@Call_me_Lola 144910 wrote:

Your artist is going to have to be really good, I mean REALLY good to execute this well. That is a lot of characters and they (and the spacing) are going to have to be neat, even, straight and consistant or it is going to be a mess. Good luck with that.

Well, I guess that wasn’t very encouraging.

But you do make a good point. Would you recommend I look at previous work first to make sure they can do it? Is there any way I can make sure that they could do it?

@Afink87 144919 wrote:

I hope your pious and well mannered. I purposely don’t get religious tattoos and def not bumper stickers, cause I’m a bitch and I don’t want to represent my faith negatively.

Pious? Ehh in a sense. I’m sure we can have a religious debate somewhere else on the forum if you’re interested. As for well mannered. Most of the time I’ve got a naturally friendly personality but we’re all human. I do know my culture however, and know my culture won’t take deep offence at a tattoo such as this.

@kittykat200 144944 wrote:

It’s not about other people being offended. No one cares about that. I can’t see the picture you have posted but judging by all the comments so far it would seem you are proposing a column of text, specifically one or more of the psalms from the bible, in the middle of your back down your spine.

My opinion, (but only because you asked for it) is this:
1.) Why are you wasting the most important tattoo real estate on your body on text?
2.) A lot of script if not done by a master, looks tacky, blurry, uneven and generally sloppy
3.) Tattoos are addictive, I would be very surprised if you stopped after this one, therefore see point 1 again… A few years down the line when you’re better immersed in tattoo culture and can really see all it has to offer you will wish you hadn’t wasted your biggest, flattest piece of skin on some script(ure)
4.) A religious debate is not required you simply need to be aware that permanently tattoo religious anything onto your skin means that people will occasionally ask you religion based questions regarding your ethics and behaviour if you are walking around touting scripture as if you live by it.
5.) Pain on and around your spine isn’t as painful as other boney areas such as ribs, chest, elbow, knee etc. It cant be quite tingly in areas due to nerve endings etc but generally I didn’t notice. The not to say you should become complacent and think it will be a walk in the park. Tattoos hurt… Event the ones that dont hurt in relation to all the others, they hurt…
I would expect you to pay FAR more that £100 for 3 hours work, if not, turn around, walk out and keep looking.

Hope that helps!

Yeah you’re right about what the tattoo is.

I understand that tattoos are addictive, but considering my low pain threshold and limited income (I’m also saving for a car), I don’t think I’ll be getting more.

But this talk of master tattoo artists and the fact I need one of them if I’m getting finite script…how much are we talking? and where do we find one? I’m okay with paying more (originally my friend’s tattoo artist is £60 an hour, so that’s £180 for 3 hours). Is there any way I can review their work and see what they can do beforehand to make sure they’ll do it properly.

I live in Scotland if anyone was wondering. So if anyone knows people who can do that in Scotland then that would be preferable.

And yeah I get it that people may ask questions and things and I’m comfortable with that. Most of the verses are worship poetry which isn’t as controversial as some of the other stuff out there.

@kittykat200 144949 wrote:

There are some really good artists up and around Scotland, you just need to look for them. You need a steady hand and a good eye, you also need to consider the natural curvature of your back which could make script appear wonky. You say you’re saving for a car so you probably wont get another tattoo, but judging by your writing style I imagine you’re quite young. Maybe early twenties? Late teens? In which case you have potentially another 60 years to see and crave and want and get tattoos and you’re using the best space first. If that’s what you’re going to do you’re going to do it. My mother told me not to get a batman tattoo but… well… that happened so whatever. I’m simply suggesting you think very carefully about the what and where because you have no idea what your feelings will be a few years from now. Like they say a tattoo is permanent reminder of a temporary feeling. so make sure that feeling is one you’re happy to live with for the rest of your life.

As for cost, once you find someone you are confident you can do the job, (look up artists online, check their portfolios on facebook, websites and instagram, feel free to post their work on here, you’ll soon be told if they are any good) they will tell you how much they cost. Some artists give an hourly rate, some per piece. Unknown but talented artists are around and cheap but I wouldn’t seek them out if you have the opportunity at the best.

Wow you’re really good at deducing things. 19 in August.

And I get what you’re saying, but unfortunately I am really stubborn (sometimes too stubborn for my own good). However if I really want something else in years to come I’ll save for it, remove it if I can, or do something interesting around it. But I’m sure I want this. These words got me through a very dark time in my life. It’s poetry that ties in with faith, so it’s perfect for me.

I’ll look around for sure. Probably go in for consultations as well. Do stencils help with artists when they are tattooing?

I’m a fantasy writer, so anything old english is irresistible to me but I see your point. Would times new roman be okay? (or something very similar)

And yeah I’m not really considering lasering. Just trying to…cover all my options? I don’t know but there’s no where I’d want this other than my spine. And nothing I’d want on my body forever than these words.