If you are contemplating designing your own tattoo there are many things to take into consideration. It is comparable to the old question of “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Do you decide what you want your tattoo to look like or where you want to put it first? Common sense would indicate choose the placement on your body first because that can influence what designs would fit or look good.
You must determine whether you are going to have words only, a picture only, or a combination of words and pictures. You should be very sure that what you plan for your tattoo is something you will not tire of in a few years. A tattoo is virtually permanent. There are options to remove tattoos but they are painful and do not return the skin to a pre-tattoo state. You may want to try a henna tattoo first to see what it feels like to have artwork on your body. You should take into account your personality and whether you really like people looking at you and asking you what something means. If you dislike being in the public eye, you may want to place the tattoo in a place that is covered by clothing. If that is something that appeals to you then you are a perfect candidate to design your own tattoo.
If you are going to place the tattoo on your arm, be realistic about what will fit on your arm. You do not want to have to turn your arm totally around to see the entire tattoo. Tattoo artists have many designs already in their books and you may find just what you’re looking for in there. If not, the tattoo artist is a valuable resource to find out what is possible and what looks good. You can do a simple flower or a large, arm encompassing scene. Think about what it means to you and what image you want to project to others. If you do not find anything in the tattoo artist’s files that you want to replicate, come with a picture drawn out. That way there will be no mistake about what it is you are asking the artist to replicate.
Possible designs could include letters of your fiancee’s name, Chinese symbols for some attribute you aspire to, various flowers that have meaning to you, a re-creation of a favorite photograph, or a list of dates that are important to you. You are only limited by your imagination in your design. You can use a multitude of colors or just one color. It may take more than one visit to complete your body artwork, so be prepared to invest some time into the perfect tattoo.
Tattoos are no longer just for the biker dudes, although the biker dudes still look great in them. They are becoming a more mainstream and acceptable way to express your individuality. It may be that once you have one you will decide to return to get another…and another…and another.
