posted June 03, 2012 06:54 PM            

That's how I always did my portraits. The guys I worked with were (mostly) old school and not practiced in their own artistic abilities. They could take something off a wall, or a drawing someone brought in and make a stencil out of it (as anyone could) and go with that, but not go from inner creativity and art knowledge.

If you want a tattoo too look more painterly & artistic like that (which is what I prefer as well) find someone who is experienced in bloodlining and who also practices painting and other forms of art besides tattooing in their spare time.

You must love what they have in their portfolio first. Always look at their portfolios first.

I still have not looked back on old pages in this thread and WISH I could remember that woman's name who I was thinking of earlier...

Now another female artist comes to mind who I loved too & used to be friends with on FB when I had one. Sooo talented....

I've noticed that the female artists these days are doing some really cutting edge work and they seem to have advantage over many of the guys because they know what woman want.

That was something my shop liked about me and my work. Many of the guys want to do gory, demon, hard outlines, monster bloody type work (many of them, not all) and I was not interested in that at all.

I also dislike the look of a dark outline on any tattoo.

Anyway, nice that we have so many talented female artists out there, for those of us who like a 'softer' look..

posted June 03, 2012 07:16 PM            

that bird one had me on a roll earlier....

posted June 03, 2012 09:40 PM            

Yes, please do research first and try to keep the REAL artists in business.

Anyone can learn how to make a stencil and slap it on skin and operate a gun or "machine", (though that takes much work to get good at too) , learn some techniques and think they are "the man".

But I think the people that dedicate their lives to the art should be sought after and not Joe Shmoe who's doing it because he can, and it gets him the ladies or boosts his own ego. I know plenty of that type (wannabe rock stars).

Look to an artist who takes this kind of work seriously and isnt only looking to make a buck. Just because you have a license to tattoo doesnt mean you are an artist. Remember that. Look at that..

Don't settle for someone who's work you do not LOVE.

posted June 03, 2012 09:45 PM            

a bit of friendly advice...

You might not want to start throwing words like "bloodlining" around to a tat artist.

You will likely p!ss them off. Unless you do it in a.....mmm ....very non...know it all .....kind of way....

Tat artist don't take too kindly to ....... mmm outsiders....?
or people who have never tattooed and know nothing about it trying to tell they how to tattoo...

most would not take kindly to someone thinking they know anything about any kind of techniques who's never even held a gun.

tread lightly with that info.

posted June 03, 2012 09:48 PM            

Most have worked hard to get where they are, even if they are doing only average work, it's still not easy and there are many tricks to the trade. To have someone come in and tell you they want something done in a certain technique - that you might have never done in your life...or could never do......can be insulting.

better if you find an artists work you like beforehand,
to avoid hassles.

I dont know how it is in Austrailia but here, we go through a ton of **** to get our license. Nevermind what comes before all that with learning how to do everything else.

I worked with a couple of people who were not really good artists at all.....and werent interested in the artistic aspect of it...

which is...ahem! what it's all about!!!

posted June 04, 2012 11:46 AM            

quote:

---

The guys I worked with were (mostly) old school and not practiced in their own artistic abilities. They could take something off a wall, or a drawing someone brought in and make a stencil out of it (as anyone could) and go with that, but not go from inner creativity and art knowledge.

---

That's pretty much what's available when I got mines done way back. And most of the popular tatt places I went to were all male artist too. Now that I think of it.. they were really amateur... and so was I (was 18 when I got my 1st ). Total regret now.

[Edit] Forgot to add, THANK YOU T! The time you took to post the info and pics were very informative. I love the bloodlining work. I definitely won't be so lax the next time I get a tattoo done (not anytime soon though.. I am eventually going to get the tiger tatt lasered off).

posted June 04, 2012 09:32 PM            

& youre welcome! Glad the info will come in handy and help you get a piece that you end up loving next time. It can take awhile to find the right artist. Best of luck.

posted June 05, 2012 04:40 PM            

Rockbilly mom and daughter

posted June 07, 2012 05:44 PM            

yes?

posted July 22, 2012 05:08 PM            

Good luck with the $1k back tattoo and ear pogs. It will only make you cooler.

Sand, that would look nice, I think.

posted July 26, 2012 06:54 PM            

I'm getting my tattoo in four hours. (I got the day wrong.) Luckily we were chatting on FB and she told me to eat a good breakfast today lol

Interesting synch happened. I'm getting a Lotus flower (throat chakra, 16 petals & blue) because it is extremely symbolic in my life (long story.) Anyway when the sketch was being done I had some type of de ja vu and then I felt a surge of energy I have been working with for so long. At the same time I caught a throat infection again and my throat really hurt. Also, my ex was trying to intimidate me again and instead of writing a cold message back to him (which is what I normally did)I had the guts to call him. I talked to him for the first time in 2.5 years. I felt the energy lift and we can now maintain good communication for the sake of our daughter. He finally admitted he doesn't want to hurt me, I called him out on the abuse that it is his pain channelled in the wrong direction and I felt him finally get out of denial. After that phone call my throat was not sore. I have only ever had a sore throat when I am not speaking up. Then I received my tattoo sketch in my email. Which gave it more meaning. The nature of the phone call and shift of energy was nothing short of a miracle (you really have to be in my shoes for this to make sense but I totally had to share this.)

I am learning out to speak up for myself. I have been used and abused all my life because I felt that if I spoke up I would end up hurt, when that was not true, at all.

Words have so much power to heal, if you mean them. I've said 'nice' things to him in the past but I realised I never really meant it. I would have been better off not saying anything at all. Human beings are emotional radars whether they know that or not, the human heart is very intelligent. People know when you care and when you don't. I've learned to communicate what I feel effectively with the power of my own voice.