Am I botched?

[CSan]

I got my second tattoo last week. First one on my arm ever and definitely way more visible than the first one I got. I didn’t realize how much the skin on the arm moved so unless my hand and wrist are in one specific position, the letters look a little stretched or crooked. I just need straight up honest feedback. Does it look fine? Does it look botched? Honestly I wanted it smaller and on the inside of my wrist but the artist suggested larger and up higher and I agreed bc you know, they are the professional. I’m trying to figure out if I need to have it worked on some more, leave it alone or removed altogether. I’m kinda freaking out but I’m really hoping it’s just because I’m not used to seeing it on me.  It has a circle design and some script font that says “Still I rise”. 

[Hogrider]

Yes, you are botched.

Does it look like the stencil? If so, it's on you, if not it's on your tattooer. This is one of the reasons I don't like text - very few people can do it well and it's often hard to read.

First - you can't, and shouldn't do anything until it heals in 4 - 6 weeks. Bad news - even knowing what it says, I don't see it. I don't see any "I" don't recognize the "S" in still and "rise" looks like "rife" or "wife." More bad news - even laser probably won't completely remove it. Laser is not like an eraser. Yet more bad news - If you try to fix it, you'll almost certainly make it worse. YOU CAN'T FIX SCRIPT. Good news - it could have been worse.

I recommend after it heals, finding someone really good at coverups and get that covered. Don't cheap out, make sure you do your homework, or you'll be one of the many people I see that say, "I hated my tattoo so I ran out and got a cover up and now it's even worse." I remember getting work done one time and this woman came in with an awful coverup; it looked like it was drawn by a developmentally challenged 8 year old. When she left my artist said, "that thing looks like arnold schwartzenager climbing out of a tar pit." He's a great artist and put a huge Koi over it and you can't even see the old mess.

Meanwhile, don't sweat it. Having said all that, there is something cool about it that I kind of like.

Edited June 10, 2019 by Hogrider

[CSan]

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn’t meaning to insinuate it was on the tattoo artist, I was just trying to give a run down of the events. But thanks again, I appreciate it 

[oboogie]

I thought it looked like an autograph. It is unreadable. Not the end of the world, however.

Follow Hogrider's excellent advice. Let it heal. Then see someone—an expert—about a coverup.

[CSan]

Thank you 🙈

[JAC1961]

I don't know, I read it before reading your post.  It's your call as what to do with it, just live with it awhile and be sure you know what you want.  Don't jump from one mess into another.

[PinkUnicorn]

The advantage is that, if you ever get fed up with "still I rise", you can just tell people it says something completely different, and they may well believe you! 😲

[Michaelshane]

I can read it just fine and I think it's cool as hell.

[CSan]

Omg thank you, you just made my night. I’m trying hard to get out of my own head but it’s hard sometimes lol 

[VenomX]

First impressions - I thought it was a signature/autograph

Personally, I think it looks good and very unique 🙂

[oboogie]

2 hours ago, VenomX said:

First impressions - I thought it was a signature/autograph

Personally, I think it looks good and very unique 🙂

It does look like an autograph! It looks fine. Just not very readable.

[CSan]

Thanks. I’m sure being where I can see it all the time and obsess over imperfections is not the best thing 😅 I can live with difficult to read. As long as it doesn’t look like my 3 year old scribbled on my wrist with permanent ink*, I think I can deal with it! 

Edited June 11, 2019 by CSan

[oboogie]

45 minutes ago, CSan said:

Thanks. I’m sure being where I can see it all the time and obsess over imperfections is not the best thing 😅 I can live with difficult to read. As long as it doesn’t look like my 3 year old scribbled on my wrist with a tattoo gun, I think I can deal with it! 

Not at all. (Also, don't call it a "tattoo gun.") 😉

If you get another tattoo, think about being less literal and go  more figurative. 🙂

[SStu]

Yeah, it's a nice abstract design - but you're going to spend the next several decades telling people what it says. 

[Princess Sparkle Mittens]

I don't think it's botched. It's hard to read, but you know what it says, so who cares? 

[oboogie]

13 hours ago, Princess Sparkle Mittens said:

I don't think it's botched. It's hard to read, but you know what it says, so who cares? 

Because she'll spend the rest of her life explaining what it says. That's not fun.

[bongsau]

it looks fine, you can read it and you know what it says.

don't overthink it, just live your life with it. it's just a tattoo.