Tattoo Forum with Gallery: ask your tattoo questions, upload your own tattoo pictures or rate and comment other member’s tattoos!

Dmn0166 · Tattoo lover Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 2

Hello,

first off i feel like i should introduce myself since i am new. my name is derek, im from mass, and im 19 years old. i already have two tattoos.

my first one, letf arm:

my second one, right arm (mirror):

my question relies on my third tattoo.

I was hoping to get it above my tattoo of jesus on my left arm to fill in that gap. I want the overall shape of it to have a wide bottom, and an arched top to fit the space as well as possible.

my choices are between a basic celtic knot, but im worried it would blend with my current tattoo and not look well.
on the other hand, i drew up a tattoo consisting of my last name, a nautical star, and 4 skulls.:

overall, my main question relies in the meaning of the skull tattoo.
each of the four skulls would symbolize each member of my family, but the more i read up on skull tattoos, they tend to symbolize people that have passed away, and all four of my family members are still living.

would symbolizing my family with skulls be a bad idea and or irrelevant?

thanks,

Derek

oh_bugger · Tattoo addict Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 516

It reminds me of a story in the book

"Tattoo secrets of a strange art" by Albert Parry.

Where he was discussing under age tattooing in America in the thirties, a woman came storming into the studio with a teenage boy, who the artist recognises when he asks what is wrong she says "that you have tattooed in loving memory of my mother on this childs chest"

To which the tat man says "whats wrong with that"

The woman replies "im still alive"

Moving on there seems to be a huge thing at the moment for getting tattoos in memory of people (i blame miami ink i mean really how many people die out there ?), Skulls may well be taken to represent death of loved ones however i wonder if you are looking for a reason to justify the tattoo to yourself.

A tat doesnt have to be full of meaning if you want it and will enjoy it then go get it.

Having said that without being patronizing you are young if your not sure take your time mate.

O.B.

Dmn0166 · Tattoo lover Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 2

You read my mind!

i have one tribal tattoo, and i kind of have an odd feeling about the fact it means nothing at all.

i really like the tattoo i drew up, but just like you said im trying too hard to justify a meaning in the tattoo.

i'm in no rush, so ill be sure to think things through. maybe ill add a skull or take away a skull to avoid the representation of my family.

thanks for the advice.

kpow · Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 4:23 am Post subject:

[quote:52995a77db]
Where he was discussing under age tattooing in America in the thirties, a woman came storming into the studio with a teenage boy, who the artist recognises when he asks what is wrong she says "that you have tattooed in loving memory of my mother on this childs chest"

To which the tat man says "whats wrong with that" [/quote:52995a77db]

The woman replies "im still alive"

Laughing

thats a funny story Laughing

if you like the design and designed it yourself then just go for it!!!
perhaps you could get it and leave the skulls as random skulls, and when you family members actually do die, you can turn it into a memorial tattoo by adding their names under the skulls?!
Idea

just an idea. maybe abit morbid (sp? Embarassed

) you probly dont want to think aobut your family members dying....sorry Evil or Very Mad