First tattoo idea : critique?

[feef]

Had a hankering for a tattoo for many years, but could never really find a design that I actually wanted and, if I confess, I also gave too much of a st about what some folk might say.

I've come up with a design based on a simplified avalanche bulletin for the 5th December 2012 where I was one of many volunteers who carried out the search/rescue. Of the two who were buried, one survived with minor injuries. The other died in hospital the following day, although in reality, she never regained consciousness after being buried for 45 minutes.

I learnt a lot that day. So many things were done wrong to get them into that situation and for me this design is a reminder of not just what happened, but to be mindful of all those things which are relevant in everyday life, not just when you're off-piste skiing.

I've stuck the design on using transfer paper and will see how I 'live' with it for a few days.

Any comments on the design or placement, or thoughts in general?

[designforlife]

i like the design, it's clean and the placement works.

i had my first tattoo at 30 years old about 3 years ago...it was a big chest piece based on artwork by Danny Larsen from the first season K2 happyhour. One of the best things i've done, 3 years on and no regrets at all.

5 hours with no breaks for a first tattoo though, not sure i would have gone so extreme if i did it again...although every one since has been a cakewalk.

[HTP99]

It clearly means something to you and a lot of thought has gone into it so go for it, the only thing that I would change is the positioning, if it were me I'd want it central on the forearm, it just need to be moved across your forearm a cm or so.

[Oldandslow]

I like it. Only thing I'd say is that the compass points/snow flake symbol will need to have the black dialled back a bit. The gaps between the sections will need to be larger and the letters more defined otherwise it'll all bleed into one big blob. Your artist will be able to give you all that advice anyway.

[bigandclever]

I like it (not that that matters). I particularly like the French compass points.

[Gary29]

Go for it.

If you have to even consider for a single second what anyone else thinks then you're doing it wrong.

[glenrobbo]

This one's a bit off-piste:

[feef]

HTP99 said:

It clearly means something to you and a lot of thought has gone into it so go for it, the only thing that I would change is the positioning, if it were me I'd want it central on the forearm, it just need to be moved across your forearm a cm or so.

Across as in more towards the top/outside? Not first to say that.. I have a couple more of the transfers so when this wears off, I'll try another 'up' a bit more

Oldandslow said:

I like it. Only thing I'd say is that the compass points/snow flake symbol will need to have the black dialled back a bit. The gaps between the sections will need to be larger and the letters more defined otherwise it'll all bleed into one big blob. Your artist will be able to give you all that advice anyway.

Yeah, I've already opened up the spacing between the compass points, but will expand it further. The 'problem' is to make the lettering 'bigger' so that it's more defined, the whole thing has to get bigger, and ideally, I'd like to keep it around this size.


I'll continue to experiment.

Edited by feef on Tuesday 4th December 10:00

[Rich_W]

Oldandslow said:

I like it. Only thing I'd say is that the compass points/snow flake symbol will need to have the black dialled back a bit. The gaps between the sections will need to be larger and the letters more defined otherwise it'll all bleed into one big blob. Your artist will be able to give you all that advice anyway.

Could he flip the design slightly?

Have the compass outlined in black and the letters in black, rather than skin colour. i.e don't fill in the black portions


Rough paintbrush (so get all the segments equal size )

Edited by Rich_W on Tuesday 4th December 17:25

[Ruskie]

feef said:

Had a hankering for a tattoo for many years, but could never really find a design that I actually wanted and, if I confess, I also gave too much of a st about what some folk might say.

I've come up with a design based on a simplified avalanche bulletin for the 5th December 2012 where I was one of many volunteers who carried out the search/rescue. Of the two who were buried, one survived with minor injuries. The other died in hospital the following day, although in reality, she never regained consciousness after being buried for 45 minutes.

I learnt a lot that day. So many things were done wrong to get them into that situation and for me this design is a reminder of not just what happened, but to be mindful of all those things which are relevant in everyday life, not just when you're off-piste skiing.

I've stuck the design on using transfer paper and will see how I 'live' with it for a few days.

Any comments on the design or placement, or thoughts in general?

Over time the tiny white spaces where the lettering is will disappear.

Another good method is to set what you want as your lock screen on your phone. You have to look at it 20+ times a day and after a month if you still like it then it’s a good sign.

[Cotty]

Ruskie said:

Another good method is to set what you want as your lock screen on your phone. You have to look at it 20+ times a day and after a month if you still like it then it’s a good sign.

If that's the case I need the Delta Flyer from Voyager on my arm

[alorotom]

Have to admit, I’m really not a fan. Not sure if it’s the boxes around the objects but I just don’t like it. However, it has a deep meaning to you and that’s the important part.

[feef]

Rich_W said:

Oldandslow said:

I like it. Only thing I'd say is that the compass points/snow flake symbol will need to have the black dialled back a bit. The gaps between the sections will need to be larger and the letters more defined otherwise it'll all bleed into one big blob. Your artist will be able to give you all that advice anyway.

Could he flip the design slightly?

Have the compass outlined in black and the letters in black, rather than skin colour. i.e don't fill in the black portions


Rough paintbrush (so get all the segments equal size )

Edited by Rich_W on Tuesday 4th December 17:25

The black infill is significant as it depicts which aspects of the mountain are at high risk. The issue on this day was that there was high risk on all aspects.
Other days it is more likely to look like this:

e.g.

[popeyewhite]

If you're looking for an excuse to get a tattoo there must be something more relevant to your personality than a Tignes avalanche awareness sign. Something entirely individual?

[mad4amanda]

One for the winter tyre thread?

[dundarach]

Only comment would be:

Do you surround yourself with people who will understand it?

I ask, as I have a Prisoner Number 6 sticker where the tax disk is, I think it looks cool, reality is, on the whole most people haven't got a clue what it is.

Therefore I either explain it and look a bit silly

Or I just look a bit silly

I had no idea what the hell it was, even after the explanation, no idea why you'd want it??

At least a council 'name' is pretty obvious (I guess)

[feef]

dundarach said:

Only comment would be:

Do you surround yourself with people who will understand it?

I ask, as I have a Prisoner Number 6 sticker where the tax disk is, I think it looks cool, reality is, on the whole most people haven't got a clue what it is.

Therefore I either explain it and look a bit silly

Or I just look a bit silly

I had no idea what the hell it was, even after the explanation, no idea why you'd want it??

At least a council 'name' is pretty obvious (I guess)

I had thought about that.. I have no issue explaining it but I recognise that it could get tiring (a couple of close friends have tattoos that they need to explain so I get it)

As to who are around me, I'm a BASI qualified ski instructor, I write a snow-sports blog, I'm involved quite heavily in the Ski Club of Great Britain and most of my friends are linked to the mountains or snow-sports in some way, so a large chunk of those I see would recognise it. They would probably query the significance tho.

[Gareth79]

dundarach said:

I had no idea what the hell it was, even after the explanation, no idea why you'd want it??

I don't think it matters if anybody else knows what it is, it matters that he knows, and wants it as a constant reminder of an important event in his life.

If somebody asks then he can choose to explain it (or not), if they think it's silly then perhaps it says more about them than the OP?

[popeyewhite]

Gareth79 said:

dundarach said:

I had no idea what the hell it was, even after the explanation, no idea why you'd want it??

I don't think it matters if anybody else knows what it is, it matters that he knows, and wants it as a constant reminder of an important event in his life.

If somebody asks then he can choose to explain it (or not), if they think it's silly then perhaps it says more about them than the OP?

The thing is if the OP goes with that the only questions he'll get will begin "what the hell..." If you think that doesn't matter, over a lifetime... .

[SlimJim16v]

First off, I don't think your forearm is the best place for your first tattoo.

Sencond, something's not right to me . I think it'd work better horizontally, probably on your upper arm or shoulder.