Curious

[Tiresius]

I agree - the use of complementary colour and the judicious use of black certainly helps to make that POP. I also think the lines are really clean which makes it more vibrant. 

I'll definitely check out the instagram account you refer to.

I was reading the thread that Graeme directed me to above and he comments in it that watercolour styled tattoos were in fashion some decades back, and that they went out of fashion because they held badly. However, I was wondering if new developments in the field would not have made a difference? Surely there have been vast improvements in the ink, machinery and technique?

This is a pic of Sash Unisex's work. When I visited my chosen artist he actually talked about her which meant that we are on the same page as I like her work very much. My only issue with it is that it looks like an appliqué, or sticker. I know everyone is saying black outlines are necessary, but I really don't like a sharp division between the natural skin and the art. I see how that could be an issue with fading, etc...

[polliwog]

I can't comment on inks etc. because I'm not a tattooer.  But, regardless of whether modern inks are more colorfast than old ones or whatever, skin is still skin.  The matrix of tissue that holds ink particles in place doesn't stay static forever.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-real-reason-tattoos-are-permanent/374825/

Edited July 22, 2016 by polliwog

[Dan]

18 hours ago, kblood said:

theyre just warning you to be aware that some photos online are fresh vs healed...

 

 

http://www.epicthings.com/tattoos-heal-before-after/

thanks Bill Loika

Edited July 22, 2016 by Dan

[Tiresius]

Thanks, I have read those! And of course, there will still be wear and tear, but it may be a matter of degree. On the thread about what makes a good tattoo, someone speculates that the reason there are no pics of really old watercolours is that they were so bad that all those who had them got them covered up! I'm just wondering if all the ones being done now are destined for such a fate, or if improvements will make enough of a difference.

[marley mission]

@Tiresius so who'd you book in with

i enjoyed checking out the work being done by those tattooers you identified in your original post

i say if you want to get some funky watercolor design then get it

dont worry about 20 years, 10 years - listen - you're only promised today - so go get your tattoo and enjoy it - who knows where your tattoo journey will take you - you may end up becoming attracted to a variety of styles and designs - who knows

good luck - keep us posted

now go get tattooed! 

[Tiresius]

I'v booked with Thys at Fallen Heroes :) http://www.fallenheroes.co.za/artist/thys

However, it's a long wait - nearly a year and I may end up having another piece done earlier, either by Bryan, La, (at the same studio) or both :o

The piece I have planned with Thys is a detail from Henri Rousseau's painting, 'The Dream' and it's in memory of someone who passed away 2 and a half months ago.

It seems to have triggered a tattoo-fever...

Edited July 23, 2016 by Tiresius

[marley mission]

@Tiresius hey good luck - found Thys on IG

you'll notice here that most of us favor some form of traditional tattooing but hey whatever works for you - how is some of that no outline watercolor stuff gonna age on YOU - hey only one way to find out right - anyway - our tastes tend to evolve as we get deeper into this thing so keep an open mind and enjoy

[Tiresius]

Yes, that is something I'm trying to get some answer to. The work on my ankles is fairly traditional...

I do like a style that some call neo-traditional? And I also like realism and hyper-realism. However, I have to admit that for me there is just no resonance with straight traditional. 

I love the fine line-work of Dr Woo and Thieves of Tower but there is the same issue with how it will last.

The instagram site of lived in tattoos that Polliwog directed me to is also almost all traditional.

[Tiresius]

Also, Thys seems quite versatile so I think he would be happy to do traditional...if I decide to go that route in a year's time!

I certainly appreciate the advice as I hardly know anyone who actually even has a tattoo let alone an ongoing aesthetic interest in the art! And, an online education based on portfolios could well be misleading.

Edited July 23, 2016 by Tiresius

[Tiresius]

Sorry for bombing the thread with posts - but I found this article interesting in that it gives both sides of the 'watercolour debate'.

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/watercolor-tattoos-might-age-badly-2015-9#/#here-is-an-example-of-watercolor-tattooing-the-colors-are-vibrant-and-often-smoothly-blend-with-one-another-just-as-paint-would-1

What it doesn't mention is what I have read here - that watercolour was tried decades ago and failed. Unfortunately there seems no online pics of watercolour tattoos from that era so its hard to really judge for oneself whether one would be ok with such a result. And secondly, it's hard to know what technical improvements have been made in the interim which MAY make this style more hardy.

[oboogie]

As someone said, skin is skin. That hasn't changed, no matter the "technology." Just keep that in mind. :-)

[Tiresius]

@oboogieperhaps I should look into replacing my skin with a hardier canvas!

[marley mission]

sometimes we forget that getting tattooed involves a little leap of faith in the outcome

a little bit of balls if you will

shit can happen

even with great tattooers

lines can blowout

some ink might dropout

you could scab and scar

fall off your skateboard

get bit by a dog

struck by lightening

so in the end - you do your research

get your tattoo

and move on with your life

time, skin, cash permitting

you do that shit again and again 

[Tiresius]

Sounds like you are not a constipated perfectionist! Too bad. If you ever need lessons in hesitation, procrastination or general paralyzingly uncertainty, look me up! 

[Kurgana]

Lol. You've just described me. The good news is that tattoos might just cure you from that, once you find artist(s) whose work you are comfortable with. Or else you'll be spending the rest of your life second guessing yourself and/or in laser removal I guess :D.

I'm actually looking forward to my future tattoos since I'm now at a point where I'm starting to feel comfortable with just picking a loose subject matter/style and letting the artist run wild with that, rather than having to have the whole tattoo planned inside my head (or on paper) by the millimeter.

Edited July 23, 2016 by Kurgana

[HettyKet]

@Tiresius getting tattooed has cured me of a lot of that too, like @Kurgana says. Well, helped a lot anyway. 

It's not really my cup of tea, but this guy does a lot of stuff along the lines of the style you like. He uses what many people here would probably consider 'enough' black but it's absolutely not traditional https://www.instagram.com/thedavidcote/ 

 

Edited July 23, 2016 by HettyKet

[Tiresius]

@HettyKet his work is gorgeous and is definitely similar in feel to the two artists I originally linked to. My only issue is that these tattoos - like in traditional style, perhaps, seem a bit like appliqué's or stickers. I am wanting something that conforms more to the shape of the body, or flows into it's curvature more?

[marley mission]

1 hour ago, Tiresius said:

@HettyKet his work is gorgeous and is definitely similar in feel to the two artists I originally linked to. My only issue is that these tattoos - like in traditional style, perhaps, seem a bit like appliqué's or stickers. I am wanting something that conforms more to the shape of the body, or flows into it's curvature more?

i think that sticker look your struggling with is the freshly applied hairless aspects of what new tattoos look like on IG, internet, etc 

it wont look like a sticker for long - it'll look like its a part of you and your skin - because it will be 

this thread has certainly got some legs to it - i have enjoyed the discussions and checking out some of the artwork on the artist IGs

though not the style i seek - there are some great looking tattoos out there in this style

[HettyKet]

Check this 

 

[Tiresius]

I have seen people around with tattoos that strike me as sticker-like. They can be more faded and worn in, but still give a kind of *random* effect. 

Obviously some people like this and I guess it's one way of doing it.

[Tiresius]

And I think if one is immersed in tattoo culture, that might also seem the way to go. Because most of the people around me are somewhat anti-tattoo, I think I need to feel great resonance with the image and more certainty about it having a particular place on me. 

My first was flash and second was one I saw on the Internet. Designing one feels a bit difficult for that reason...

 

[Kurgana]

My first two were also flash, the third one was a mash-up of several elements from a band logo, the fourth was basically a design by me which was improved upon by the artist. At this point, I had found someone whose artistic talent I really admire and who clearly knows what he's doing. The last two tattoos were totally designed by the artists (the previous one and a new-to-me artist). As you see, there's a clear progression there. 

What was the key to letting go and letting them do their thing was realizing that I liked (all or most of) their previous work, and that I would hate it if my micro-managing compromised the end result. IMO, a good artist will know what he/she is doing, and their artwork will very rarely benefit from overly strict requirements by the client. This is not to say that you shouldn't tell them exactly what you want, just be ready to listen to their suggestions and keep an open mind. Maybe don't bring a sketch with you ;). Also, I've noticed that it really helps with the "fit" on your body if you can be fairly flexible with the exact position and let them go as big as they deem necessary.

The "bad" thing is that once you learn to just get along with it, it just gets easier and easier and the indecisions tend to disappear. Personally, this is a bad thing mainly for my bank account ;). I have lots of free space left, a ton of ideas (now that I don't need to have the finished tattoo perfectly planned out before approaching the artist), and a fairly flexible schedule so without any budget restraints I'd probably live in the tattoo studio... As it is, I've gotten "just" three 3-5 hour tattoos over the past six months...

Edited July 24, 2016 by Kurgana

[Tiresius]

@Kurgana, it sounds lucky that you have budget restraints because it will slow you down. What happens when all your skin is filled in? lol ;)

I am thinking of trying to get an earlier appointment with someone else at the same studio, FallenHeroes. Her name is La and she specialises in 'illustrative' tattoos. I'm considering a faraway tree (Enid Blyton) that goes up my right thigh, over my hip and onto my side and stomach. (I'm a woman by the way - just happen like the name Tiresius!)

Though a lot of her work is watercolour I have seen just black from her too and really like the whimsical effect of her work. 

[Kurgana]

@Tiresius I know! I'm trying to be mindful of not wasting any precious space for things that are not "important" to me though. I guess what is holding me back potentially even more than the budget is the relative lack of access to artists I like, it seems like you'll have no such problems.

I really like the work of most artists from the studio you linked, and yes, I also find La's work beautiful! I am not really qualified to judge technical aspects or how this sort of work will age, but I'd personally love to have a tattoo done by her. There are some great examples of tattoos that flow very nicely with the body in her portfolio (love, love, love the back tattoo with the lady's head where her hair morphs into a wolf).

Please post us some pics when you end up getting tattooed so that I can die of envy ;).

 

 

[Tiresius]

@Kurgana NO! You kidding me? Not sure where you are from, but there are artists in the UK, the USA and Europe that have totally bowled me over. As well as those extemely vivid print-types I also LOVE the fine line work of Thieves of Tower and Dr Woo, and check these out, by Asley Malarkey.

https://www.tattoodo.com/a/2015/12/the-precious-black-and-grey-tattoos-of-ryan-ashley-malarkey/

There is a Pope mouse, and also an owl there that are fabulous!

But I admit to really loving the work at Fallen Heroes - at least the stuff in the online portfolios. Thys ended up being my first choice because of the detail and intensity of his work. However, I find La's stuff really appealing too - and certainly if one wants a fairy-tale quality to it, I think... My other crush is Bryan: for something realist. In fact, I asked when he was next available as I was thinking of two hands holding each other against a night sky/galaxy. However, he is only available in February! (My appointment with Thys is booked for May :o ) So...I'm going to see if La is available earlier and hopefully start with the tree.