DavidR Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Hi All, Pushing 50 and never been inked. I've wanted tattoos more than half of my life but there's always been a reason not to but I'm a big boy now and it's about time I started making my own bad decisions. I had an epiphany recently and found myself asking "Dude, what's the worst that can happen?" so I've found a local artist whose work I like and I have a five hour slot booked a week from now. I've had sleepless nights worrying about what I'm going to have done - it's not that I can't think of anything, it's because I can't decide on only one thing - but one thing I do know: she'll come up with something far more impressive than I if I only let her have her creative freedom. So I'm gonna give her the broadest of briefs and let the chips fall where they may. sighthound, bongsau, Mark Bee and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
SStu Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Welcome. Sounds like a nice plan. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109586 Share on other sites More sharing options...
herewego Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Welcome. Giving the artist free reign to do their thing is almost always the best choice. Unless of course the artist is not that good. Who will be doing your work? Good luck, 5 hours is a legit session for a first tattoo. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109597 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bongsau Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Welcome David, hope everything works out great for ya. I think that's wonderful that you are the age you are and saying hell yeah, it's time to finally get the tattoo you've always wanted. Life's too short and you're never to old to start something! No regrets bud. Mark Bee, xcom and Beans 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Baker Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 My mom and I are going to get our first tattoos in a week. My mom is also 50, but she's not really worried about the pain (we're both beginning with 4-5 hour sessions) while I think I might be so nervous I might vomit beforehand. haha. Let us know how it goes and what you and your artist decide! Good luck! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109612 Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcom Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 @DavidR time to start leaving! As said above... Life is too short bud! No regrets bud. @bongsau +1 you couldn't say it any better! na'msain! :D Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109615 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Who will be doing your work? Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. Charlotte Chadeau at La Bobine Tattoo Club in Aix-en-Provence will be doing my tattoo. She's done stuff in a variety of styles that appeal to me so there's clearly something about her art that I like. I wanted to choose an artist local to me because I'm viewing this as a long-term deal. I'll want to get more pieces in the future and have existing pieces maintained and extended so having an artist I can get to easily was an important part of the equation. You can check her work out here. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109666 Share on other sites More sharing options...
herewego Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.Charlotte Chadeau at La Bobine Tattoo Club in Aix-en-Provence will be doing my tattoo. She's done stuff in a variety of styles that appeal to me so there's clearly something about her art that I like. I wanted to choose an artist local to me because I'm viewing this as a long-term deal. I'll want to get more pieces in the future and have existing pieces maintained and extended so having an artist I can get to easily was an important part of the equation. You can check her work out here. Her work is great, can't wait to see what you get. Are you starting a sleeve or something? Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109668 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Her work is great, can't wait to see what you get. Are you starting a sleeve or something? That's one of my last remaining stumbling blocks. I like the idea of a sleeve but I also like the idea of a collection of individual tattoos (that Smith Street look). The choice of my first tattoo obviously has a lot of bearing on which way I go. I could always get something that could be incorporated into a sleeve (and she's done some awesome sleeves) but I'm not yet sufficiently invested in a single theme to commit an entire arm to it. I'm hoping I resolve that quandary at some point over the next six days :D Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109669 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Shit Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 A few more artists in South of France... Stéphane Chaudesaigues | A French tattoo artist in Auvergne https://instagram.com/alixge DavidR 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-109675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Manu Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 A few more artists in South of France...https://instagram.com/alixge I'm a big fan of Alix Ge!!! Hope one day I could be inked by her. As said by @Joe Shit, she's now in south France Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110010 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Shit Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I'm a big fan of Alix Ge!!! Hope one day I could be inked by her. As said by @Joe Shit, she's now in south France Yeah,she does real nice work.Do you know of Bruno Kea?He just opened a shop in South France. https://instagram.com/moderneelectriquetattoo https://instagram.com/lowbrowtattoo DavidR 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110168 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Manu Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 i do know the work of Sailor Kea - great tattooist and machine builder too Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110198 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 So I feel like a fraud but... I cancelled my appointment. I ended up drowning in doubt. Doubts about style, design, my chosen artist. By the time I'd finished tying myself up in knots, I doubted whether I even wanted a tattoo at all. So not the best frame of mind in which to make a lifetime decision. I was pretty bummed out about it for a couple of days but I know I made the right decision and I'm gonna take some time to get my head straight before making another appointment. I think the best place to start doing that is right here. I'm gonna soak up some culture and wisdom. I'm also going to attend a couple of conventions in May. TrixieFaux, SStu, Joe Shit and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110208 Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutOfIdeas Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 I know how you feel, and let me assure you, after the first one those feelings get SO much easier. But I think it's also good to not go into it being unsure. Kinda like taking really good acid. Shit can get real if you aren't 100% about it. DavidR and polliwog 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110218 Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 Best of luck! I know the feeling. DavidR 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110267 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manu Manu Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 But I think it's also good to not go into it being unsure. Kinda like taking really good acid. Shit can get real if you aren't 100% about it. Haha! I like this comparison! So true! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-110290 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 Deep breath... I've just sent an email to https://instagram.com/samuelebriganti/ requesting an appointment. Hopefully things will go better this time around. polliwog 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-112864 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northsider Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 I'm around the same age as you and I went through a similar pause in my planning. I was originally going to get my sleeve last fall, but just started this week. It's all good in the end. Good luck with yours! Chris DavidR and Beans 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-112881 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beans Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 I also had alot of reservations about the sleeve I have always wanted. I just turned 43 (plain skin girl) and said to hell with everyone else. I trusted in my artists skills to create from my inspration and had my fisrt sit yesterday. We/I had a great time and I am so happy with the results so far. This morning, I have ZERO regrets! Im in LOVE with my new arm. Take your time, let the artist guide you and trust the advice of the knowledgable people here on LST. Good Luck! Nina DavidR 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-112882 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 @Northsider Good luck to you too. @Beans That's awesome! I agree with you about LST; the support here is incredible! Thank you both for your support. Don't forget to post pictures of your sleeves in the latest tattoo lowdown thread. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/5984-first-timer/#findComment-112945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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