ART : 7 Things To Do Before You Bring Your Dream Tattoo Design To Your Tattoo Studio

by maurits Menders

Choosing a tattoo design is a big decision, but so is choosing a tattoo studio. If you go to a less than perfect tattoo parlor, you could very well end up with an infection and with a bad looking tattoo. An infection can cause you more trouble than you ever thought possible and a shaky tattoo will make you feel sick even longer.

First thing to do: find out how long a parlor has been in business. This will tell you how much business the parlor receives. A less than perfect parlor will not be around for long.

Second thing to do: make sure that the artists are licensed, the parlor is clean, and the equipment is sanitized after each and every tattoo. Clean equipment and a clean studio is without a doubt the most important consideration when dealing with tattoos.

Third thing to do: check the artist. If the artist isn't licensed or not a professional, run! Sure, the higher quality tattoo parlors are more expensive. And for a very good reason. They have to pay their licensed artists better and keep their parlor nice and clean.

Fourth thing to do: always check out more studios. Once you have found some addresses, simply go there and take a look around. If you like what you see, come back a week or so later and check if you still like the place. Don't rush your decision.

Fifth thing to do: talk to your tattoo artist. Ask questions and find out anything you can about the guy that is going to stick needles into your body. Ask about his background and qualifications. Experience is a must here. If he hesitates to answer any question you ask or acts hasty towards you, simply leave and find another tattoo artist.

Sixth thing to do: when you visit the artist, bring your own tattoo design. The artist should not attempt to push another design on you. If he thinks there will be a problem with your tatto design or if he thinks he can improve it, he will let you know. His reputation is on the line as well.

Seventh thing to do: do your homework and this time, do it better than you did in high school. Most tattoo designs have a special meaning so you probably know what you want. Go visit Tattoo Me Now and find or create the tattoo of your dreams using the thousands examples they offer.

ART : To Tattoo Or Not To Tattoo?

by Tattoo Artist

That is the question. Getting a tattoo has been increasingly popular in recent years. While it used to be mostly the domain of men, it is just as common today to find tattoos on women as it is on men. There are several reasons for this. Tattoos are becoming fashion as well as personal statements. They broadcast who the person is. Tattoos are picked most of the time not just for their design, but also for their symbolisms. The tattoo may subtly reveal what the person believes, what group she may belong to, or even demonstrating affinity to a loved one or even idol. Tattoos are also used as a way for expressing their freedom or cause.

Tattoo designs can be found in local tattoo parlors as well as in books and magazines. Increasingly, tatto designs abound in the Internet. Online databases carry thousands of designs from the simple to the elaborate. Tattoo sites include comprehensive search facilities from which one is able to search by color, size or style. Most designs come with photos of members with tattoos so you can get an idea of what the tattoo will look like on the part of body you want it on.

While tattoos are gaining popularity, there are downsides to getting a tattoo. For instance, tattoos are produced by piercing the skin with a needle and injecting small amounts of ink. Because of this, the risk of infection is always a possibility. This depends, however, on the sanitation practices of the tattoo artist. When getting a tattoo, make sure the artist cleans his equipment after every use. Browsing through internet forums of tattoo enthusiasts should be able to point you in the direction of a reputable artist.

Another problem with tattoos is the cost and difficulty of removal. If you want to have a tattoo removed, one way is to remove it by cutting off the skin and then grafting on a new one. This can be costly and there is the risk of complications. Most insurance companies won't pay for the costs of this operation unless there is a specific medical or health reason. This means you'll have to pay for the cost for removal. Anothe alternative is through laser removal. However, depending on the area that you have the tattoo on, laser tattoo removal can be very painful. Again, you will probably have to pay the costs yourself.

Thus, in getting a tattoo, be certain that you want the tattoo in the first place and that the design you have chosen is one you will be happy with for the rest of your life.

ART : The History of Tattoos

by Rae Schwartz

Tattoos have an ancient history stretching back over thousands of years. Egyptians were tattooing themselves for decorative reasons back in the days of the pyramids. The Chinese adopted the form around 2,000 B.C. The body of a primitive man found frozen in the Swiss mountains dated to 2000 years ago had multiple tattoos on him. The practice of making permanent marks into the skin with pigment has been found at some point in nearly every major culture in history.

In some societies it helped identify bands of people - as when family crests or tribal symbols were used. During the Victorian era, the modern tattoo machine was first invented and patented, a design that has changed very little in style to this day. When explorers of that era came across primitive cultures that practiced tattooing, individuals were often returned to Europe for audiences and exhibitions. When religious missionaries encounter tattooing, they often do their best to discourage and end the practices. Sadly the twentieth century saw many native tattooing practices disappear, especially in the South Pacific island cultures.

In other societies, criminals or outcasts were 'marked' in order that others would know clearly who they were. One of the most notorious uses of tattooing was in ancient China where the offender was marked with three lines on the forehead, forming the character for “dog” after the third offense. The Yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate, historically has used full-body tattooing as a way of identifying members and/or proving commitment. Street gangs in contemporary America frequently utilize tattooing, often on the neck or hands to prove commitment, as the marks can’t be hidden casually and your group identity is always on view.

The word “tattoo” is fairly modern. The first recorded usage of the word is an entry in British sea Captain James Cook’s diary dated 1796. The word is derived from the Polynesian/Samoan root word “tatu,” a verb meaning “to strike.” There is also a related modern usage where a tattoo refers to a military exercise or a continuous drumming. Internet query searches quickly reveal there are a variety of common misspellings for the word “tattoos.” Popular errors are tatoos, tattos and tattoes.

The modern wave of tattoo interest has its roots in the late 1960s. For the first time, people with fine art training began to work in the field of skin art, bringing with them all their art history knowledge. The modern body art renaissance has been the saving grace for many tribal tattoo styles, now being worn by people with no attachment to the symbolic histories of many of these patterns. Nonetheless, this fascination with mixed cultural tattoo styles has saved certain styles of skin art from extinction.