideology? Adapting others culture? Same like everyone else? Religion? Animal? Insect? Bird? Scenery?
LOL!
Chewkw, I am as ever, thrilled and honoured to have your wacky input on a thread I've started. The plan is to have a fried breakfast tattooed on my face. I really like breakfasts.
Chewkw, I am as ever, thrilled and honoured to have your wacky input on a thread I’ve started. The plan is to have a fried breakfast tattooed on my face. I really like breakfasts.
How about KFC or McDonald if they sponsor you for life? LOL!
I was just thinking about tattoo of Big Ben but guess what people actually got that ... LOL!
I’m typing this sat in front of the piano.
You sure you've got the right sort of keyboard there?
Not into tattoos but in r/Bristol (on Reddit) there's always people asking and answering with Tattoo artist recommendations (for different styles) so might be worth looking on Reddit for your own area?
I always think a nice spider web looks good, especially on somebody's face. Illustrates commitment.
I always think a nice spider web looks good, especially on somebody’s face. Illustrates commitment.
True, true ... face tattoo is cool.
Something I forgot to mention last night, ‘cos it was getting a bit late, but when checking out studios, look for those who’ve won awards from competitions, that’s as good a way of finding quality artists, as well as looking at the tattoos that people around you have had done, and those you like the look of, ask the person who did the work. Nobody with nice, quality art is going to have a problem with someone admiring their ink, and asking who the artist is, it’s the best sort of advertising going. If I see someone with quality ink, I’ll always make a point of commenting on it, and asking who did it.
The ravens were done at Picturehouse in Chippenham, they’ve won awards for work by their artists, and there are two or three other studios in town who do good work, and I’ve seen some outstanding work done in studios in Bath and nearby towns.
@nickc - thank you, appreciate the compliment. 😁
Other than the quotation, which I’ve still got to make a final decision on regarding the font, the other two I’m having done at the same time are an origami unicorn, and an origami crane, which will be coloured, just not entirely sure what colour yet; I’ll ask the tattooist’s advice on that, I did ask about using white ink, but was advised not to, as it goes yellow over time. The unicorn is a film reference, by the way.
Several of mine are losing definition now, they’re getting on for fifteen-twenty years old, so at some time I’m getting then done over, to sharpen the lines up, particularly my ‘Neolithic’ hare design, based on Uffington White Horse, it’s looking a wee bit fuzzy now, and as the chalk hill figures are re-cut and re-chalked every now and then, my tattoo can have the same treatment. 😄
Something else I’ve just thought of as a design subject that’s best avoided, is foreign script, ie Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. It’s a bit of a cliché now, and there’s a lot of scope for it to go wrong, in that it ends up saying something different to what was intended.
Unless one has access to a native speaker who can get the characters exactly right, otherwise leave alone. I’d love something done in a Japanese script called ‘grass’ script or ‘running’ script, actually it’s cursive script; it’s particularly beautiful, but it’s calligraphic, there are relatively few people who can do it well, and most Japanese can’t read it anyway! Chinese cursive is very similar. This is ‘Cloud’ in cursive, and it’s just stunning.
This one actually might work, it apparently says ‘sei’, meaning ’life’ or ‘living’, ‘birth’, etc.
This, apparently, is cursive Mongolian, it’s quite extraordinary!
As individual characters, which are also words, being pictograms, they do lend themselves to particularly artistic tattoos, and there isn’t much chance of an embarrassing mistake! 🤪
For real simplicity, there’s always the Enso, the Zen circle:
Please don't use those Chinese characters (yes, they are all Chinese) if there is nothing "Zen" about you, LOL!
You don't want to end up like these ...
Sorry I fogot to reply - not seen him for years & dunno what hes doing r.e. covid, but link below
RustySpanner
Full Membermattyfez
Free Member
I know a guy in calderdale who does absolutely stunning work.. But as above he’s not the cheapest and is normality booked up months in advance.
Ooooh, do tell 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/steelraintattoos/?hl=en
Ta!