I'll grant that half of the examples you have listed are indeed stupid, in my own opinion. I wouldn't go so far as to say they can't be done properly, but scratch marks, celtic crosses, shit on fire, etc. just isn't my thing. However, I fail to see how picking artwork out of a parlor catalog (it's referred to as flash, and much of it is very reputable as INSPIRATION for custom artwork)is DIFFERENT from finding a picture on the internet and slapping it on your body.aoxomoxoa said:
Tattoo culture thrives just as much as gaming culture, if not more, and people need to realize that artists HATE not having some creative control over the piece. I understand that people seem to think that they get paid to do their job and put what YOU want on YOUR skin, but they are artists, NOT prostitutes. They simply won't do something they don't want to do.
I agree...there are enough people with shit tattoos already. I don't want to see more of them. My personal belief is that this is a shit idea for a tattoo, and thus would advise against it. You claim that he wants a DIFFERENT tattoo and we should applaud him for it, but it isn't different. Anyone who has considered getting an Assassin's Creed tattoo has probably had the idea before, and I'd be willing to bet money on the fact that someone ALREADY did it.
For you information, my 100+ hours of work you mentioned does not include any of the stupid shit you listed. It's ALL custom artwork, yet I still do have a deep respect for 40's and 50's traditional flash.
To the OP, go big or go home. If you don't have plans for extensive work that adds to a thriving artistic community, don't do it. I'm not trying to antagonize you, but as someone with half a dozen of my closest friends working in the field of tattooing, most artists would reciprocate my feeling. Do something fun for yourself AS WELL AS THE ARTIST, and everything will be better for all.
