Wanna help me with a tattoo?

[Celudoc]

Hi there, this is my first post into the newgrounds BBS (that i know of), but I've been active in the chat room for about a month or so. I'm not too big of a forum person, but BrazNinja suggested me to post here about this topic, and I think he's probably right that I'd get better responses and support from the talent that swims these waters.

I've been trying to figure out for the past decade if I'd like to get a tattoo and what to get it OF. A tattoo is a serious decision as it will be with me for my whole life, so it better be something i can stand to live by and not make me regret when i see it. Naturally, I'm hesitant.

However, I've decided on what my first one will depict, based on a phrase I picked up from a sci-fi series (Callahan's crosstime saloon, if your interested). The phrase goes "Shared pain is lessened, Shared Joy is increased" (thus do we eliminate entropy), and its a phrase I tend to live by, as Empathy is one of the prime virtues i Uphold, and will continue to uphold for my lifespan. How i could depict this was a puzzle for me for the longest time, till one day it hit me.

The picture I see best representing this would be similar to the classic image of Atlas holding up the World. The tatt design would basically be an Atlas like character holding up the world, but He/She wouldn't be in pain, but in fact laughing and joyous because he has two friends on either side helping hold the world up, they too also being joyous or merry. This keeps the shared pain and shared joy idea. As well as being a FUCK YOU to Ayn Rand =D

Now if I was any good at drawing, I'd try to sketch it myself, as i know I should since tatts are a very personal thing. But my skills with a pencil are 0 to suck. My hands shake too much and my perspective on a 2d plane needs work. heh. thats why I'm here posting to see if anyone would like to help me design this. there are also alot of variables I have been considering that make this even harder.

For instance:
What Sex and Age are the friends?
Will they be clothed?
Should they be Sexless? (I'd kinda prefer this, so as not to be exclusionary to a sex or transex peoples)
Should it be in color? (although I think it'd be easier for this one to be outline, and then color it in later, as color will infer race, and I'm trying to make this relatable to the Lowest Common Denominator)
Should it even be Atlas? (THe thought of Captain planet holding up the world would be interestingly amusing due to my activities in Activism, though i HATE that mullet)
Should there be a background to all this?
Shading, timezone, etc.

Sorry for being a long first post, but i wanted to share a good portion of the details I've been mulling over. Any discussion, criticism (hopefully constructive but I'm open minded), or further ideas are appreciated. Again, I'm just hoping on volunteer help, I welcome anyone to steal this idea if they like it. And If someone ends up making a design that I love, I will try my best to post results. Again, i'm not a big forum guy (and I pray i haven't violated anything with this post), but I will try to keep up with this.

Thanks for taking the time to hear me out!

[Celudoc]

Ack, the post didn't accept my picture. Here's a link to a small image of Atlas for those who aren't familiar with the Titan: Atlas

[Aigis]

At 10/25/12 02:54 PM, Celudoc wrote: thats why I'm here posting to see if anyone would like to help me design this.

Would you be willing to pay someoen to design it?

A tattoo is a permanent thing, and not something you should spare expense for. And you will likely get a much better quality design if you're willing to pay.

[Tomsan]

I think its difficult to make something where 3 people carry the world, without the world itself becoming to large. maybe 1 dude in the middle frontal and two on the side from a side view will work idk. it sounds a pretty technical

[Celudoc]

At 10/25/12 03:11 PM, Aigis wrote:

At 10/25/12 02:54 PM, Celudoc wrote: thats why I'm here posting to see if anyone would like to help me design this.

Would you be willing to pay someoen to design it?

A tattoo is a permanent thing, and not something you should spare expense for. And you will likely get a much better quality design if you're willing to pay.

Yes, I'd be willing to throw down on it (300 being the max target i could handle atm), I just want to make sure I have a well thought out and easy to copy design for the tatooist to work with, as well as they will probably add in their own flare for it.

And thanks for pointing out the world size option, didn't think about that.

I think it'd be possible to exaggerate the size of the world, even cartoonishly. hell it might even get the idea across better. And it doesn't have to have the entire world, but enough to show that Atlas is trying to hold it, maybe even with difficulty where the friends are holding it to steady it. Say, showing the bottom half of the world on his shoulders while the friends steady it on either side, like a triangle, the friends being the hypotenuse.

[Tomsan]

Well you could choose to go for anatomy bodies like this

this is also possible in black and white, and you have way more classier versions of these. This would eradicate the skin problem. and partly the age question.

Since you have pretty much variables I would suggest that you first figure out somewhat more what YOU want. Also I would provide samples of what styles you like.

Its great that you want to involve the artist in the design, but they will do this anyway and I for one am very confused by reading what you want in the first few paragraphs and then suddenly you want capt america???

Also a question like 'should it have shading or background' kinda makes it seem like you have no idea what you want. You have the "what should my tattoo portray" down, but now the actual graphic part needs to be elaborated a bit more imo.

but idk maybe someone knows exactly what you want.

[Celudoc]

At 10/25/12 05:45 PM, Tomsan wrote: Well you could choose to go for anatomy bodies like this

this is also possible in black and white, and you have way more classier versions of these. This would eradicate the skin problem. and partly the age question.

Since you have pretty much variables I would suggest that you first figure out somewhat more what YOU want. Also I would provide samples of what styles you like.

Its great that you want to involve the artist in the design, but they will do this anyway and I for one am very confused by reading what you want in the first few paragraphs and then suddenly you want capt america???

Also a question like 'should it have shading or background' kinda makes it seem like you have no idea what you want. You have the "what should my tattoo portray" down, but now the actual graphic part needs to be elaborated a bit more imo.

but idk maybe someone knows exactly what you want.

The captain america remark was just me being a bit facetious, that'd be a horrid idea, apologies for bringin it up. Lets eliminate that variable and keep it Atlas.

I believe you're right though, I do need to elaborate more on the graphic details I would want personally. But thats part of why I'm asking on here, to get more insight in what I should focus on for decision, as well open up a discussion or suggestion that'd get the idea across. And now after some more discussion with others, I've been given even more variables to consider, augh =D...

But I like the idea of the muscles only, that WOULD solve the gender problem. that gives me the idea of an Alex Gray approach to this picture, like this which would help offset any creepiness that a skinless body could have. Hmm...that might be an excellent idea as it eliminates almost all of the variables.

Now that I've given it some more thought, I realize that a background would probably cause too much clutter, and take focus away from the metaphor.

I guess i need to take more time in thinking about this. I'm getting impatient and not realizing the lack of definition to the portrait itself. I'll repost on here if i know more of what I'd personally want. I thank you for helping me with clarification though! This will help me explain it to the Tattoo artist.

[FNJA]

This seems cool I'll try and draw what you described.

[FNJA]

Okay something like this? You tell me what I shoud change. Still a rough sketch