Fixated On Planning My Next Tattoo. Join me and help =)

[ry4n]

Hi all

So I’m currently in the market for a half to a ¾ sleeve Japanese tattoo. Because I already have my forearm tattooed, I do want a sleeve that goes from the wrist up to the elbow/a little bit beyond. I want to leave the bicep/shoulder area as free real estate, maybe adding to it later (tebori possibly). Not sure if this is a common practice, as almost all half sleeves I see are shoulder to elbow.

This tattoo I have now feels incomplete and weak, so I do want something more badass/masculine. I’ve been toying around with different ideas of how to fill it in, but can’t seem to find visuals that I really dig. I have perused the Japanese/Chinese tattoo gallery, but I don’t want an oni mask, koi, or dragon, so that eliminates a good majority of what you guys shared. The idea of a samurai would be pretty bad ass, or maybe some sort of mythical creature/beast? Anyone know of a good place to look? Reference books are rather expensive, and I can't seem to find a site that has quality images.

I have decided that I want to go check out The Diamond Club in San Francisco, as I am a big fan of what their artist’s posts on their Instagrams. Anyone have any experience here? I’m from SF, but am at school in SoCal til December so I can’t meet for a consultation til then. Until then, I want to be as prepared as possible so when we meet I can best get across what I want to them. (step one being figuring out exactly what I want)

Stumbled across this forum, and figured since I don’t want to create a new thread elsewhere, this little thread could act as an open online journal. I am pretty damn tattoo noob, so my bad if I commit any tatoo faux pas.

Cheers guys.

Ryan

[Killercook76]

Hi Ryan

I wouldn't go that route!! Usually it's from shoulder going down .. There are a few shops in Scal that are good!! I would definitely take the advice of an artist where ever you go. Eventually you are going to get a full sleeve I'm assuming??

I too was interested in Tebori but for me I don't see a point.. It's definitely cool and very interesting. It's just tebori I heard take a lot of time much more than a machine. Like almost double the time.. i think??

Ideas I usually look at different artist I respect for ideas. Of course there are artist like Mike Rubendall, Chris Odonnell, Horimoto, Henning, Garver etc. All the artist plus much more all have Instagram accounts.

[Graeme]

Hi Ryan and welcome to LST! @beez is getting tattooed by Junii at Diamond Club, maybe she can share her experience?

[CultExciter]

Welcome as well. Diamond Club is a fine place to get tattooed. You have so many options in SF/Oakland.

[beez]

@ry4n I have nothing but incredibly awesome things to say about Diamond Club. As you have noted, the work coming out of the shop is excellent. The environment in the shop is warm, friendly, happy, relaxed, and very comforting. I LOVE THEM!! Junii is amazing. I found the right match for me, that's for sure. I will start fan-girling if I talk about it too much. (although I may have inadvertently revealed my true nerd nature in another thread recently...so...guess that cat is out of the bag, hah!)

Matt (Dr. Claw) and Kevin are awesome tattooers and I like talking to them and seeing what they are working on whenever I am there. @petiloi got a cool piece by Matt @ Diamond Club and I think there is a pic somewhere in the threads?

Bill Salmon in the house regularly! How cool is that?! I love the vibe at DC. It's just right for me.

As @CultExciter mentioned, you have so many options in the SF/Oakland area that it bears checking them all out to see what feels right to you.

Honestly - I went by gut. I was checking out a number of shops and tattooers and my gut said "Wtf are you doing, stop looking" so I did. (that is the shortest way for me to encapsulate the years of digging and research before I made the leap and set an appointment).

@Graeme if you catch me in my more florid moments, I will go on about Diamond Club forever. ;p

[Gregor]

Get a raijin yassss !!!

[ry4n]

@Killercook76 interesting. yeah tebori was just an idea im entertaining . seems like a fun experience, but i had no idea it took double the time. perhaps youre right in it not being ideal.

i do follow most those guys on IG, and boy do they have some neat stuff. ill keep an eye on them and their colleagues. i have a separate IG where i only follow artists, and have thus far racked up a couple hundred followings. thanks for sharing bud.

@beez yes! that makes me so excited to pop by their shop. i just stalked your profile. are the snapshots from DC's IG your ink? thats fucking rad. i love kevin and claws work, so its fantastic to hear such great things about their work environment and their personalities. ive looked at a couple of online portfolios of nearby shops (i.e. picture machine, freddy corbins place, state of grace) but none have caught my eye quite like DC has. a little bonus being that one of their sites icons is a lucky cat :rolleyes:

@Gregor woooah dude im actually going to seriously keep that in mind. theres some killer sketches of him on google. thanks. any other suggestions? gonna peruse some Japanese deities.

overall, thanks for the warm welcomes guys. my first tattoo was eh, sorta sporadic. i dont dislike it but it feels incomplete and looks rushed. im trying to figure out how to best compliment it with some good work, but feel kinda overwhelmed and lost. its great to come into this place where you guys are all so invested in what you wear. cant wait to learn a thing or two :)

[Graeme]

@ry4n I saw on instagram today that Crystal Morey who does Gomineko Books is planning on doing a seminar in the Los Angeles area during the week of December 9. She published a book on Japanese mythological creatures and has given seminars on that, plus she has a pretty incredible knowledge of Japanese art and tattoos, so definitely check that out if you're around, and follow her on Instagram as well. You'll pick up a lot of ideas from her.

[ry4n]

hey man thanks! unfortunately, the week of the 9th i have finals. and damn those guys have some neat looking books, but theyre rather pricey for something im not certain ill use. i did just find her on IG. again, big ups for the help.

[beez]

@ry4n yup, that's all me! and all pics in my gallery are Junii's work, with the exception of a traditional piece done by Robert Ryan.

[Fala]

@ry4n yup, that's all me! and all pics in my gallery are Junii's work, with the exception of a traditional piece done by Robert Ryan.

Beautiful work/tattoos from Junii, @beez. Love how it has grown, for lack of a better word.

[KBeee]

Hi Ry4n!

If you haven't already, check out the Fine Arts Library on your campus. If you are lucky, they may even have an Asian library or collection. And don't stop at your campus. Most colleges allow general admittance to their libraries and California is chock-a-block with institutes of higher learning. I have enjoyed several UC libraries this way (including Berkeley...they have some of Horiyoshi's books including 100 Demons...that was a really fantastic day:D ).

It's old school but still my favorite way to find inspiration. Take a day. Do a general search ("Japanese art" or whatever). Get an idea of where your subject is and walk the rows. Pull the books that seem interesting/have a lot of pictures and sit and flip. When you find something you like, photocopy or cell pic that bad boy.

There are things in university libraries that you will never come close to finding on the internets...magical things...:rolleyes:

[beez]

Beautiful work/tattoos from Junii, @beez. Love how it has grown, for lack of a better word.

Many thanks! I also have enjoyed how it has grown - and I think that's the best word for it, in fact :p. I am excited to grow it more!!

I can't stop thinking about dragons. And how and where I'm gonna fit one in. (Plenty of space available, it's only in my mind that I've run out of room...!!$)

[Fala]

You give me hope that I can do the same, and successfully, since I seem to be on a similar path of a growing tattoo. :)

Dragons are pretty awesome. I'm sure one can always find room for a dragon!

[ry4n]

@KBeee hey thanks i took up on your advice and ordered a couple books through UCSB's Interlibrary loan program! fuuuuuuuuuckyaaaaaaaaaa lets see how that goes. books should be gettng in within the week

anyone familiar with takashi matsuba? hes coming around SF in May and im tempted to make an appointment with him to get something from him. any thoughts on his work?

[beez]

You give me hope that I can do the same, and successfully, since I seem to be on a similar path of a growing tattoo. :)

Dragons are pretty awesome. I'm sure one can always find room for a dragon!

Who's growing your tattoo, @Fala? Got any pics?

[ironchef]

@KBeee hey thanks i took up on your advice and ordered a couple books through UCSB's Interlibrary loan program! fuuuuuuuuuckyaaaaaaaaaa lets see how that goes. books should be gettng in within the week

anyone familiar with takashi matsuba? hes coming around SF in May and im tempted to make an appointment with him to get something from him. any thoughts on his work?

I believe he works out of Brooklyn NY appears to be well respected locally. My opinion is that he does decent work based on his gallery and Instagram which in full disclosure I do follow. If you are set on tebori work and you're out on the west coast, I would give heavy consideration to making a trip out to San Jose to see Horitomo or Yokohama Horiken

[Fala]

Who's growing your tattoo, @Fala? Got any pics?

Oh, I'm still super green with tattoos - have one on the right side of my body by Yoni Zilber, and another still in progress on my left leg from Horizakura. I plan to merge them in the coming years, somehow! No pictures on here, but I suppose I should get on that!

[KBeee]

Cool @ry4n! Hope you find something good. Either way, looks like you are heading in a solid direction! Can't wait to see/hear about the outcome.

[Fala]

@beez - posted pics in my gallery! I figured if pictures of the tattoo are on his website, I can put them here :) Will post Shinji ones when I'm healed up!