What would you think of this as a tattoo?

[pegkerr]

It's something I've been thinking about for awhile. For years, I thought, "No way." Then, I thought, "Well, maybe. If I found the right design, something that summons up a powerful idea for me, and if it was something I could see living with for the rest of my life." Lately, I've been thinking that it would be the Tree of Life, the Holy Tree. This would evoke Yeat's poem, "The Two Trees," and of course Tolkien's tree mythology. This, of course, also all ties in to the hearts of stone and flesh, too. See my entry here.

Yesterday, I finally found a design that made me think, "Wow. Maybe."



I'm not sure I'm going to do it yet, but for the first time, I'm really seriously thinking about it. What do you think?

Edited to add: Of course, friends list, you must accept that I may still like the idea, and you may all think it's beautiful, but I may still NOT get it. As kijjohnson and I say all the time, "You can make different decisions than I do." This would be a huge thing for me, and I'm not quite sure I have the courage to do it.

But I must admit, the idea is looking more and more attractive. For the first time, I can actually imagine myself doing it.

As for WHERE I would put it, well, that is a problem that requires some thinking. How big do you think it should be? I think I would really like it centered. The back is one option, except I would like to be able to SEE it. I think I would like it to be covered much of the time, making it private for me, but somewhere I could also show it if I like.

The poem speaks of the holy tree growing within the heart, so over the heart makes sense, and it feels like the most right position to me. Kij tells me, however, that since there is little fat over the breastbone, it can be a very painful location. I think if I did it, I would do it right, getting it with colors instead of black and white.

Here is an article about the artist. I like the fact that his art has a Christian emphasis. I found the design on a cover of a quarterly devotions guide handed out by our church.

Rob, by the way, is rather appalled at the whole idea.

Edited to add again: rarelytame, who should know, tells me that the flowers are a bit too small and fiddly and would have to be adapted to something else that is simpler, which doesn't surprise me. I would be willing to see what an artist could do to simplify it but still keep it lovely. redbird warns me that perhaps these specific colors wouldn't be best; paler ones don't show up as well. I would be willing to consider other colors.

Comments

[rarelytame.livejournal.com]

My day job is as the office manager for a tattoo studio, so this post caught my attention.

The design is beautiful, but you should know before you set your heart into this design that there are parts of it that make it truly difficult, perhaps impossible depending on certain factors, to render as you have it in this image.

Your choices would be for the tattoo to be extremely large, or for the petals in those tiny rings/flowers to be done a little differently. Let me draw your attention to the tiny gaps of space between each "petal" on the colored rings that make the flowers. Even if it were possible to render the tattoo from the beginning to leave those tiny gaps, the pigment under the skin will, in time, disperse until you only have tiny colored rings with the circles in the center. The petals will blur together. Most reputable tattoo artists wouldn't even try to tattoo this design exactly the way it is in this image unless it was enlarged a great deal (on my screen it is roughly 3 inches by 4 inches).

That's not to say that something couldn't be done to make the design work, but this exact design probably wouldn't. Not as it is.

It's a beautiful design though. A good tattoo artist could definitely use it as a starting point for something that would work. I have no clue where you are located, but tattoo artists are a bit like writers, mostly familiar with one another's work. Our shop is in Atlanta, but chances are, I might be able to get a recommendation for a trustworthy and talented artist near you, wherever you are, with whom you could consult.

Ideally, you could work with them to come up with a design that would work perfectly, then you could stick that one to your bathroom mirror for six months or so. *grin*

(I always feel terrible for people who come in with designs they've thought about for months or years, and then some detail of the design is too small to last, or for some other reason won't quite work in a tattoo. That's the reason why I felt the urge to say something.)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No, no, this is extremely helpful, and I really appreciate your comment. I has already suspected the flowers would be the most difficult part of the design, and that it would have to be adapted to be useable.

And actually, I think that I would like to see how a tattoo artist would adapt it, because that would give me a better idea of the artist's skill.

I live in Minneapolis, and I understand that there are a number of talented artists here. I have lots of friends who have tattoos, so I think I would be able to find someone with some of their recommendations.

And I'm glad that you think it is beautiful--since you speak as someone who has probably seen many many designs, your opinion is reassuring.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Oh, but if you would have a recommendation for a very good Minneapolis artist, do let me know, thanks!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Another question: weaselmom wondered here whether green ink is more likely to fade. Which colors are more stable?

[rarelytame.livejournal.com]

Oh. I meant to come back and check this thread again, but I found myself really distracted by events in my own little world. At the moment, I need to run an errand, but when I get back, I will do my best to answer your questions.

Forgive me. I am, at times, an airhead.