Tell me I don't like my fish...

First topic message reminder :

I just got accepted into a special program to become a Fish Vet, but not just any fish... KOI!

So in celebration, I got this: It's only half done.

Lol. My fiance says I'm crazy for getting this.

I can't wait to get the rest of it finished. I wanted more of a realistic approach to the koi, because as traditional as it is, I can NOT stand the Japanese style/Ed Hardy style koi tattoos/art. The whole time it was getting done, I kept saying "thank you for not making it a cartoon!"

Sweet tat. Why dose it look mean?

I think it looks ok, compare to others i've seen tho...

KMX wrote:

Sweet tat. Why dose it look mean?

Because Koi are Kick @$$!

nice tat

Me TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love your tat! I have one of my 9 and 12 yr old goldfish on my right fore arm. Yours looks like a real portfolio piece!

looks real good, I also got to agree on the japan style I like stuff to look realalistic.
I wanted to get some aquarium tattoos but ever where it seems like they want to charge a arm and leg for something simple... like my car tattoo cat tattoo in addision wanted 200 for what a guy I know who tattoos for $50.00 I also got my puppy from him.

I only paid 140 for mine. I spent 4yrs looking for the guy who did it. The fish portrayed here were very special to me so I didn't want some joe-shmoe slappin it on me. I'm not very good at being tattooed though which is why this piece lacks alot of detail.

plantedtankdude wrote:

looks real good, I also got to agree on the japan style I like stuff to look realalistic.
I wanted to get some aquarium tattoos but ever where it seems like they want to charge a arm and leg for something simple... like my car tattoo cat tattoo in addision wanted 200 for what a guy I know who tattoos for $50.00 I also got my puppy from him.

Well, thing is, you get what you pay for. Artists take a lot of time and talent to put into your work, so I'm willing to spend a few hundred for something I know is worth it.

I am a tattooist, and let me tell you... it's not easy or cheap.

I get good deals on my tattoos only because I don't go from shop to shop. I refuse to let anyone other than my tattoo artist tattoo me. I give him my money, and he gives me some awesome deals.

Awesome piece, and congrats on becoming a Koi Vet! that must be like a dream come true! How many people really get to have their dream job, where it doesn't seem like a job! that is so awesome!

I also got a Koi piece which is very dark and heavy because it was a cover up... I had a huge Marvin the Martian on my bicep (got it at 16 )

so because there was lots of darker colors it had to be dark..

Here's a pic of the drawing he sketched for me... I don't have a pic of it on me completely done yet. it is done, but I haven't gotten a pic, only when he was doing it and not totally finished.

The koi is red with some orange highlights. Black patches over the body, and few scales with orange and red spots. Blue water, black wind bars.

bcijoe wrote:

Awesome piece, and congrats on becoming a Koi Vet! that must be like a dream come true! How many people really get to have their dream job, where it doesn't seem like a job! that is so awesome!

I also got a Koi piece which is very dark and heavy because it was a cover up... I had a huge Marvin the Martian on my bicep (got it at 16 )

so because there was lots of darker colors it had to be dark..

Here's a pic of the drawing he sketched for me... I don't have a pic of it on me completely done yet. it is done, but I haven't gotten a pic, only when he was doing it and not totally finished.

The koi is red with some orange highlights. Black patches over the body, and few scales with orange and red spots. Blue water, black wind bars.

See, that's just something I am not crazy about.. It doesn't even resemble majority of the koi. Yes, it's awesome, but just something I am not into..

If I had to get "traditional", I would get this one:

whatever floats your boat.

I thought the drawing he did for me was nice, realistic, different and not cartoon looking, like the one you posted looks TO ME.

but hey, we all have the right to our own opinions.

Love the colors and shading by the way. I didn't have the luxury of getting something so soft and light because we needed to lay on lots of heavy and dark colors to cover up my previous tat.

My next koi will be a bit different, much softer, and from a different artist.

thanks for posting

bcijoe wrote:

whatever floats your boat.

I thought the drawing he did for me was nice, realistic, different and not cartoon looking, like the one you posted looks TO ME.

but hey, we all have the right to our own opinions.

Love the colors and shading by the way. I didn't have the luxury of getting something so soft and light because we needed to lay on lots of heavy and dark colors to cover up my previous tat.

My next koi will be a bit different, much softer, and from a different artist.

thanks for posting

I really think you're getting a little "hurt" by what I said. It was not my intentions. I work with koi everyday of my life, and just like you said "whatever floats your boat." I wanted as close to a koi as possible, and I don't think mine is as real looking as it could have been.

They both look cartoonish IMO-

mshill90 wrote:

plantedtankdude wrote:

looks real good, I also got to agree on the japan style I like stuff to look realalistic.
I wanted to get some aquarium tattoos but ever where it seems like they want to charge a arm and leg for something simple... like my car tattoo cat tattoo in addision wanted 200 for what a guy I know who tattoos for $50.00 I also got my puppy from him.

Well, thing is, you get what you pay for. Artists take a lot of time and talent to put into your work, so I'm willing to spend a few hundred for something I know is worth it.

I am a tattooist, and let me tell you... it's not easy or cheap.

I get good deals on my tattoos only because I don't go from shop to shop. I refuse to let anyone other than my tattoo artist tattoo me. I give him my money, and he gives me some awesome deals.

I agree with paying a more for something like that. I have a half sleeve of a black koi with some amazingly bright flowers. I went to the most known tattoo shop in Fredericksburg Va( where i live) and talked to a guy there. Since i have recommended him to several people because i know first hand he does amazing work and is extremely talented. I was quoted 100-125 a hour. After the first few sessions he began giving me alot better rate. Also something that will go along way is tipping. I tipped my guy after each session. And i think there were 5 in total with one free touch up session where he went over everything for me. I will have to get pics on here some time soon. Ive been told its pretty bad a$$. All in all, about 15 hours.

08can-am wrote:

mshill90 wrote:

plantedtankdude wrote:

looks real good, I also got to agree on the japan style I like stuff to look realalistic.
I wanted to get some aquarium tattoos but ever where it seems like they want to charge a arm and leg for something simple... like my car tattoo cat tattoo in addision wanted 200 for what a guy I know who tattoos for $50.00 I also got my puppy from him.

Well, thing is, you get what you pay for. Artists take a lot of time and talent to put into your work, so I'm willing to spend a few hundred for something I know is worth it.

I am a tattooist, and let me tell you... it's not easy or cheap.

I get good deals on my tattoos only because I don't go from shop to shop. I refuse to let anyone other than my tattoo artist tattoo me. I give him my money, and he gives me some awesome deals.

I agree with paying a more for something like that. I have a half sleeve of a black koi with some amazingly bright flowers. I went to the most known tattoo shop in Fredericksburg Va( where i live) and talked to a guy there. Since i have recommended him to several people because i know first hand he does amazing work and is extremely talented. I was quoted 100-125 a hour. After the first few sessions he began giving me alot better rate. Also something that will go along way is tipping. I tipped my guy after each session. And i think there were 5 in total with one free touch up session where he went over everything for me. I will have to get pics on here some time soon. Ive been told its pretty bad a$$. All in all, about 15 hours.

In the tattooing world, an hourly rate is a GREAT way to get your customer to pay more in the end. My artist will say "it's gonna take this long, I'll charge you this much."- My tattoo took 4 hours, and I need one more session to finish..

I agree. I think that the artists say that too just to make sure you are serious about getting the piece done from start to finish. My guy took pride in my piece and i was glad in the end i went with him and not just "someone so and so knows that does tattoos in their home". I have 1000 plus tied up in my one arm and plan to get the other sleeved as soon as i can think of what to get.