Tiresius

I love that piece he did on that guy's back 20 years ago! Much of his own body though seems to have turned into a grey smudge.

Ok, thanks. Guess it's just as well my tattoo appointment is in 10 months. Time for at least 3 or 4 laser sessions before.

@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.

I haven't read this whole thread - so apologies if someone gave the answer to this earlier, but can one do lazer hair removal on an area that has been tattooed? I'm just wondering whether it would be better to lazer an area for a few months before having a tattoo there. I wouldn't mind waiting a few months afterwards to ensure its healed BEFORE doing lazer hair removal, but don't want to find out it is no longer an option when its too late!

@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.

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...

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.

@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?

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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...

Even if this ^ is unhealed it seems really impressive to me. It is by Giena Todryk and is typical of the hues that Giena achieves. I'm not going for a Todryk tattoo, but I am just amazed at them anyway :) I guess its more theoretical curiosity because I'm not sure anyone in the county I live in does that. SStu, I guess that is true! Unless one attends many tattoo conferences and immerses oneself in the society and culture, one is just not exposed to that much fabulous work. (Sorry Graeme, I'm just seeing your last comment now! I will have a look at the link you refer to!)

It was both, I guess. But when the pain was worse the involuntary jumps got stronger too. So it took a lot longer than we were expecting.

My last one went right round the ankle bone and I was trying to stop my leg muscles jumping most of the session. Music, chit-chat? Guess I need to work on pain tolerance!

Unfortunately I can't think of any polite way of asking to see healed photos of work an artist has done! Though I would be VERY interested. I'm realising that ALL of the pics that have so wowed me are MOST likely to be fresh and unhealed.

Perhaps then it's more a theoretical question than one that has a bearing on work I'm going to have done. Does an artist like Todryk use a different variety of ink, or is the effect a matter of technique, OR are all the pics of this artist online actually digitally enhanced? I'm still curious! :D

I chose the artist I booked with by searching through online portfolios. Is that not the way it is usually done? #FairlyClueless...

Yes, it does seem like few tattoo enthusiasts think much about the ink... Presumably the variety/brand of ink does not impact that much on the final visual impact. However, I am always startled by just how vibrant some pieces (like the Todryk ones) look. Those startling hues just floor me! I was a bit disappointed by the way my 2nd tattoo healed in that the colour faded dramatically in a couple of weeks. It has the same saturation as one I had nearly 10 years earlier.

All on the internet, I'm afraid. But I assume many artists stick up pics of tattoos that are fresh and unhealed because they look the brightest then? So then these should not be so much MORE bright, right? http://thevandallist.com/giena-todryk-tattoo-artist/