I've been inspired. Motivated. Influences. Stirred, even. My good buddy and fellow Gunblogger Conspiracy denizen totc recently got himself a tattoo, which got me to thinking... I've been thinking about getting some ink for a while now; something to mark myself as a supporter of liberty and freedom.
Something like this: 
I don't know if I'd spring the extra for the grass to be green - I am a cheap bastard, and know that multiple colors cost more than simple black. I also know that there's more upkeep in a colored tattoo, and being a lazy bastard would prefer to keep upkeep to a minimum. I'm thinking of upper bicep for the tat, most likely left arm for starters until I get a feel for how my body handles the tattooiing process.
I don't know if I'd spring the extra for the grass to be green - I am a cheap bastard, and know that multiple colors cost more than simple black. I also know that there's more upkeep in a colored tattoo, and being a lazy bastard would prefer to keep upkeep to a minimum. I'm thinking of upper bicep for the tat, most likely left arm for starters until I get a feel for how my body handles the tattooiing process. So... For those out there with tattoos, anything I should be aware of in the process? I have a number of friends with tattoos from local artists and will talk to as many folks as I can to get a feel for the best shop around. This is something that will stay with me the rest of my life, so it behooves me to do my research well ahead of time...
Any other thoughts/questions/comments on this tattoo or body art in general?
That is all.
23 comments:
Jay,
If you get that tat, the powers that be will not allow you to be buried in a Jewish cemetery. ;)
- Brad, Levi Tribe Member
It doesn't hurt nearly as much as everyone says it will, and black holds up pretty well; I've had mine for ten years and never needed a touch-up. The simple disclaimer is one you've already identified -- make REALLY sure it's something you won't get tired of over the next thirty years.
Brad,
I dunno if you're being serious, but that's actually a popular myth, widely believed both by Red Sea pedestrians and by heretical goyim. Tattoos on Jews are taboo, but don't disqualify the "offender" from burial. ;)
Hi Jay , Go see Steve at Tattoo America in Seabrook. Good work for a resonable price.
Woo Hoo! Local referral!
Elmo,
Thx for the references. I knew about the reference in Torah that marking the body was forbidden, but didn't realize that the burial prohibition was shtetl-lore.
- Brad
My best stuff is from Tattoo Fever in Pelham, but I forgot the artist's name.
(hey- it was 25+ years ago...)
Red & yellows are holding up well.
Brad,
No prob, Bob. You don't hang with the geeks in NJ without learning a thing or three about body mods and Judaica. ;)
Jay,
“I am a cheap bastard”? Don’t think all those folks you’ve introduced to shooting would agree with that statement, frugal bastard maybe, certainly not cheap.
Brad & Elmo,
I know my microbiology teacher from college, Prof. Heischman, was buried with his tattoo, of course his defacing mark was not self inflicted, but rather provided to him as a child courtesy of the Nazis.
Jay,
It was like getting a shot in the arm by an extremely small bore needle. Afterwards, to me it's like a really good sunburn. Neosporin is your friend. :)
On the artwork, I really think that's a grand idea.
Cheryl has been considering the same design, Jay. Just a matter of where to put it.
The amount of pain depends on where the tat goes. Where you are thinking is not bad at all. The outline is the worst. No, actually the anticipation is the worst. That coupled with the adrenaline rush makes some people feel like they are gonna pass out at first. Once you realize it's not as bad as you feared, you can actually enjoy the pain while your body gets pumped full of adrenaline for a hour or 3. Or maybe I'm just a sick bastard. :)
All the advice here is good.
Personally, I have 5 large-ish tattoos that cover most of my back and shoulders, and I've had the bad luck to be tattooed by some people who had no business wielding a tattoo machine, and the pleasure of being illustrated by some really excellent artists.
Someone really good will want to work with you in advance, discuss your ideas and then go sketch some options for you. And it won't be all that cheap.
Unless a really good artist is giving you a great deal because they like you, or you taught them how to shoot, be suspicious. For a really good tattoo artist, expect a wait list about a month out and a fairly high hourly rate.
What you get for that billable rate is really important: Lots of designs looks great in 2D but get complicated in 3D, so you want to make sure that your artist can make the transfer effortlessly.
An example would be, say, some sort of Celtic knotwork on your arm. When you look at it on the paper it looks great, but a direct transfer looks subtly wrong to anyone with an eye for design, cause your arm isn't the same size all the way along.
A good designer can alter the proportions to make sure it looks right.
So I would say the artist selection is even more important than stated thus far.
The artistic issues are very much a matter of personal taste, but as you age, droop, and go in the sun (try not to tan with tattoos, ever) etc, your tattoo will fade a little.
That's why for a tattoo that will look great years from now, go with big, bold thick lines. Colors fade over time (although the inks are a lot better now than they used to be.)
Something that depends on a lot of little detail for its visual impact might not hold up as well over the years as something that does not.
Everyone wants to know about the pain. Yeah, it hurts, but its not the end of the world. After the endorphins start flowing it hurts less.
Personally, I can get tattooed on my shoulder all day, but there are areas on my back that I've found surprisingly uncomfortable. The rule of thumb is that the closer you get to the bone, the less you will feel like doing it all day.
Finally, something that nobody has mentioned so far: aftercare. The most awesome tattoo in the world can be ruined if you bungle the aftercare. They usually give you instructions on a little card, which you should read.
Personally, Ive found these instructions to be well worth a read, even if you don't follow this advice. http://www.compunction.org/healing.txt
The author, Lish, is well informed, sarcastic and often downright mean. But she helped me to get a really awful tattoo fixed so you can't tell there was ever a problem with it. From personal experience, I'd say she's not wrong much, either.
Good Luck. Post pics when you are done.
Jay,
Anyone at artfreek in Providence will do right by you. Many of their artists are RISD trained and all are excellent artist. You have a set design so it should be fairly easy to get done, but as someone else already pointed out there is true skill in going from 2D to 3D. The difference between beautiful art you'll wear for the rest of your life and embaressing cartoonish crap you can't wait to have lasered off is going to cost you, but quality always is the cheaper option in the long run.
It hurts, but only while they're jabbing the needle in. Think bad time at the denist level of pain, but it doesn't linger. Keep it clean & sterile & you'll be good to go.
Also, start saving for your next one. You're probably going to feel the same way about tattoos as you do about guns. Not going to be able to stop at just one.
I wouldn't do this. I think it's a bad idea.
Mom???
Hee hee hee. Jay I set you an email with some design thoughts that a designer friend of mine came up with about making a tattoo out of that flag. Let me know if it doesn't come through.
I'm not much on tattoos so asking my opinion isn't going to help you decided. I suppose something small and tasteful would be OK, but I've seen too many garish ones.
Bit of advice. Don't get it done on the small of your back. We can't have JayG sporting a "tramp stamp". ;)
OTOH, anyone going into medicine these days should consider only two fields, dermatology or ENT. With all the kids getting stupid tats and playing their stereos at "11" all the time, 20 years from now removing tattoos and doing cochlear implants are going to be the money making fields in medicine.
I always pictured you as the "Molon Labe!" across the knuckles kinda guy.
Reading about your politics, you should probably opt for this one.
Jay,
At worse in the location you're thinking of getting it done, bee stings at worse and the "pain" deadens within a moment or two as you get used to it. I only have three tattoos so far and I must admit I kinda like the feeling of it :D
Whatever you do don't hire Urso's artist... and make sure you absolutely follow the aftercare. I can't imagine getting it in color is going to cost you much more. plus the extended aftercare to keep the color vivid is simple.
Not into tatoos personally but if I were to get one your choice of design would be top on the list.
I have two comments Jay...
1. Get it done in Henna first just to perfect size, scale and location.
2. If you do it, as a fellow rennie, I beseech you to have it done over crossed rifle and sword.
Too many forget that the sword is an "arm" as well.
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