I am a darkhaired male, 40 (but act and appear younger)
I like sci-fi, especially cyberpunk, the films matrix (so much, I
quite by accident got a pair of sunglasses from "Blinde"), xmen, blade
runner, the game quake (and the logo in particular, but it will be
retro in a short while) I also like the biohazard glyph but so many
wear it. Same goes for the barcode tattoo.. Japanese could be cool
I am also european to the core and like the circle stars (but would
not want a flag so no blue background) and the stars will change when
more countries are added so also that may become silly (like a us flag
with 49 stars or so)
I do not like the euro sign (€ eur)
I like Walter Jabsco (ska logo) and the twotone checkerboard that goes
with ska, which I play (guitar)
I am very well read and like art of all kind and would find it cool
with a reference to literature or art but the cyberpunk weighs heavier
I do not like big tattoos at all. Max size would be the size of a
matchbook

I am willing to travel to get a great tattoo and also willing to pay
what it costs to get a unique tattoo (so if you design one, don't post
it publicly)

Thanks in advance,
Feel free to ask more and comment on this post in general

Michel

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Request for Question Clarification by sgtcory-ga on 15 May 2003 13:51 PDT

Hello mplungjan,

What a unique request! 

I would like to know the general area in which you are located if
possible, as this would help narrow down some great artists in your
region.

It would also be helpful if you could hint as to whether you were
thinking along the lines of black/grey or color artwork.

I was intrigued by the request because -

- I also play guitar (a Guild acoustic on my left forearm ;-)
- I have several tattoos, including Japanese Kanji, Tribal dragons
etc...
- I like many of the same styles you do.

I think I may be able to help guide you in the right direction, as I
understand that this is more of an expression than just an *ink blot*.

Thanks for the clarification -

SgtCory

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Clarification of Question by mplungjan-ga on 15 May 2003 14:04 PDT

I am in Holland. If the artist I need is in New York or so, I would
not mind making a trek out of it. I do not believe in half measures or
I would get an ink at the local McTattoo ;)
I am not averse to colour, depending on what the subject is (flames on
a logo, colours on a miniature, a red telecaster :) but I am really
thinking more stylized and therefor black or greyscale

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Clarification of Question by mplungjan-ga on 15 May 2003 15:38 PDT

Places I already visit with some frequency: Amsterdam, The Hague,
Copenhagen, Florida - NY was more an idea of going somewhere to make a
trip of it..

I am going to leave this question open for other researchers as well.
I am currently contacting people in NYC as I am only 45 minutes away.

Thanks -

SgtCory

Thanks, I will hit the sack as it is past midnight here...

Important additions:
I am a programmer (not a nerd though) - I sometimes wear suits because
I like to (mostly italian or german suits)
I love Bach and Escher
I have in fact contemplated to have the first bars of prelude #1 from
the welltempered clavicord if that was possible or have it
incorporated somehow (but it is not imperative)

I do tell a lot about myself here, don't I :)

hi there :)

Was also interested in your question for reasons similar to sgtcory-ga
(I don't play the guitar (not for lack of trying!) but I do have
several tattoos and am in interested in some of the things you are
interested in as well).

Would you be willing to travel to London, England - if so, I can
recommend two HIGHLY regarded tattoists whom I have used personally,
both of whom have also won awards and accolades.  One of them also has
a website with a catalogue of their best work, etc.

You might also want to check out missy-ga's excellent answer to my own
question about tattoo inspiration here:

http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=52198

Also, in case moles are an issue, robertskelton-ga's excellent answer
on the topic:

http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=54806

I've also left this answer open for other researchers to answer - I
have to confess to being a bit of a chicken on this one :)  Tattoos
are so personal that while I'm happy to give advice and talk about
them generally, I'd be completely scared to suggest something for you
to place permanently on your body!

:) jem-ga

Thanks for the link! Haha, Missy is everywhere...
I do not have moles...

Yes, I would very much consider popping over to UK - a bit shorter hop
than NY, I am completely blank when it comes to who are the gurus of
tattoing, hence this question to begin with...

I am not into fairies, but the Horus Eye is cool (however reminds me a
bit too much of the Alan Parsons Project ...)
I very much liked the fifth element by Luc Bresson which also had
egyptian stuff

Fractals are also cool!

http://www.eaglelake.org/staff/erics/

So do I get the url of the UK people?

I'm going to let Jem answer this question, as she seems to have more
regional information that would help you.

I will be watching this space - as I'm interested to see what you get.

Good Luck!

SgtCory

Thanks - should I have called it "Design a tattoo for me" instead?

Tattoos are a wonderful in the way of self expression. But one thing I
think allot of people don't realize is that they are permanent. I have
seen so many people get a tattoo of something that "meant" something
to them, at the time, only to regret it later because the design was
too trendy or common.
I know how frustrating it can be, going through page after page of
flash, trying to figure out what to get, where to put it, and hoping
that you have made the right decision once the pattern has been laid
and the gun is being fired up.
I personally have 5 of them, and each one probably took me no less
than a month or two to decide on the final design and placement. I
would recommend to you the following tips.
1. Look for a design that truly means something to you, and will
probably continue to mean something to you even in the future. Even if
it means combining a couple of different drawings together.
2. Try them out first. Once you have a design you think you like, wear
it for a while. You can do this by taking the design and tracing over
it with some of that blue carbon paper. Then take a clear deodorant
stick and rub it on the part of your body you want to "test" the
design on. Carefully lay the pattern you have traced (the side with
the carbon should be facing the skin) and press firmly until the
design has been transferred to your skin. This is often how tattoo
artists lay out the pattern. It's temporary, but it will give you an
idea on how the pattern will look on your skin. It will also let you
experiment with placement.
3. As for placement, remember, generally smaller tattoos look better
on places like shoulder blades, ankles ect. whereas larger tattoos
(usually no smaller than a deck of cards) probably will look better on
areas like the biceps, forearms ect. You should also consider  whether
or not you want it easily covered by business attire (ie long sleeves)
as some employers look down on body art.
4. Color is another issue to consider, if you are wanting something
with lots of vivid color, you should discuss with your artist about
the possibilities that certain colors may not take on your skin, or
not show up properly. If you are wanting all black work, it's
especially important to get a skilled and reputable artist. I have
seen many people travel a great distance to get a tattoo with allot of
black work, only to find after a few weeks of healing, that their
tattoo is full of "holidays" or little spots where the artist missed.
Generally most good artists will go ahead and retouch any holidays
they have left behind, however, it you had to travel a great distance
to get the tattoo in the first place, this might not be very
practical!
Best of luck to you!
chellphill-ga

hi all :) 

sgtcory - thanks for the vote of confidence but as I mentioned in my
previous comment, I'm way too much of a chicken to try to definitively
answer something that requires a permanent inked committment on one's
body (lol).

chellphill-ga - great comments and guidance!  

In particular, I would re-iterate chellphill-ga's point 3 to
mplungjan-ga re: placement of tattoos and various sizes.  Also,
smaller tattoos tend to lose their definition a lot quicker as the
skin ages (sad but true).  As a general guideline only, tattoos the
size of a matchbox or smaller tend to start to lose their definition
approx. 7-10 years after placement.  Again, this is a GUIDELINE only -
variations will occur depending on how a person skin ages, quality of
ink and artwork, penetration of ink, etc.

mplungjan-ga - I can only provide you with one of the UK links at the
moment (the other tattoist is currently in the process of relocating
and I don't have his full business contact details/website at
present).  The other site which I would highly recommend is:

http://www.into-you.co.uk/

I've had my last 3 tattoos done there (as well as my belly button
piercing) and they are EXCELLENT.  Have a look on their website (Steve
has done all of my tattoos)to get a feel for their set up.  You need
to click on the word "tattoo" on the first page in the first sentence,
then click on the picture of the tattooist and samples of some of
their work will load up.  Their shop alone is well worth a visit and
it's a shame they don't have any pics of the shop interior - very
funky!!  Also, in the foyer, they have something like 15 - 20 huge
binders full of photos of their own work as well as loads of reference
books re: tattooing and piercing.

:) jem-ga

Thanks for the input!
Yes, I am aware it is permanent, that is why I want to consult and get
opinions and also why I mentioned that although I like some
contemporary icons/glyphs a lot, I would hesitate to use them due to
their contemporary state...

The loosing definition part I was not aware of though... Is that more
or less obvious in thin lines? F.ex. were I to get an electronic
pattern or thin writing, would the lines disappear or fade so much
they would not be recognizable after, say, 5 years? I think I would
not want a tattoo bigger than a big coin/matchbook, and on
shoulderblade or between them (perhaps low in the back of my neck, but
then I cannot see it myself well...) or on left shoulder (dunno why I
am not even considering right shoulder???)

I looked at the UK site, thanks, wow - some of them wicked, some of
them VERY weird (and in weird places (haha)) Most of them very big...
I liked the details like shadows and also a very faithful rendering of
Medusa....

Michel

What now?
Is this a question that cannot be "answered" ???