Questions from the Tattoo Ignorant:
1. Do you call to make an appointment for large tattoos like Ron's ? For a portrait type tattoo that large, with that much detail and shading, most artists would require an appointment and many require a meeting prior to the tattoo to plan out exactly what the customer wants (black and grey fine line, color, etc). Optimal placement on the body would be planned out. Due to the contours of a person's body, certain places would not be the best location for such a detailed tatt. Most accomplished artists strive to place tattoos where the contours of the body part compliment/enhance the art. Depending on the artist, this planning period can be short or long.
2. If so, when you make the appointment, do you discuss the design and where, on your body, it will be placed ? When you make the appointment, you go in and show the artist the design you want. In the case of a portrait, planning is so important. The artist may ask you to come back in "X" number of days to look at a sketch s/he made and to see if it meets your requirements for your custom tattoo.
3. If/when you make the appointment, does the parlor caution you about not drinking before hand ? Do they recommend you take something, legal and in advance, for the discomfort ? My artist refuses to tattoo anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. the most precious thing an artist has is his/her reputation. A legitimate artist would not want to do anything to jeopardize his/her reputation in the field by giving a tattoo to someone who doesn't remember how badly they wanted it at the time, or who don't remember how to do the aftercare. There's so much that could go wrong with giving a tattoo to an impaired person, plus, in the field of tattooing, artists are a lot of times looked down upon as unethical for tattooing someone who is not able to make sound decisions due to impairment. Also, when you're going in to get a tattoo, don't take asprin beforehand because it could cause you to bleed more, which leads to scabs. When scabs flake or fall off, they sometimes (a lot of times) pull some of the ink out and you'll have unevenly colored or sloppy looking detail.
4. If/when you make the appointment, would they caution you to wear shorts if you are planning to have your legs tattooed ? I have a lot of tattoos on my legs and I have never been asked to wear shorts. I do because it's more comfortable for me.
5. Does Ron have other tattoos ? Are they large ? I don't know the answer to this question.
6. Finally, I don't think the tattoo of Hayleigh is very nice - is it only partially done ? The tattoo seemed to be distorted by the way it's wrapped. My artist wraps mine in saran wrap, to keep the wet ink and blood off clothing and other things. Portraits of people, especially of loved ones, are very, very hard to get just right. I have seen very few portraits of people done accurately. Even the best I've seen (outside of magazines), look nothing like the person it's supposed to memorialize.
tattoos. Married to the Army, I've been around it plenty.
