Part Two: Style and Substance
In my first post, I discussed the importance of finding a good tattoo artist before you get your first tattoo. That’s obvious. But on to a more difficult discussion—what are you getting? You probably already have a very specific idea of what you want, but it might be a good idea to understand the limitations of tattooing before The Little Prince becomes a permanent fixture on your body.
First, think about size. Many people want their first tattoo to be small, understandably. But keep in mind that the smaller the tattoo, the simpler the design should be. A tattoo the size of a quarter should only have a few lines. This is because your skin is not a perfect canvas – as you age your skin looses its elasticity and becomes more porous. Even on the most perfect skin that has never seen the light of day, the ink will spread slightly and fade, causing the lines to get thicker and more blurry. That’s why the bigger the tattoo, the more likely it will remain “readable” over time. Rihanna’s gun tattoos, for example, are way too small. These will eventually become vague silhouettes without any crispness. If you want a tiny tattoo, stick to basic shapes like stars, circles, moons and crosses.
If you’re willing to get a larger tattoo, say the size of your fist, you will have a lot more options in terms of subject matter. Anything is possible, although not always advisable. I used to have plenty of personal rules about what was off-limits: no text, no brands or logos, no band names and no cartoon characters. Of course all these rules have since been broken (with no regrets!), but I still advise that you be cautious. Don’t rush into a tattoo; take the time to really think about what you want. Avoid drinking while doing so. And look at quality reference material: Tattoo Collector Magazine is one of the best in the US.
Regardless of subject matter, you’re only going to see a few different styles of tattoing in a typical shop: Western Traditional, Japanese, Tribal and Black and Grey, in one combination or another. These have been popular for decades because if done well, they are stylistically timeless and age favorably. And you will definitely age.
If you’re looking for a photorealistic image or portrait, which might look “softer” and have more fine lines, make sure you find a really experienced artist. These tattoos are tricky to pull off well and there is a lot of debate about how well they hold up over time. Take a look at Bob Tyrell’s work to see how it’s done well.
Here are a few more resources for ideas and inspiration:
Tattoo Life
Tattoodles
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