Tattoo Designing! Anyone artistic?

[2LittlePuds]

So a few years ago i got a tattoo on my wrist of my eldest sons name and date of birth. It was something i wanted but wasn't really planned, i was just shopping in manchester one day and walked past a tattoo shop and thought lets get my tattoo now! The tattoist squeezed me in, quickly printed a design and now i have a tattoo that i wish i would have put more thought into. It was done bigger than i wanted but she said she couldnt do the writing any smaller, i think that was when i should have walked away! Lol

Anyway, attached is my tattoo. I have another son now and have been wanting his name tattooed but im stumped! I want them together on the same wrist, but dont want it just like a list id like to incorporate them with each other in some way so its more like a proper design rather than just 2 names and 2 date of births! My partner mentioned getting them in that type of form where you look at something and it looks like one thing, but when you look closely you can see there names. I quite like this idea but im not sure if it can be done, and i certainly cant design it! Im also open to just some sort of pattern with their names, or their names overlapping in some way? Whatever i have i dont want it too big, although im happy for it to wrap round my wrist a little.

I dont have time to sit down with a tattoist to design something, i need to be able to walk into the shop and say this is what i want.

I know its a long shot but is anyone on here good at this sort of stuff? I am the most uncreative person EVER so im really struggling with this.

Any help would be REALLY appreciated my 2nd sons name is Scott, born 19/06/13

[velma]

I can't help you with the design but what I can tell you is, although your last tattoo isn't what you ideally wanted, your tattooist was probably right about the size. You do see smaller tattoos but over time they are the ones that blur quicker. And I understand what you're saying about time to sit with someone but do a little research/word of mouth recommendations of a tattooist who's work you like & message them. They may be able to come up with a design using your photos & how you've described it on here. But even if you have to pop in, it doesn't take long to show them your existing tattoo & explain what you'd like & then when you've gone they'll come up with a design ready for when you go back. It's worth taking your time over as if you get it wrong & need a cover up, you will only end up getting bigger & more filled in tattoos.
If you need some inspiration, try Pinterest - there's some good images people have pinned on there plus the advantage that you can create a board of similar themed ideas to show your tattooist the style you like. It's not necessarily about finding the right design but giving them an overall feel of what you like or don't.

Post a picture when you've had it done. I'd like to see it

[ianpallen]

Why not have it on the other wrist. It wont look like a list then and if you have the same disign, you will see both names when cupping your ham.

[cypher]

This is just a really quick bit of playing around in photoshop, don't know if it's a bit simple but would something like that be any good... it's quite easy to something a bit more complex just takes a bit of time.

[joselynmay]

Maybe you could have the name on the other side of your wist, and have a pattern joining the two names up like a bracelet around your wrist?

[2LittlePuds]

Cypher thats nice although im not sure how id combine the 2 together. Have you just done that with photoshop? I never thought of using an online program, ive been using pen and paper

I were originally going to get one on the other wrist but decided against it. If i have more kids ill end up with name tattoos dotted all over lol.

Im also not aware of any good local tattoo shops but i havent looked for a while so ill have another good search. I thought i had to sit down and plan it with them, i didnt realise i could leave it with them to come up with a design.

[CPalmer]

I'd say go and have a session with your chosen tattooist and see if they have a suggestion.

For your info here is my wrist tattoo that I believe was done smaller than yours. The first pic was taken when I had it done in 2008, the second was today. You can see how the colours have bled and the writing blurred in time. Just bear this in mind when thinking about size and fonts. x

[ianpallen]

I have 3 children (all grown up now) and only have mt wife's name on a tattoo. That was the second (and last) tattoo I ever had.

[2LittlePuds]

Good job you're still with your wife lol i dont think id get anyones name besides my kids, just in case

CPalmer thanks for showing me that, i can see what you mean. Ive never seen tattoos compared like that before, you just see all these nice tiny text tattoos on google and think that looks nice. I havent yet chosen a tattoist as last time i looked i couldnt find a good recommended one locally. Its certainly something im not going to rush into this time. Ive been trying to plan it for nearly a year on my own but not really getting anywhere. It suddenly hit me last night that i really need to get it designed.

[velma]

A good tattooist will tell you no if they think something won't work. But they should explain why. One of mine the tattooist wouldn't do it where I wanted & she explained why (risk of ink in the capillaries) & suggested a better position. I chose to go with that. And when I asked her about also adding to an existing tattoo she said no as it wasn't her style but suggested another artist who would be better. Another one, wouldn't do a tattoo as small as I originally wanted & again explained why. But, I trusted their advice as I had done my research & knew that each time I was going to a well respected studio. But remember it is your choice - if you're not keen on a design or don't feel comfortable with them, then stop. There are plenty of tattooists out there now to find one you click with. Think of it a bit like finding a hairdresser - you have to feel comfortable in that salon & trust your stylist - but you can grow out a bad haircut, you're stuck with a bad tattoo.