Hiya :)

[justvee]

I'm Vee from (sometimes) sunny Brisbane in Australia. I've been stalking these forums for a good year and thought maybe I should actually join in. I love admiring people's ink and the work that goes into creating it. I only have a few tattoos, my biggest is on my right arm which is also my favourite but the others are relatively small and not so much my favourites. Growing up I always knew I was going to be tattooed and being Samoan further influenced that. When I started getting tattoos though I copped alot of flak from relatives who thought my tattoos were lame because they weren't culture related. Even my parents were pretty disappointed when they learned that my first tattoo wouldn't be something traditional or related to culture at all, but they got over it. Anyways I was really hoping to continue my forum stalking activities and maybe get some advice on a few things :)

[Reyeslv]

Welcome aboard!!!!!

[Sneaken1]

Hey Vee what's up man? I'm torn on a subject like this, on the one hand I say get what you like because you're the one wearing it, but on the other I'm jealous you have an interesting culture to pull from. There is no harm in getting a little of both IF that's what floats your boat. But at the end of the day it about what you want man.

[justvee]

Cheers Sneak! I definitely want abit of both styles but with what I have already I'm really confused on where to go next. I have been wanting to get something traditional as a tribute to family and culture for a long time now and I just feel like it should be my next tattoo. But then I'm worried if I go ahead with it and place it on my arm where my existing tattoos are that they'll clash and I'll look like a case of mistaken identity or something. It's hard because I haven't come across anyone whose had the same issue, all of my friends here who are Samoan all have traditional tattoos, some I admit are abit more contemporary but nonetheless they all follow some sort of cultural theme. I guess I just need some inspiration.

[dharmakaya]

Hi JV! Brissy definitely sunnier than the rest of the island;)

Good luck with your journey collecting art.

I lived in NZ for under 2 years and had some close maori/samaon mates. I think the traditional tattoo's are the most beautiful thing. However unless and until I have an actual spiritual-life changing event connected and intertwined into the culture I wouldn't dare get one (i.e. I wouldn't get one simple for aesthetic purposes).

Right now I'm also against "mixing" styles. However I'm at the start of my journey, pretty sure in time all of my "beliefs" and "values" will radically change hahah ;)

[justvee]

haha that I can agree with! But thank you. I definitely get where you're coming from. I think I need to do more research in regards to styles, I feel like my values and beliefs are abit here and there which makes it hard to determine what's right for me. But at the end of the day I've been brought up deeply rooted in my culture and our beliefs although I admit a lot of my values have changed and some of what I use to believe in I no longer do. But I admit I’m a long ways away from getting anything traditional just yet because I’d hate to get something for the sake of it blending in with what I already have.