I’m getting my first tattoo in 1hr

[SolidChamp]

I'm 38. Married. And for my whole life I was absolutely against getting a tattoo, as I felt the reasons for it needed to be substantial and somewhat existential.

Then we had our son.

Leon will be 5 years old this September, and there is nothing more life-affirming than looking at my little pal and knowing that this bond will endure until the day I die.

Here in Taiwan, getting a tattoo is an extremely common practice. I'm very fortunate to have found someone whose style is both elegant and affecting.

https://instagram.com/min_tattoo?igshid=bg2jhax9viuc

And so to honour my son, and to remind myself of why I keep going each and every day, I've decided to take a small piece of the touching Marlon Brando quote from Superman '78 and add my son's date of birth in Roman numerals:

The son becomes the father,
and the father the son
IX.XXIII.MMXV

Click to shrink...

Okay...phew...I'm not nervous about the pain (I just recently had my hand crushed by a hydraulic carseat. I'm nervous about the permanence.

Wish me luck!

 

[Chaos Legion]

Congrats, OP. That's an awesome thing to tattoo.

Where are you getting it placed?

 

[rokkerkory]

Awesome man, stay safe during this crazy day and age though. Have fun with it!

There's no reason to be against ink, it's art and very personable as you now know.

Also, it's not that painful, I have a full sleeve and the pain goes away and becomes therapeutic after 30 mins or so except for my elbow. That ish was nuts.

 

[Chaos Legion]

Awesome man, stay safe during this crazy day and age though. Have fun with it!

There's no reason to be against ink, it's art and very personable as you now know.

Also, it's not that painful, I have a full sleeve and the pain goes away and becomes therapeutic after 30 mins or so except for my elbow. That ish was nuts.

Click to shrink...

My ribs and middle of my back/spinal cord. Ugh. Stay away from bonish areas.

 

[Sai]

I've tattoos across both the outsides of my wrists, and I love them. As long as you're confident in the design, you'll love it and won't regret it, and the pain/discomfort won't be memorable at all.

 

[rokkerkory]

My ribs and middle of my back/spinal cord. Ugh. Stay away from bonish areas.

Click to shrink...

Yeah ribs and back spinal area are a no no for me haha

plenty of other real estate to decorate :D

 

[themoralcenter]

good on yah but ribs are...how should i say fun?

 

[kami_sama]

Congrats. The tattoo will be awesome!

good on yah but ribs are...how should i say fun?

Click to shrink...

I had mine in my forearm and that's one of the easier parts, I can't imagine having it on the ribs.

 

[luca]

Good luck with it, and it's a great idea for a tattoo!

I'm getting my first one as well. Probably gonna be on my wrist.

 

[themoralcenter]

ribs are not fun especially when the color grinding is in effect

 

[SolidChamp]

Congrats, OP. That's an awesome thing to tattoo.

Where are you getting it placed?

Click to shrink...

Inside of my left arm/forearm. Between the elbow joint and my wrist. Not too big at all. Maybe 9cm in length.

 

[SolidChamp]

This guy's style is dot-shading. It's light and elegant and not heavy on the ink.

Considering I endured the worst fucking pain of my life just a couple months ago I think this will be a cakewalk by comparison.

 

[SolidChamp]

Wow. This feels like a vibrating cat scratch.

 

[Pirate Bae]

Sounds like a dope tattoo! The forearm isn't a bad area at all. Ribs, bicep, thigh, and feet are the worst.

I have a half sleeve myself. I love it and definitely would like to make it a full sleeve at some point.

 

[luca]

Wow. This feels like a vibrating cat scratch.

Click to shrink...

This sounds horrible to me lol, please say more.

I'm thinking of getting folding hands tattoo on my wrist and maybe a quote on my forearm but maybe that would ruin it if I want a sleeve someday.

 

[SolidChamp]

This sounds horrible to me lol, please say more.

I'm thinking of getting folding hands tattoo on my wrist and maybe a quote on my forearm but maybe that would ruin it if I want a sleeve someday.

Click to shrink...

I am only 40% done. Lol

The pain has varying degrees depending on where he moves the needle. But if you've ever had a really nasty scratch from a cat then you can probably get the gist of how this feels at its worst moments.

 

[Sunster]

if you're talking with the artist or whoever in the shop throughout, the pain is negligible. only a few times was i just thinking "wow, this is very painful" when he was doing line work on the inside of my bicep. (soft skin)

This sounds horrible to me lol, please say more.

I'm thinking of getting folding hands tattoo on my wrist and maybe a quote on my forearm but maybe that would ruin it if I want a sleeve someday.

Click to shrink...

not really. if that day ever comes, just talk to the artist about it and I'm sure they can either incorporate it into the sleeve or cover it with the sleeve design.

 

[kami_sama]

Wow. This feels like a vibrating cat scratch.

Click to shrink...

Yep it does, and considering he's doing letters, he's using a small needle, and for me, it was the worst lol

 

[SolidChamp]

Yep it does, and considering he's doing letters, he's using a small needle, and for me, it was the worst lol

Click to shrink...

Yeah the pain is starting to get a little aggravating.lol

 

[luca]

I've never had a cat scratch me, in fact it's one of my nightmare scenarios and I always keep a safe distance lol.

Hope your tattoo is going well though! You're gonna show the final tattoo?

 

[SolidChamp]

Yeah I'll upload it to my Instagram or just post from the artist's profile cause he uploads all of his work.

EDIT: looks to be maybe 70% done!

 

[iFirez]

When I was a little younger I wanted to get the Dead Space health bar down my spine like it is in those games and then the last shape at the base would be cracked (I have scoliosis and a cracked vertebrae) but I'm too chicken to even get a little tattoo on my arm that says 23 or even just one of Cyndaquil.

OP you're a braver person that me to get a tattoo for sure. This thread has proven the pain is there for sure (in a bit way) so I'm even more nope about it now.

 

[luca]

Can't one ask the tattooist to do it on you but without ink so you get a sense of what it feels like before committing to it?

I know with myself I'm gonna get a small one as my first so I get an idea of how it is.

Already decided on a wolf with an eyepatch for my sleeve.

 

[SolidChamp]

When I was a little younger I wanted to get the Dead Space health bar down my spine like it is in those games and then the last shape at the base would be cracked (I have scoliosis and a cracked vertebrae) but I'm too chicken to even get a little tattoo on my arm that says 23 or even just one of Cyndaquil.

OP you're a braver person that me to get a tattoo for sure. This thread has proven the pain is there for sure (in a bit way) so I'm even more nope about it now.

Click to shrink...

I think how people handle pain will depend on their experiences with it. The more physical pain I've had to endure the more desensitized I've become.

Like I had a laser shot into a wart near my finger nail and after several jolts of that fucking shit I was ready to pass out.

This is nothing compared to that. lol

 

[Couscous]

Yep it does, and considering he's doing letters, he's using a small needle, and for me, it was the worst lol

Click to shrink...

When I did one last year the artist started to make shadows in places where he previously made thick lines and that shit wasn't pleasant at all.

 

[SolidChamp]

Can't one ask the tattooist to do it on you but without ink so you get a sense of what it feels like before committing to it?

I know with myself I'm gonna get a small one as my first so I get an idea of how it is.

Already decided on a wolf with an eyepatch for my sleeve.

Click to shrink...

Yep. We discussed the design in detail and tweaked it from his original idea. Then he put a blue imprint on my skin from a final sketch I approved.

Shit I kinda want to show you guys how far along I am...

 

[HotAndTender]

Once you've got one you'll be thinking about the next in no time. I can't wait for tattoo shops to reopen in the UK so i can get a lot more.

 

[SolidChamp]

Okay here we go...

Thomas Bellmore on Instagram

6 likes, 3 comments - solidchamp on May 26, 2020

www.instagram.com

 

[luca]

I meant, for the ones who's scared of the needle, couldn't they ask the tattooist to ink you but without the ink so they get to feel the pain, to get a sense of it before committing to being inked.

I'm always impressed how the tattooist can ink the design onto your body as exact as the drawing itself. Do they place an imprint on your body and then ink on top of it?

Once you've got one you'll be thinking about the next in no time. I can't wait for tattoo shops to reopen in the UK so i can get a lot more.

Click to shrink...

I have so many ideas drawn in my book already.

What was your first tattoo?

Okay here we go...

Thomas Bellmore on Instagram

6 likes, 3 comments - solidchamp on May 26, 2020

www.instagram.com

Click to shrink...

Oh wow, even with a frame around it. Looks real good so far, love what you went for for the frame. The date of birth in Roman numerals is a nice touch.

I see the imprint now, so that's how they do it.

 

[SolidChamp]

I meant, for the ones who's scared of the needle, couldn't they ask the tattooist to ink you but without the ink so they get to feel the pain, to get a sense of it before committing to being inked.

I'm always impressed how the tattooist can ink the design onto your body as exact as the drawing itself. Do they place an imprint on your body and then ink on top of it?

Click to shrink...

Check the Instagram link, see how he did the imprint in blue.

 

[luca]

My idea for a first tattoo on my wrist is much less unique:

I feel like it's kind of a common tattoo but it's the one I keep coming back to. As a reminder of the love I can have, and the love I've had, from close ones when I stay sober.

 

[SolidChamp]

Oh wow, even with a frame around it. Looks real good so far, love what you went for for the frame. The date of birth in Roman numerals is a nice touch.

I see the imprint now, so that's how they do it.

Click to shrink...

Wow such an awesome thing to hear as I'm getting my first tattoo! Thanks for the feedback!

 

[SolidChamp]

I thought of an old castle settled high up along a bluff and imagined myself walking up there and seeing this etched in stone on an ivy covered wall. That's how I thought of it.

 

[luca]

not really. if that day ever comes, just talk to the artist about it and I'm sure they can either incorporate it into the sleeve or cover it with the sleeve design.

Click to shrink...

I see. Guess I'm going for it then, instead of thinking ahead for what my sleeve would look like later.

 

[HotAndTender]

What was your first tattoo?

Click to shrink...

Here's my first

on the inside of my bicep, tickled a bit towards the top by my arm pit but it was exactly how i imagined it to feel, got a few more since then.

 

[SolidChamp]

Here's my first

on the inside of my bicep, tickled a bit towards the top by my arm pit but it was exactly how i imagined it to feel, got a few more since then.

Click to shrink...

Goddamn that looks like it hurt.

 

[luca]

You guys tattoos are rather big compared to what I was preparing myself for as my first one. Maybe I could go for something bigger.

I like your tattoo, it looks slick. Love the whole dark hoodie and cover on top of a skeleton, man that's a lot of ink.

 

[Kyuuji]

Beautiful design and glad it's going well so far, nice one OP.

I feel like it's kind of a common tattoo but it's the one I keep coming back to. As a reminder of the love I can have, and the love I've had, from close ones when I stay sober.

Click to shrink...

I think that's a lovely design and reason to want it, certainly personal and that it keeps calling to you means something. That's what matters in the end, not that a few of the other 7 billion people might have something similar for other reasons 😊

 

[Nakenorm]

I got my first tattoo when I was 17 and drunk, I wouldn't do it again but at the same time I don't really care that I did. Most of the time I even forgot it's there. But a tattoo dedicated to your kid? You won't regret it.

 

[show me your skeleton]

i find the next few days worse than the tattoo itself

i t c h y ;___;

 

[janii]

I got my first tattoo when I was 17 and drunk, I wouldn't do it again but at the same time I don't really care that I did. Most of the time I even forgot it's there. But a tattoo dedicated to your kid? You won't regret it.

Click to shrink...

How did you get that with 17? Here you have to be 18 to get tattoo, or at least have your parents ok paper when youre 16 and above

 

[Nakenorm]

How did you get that with 17? Here you have to be 18 to get tattoo, or at least have your parents ok paper when youre 16 and above

Click to shrink...

Oh yeah it's the same here, I just knew an artist that would tattoo people on his free time.

 

[Kyuuji]

How did you get that with 17? Here you have to be 18 to get tattoo, or at least have your parents ok paper when youre 16 and above

Click to shrink...

Can't speak to them but it was a pretty common thing for people 16/17 here to go around tattoo shops to try and eventually find one that didn't ID check and get what you wanted done.

Can remember walking around with my friend at the time to do just that and took like 3-4 stops. Isn't legal here under 18 even with parental consent.

 

[rude]

My idea for a first tattoo on my wrist is much less unique:

I feel like it's kind of a common tattoo but it's the one I keep coming back to. As a reminder of the love I can have, and the love I've had, from close ones when I stay sober.

Click to shrink...

I like it :)

 

[HotAndTender]

Goddamn that looks like it hurt.

Click to shrink...

You get used to it and eventually it goes numb, i've been friends with the tattoo artist for years so having someone to catch up with and talk helps and passes the time

 

[Deleted member 2809]

What's the 23rd month?

 

[Derpot]

Getting your first tattoo sure is an experience!
I got my first tattoo in January, and it's the Hunter's Mark from Bloodborne

 

[T002 Tyrant]

I'd love to get a tattoo but I think I'd change my mind and get bored of the design after 6 months.

Enjoy your tattoo!

 

[Midgarian]

Getting your first tattoo sure is an experience!
I got my first tattoo in January, and it's the Hunter's Mark from Bloodborne

Click to shrink...

That's pretty cool.

I know there are some circles here that frown upon implementing videogame aesthetics into ones real life personality and find it "cringey" or whatever, and I myself have swayed back and forth from that position over the years, but recently I've come to terms with it and accepted that "I am what I am" and videogames are as valid a part of drawing personal aesthetics from as any other part of life.

What makes iconography from religion, ethnic symbols, fashions, music movements etc. more valid to use than videogame iconography? The answer is nothing.

I've never had a tattoo. Recently I've been thinking about getting something FFVII related. The logo perhaps, or Materia slots. A more exotic and hardcore one would be One Wing on my shoulder :P.

 

[thetrin]

I got my first tattoo about 10 years ago, and I do not regret it. I want to get another one, in fact. It sounds like you picked a great tattoo, because it's something clsoe to your heart. That's the important thing.

I got my first one on my bicep, and I don't think it really hurt that much. I'm sure it hurts way way more on other parts of the body.

Anyway, enjoy it! It's a experience. :D