Let's Talk about Ink

SniperGuy

I am consdering getting a Tattoo. The image I want is on the side of many of the Dark Tower books by stephen king, and looks similar to this.

Now, that's a fairly ornate little design, and I want the thing on my back across from my heart. I imagine it would be at max, an inch or two high. Any tips for my first time looking for a tattoo, or do any of you guys have tattoos you'd like to show off? Feel free to share horror stories as well.

MisterGrok

That doesn't look overly complicated to do, though it may be a bit expensive depending on what level of detail you want. Have a picture ready when you go to your chosen tattoo artist. DO NOT USE THE YELLOW PAGES TO FIND ANY OLD TATTOO ARTIST. Ask people who already have tattoos where they go, check the artist out, he should have a portfolio when you show up. Consider the shit out of having a tattoo and who's doing it because having a tattoo removed is painful.

I do not have any tattoos myself but have friends and family (including my mother) who have plenty of neat tattoos.

EskimoDave

Pretty sure people will think you are a Guns and Roses fan and not a Stephen King fan.

Eeveelution

The dark towers are fairly popular. That being said though I read stephen king and recognized the symbol.

Do talk with people who have ink only if you like the way it looks, and then ask them politely where they went. Usually a great place to get recommendations.

I ended up carrying the card of my tattoo artist i frequent on me just because of how often I got asked about my chest plate.

Don't Just go into any old shop.

Do check out a shop before hand and talk with the artists.

Eeveelution

The dark towers are fairly popular. That being said though I read stephen king and recognized the symbol.

Do talk with people who have ink only if you like the way it looks, and then ask them politely where they went. Usually a great place to get recommendations.

I ended up carrying the card of my tattoo artist i frequent on me just because of how often I got asked about my chest plate.

Don't Just go into any old shop.

Do check out a shop before hand and talk with the artists.

SniperGuy

Yeah, I've definitely got a friend who knows some people that can recommend me a place. I'm in England and I considered getting it as a cool souvenir, but then I realized that finding a good place would be much harder. Any idea of how much I might be paying?

Teen_014.jpg

i know a lot of people in the tattoo business, tell me where you are from and i can give you suggestions on artists to go to.

my advice is dont worry about the money. this is something that will be on you for the rest of your life and in the world of tattoos you pay for what you get.

mts

that pin would make a pretty sweet design, is the keyhole shape part of it?

SniperGuy

mts wrote: »

that pin would make a pretty sweet design, is the keyhole shape part of it?

Yeah, here's a vague idea of what I'm considering. http://www.ratemyink.com/images/ul/610/Dark-Tower-The-Gunslinger-Stephen-King-tattoo-61046.jpeg Although that's waaaay bigger than what I'd want. ( I may also try combining it with this http://www.bmeink.com/A80308/high/noxp-ka-ka-is-fate-ka-is.jpg have the keyhole inside the circle somewhere for instance.)

I'm from Memphis, and I've been hearing good things about a place called Ramses's Shadow. They're supposed to be quite excellent and I assume if I went in with both of those designs and asked for them to make me something up, they could. So we shall see.

edit: Here's what I want basically, crappily photoshopped.

1ddqd

My roommate has the Ka tattoo on his ankle/leg, it's pretty sweet. I don't like the addition of the keyhole there, though - that's a personal opinion based on what I've read of King's Mid-world mythology.

Remember that you're going to have to get the keyhole design at a decent size, though - it's incredibly expensive and difficult to get that kind of detail in a small design.

SniperGuy

Yeah, i'll have to adjust that. I believe the place I'm going that's been recommended by many (Ramsesses Shadow) is rather good about me going "I want that, and that, somehow." and they'll figure out a way.

mts

i would just get the keyhole/gun/rose without that circle stuff with a traditional spin.

TheFullMetalChicken

SniperGuy wrote: »

Yeah, I've definitely got a friend who knows some people that can recommend me a place. I'm in England and I considered getting it as a cool souvenir, but then I realized that finding a good place would be much harder. Any idea of how much I might be paying?

If your going to call around make an appointment if they say just walk in don't go there. If they say it'll be a few weeks/months before we can fit you in go there. This lets you know they're better then most and it'll give you time to think everything out 100%. And don't worry about price.

mts

TheFullMetalChicken wrote: »

If your going to call around make an appointment if they say just walk in don't go there. If they say it'll be a few weeks/months before we can fit you in go there. This lets you know they're better then most and it'll give you time to think everything out 100%. And don't worry about price.

not always true. the guy that did my back piece had me just come in and when I walked in we talked over the design and ideas and i made an appointment for a later date after he drew things up

also busy does not always equal good