12 What Kind Of Design Should I Get?
Description
This article is from the Tattoo FAQ, by Stan Schwarz with numerous contributions by others.
12 What Kind Of Design Should I Get?
What images do you think of when you think of a tattoo? Do you think of
anchors, of roses or of skulls? While these traditional images are still
available, you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety you will find
today.
There are two basic types of tattoos: Flash, and custom. As you can
imagine, "custom" means you have a design you like that you take in with
you. "Flash" is the stock designs you see on the walls of the shop.
The main thing to remember is that you're not required to choose from
the selection of flash in a shop--You're NOT limited to just an anchor,
a rose or a skull. Remember however, that these smaller pieces of
pre-priced flash are the bread & butter of many shops, since they are
proportionately expensive ($75 for 20 minutes' work, for example where
an artist might charge $100 an hour for custom work). Also, the number
of customers who lay out the big bucks for large, elaborate custom
pieces is too small to keep a regular shop in business.
A few of the major styles of tattooing:
BIO-MECHANICAL: A style popularized by illustrator H.R. Giger, who
designed the creature from the _Alien_ movies. Bio-mechanical work
usually involves an anatomical flesh intertwined with some technical
drawings of machines. A close relative of this style involves just the
biological look of flesh without the mechanical parts.
BLACK & GREY: Refers to the colors used, this style requires the artist
to have advanced shading techniques for subtlety.
Celtic: Beautiful, intricate knotwork of the Celts (a hard "k", NOT a
soft "c" like the basketball team). These are much harder for artists
to do, and is best done by someone who specializes in it. Also usually
done in just black ink.
Oriental: Big, bold pieces of Oriental images (carp, clouds, dragons,
etc.) based on the Ukiyo-e woodblock prints of 18th Century Edo-period
Japan. Note: It is fine to call this "Oriental" and not "Asian,"
because it references an object and not a person.
PORTRAIT: Images taken from photos, best done by someone who can render
realistic photographic images. Usually done in black and grey ink.
Sailor Jerry: Traditional sailor tattoo style made famous by Jerry
Collins in Honolulu.
Tribal: Usually bold simple lines, simple patterns. Almost always done
with just black ink.
With a good artist working for you, you can get practically any image
you'd like. Accomplished artists can render portraits, wildlife,
psychedelic and biomechanical styles with impressive results. Your main
challenge is to find the artist who can best do the design YOU want.
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