Celtic Themed Tattoos

[Colin]

I really really really REALLY want a celtic tattoo. The only thing holding me back right now is cost. I can't decide which to do first: either a band of celtic knot work, or an Ionian cross (celtic cross). If I go for the cross first, I can't decide where to put it either: upper arm, shoulder, side of lower leg, chest.

I do have a few questions to throw out to the forum...

Is it true that color tattoos fade quickly? If that is the case, I am just going to stick with solid black.

It has been suggested to me that tattoos would not work for me because (as my online nick suggests) I am hairy, very hairy... all over. About the only clean canvas on me for tattoo art is my forehead, and I am NOT getting a tattoo there. Ok... and my feet and palms are hairless too. Anyway... I was just wanting to get some general opinions about that.

And last, what kind of prices should I expect?

-ian

I'm a bit of a hairy bastard myself. It depends on how hairy your arms are. If it's faint or light hair, the tattoo will be fine. If it is extremely hairy and course, it may not work that well.

My first tattoo has a lot of colour wheras the other two are mainly black and grey. I can't say I have seen anymore fade in the colour than in the black. Just remember that red is one of those colours that may or may not set well.

Price? The shop I go to is around $150/ hour

I'll have to admit I don't understand the whole tattoo thing. I can say that I have seen some that were impressive, but none that I really like. I will say that some I have seen here ARE impressive.

Nothing against you guys that want to do it, but I didn't come into the world with any ink and I won't be leaving with any. I'd rather spend my money on other things.

Oh, and nothing will get pierced unless I fall on a sharp stick.

Hey, to each their own, they are definetely not for everyone. My wife doesn't get it either, but like most things I do she just goes along with it. I see it as when I kick it either the big furnace or worms will eat the skin off first, so it doesn't matter I never expected to get more than one, but they are proving to be as addictive and more expensive than kilts.

[Kilted Taper]

Only have one right now, a sgian dubh on my right calf:



Picture taken right after it was finish, all shiny and with a spot or two of blood (apologies to the squemish). My wife and I are looking into both getting a celtic eternity knot, something kinda like this:



inside our forearms. Price is holding us back right now. And tattoos are one thing you don't want to go cheap on. Get it done, and get it done right.

[Colin]

I added one more to my ever growing list.

I had the Luckenbooth tattooed in 2002 and added the work around it last week. It's an 8-10 inch disc in the centre of my upper back.

[Big Dave]

That looks good Colin, I also got some new ink done last week.

[angel923]

I curently have five peices of ink on my body a large Celtic cross combined with a Celtic knotwork armband on my right shoulder, An angel sitting on a cloud with a face looking down on my left, A pair of wolves resting on some rocks on my lower back, a native american woman's face in the middle of my back, and a wolf head don in wash on my left shoulder. All are done in black and grey save for the eyes in the angel's cloud. one day I will get some photos taken but kilts are eating my camera budget.

PS: I used to say my body was a temple and it needs its art work but that has changed I now recognize my body for what it is a basilica.

[Big Mikey]

Having just found this theme specific thread, I'll throw my piece into the mix. The leg piece was done in December on my daughter's birthday. She got her first piece and I thought we could do that "bonding" thing.

[SnakeEyes]

Great thread bump. I don't have any celtic art (yet) but I have three other tats that I'm quite proud of.

[Monkey@Arms]

Hey, I only have one, so you'll have to forgive me for re-posting it whenever it fits the topic



Best regards,

Jake

[chasem]

I'm not a big fan of tats, personally. Nothing against anyone who is covered in them, it's just not for me. Though I am heavily thinking about getting one at some point. As such, it'd have to be something heavily meaningful.

Here's what I've come up with, to incorporate both my Scottish heritage, and my Christian beliefs:

The standard belt/buckle of the clan mottos. The text reading "Diem Premier Servi" which I've read somewhere is a motto of MacEwen, therefore pulling in both the Scottish side, and the Christian side too. Inside the belt, I'm thinking something like a lion with a crown of thorns on its head. Maybe a cross in the background as well. I haven't figured it out completely yet.

Something like that though, or at least something else equally symbolic.

[ccga3359]

I'm not a big fan of tats, personally. Nothing against anyone who is covered in them, it's just not for me. Though I am heavily thinking about getting one at some point. As such, it'd have to be something heavily meaningful.

For somebody that's not into tattoos it sounds like you put a lot of thought into custom designing your own! Make sure that if you get one that it is what you truly want. They are for life, and even if removed at a later date you will still carry the scar.