My tattoo is finally done, 5 months in the making...

Well, not too sure where to start.

 

I was walking through La Jolla and I found a cool little store where they sold home made Mexican style stuff for your house or garden. It was made out of very unique materials and honestly that store had some really cool stuff. I had been waiting for a few years to get another tattoo because I have a quote on the back of my neck, my initials on my ribs, and 1991 on my wrist... those were all just for fun, no... not reminders if I forgot, just for fun. I really wanted to wait until I found something awesome, and I finally saw it.

 

 

 

For some reason, these were perfect. My father passed away from Pix disease ( Alzheimer's ) in 2005, he was a huge part of my life and meant a lot to me. The single main sun would represent him, and the 3 other suns were my Mother, Brother and myself. I had gotten the biggest case of goosebumps I ever got in my whole life when I saw this. I was with my mom, told her the idea and she loved it. So that's where it started.

 

I took the design to Edgewater Tattoo on Garnet in Pacific Beach, told an artist named Chris my idea.

 

 

Came back about a week later, checked out the design and we started. The pain wasn't bad, but once we hit the top of the shoulder, and the inside of the arm... that's when I really started to hurt, but it was a good 4 hour session.

 

The stencils

 

 

 

 

 

First session was done, 2nd session was shading. We shaded all the roses and the suns and colored 3 of the roses. 6 hour session...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Came back about 2-3 weeks later, we did the inside rose and the top sun. 3-4 hour session...

 

 

Came out a little bit too much orange, in the end you'll see how we added brown to darken it a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we go with the last session, coloring the rest of the suns and the background. 5-6 hour session...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something wasn't right, so I went back for another session and got it touched up. 1 hour session... We added a ton of color on the top, back of the shoulder/armpit and around the elbow area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$1900, about 20 hours or so.

 

It's not perfect, it's not exactly how I wanted it but, I'm pretty damn happy with the way it is. It's something that's with me every day, it's different and it's very vibrant. I really want to bring it down further in the future, maybe add some waves or something. Through these past 5 months, I've learned a lot, gone through lots of pain, loud needles, blood, sweat, and almost tears. In the end, it's all worth it.

 

Makes me wanna get a tattoo! Very nice shots at the end.

Never gotten a tattoo. I was always concerned what I'd tell my grandchildren when they asked" Grandpa, what's that wrinkley thing there"

Cool metaphors. I'm too big a chicken to go through with a tat.

Looks fantastic! Great story behind it, too. Personal and personalized tats like that are always the best. It's been 3 years since my last one. Man, I need another one.

Looks great bor... impressive persistence... good detailed story.

Looks great! I finished my right sleeve about 6 months ago and my left one is almost done as well as my back and chest.

 

I will have to post pics sometime.

 

Congrats man!!!!

Always wanted to get one, but I know if I get one, I will end up with sleeves and a ton more when its all said and done.

Never gotten a tattoo. I was always concerned what I'd tell my grandchildren when they asked" Grandpa, what's that wrinkley thing there"

 

 

My grandpa used to tell me an artist painted something during his military service.

 

 

 

Interesting tat, I went through wanting one from 17-21. Some bad ideas there - asian letters anyone? Now I don't think I'll ever get one.

Looks great! I finished my right sleeve about 6 months ago and my left one is almost done as well as my back and chest.

 

I will have to post pics sometime.

 

Congrats man!!!!

 

Post up. I'm interested.

Post up. I'm interested.

 

It's a very addicting thing to get into!

 

I will post lots of pics when I get back to CBus tomorrow. Here in Pittsburgh, I neither have a camera or my computer with pictures; only my little laptop.

Thanks everyone, yeah I'm stoked to see yours dwiggs!!!

 

I'm going to get it touched up, I'm not too stoked on the suns. It's not perfect, and I want perfect .

tat looks great. nice pics at the end.

Looks great! Obviously must mean a lot to you to share it - very cool.

 

My friend got one recently that was a small mario kart - it's very small and round-ish... i told him it's going to look like a big red turd on his arm when he's 80.

 

Sometimes I still wanna get the tattoos i designed... and then sometimes I am unsure... told myself if i could design one, sit on it for a year, and still want it, i'd get it. Still haven't done it yet.

My grandmother had around 20 tattoos. Mostly names, flowers and depictions of her previous little budgies (annoying bastards).

 

I never did get any tattoos.