Hands On

@shabashe i've mostly heard it called a Borneo star. Here's a starter link for ya! https://tattooartfromtheheart.com/blog/borneo-rosette-our-connection-with-nature-and-our-desire-for-security/

I agree with both points from both @SStu and @Queen Rocks, even though their points are quite different. From an artist's perspective, in person consultations are needed for larger pieces and to get an idea of what the client is looking for. This can apply to smaller pieces too, but I'd say that's more so for the client to get the best from the artist. But it all really depends on what you're after, for that. I guess I'm saying.. a good walk-in artist would be able to take that spot and your idea as an immediate consultation and be able to create your piece then and there. But they might also appreciate the time to get your idea, do some research, find references and create a drawing with a bit more time and effort. But then again, some artist will take the consult, schedule a time, and still draw the night before or when you get there. I think the most important thing is to do your research in finding an artist whose work you want to wear, then contact them and follow whatever approach they use.

Hell yes!! Fuckin badass backpiece you're starting there! I appreciate your summary of the anticipation, pain, and emotions. It brings back good (but also horrible 😅) memories and feelings. This thread helped prep me also and posts like yours will hopefully help others in the future!

dope! we'd love to see pics, if you're willing to share! Keep us updated on how the process and healing goes. I don't have any face tattoos, but I think the advice from @Star sounds spot on from an experienced collector!

Nice! Who was your artist?

I guess it's time for you to find some direction! (it's a bad pun based on the subject of your tattoo). Agreed with all advice here... you're going to have to get used to it and I hope you grow to love it. It's a huge change to your physical self which impacts your mental and spiritual self as well. It'll all balance out, after this little shake up. Part of that balance might be to get something on the other side of your chest, perhaps? then maybe get a couple half sleeves to connect and BOOM.. maybe you start to feel more in balance. I don't think it looks odd. The tattoo is well done!

i just thought of a hilarious mom tattoo! a realistic umbilical cord coming out of your belly button! dude.... dude. ok forreal tho. it doesn't have to be a memory, but perhaps something that reminds you of her or is unique to her. a favorite bird, flower, or animal. a trinket around the house. a song she used to sing, a saying or phrase. I think @SStu just meant that it doesn't have to spell out MOM. btw, plenty of 36 year old men get hearts and birds and those kinds of things. but also.. it's your body! if a realistic slot machine tickles your fancy, then doggonit, get a slot machine!!! but i'm also saying... i googled umbilical cord tattoo and it seems to be unique as shit! 😜

go get it! post a picture! love it! get more tattoos! do it!

just checking in, hoping your second guessing and self hate has subsided a bit. Getting your first visible tattoo is a pretty big step. There are some threads here on LST that might help, if you do a little searching. FYI, this is a pretty old thread, relative to how long a lot of folks have been staying on this forum lately, so you might not get a response from the OP... especially since they only have 4 posts total.

phew! (nice fly tattoo, btw)

sending my best energies your way @pidjones 🙌💨💓

also, designs they enjoy on laid back clients who don't take it too seriously and sit well.

@Asthma Inhaler Jim a couple things that tattooing has taught me is to care less about what other people think and to be more comfortable in my own skin. The folks who knew the person who passed should be glad you commemorated that person and it should bring them some sort of positive feelings. If not, then perhaps that's a good way to weed out the folks who might not be worth being around, if their energy doesn't vibe with yours. On that same note, your family and friends who matter should accept you even more than those who just new the person who died. As for knowing how a tattoo will effect your life, it's impossible to imagine and it's different for everyone. You're just getting started and it sounds like you have a good positive outlook which will lead to a positive journey to come! Getting tattooed will teach you many lessons along the way and you'll have the constant reminder of each one to mark your growth and evolution. Enjoy it!

sometimes tattoos are a reminder to live and learn. After reading your first thread and response to this one, it sounds like you're on your way to some great tattoos that you'll be stoked on!

welcome to LST! can't wait to see your progress and hear about your experiences! The back is definitely a different beast.

Welcome to LST and thanks for sharing your tattoo and question(s). I don't have experience with touch ups or 2nd layers, but I do have a few raised portions of tattoos done by some great artists (Jill Bonny, Chad Koeplinger, Jondix, Mike Wilson). For reference, the raised areas on are on both of my forearms and the center of my back. Each of these raised areas are small portions of larger tattoos that healed perfect with no raising. The tattoos on my forearms are over 10yrs old and the raised portion of my back is ~7or8. In all honesty, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Sometimes, I even find myself touching the raised areas and thinking about the design. Perhaps it's less worry because I have a lot of coverage and the raised portions only make up a small %. If you only have a few tattoos and one of them is raised, I can see how it could be questionable. So... the solution is to KEEP GETTING TATTOOED! 😁

@FXRrich, it's a pleasure to revisit LST and see some worthwhile content... especially on one of the coolest threads. I remember seeing or reading Myke's interview from Tattoo Artist Magazine and getting those same vibes that you described. There are many tattooers with similar traits who provide great experiences and create amazing stories to tell. I'd love to hear your experience, but burying it in this thread doesn't seem like it would do it justice. I'm not sure I've seen another thread with that content, but I'm thinking we could start one where folks can share their experiences, stories, and interactions with great tattooers. Thoughts? You wanna take the pleasure of starting a new thread? If not, I'd be happy to start one, add a story and tag you to share yours.

i agree with all prior posts! i think it looks fine, you should settle your anxiety and depression and learn to live with it for a bit, and plan your next move(s). when i saw the title of this thread, i really just wanted to add "no regerts". 😬 you're learning the lesson you were meant to learn at this moment, and you will grow from it. you survived!!!

welcome from out of the shadows! glad you decided to join us!

Welcome to LST! Unfortunately, there aren't many tattoo artists who frequent this forum anymore.. it's mostly collectors or folks who are new to tattooing, asking if their tattoo is healing correctly. if you want to look back at some past interactions, there are my different threads to be mined with lots of gems within. I would say that most tattoo artist online interaction is done thru IG. I'm not sure if podcasts and youtube videos count, but if so, we can point you the right direction. For instance, Andrew Stortz has a great podcast called "Books Closed" that often discusses "new information about what kinds of topics tattoo artists are interested in and if there are other subgroups." The latest episode is pretty hilarious, discussing tattooing as a performance art and highlighting this artist who does some cuhhhraaaayyzee shit like tattooing while playing the cello. There are definitely different subgroups based on all the various styles and people of the world, in general. Not sure how much you already know, but a few high level styles include: traditional, new school, neo-trad, black and gray, black work, tribal, geometric, japanese, color realism, biomechanical, and many many more! Anyways.... I hope this is a good start and I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your new tattoo.

This is a fun game. My initial thought is that it looks like some sort of water creature or fishing lure.

HE'S GOT THE BUUUUUUUGGGG!!! 😁 @minisoda not sure if you've let us know who the artist is yet, but feel free to share! check out their prior work and see what they're into. if they usually do traditional colors, they might prefer to stick to that aesthetic. if they do some crazy shit, they might be open to new ideas. i think adding an olive branch in an open talon would look a bit strange. during your next shading and color session, bounce your addition and background ideas off your artist and see what they think. in the end, you're wearing it and they're doing it, so your two opinions count way more than us shmucks.🤓

http://www.tattoouprising.com/ 😁

LSTers! I just came across this great documentary called "Tattoo Uprising" on Amazon Prime Video that has some cool, old Ed Hardy footage. There's a lot of other good stuff as well. Definitely worth checking out!

agree with you both! it's tough to pick a favorite, but I enjoyed the thread even sparking the thought. made me think of my tattoos and some of the experiences that came with them. the brain's a funny thing, eh?! you see a tattoo or hear a trigger like this and it immediately opens those memory banks and you get a rush of good vibes! that all said, i have some small ones that mean a lot. i got a mini portrait of my dog who passed in 2016 on my inner wrist that i see all the time and it makes me smile. it's at least in my top 5!