tattoo planning

[redbird]

I just heard back from my tattoo artist, who says he is "so COMPLETELY into doing a tattoo of a coelacanth," and says he was looking at the models at Natural History last month.

He's there 12:30-7 Tuesday to Saturday, which means I could stop by and discuss things after work, but will probably need to make a Saturday appointment (or appointments) to actually get the tattoo.

Comments

[fimbrethil.livejournal.com]

Who does your work?

[redbird]

Craig Cooley. He used to have his own studio as Abstract Tribal Tattoo--I found him when I was looking for someone to do the armband--and is now working out of Porcupine Tattoo.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

How did you go about finding someone to do your tattoo(s)? Was there trial and error involved?

And how do you think about designs when you're coming up with and evaluating possiblities? I mean, what are the criteria for you of a tattoo you would want?

My rule for myself has been since college (when I first considered the possibility) that I have to want the same thing - exactly the same - for at least a year, without ever once thinking, "Erk...I dunno, maybe I /don't/ want it..." Nothing has met this requirement yet, though I keep expecting that someday it may. I've wanted pretty much the same thing for
a few years, now, but I do periodically have moments of not liking the idea of having a tattoo at all, so that breaks up my continuity. :)

Still, I'm fascinated by other people's.

[redbird]

My first tattoo (this userpic) I went to a shop very much at random, and handed them a picture.

I found Craig Cooley by going to a tattoo show here in the city, and looking at portfolios. I liked the armband he did enough that I went back to him for my flowers, and those two are both good enough that I'm going to him again.

This time, as with the cardinal, I had the "I want a tattoo" itch for a bit before I figured out what I wanted. (Lots of things that I thought of and discarded.) And then I played with the idea for a bit, and have been looking at pictures of coelacanths, and reading about them, and it's settling. If you read back through these posts, it's been much less than a year.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

That is a gorgeously realistic cardinal.

[redbird]

It's right out of the Peterson field guide.

[almeda.livejournal.com]

That's my rule too, and I do finally have one. Smallish, abstract, symmetrical, just one color mostly. But no money. :-> Also, unsure if it's a good location on my skin to put it (I've heard some bits are more ow ow ow mommie than others).

[callunav.livejournal.com]

I understand that anything where there isn't much flesh is much more painful - the shin, for instance.

[almeda.livejournal.com]

I've always loveloved coelacanths! Rock on.