Hey all,
I didn’t want to start a new thread in the introduce yourself forum and make this one showing off my one and only piece, so I figured I’d combine them. Hope that’s cool.
Anyway, I’m Kevin and I live in Charlotte, NC. I travel 35 weeks out of the year, am married and have two kids (2 1/2 and 4 months, the elder being a girl.) I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but never pulled the trigger on getting it done. I finally started researching what I wanted about 6 months ago, and a fellow I work with has a beautiful sleeve so I asked him a lot as far as advice went and what not. He’s from California and is convinced that west coast work is better than work we can get done in Carolina.
I knew I wanted to get something that centered around my kids, (since I’m gone 4 days a week) something that was colorful, and something that had a lot of meaning. I decided on a tree of life, with my kids swinging from one of the branches. Granted this isn’t the exact “Tree of Life” design, but it’s my tree of life and that’s what mattered.
We were in Vegas for 10 days for work, and since the cat I work with was convinced west coast work is where it’s at, I went to a small shop in Vegas that’s hidden and off the strip. I researched the artists’ work for quite a while, and had liked what he’d done.
My first sitting was a touch over 6 hours, and this is what we ended up with:
Click for a larger picture
I really liked the detail of the branches and of the trunk and the colors. As soon as it was done, it just had this incomplete feeling. I felt like the bottom where the grass is could be done up a bit more, and I felt like some sort of landscaping was needed in the background to finish the piece off. Plus, my daughter sorta looked the girl on the back of a mud flap with her hair.
Obviously I’m home from Vegas at this point so more research is done on a local shop. I get a lot of good word of mouth things from a guy that recently opened his own shop in downtown Charlotte so I go and see him.
3 hours later, and a mere 6 weeks after my first sitting is done this is what we’ve got:
Click for a larger picture
He’s obviously added the sunset, added to the grass (made it extend around my arm further and detailed up the grass strands some.) He also fixed my daughters hair, and added the yellow on the branches of the tree from the sun’s color.
I really like how it’s ended up. I know not a lot of dudes get trees, but given the meaning of the tattoo a skull or pin up girl wouldn’t really work. I know I went pretty damn big for my first tattoo, but I figured go big or go home.
Looking forward to anyone’s opinions.
Looks really killer! Beautiful work:) I have the name of a great shop in North Carolina, if you ever want to get more work done. Guy’s name is Jim, and his portfolio is fantastic. I may end up getting some work done from him myself.
BTW, in a lot of people’s opinions, a shop here in GA is one of the best in the entire US. People fly in from all over the world to get tattooed by the owner, and the other artists crank out some of the most amazing work. It’s called All or Nothing tattoo; http://www.allornothingtattoo.com Just a little FYI.:D;)
Thanks for the replies, everyone.
what happens if you have more kids?
Right now, we’re more than set with two (especially since they’re small and a friggin handful). If we have more, maybe add one pushing the other two? Not sure. Cross that bridge if we get there I suppose.
Yeah, I do as well. When I first got it done, being my first tattoo I freaked out a little bit. Thinking what did I do, what will people think (as if it matters, but still…) do I really like it, all that sort of stuff. Now, I absolutely love it and am proud as hell of it.
Patrick
Joe Cool at Voodoo Tattoo in Vegas did the tree, and Mark von Destiny at 510 Expert Tattoo in Charlotte did the sunset.
BTW, in a lot of people’s opinions, a shop here in GA is one of the best in the entire US. People fly in from all over the world to get tattooed by the owner, and the other artists crank out some of the most amazing work. It’s called All or Nothing tattoo; http://www.allornothingtattoo.com Just a little FYI.:D;)
Thanks man, I appreciate it. All or Nothing’s website is really nice, and their work is awesome! If I ever get more ink done, that would be worth the 4 hour drive.
Thanks! 🙂
I didn’t want to start a new thread in the introduce yourself forum and make this one showing off my one and only piece, so I figured I’d combine them. Hope that’s cool.
Anyway, I’m Kevin and I live in Charlotte, NC. I travel 35 weeks out of the year, am married and have two kids (2 1/2 and 4 months, the elder being a girl.) I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but never pulled the trigger on getting it done. I finally started researching what I wanted about 6 months ago, and a fellow I work with has a beautiful sleeve so I asked him a lot as far as advice went and what not. He’s from California and is convinced that west coast work is better than work we can get done in Carolina.
I knew I wanted to get something that centered around my kids, (since I’m gone 4 days a week) something that was colorful, and something that had a lot of meaning. I decided on a tree of life, with my kids swinging from one of the branches. Granted this isn’t the exact “Tree of Life” design, but it’s my tree of life and that’s what mattered.
We were in Vegas for 10 days for work, and since the cat I work with was convinced west coast work is where it’s at, I went to a small shop in Vegas that’s hidden and off the strip. I researched the artists’ work for quite a while, and had liked what he’d done.
My first sitting was a touch over 6 hours, and this is what we ended up with:
Click for a larger picture
I really liked the detail of the branches and of the trunk and the colors. As soon as it was done, it just had this incomplete feeling. I felt like the bottom where the grass is could be done up a bit more, and I felt like some sort of landscaping was needed in the background to finish the piece off. Plus, my daughter sorta looked the girl on the back of a mud flap with her hair.
Obviously I’m home from Vegas at this point so more research is done on a local shop. I get a lot of good word of mouth things from a guy that recently opened his own shop in downtown Charlotte so I go and see him.
3 hours later, and a mere 6 weeks after my first sitting is done this is what we’ve got:
Click for a larger picture
He’s obviously added the sunset, added to the grass (made it extend around my arm further and detailed up the grass strands some.) He also fixed my daughters hair, and added the yellow on the branches of the tree from the sun’s color.
I really like how it’s ended up. I know not a lot of dudes get trees, but given the meaning of the tattoo a skull or pin up girl wouldn’t really work. I know I went pretty damn big for my first tattoo, but I figured go big or go home.
Looking forward to anyone’s opinions.
Great piece. The colors just pop out spectacularly and the meaning makes it that much more enjoyable. Love the tat. Welcome.
I don’t have the kids initials in the art. I thought of doing something that would incorporate that, but nothing would really work. Appreciate the kind words!
I disagree on the detail, I think there’s quite a bit there. I understand that a tree isn’t up most people’s alley’s, but it’s all good – I like seeing your opinion!
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