DU Artists/Tattoo folks...a request please

[Tripper11]

I have never done this before, and although I have been here almost since the beginning, I'm not an overly prolific poster.
I do read DU a lot and know that there are a lot of talented artists around here and need some advice regarding a tattoo I want to get.

It will be somewhat of a memorial tattoo for my brother who succumbed to Leukemia last year. He was a helluva guy obviously, but more so because 7 years ago this week he donated his stem cells to me when I had the same disease, saving my life.
I wish I could have returned the favour, but it doesn't work that way, and sadly, he had too many complications.

He was a hardworking truck driver, an amateur drummer and a good solid family man. He didn't take shit from no one, and yet could be the kindest person in the world.
His last driving gig was running gear for bands on tour. The last time I saw him he had been with Stone Sour(Slipknot offshoot) and was having a great time. He came to Seattle and we were able to spend almost 4 whole days together, which is very rare for a trucker to have that much time off. He went on to L.A. to drop some of their gear off for their European tour, and that's when he got sick.

My son gave me one idea, which was having the back of a truck, with the doors open and a set of drums inside with no one sitting at them. And then some kind of scroll or whatever with his life dates on them, maybe his initials.

I also thought about adding white highway lines that faded through the truck, indicating an endless road....

This will be my first tattoo, I want to put it on my left upper arm/shoulder.

I'm not sure if a whole sleeve is in order.

I know that a tattoo can't be overly complicated, and not too busy, so I have been racking my brain for over a year trying to come up with a concept, simple, yet with a lot of meaning.

I would live to have some more creative people from DU shoot me some ideas as I plan on seeing an artist in a couple weeks to begin the work.

Thank you!

[wysimdnwyg]

1. No artwork ideas, but some advice

1. Get something a bit more subdued than you might think of at first. You can always add to it later if you want, but it's really difficult to go the other way.

2. Your shoulder is a great place to put your first tattoo. If you decide later you're not as enamored with it as you expected, you don't have to look at it regularly. It's also very easy to conceal when necessary.

3. Color is sometimes very good, but don't be afraid to see what the design would look like as an outline or shades of black and gray.

4. If you're not 100% certain of the graphic, work with your artist a bit. You can probably get him to do a mock up in pen or even henna that you can wear around for a few days.

5. Find a reputable artist who follows all relevant safety protocols (clean needles, gloves, etc). A quality shop that has been around for several years is usually your best option. If it looks like a fly-by-night operation, you're likely to be unhappy with it in the end.

[Tripper11]

2. Thanks for the tips...

The shop I wil be going to has a good rep. I was referred by a friend. They do nice work.
As for less to start, that's a great idea.
Now I just need some art ideas to bring.
I have about $500 or so in gift cards my wife has been getting me for the last year to start the process. It should give me a good start.

[dropkickpa]

3. Also, any reputable artist will work with you to draw it up

They'll sit and talk with you and help you with ideas, and they will know what will work for a tattoo and where you want it. They'll also be willing to draw it up and tweak it until you are happy with it.