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DieselClown
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 Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject: FIRST tatt: KOI: looking for comments & suggestions |
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UPDATED PICTURE on page 2.
Hi all,
I finally got my first tattoo. It's a long story, but in short, I felt the meaning and story behind the KOI fit perfectly with the horrific but subsequently victorious time in my dad's life a few years back. It's obviously not done yet so I'm looking for some suggestions from you guys.
I was originally thinking of having the Japanese dragon wrap around the KOI, up my left back and over into my chest. I was playing with the idea of having the tail inked near the waterfall (inner part of my arm) and pretty much the entire body on my back.
BUT, now I'm thinking that it might be too cluttered all on my left side so I might have the dragon inked on my right arm instead.
Do you guys have any suggestions as to what might go well where the waterfall is if I don't do the dragon? FYI the waterfall is inked in light gray ink because I wasn't sure what to do there yet. I know it's traditional to have cherry blossoms with the KOI but I'm not crazy about flowers. My artist is out of the country now so I just want to get some ideas flowing for when he returns. thanks all!
Last edited by DieselClown on Sat May 09, 2009 7:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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moparstar18
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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what made you go all black with the koi?
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spidaminida
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject: Well... |
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I think it looks frickin noice. And the dragon down the other arm, imho.
How about maple leaves instead of flowers? They might contrast nicely with the black koi. |
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DieselClown
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| moparstar18 wrote: | | what made you go all black with the koi? |
I've never been a fan of color, so I decided to go black and gray..
| spidaminida wrote: | I think it looks frickin noice. And the dragon down the other arm, imho.
How about maple leaves instead of flowers? They might contrast nicely with the black koi. |
thanks a lot..I just thought about leaves also! And the more I research this, the more it makes sense for the dragon to come down my other arm since the KOI turns into a dragon and the dragon comes back down correct? |
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Rufus08
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Nice  |
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OICUR4692
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| Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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i think its decent. with B&W kois, i think the scales should gradually become darker to lighter from top to bottom. here is an example:
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DieselClown
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| Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| OICUR4692 wrote: | i think its decent. with B&W kois, i think the scales should gradually become darker to lighter from top to bottom. here is an example:
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very nice. that's actually what i was thinking too after I got it, but it's too late. Maybe the shading will offset how dark the body is. I will definitely request that with the scales on the dragon. |
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Gloom
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:48 am Post subject: |
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That's gonna lighten up a lot.. then it'll look real good. Give it like 2 months. As far as sticking other elements in the waterfall... Any traditional Japanese imagery will work just fine: hanya mask, peonies, cherry blossoms, maple leaves, wind bars, geisha, foo dog, etc. Take a look at like Shige, Horiyoshi III, and Filip Leu's work. That should give you some great ideas.
Welcome to the board btw, nice first tattoo.
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DieselClown
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| Gloom wrote: | That's gonna lighten up a lot.. then it'll look real good. Give it like 2 months. As far as sticking other elements in the waterfall... Any traditional Japanese imagery will work just fine: hanya mask, peonies, cherry blossoms, maple leaves, wind bars, geisha, foo dog, etc. Take a look at like Shige, Horiyoshi III, and Filip Leu's work. That should give you some great ideas.
Welcome to the board btw, nice first tattoo. |
wow thanks a lot for the input! I was never a fan of flowers but I think the cherry blossoms and maple leaves might look nice. I'm looking into windbars as well now as I'd never even heard of them before. again thanks! |
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PyrrhusDarwinCastello
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:20 am Post subject: |
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| DieselClown wrote: | | And the more I research this, the more it makes sense for the dragon to come down my other arm since the KOI turns into a dragon and the dragon comes back down correct? |
I will quote Horimatsu (www.horimatsu.com)
| Quote: | | Koi and maple leaf are used to portray the story of the Koi jumping the waterfall Long Men (I think it is Dragons gate or Dragons Mouth in english. It's a specific story about a Koi showing extreme heroism and bravery in his quest. The Koi actuall dies in his final and succesful attempt, but is rewarded with becoming a dragon - hence the Koi with a dragons head.) |
Check out this topic for some ideas and help
http://www.tattoodles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12691
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DieselClown
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:06 am Post subject: |
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thanks for the link..good reading so far! I was going to do the dragon koi, but really wanted to separate the two as personally I think the koi with dragon's head looks weird. also, I admire your insight and knowledge on japanese traditions. I'm part japanese and somehow reading that link made me feel I didn't spend enough time researching the KOI and what it represents. Now I can do my homework the right way and finish this piece. Now back to that link! | PyrrhusDarwinCastello wrote: | | DieselClown wrote: | | And the more I research this, the more it makes sense for the dragon to come down my other arm since the KOI turns into a dragon and the dragon comes back down correct? |
I will quote Horimatsu (www.horimatsu.com)
| Quote: | | Koi and maple leaf are used to portray the story of the Koi jumping the waterfall Long Men (I think it is Dragons gate or Dragons Mouth in english. It's a specific story about a Koi showing extreme heroism and bravery in his quest. The Koi actuall dies in his final and succesful attempt, but is rewarded with becoming a dragon - hence the Koi with a dragons head.) |
Check out this topic for some ideas and help
http://www.tattoodles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12691 |
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MCone
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Nice koi. With any luck, I'll be back in a few days to get mine filled in. |
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PyrrhusDarwinCastello
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:27 am Post subject: |
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| DieselClown wrote: | thanks for the link..good reading so far! I was going to do the dragon koi, but really wanted to separate the two as personally I think the koi with dragon's head looks weird. also, I admire your insight and knowledge on japanese traditions. I'm part japanese and somehow reading that link made me feel I didn't spend enough time researching the KOI and what it represents. Now I can do my homework the right way and finish this piece. Now back to that link!
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I really cant take any credit besides that I have collected and shared the info. It wouldnt be possible with out people like Horimatsu, Horikitsune, Horiyoshi III, Horitaka, Horihide, Doc Forest and countless others  Im just a humble tool
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Gloom
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| Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:02 am Post subject: |
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| PyrrhusDarwinCastello wrote: | | DieselClown wrote: | thanks for the link..good reading so far! I was going to do the dragon koi, but really wanted to separate the two as personally I think the koi with dragon's head looks weird. also, I admire your insight and knowledge on japanese traditions. I'm part japanese and somehow reading that link made me feel I didn't spend enough time researching the KOI and what it represents. Now I can do my homework the right way and finish this piece. Now back to that link!
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I really cant take any credit besides that I have collected and shared the info. It wouldnt be possible with out people like Horimatsu, Horikitsune, Horiyoshi III, Horitaka, Horihide, Doc Forest and countless others Im just a humble tool |
update your blog tool
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PyrrhusDarwinCastello
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