Adoption tattoo?

General tattoo discussion

Moderators: buttwheat, sidelvar, kohlhaas, EvilJay, Sphenoid, SharpTattoos

User avatar
magnumman
Hardcore
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:23 pm

Here's the story...my sister and I were adopted as infants & we have talked about getting symbolic tattoos for quite some time. Unfortunately I have not been able to settle on a design I like to adequately represent this. There is a pretty basic "adoption symbol" we found which I am considering having done. My sister and a couple of friends think I should just get the symbol alone and in black/gray. I'm not so sure and have thought about maybe adding something to enhance the design or coming up with something entirely different for representation. I thought about incorporating a rose or two (flower of my birth month) or doing a tree of life (not likely) but just am not sure.

Anyway, I was just looking for opinions on this symbol (without the colors) and suggestions for possible enhancements or leaving it alone for the symbolism or other ideas altogether. I have other tattoos which don't really have any meaning besides I liked the image so I think I'm OK with a less eye appealing tattoo with more meaning. Opinions, please.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243 ... -28220.jpg
User avatar
suzridesahog
Hardcore
Posts: 728
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:20 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:16 pm

I like it. The symbol has great potential with a little artist pizazz.
User avatar
buttwheat
Hardcore
Posts: 6661
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 11:24 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:17 pm

Hey whatever floats your boat. The symbolism is cool the tattoo is ok I guess.
Rufus08
Hardcore
Posts: 872
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:17 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:18 pm

I like the colors used in the photo.
User avatar
magnumman
Hardcore
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:16 pm

I agree it needs "pizazz", just not sure waht that should be. I suppose I can leave it up to the artist but wanted to give some basic direction. That's why I've thought about adding the roses but I don't know if that's the answer and if it would go together.
I also agree the symbolism is cool and the tattoo is just OK. That's why I want to enhance it in some way. But for this particular tattoo I'm willing to sacrifice some visual appeal due to the symbolic importance. I just want to make as much of an OK design as I can.
I don't really like the colors in the picture all that much. I'm also not sure if I want to just change the color or go with black/gray.
User avatar
evilrockangel
Hardcore
Posts: 1788
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:36 am

Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:19 pm

I hate to say it, but I would bet that symbol would be mistaken pretty often for the gay pride symbol.
User avatar
anthoync
Hardcore
Posts: 746
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:47 am

Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:25 pm

i dont like the idea of an adoption symbol. id rather something that focuses on the parents that adopted you. but hey, thats just one mans opinion.
User avatar
magnumman
Hardcore
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:31 pm

evilrockangel wrote:I hate to say it, but I would bet that symbol would be mistaken pretty often for the gay pride symbol.
You might be right about that especially with the colors in the picture. Maybe another reason to go with black/gray. I don't thnk too many people would recognize an adoption symbol. If I do get it it will probably go on my chest so it won't be frequently visible but as long as I know what it means that's all that really matters.
User avatar
magnumman
Hardcore
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:37 pm

anthoync wrote:i dont like the idea of an adoption symbol. id rather something that focuses on the parents that adopted you. but hey, thats just one mans opinion.
From what I've read the 3 sides on the triangle are supposed to represent the birth parents, the adopted child and the adoptive parents. So all parties are supposedly represented but you make a good point. I do plan on getting something else down the road to symbolize just my adoptive parents.
I appreciate the opinions.
User avatar
yorvo
Hardcore
Posts: 5187
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:48 am

Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:13 am

I've seen some with the triangle inside the heart. Simple, but I think it could be crazy by the right person.
User avatar
magnumman
Hardcore
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:40 am

yorvo wrote:I've seen some with the triangle inside the heart. Simple, but I think it could be crazy by the right person.
In what way though? That's wht I'm trying to figure out, what can be done to such a simple design to make it "crazy?" Color? Shading? Something else added to it? I have confidence in my artist but I want to give him some general ideas.
User avatar
davey_p
Hardcore
Posts: 359
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:21 pm

Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:53 am

the design can have potential, you can make it very agressive, maybe in the style of biomechanical?

like this

Image
Last edited by davey_p on Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
therookie
Hardcore
Posts: 1024
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:49 pm

Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:20 am

Honestly, it just reminds me the the gay heartagram thingy.
User avatar
magnumman
Hardcore
Posts: 2861
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:43 am

I know, it does look like the heartagram. Correct me if I'm wrong, the heartagram is the symbol for the band HIM, right, but the gay pride symbol is quite different.
User avatar
therookie
Hardcore
Posts: 1024
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:49 pm

Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:22 pm

magnumman wrote:I know, it does look like the heartagram. Correct me if I'm wrong, the heartagram is the symbol for the band HIM, right, but the gay pride symbol is quite different.
Yeah, you're right; it's a Ville Valo thing (lead singer from HIM). I wasn't using "gay" in a literal sense...it was purely derrogatory and very un-PC in nature :lol:
Post Reply