Phoenix Tattoo

[TrixieFaux]

Questions: Is it too "simple"? Will I regret a simple tattoo on such a valuable space on my body? (I don't foresee getting a sleeve, maybe another on the right arm)

Do you think this classifies as "tribal"?

Hi, re: your question "is it too simple"--in my opinion yes, I think it wouldn't really use the space all that great... Eventually you may end up regretting it or you may just end up putting more stuff around it.

Ideas & plans often change over time. I didn't foresee getting a sleeve either and started with just a medium-small nautical star on my upper left arm with my daughter's name over it, and now I am getting 3/4 of my left arm covered and will most likely continue filling out my right arm similarly in the future. The star is kind of fitting in with the new stuff thanks to a great artist and his integration skills, but still probably would have been better without it. I don't really regret it though.

The more you get interested in tattoos and the more you visit this site, you might get sucked into the tattoo vortex and start wanting all these artists to work on you and ideas for new tattoos could start entering your mind... Well, that's what happened to me. Instagram and LST are great resources--if I were you, I'd keep looking at those and you might start to get more ideas. Do you follow artists on Instagram?

Oh, and yes, I think it looks tribal. Like @reverend1 said though, it is your tattoo and if you decide you love this then it doesn't matter what anyone else's opinion is. Good luck.

[Dan S]

Hi guys. Sorry to bump an older post, but it relates to this.

I was thinking of getting a phoenix(type) tattoo for my first one. This would be going on my left upper arm.

Questions: Is it too "simple"? Will I regret a simple tattoo on such a valuable space on my body? (I don't foresee getting a sleeve, maybe another on the right arm)

I like the meaning behind the phoenix, but didn't like the traditional "bird-looking" one.

Any ideas on how to spice this one up? (plz don't steal the design, although it was one I found online I did get permission to use it)

Do you think this classifies as "tribal"?

(sorry...I couldn't figure out how to thumbnail it) : )

Thanks.

Check out a Phụng....this is one that was done on a friends shoulder a few ago.

[Graeme]

Hi guys. Sorry to bump an older post, but it relates to this.

I was thinking of getting a phoenix(type) tattoo for my first one. This would be going on my left upper arm.

Questions: Is it too "simple"? Will I regret a simple tattoo on such a valuable space on my body? (I don't foresee getting a sleeve, maybe another on the right arm)

I like the meaning behind the phoenix, but didn't like the traditional "bird-looking" one.

Any ideas on how to spice this one up? (plz don't steal the design, although it was one I found online I did get permission to use it)

Do you think this classifies as "tribal"?

(sorry...I couldn't figure out how to thumbnail it) : )

Thanks.

I think the visual effectiveness of tribal tattoos comes from their size and they way they work with the body, and I really don't see that with your design. Same with phoenix tattoos. I think what makes them great visually is that there are a lot of elements there with the wings and the tail that you can get a lot of movement and make the tattoo really work with the body in interesting ways. Look at the one @Dan S just posted. It's small and it's simple, but there's a lot of movement in there and it looks like it sits well on the body and so it's a great little tattoo.

If you really like way that tribal tattoos look and sit on the body, that's great, but find somebody who specialises in them and talk to them and get them to do something custom for you instead of finding an image you like on the internet. It will be more effort but it will be completely worth it in the end.

[SStu]

Since @Gregor 's post of Joey Ortega's alternative entry has expired, I'm taking the liberty of re-posting it:

[Oldtyme]

Thanks everyone. Guess I should of mentioned I'm a guy. That's why I was looking for more of a "manly" phoenix. : )

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to go through the forums & look @ some work.

My main source of looking @ designs have been deviantart, google & yahoo.

I've also watched some of the tattoo shows (NY ink, LA ink, Ink Master) but those are more drama than tattoo : )

I guess what they say on Ink Master is right... Virgins are very picky.lol.

[reverend1]

Check the gallery here, there should be plenty of examples.

[Graeme]

Thanks everyone. Guess I should of mentioned I'm a guy. That's why I was looking for more of a "manly" phoenix. : )

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to go through the forums & look @ some work.

My main source of looking @ designs have been deviantart, google & yahoo.

I've also watched some of the tattoo shows (NY ink, LA ink, Ink Master) but those are more drama than tattoo : )

I guess what they say on Ink Master is right... Virgins are very picky.lol.

Forget about looking at designs on the internet, they're almost all garbage and would have to be redrawn anyway. You'll get a far better tattoo by finding and talking to a good tattoo artist and working out the design with him or her. One of the nice things about a phoenix is that there are so many different ways to interpret it so I'd suggest first and foremost finding an artist who does tattoos you love and then figure things out from there. I also wouldn't worry about whether or not a design is "manly" because it's how you wear it. A butterfly tattoo can be hard as shit if you want it to be.

[Pugilist]

Also forget everything you've learned from those shows. Seriously. Everything. Focus on finding a tattoo artist whose work makes you think, "damn! I need that on me!"

[Robin Ingelbrecht]

Thanx for the advice on Foo Dogs and Kirin! Looks promosing!

[kylegrey]

Hooper again this time its a Haida inspired piece -

[Tesseracts]

The first is my favorite out of any phoenix/ho-o/fenghuang I've seen. It's by Bunshin Horitoshi. I think I want something like this.

Next is Marcin Aleksander Surowiec, Kiku, and some by Shige. Then I uploaded some actual birds and the phoenix from Harry Potter. Don't know who did the print though.

[DJDeepFried]

Those are all nice. I think it's interesting how the Japanese-style phoenix is different from the "rising from the ashes" image from Greek (?) mythology. Also how the dragons mean something different than the Arthurian ones with wings that are depicted as evil not benevolent creatures. Have you seen this site? Tons of great info on there. Hou-ou (or Hoo-oo) -- The Japanese Phoenix

[xcatcatx]

I have always loved mythology and mythological creatures. I feel that even as adults, we should always try to keep our ability to dream and use our imagination.

I wanted a phoenix for personal reasons. As it symbolizes resurrection and strength, I found it to be the best image to celebrate getting through the tough times I have had in my life. It will also serve as a constant reminder that I have the power to conquer any hardship life throws at me, whatever lies ahead. I am reborn through my experience, through both the good and the bad, and the phoenix will remind me to learn from (and be appreciative of) both.

xccx