(Llama) My next tattoo

[Iggy]

Ok... it's pretty much in the bag... I'm going to set up the appt this weekend to get my next tattoo done. Some of you may know I have been intending to get Rose's portrait done, and I've finally decided when to get it. Our 3rd wedding aniversary. I think she would prefer that date, as opposed to the date she died. The selection process on the picture to use hasn't been easy, since she made me promice that it be a picture from before she lost her hair to the chemo. I wouldn't have minded using a picture from our trip to Germany.... but her hair was just growing back then, and she put her foot down on the hair issue. But that's how she was.

I have attached two images... one will be the main picture used(the clearer of the two), the other is for a reference to the lengh of her hair. I've made them black&white, because that is how I want this one done. I was initially thinking of having her eyes be the colour they were in life.... but a trusted friend has advised me to not do that.... Now I'm not so sure I should do that. I'm keeping it in mind, though.

For those who don't know: Rose was my wife, who passed away almost 3 years ago from a recurrance of Ovarian Cancer. We were officially married 11 days before she died, but we had been living that way for a few years.

[EquilibriuM]

The 1st immage all the way imo. you should have Kat Von D tattoo it, shes bad ass with portraits its her specialty.

[Paft]

1st is a nicer photo of her.

You'd need to go to the best of the best tattoo parlour/artist for it to look like her though.

[YomMamasHouse]

I advise against it

Here is a quick google search to explain why.

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/up...attoo_fail.jpg

[MonoXideAtWork]

As a bit of a collector, I must say this is important to you and you should spare no expense. Make sure you have seen the artist's portfolio, specifically portraits, a badass anchor is not a portrait of a loved one.

Good luck man! I want to see pictures when you're done!!!!

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by EquilibriuM

The 1st immage all the way imo. you should have Kat Von D tattoo it, shes bad ass with portraits its her specialty.

2 year waiting list.... already thought of it. Also, she wants $1000 just to sit in the chair. I'm not saying she isn't good.... because I admire her work! She's not the ONLY portrait artist out there, though.

Originally Posted by Paft

1st is a nicer photo of her.

You'd need to go to the best of the best tattoo parlour/artist for it to look like her though.

I agree... which is why I have done my homework on this one. I could have rushed into it... but I didn't. The timing is right, and everything is falling into place.

Originally Posted by YomMamasHouse

I advise against it

Here is a quick google search to explain why.

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/up...attoo_fail.jpg

I've seen that pic, and believe me... I'm taking THAT picture with me. I have several artists in mind, which is why this weekend will "seal the deal" so to speak.

Originally Posted by MonoXideAtWork

As a bit of a collector, I must say this is important to you and you should spare no expense. Make sure you have seen the artist's portfolio, specifically portraits, a badass anchor is not a portrait of a loved one.

Good luck man! I want to see pictures when you're done!!!!

It will be my pleasure to provide those pics!! I have done everything I could to make sure this turns out right. In fact, I attended a tattoo convention earlier this year, and looked at lots of portraits. I saw some that I wouldn't go to if they were the only artists in town. I found 3 places that do REALLY good portraits.... and I know the names of the artists that do them. I have done some serious research into this.... BECAUSE it's so important to me. Rose will be number 9.... which is 3x3.... and the number 3 surrounded her.... Which is why I have the number 3 tattood on my left arm. My prefered artist(he's done 4 of mine) was blown away when I told him what the "3" meant. He thought it was something simple.... like the number of kids I have or something similar. When I read it all off to him, he sat there for a minute, thinking that besides the Penguins/Rose tattoo he had just done, that number "3" might have more meaning to it's wearer than anything he had done before.

Anyway.... I had really liked the second picture.... in it's colour/original size. It was too small as it was... so I blew it up(8.5x11)... and as nice of a printer I have, it printed in photo quality pretty damned blurry. I cut it down to a 4x6, and made it B&W... it still looked a bit grainy(as you see it there). So I thought about it... and remembered the picture of her the night we met Sebastian Back(if you have to ask, you don't deserve to know!).... and I had a great pic of her then. I cut her out and pasted the pic.... turned it B&W..... and printed it out.... it looked REALLY crisp. That be the one everyone really liked above all others(including, to no surprise, you guys). A fried of mine has some B&W pics of Rose from back in 2001..... and unless she finds something better(she is doing me the favor of looking....and letting me know when she finds them).... #1(the upper one) is going to be the pic, right way up.... but with her hair flowing down like in pic #2(the lower one). I don't think it's too much to ask... and I have scraped enough money to pay for it. If the artist does a fantastic job, he'll love the tip I leave him. I have always tipped high on ink... because that goes straight to the artist. I appreciate good work, and I'm willing to pay for it.

For those wanting to get tattoo'd... remember this: Rule number *1* Is to tip the guy who inks you!! The better you tip, the cheaper your tattoos get. It may take a few times to get a great rate(read: he gets to know you)... but when it happens, your artist will love you for it. You'll pay the studio $150 for a $300 tattoo... just be sure to tip your artist $50 or more to help him help you out.


The only REAL obstical left, is getting over my Step-daughters house, to pick up a small amount of ashes(we haven't scattered them yet)... so that some can be mixed into the ink. Call me sick if you want.... but to me, it's the RIGHT thing to do.

[Iggy]

Good news.... the artist who has done 4 of my last 6 tattoos, who is one person I trust with my ink...... began doing portraits some time ago, and is now focusing most his time towards doing them. He looked at the pics(I showed him both) and said he can do it. He also showed me some pics of portraits he has done, and they look pretty damned good.

It's actually a bit of a relief... because I've been really stressing out over this tattoo.

[Iggy]

16 hours left............ and counting.

[Mooga]

Does he have a sketch or something?

[MonoXideAtWork]

gl

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Mooga

Does he have a sketch or something?

He's using the same photo I posted, if that's what you're asking. It's about 4 hours away, at this point.... I'm going to head up about 1ish. I like to get there early.

I have a friend who is supposed to meet me there, so he can use my camera to document this one. I hope he doesn't pull the pin on me... I'll have to kill him if he does.

Monoxide- Thanks!

[public_slots_free]

hope it goes well man. i would never do a portrait. I have seen Kat Von D and if I ever decided to do one, hers are too amazing and would hate myself if it came out bad if I didnt go to her.