I have been thinking about getting more tattoos for over a year now. I would like a large, colorful monarch butterfly, in memory of my grandmother and the word’s “little willow,” for the Paul McCartney song by the same name, that is very special to my dad and I. I would also like a crafting/design piece that incorporates illustrator, sewing, and painting. I’m just having a difficult time figuring out where I want them. I collected several images of tattoos that I find beautiful/love the placement of. Do you have any suggestions on placement?
1. via loveatfirstblush.blogspot.com, 2. via Pinterest, source unknown, 3. via weheartit.com, 4. via Sometimes Sweet, 5. via Pinterest, source unknown, 6. via A Beautiful Mess, 7. via bdunlap.blogspot.com, 8. via Sometimes Sweet, 9. via loveatfirstblush.blogspot.com.
Having just (this past Friday!) gotten my second tattoo, a few words of advice on placement.
Number one, the closer it is to bone/the less “fatty tissue” is under the skin, the more it hurts. Of course, pain is relative and what really hurt to me may not feel that bad to you. I was told before both of my tattoos that you really only feel the outline and your endorphins will kick in for them to fill it in. Nonsense! :) I felt every bit of it. That being said, it was totally worth it!
Number two, gravity. I originally had thought about placing it on my ribcage and was given some advice from my tattoo artist. It will fall because gravity takes effect as you age. A design may be less impacted, but any kind of text will become less legible. I sacrificed location for what was more important to me, a long term beautiful tattoo.
Good luck and if you have any other questions, feel free to contact me. At less than a week old and five years past, both short and long term memories of the tattoo process are fresh in my mind.