speaking of flowers...

Subject: speaking of flowers...
From: Sheye
Date: 04 May 99 - 10:22 AM

Not really, but didn't want to break the great discussion on the other thread.

It's high time for a new tattoo. I have almost decided on cattails (some people call them bullrushes??). The problem with the design I have is that the stalks are too thin to be able to outline and have colour in. I was wondering if there were any ideas floating around these parts.

Alice, any ideas?

Criteria: Not more that 3.5" wide by 1.5" high. Must be simple, elegant, and prefer a north american theme. Less is more, and it's going on my ankle.

Thanks, mateys!

Sheye

Subject: RE: speaking of flowers...
From: Allan C.
Date: 04 May 99 - 11:13 AM

A great choice for that location! You might try cruising the net with a search for Typha latifolia or Typha augustifolia which are two of the more common species in my area. There is a line drawing of some at: Cattail

Subject: RE: speaking of flowers...
From: Margo
Date: 04 May 99 - 01:39 PM

Hello Sheye. Where are you? My neighbor here in Vancouver is quite the tattoo artist. His wife is a display of his work. Margie

Subject: RE: speaking of flowers...
From: Sheye
Date: 04 May 99 - 02:05 PM

Edmonton. I'm not having much luck finding designs at the shops. Skulls and cross-bones a-plenty, but nothing that I'm looking for...

Subject: RE: speaking of flowers...
From: Bert
Date: 04 May 99 - 02:23 PM

A Mudcat tail???

Subject: RE: speaking of flowers...
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 May 99 - 03:00 PM

Kool! Sheye! I have a cascade of flowers which curl around part of my upper torso. Always said I'd get a crescent moon on the other side, but haven't yet. It starts out with a rose bud, and goes on into bluebells and yellow daisy. I've another on my upper shoulder of a purple daisy-type with some beautiful curliques.

That is a pretty small size for what you want. Design-wise, for cattails, I think you'd find they'd fit better if it was 3.5 tall and 1.5 wide, or did I read it wrong and is that what you're talking about?

Something that small would be really pretty with coral bells, forget-me-nots, or a fuschia bloom, although that last is not esp. North Americna. The lady-slipper orchid grows here (Wyoming) up in the mountains and has a really delicate/elegant look to it. Buttercups are really pretty, too. I like the idea of catttails, too, because they could curl witht he form of your ankle, so they don't look as though somebody just plunked them on. That is the problem I find with a lot of tattoos. People don't put much thought into them and they look like they've just been plastered on.

There are a couple of brothers in Denver who did work on Rog and it is incredible how understated, yet powerful their designs are, as they really go with the flow of his muscles and skin tone.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Keep us posted, okay? What fun!

Subject: RE: speaking of flowers...
From: Sheye
Date: 04 May 99 - 03:26 PM

The dimensions are right. I'm trying to design a flow that looks like an anklet. The picture I have right now has two cattails in a diagonal 'S' curve with the leaves coming up from behind and draping over the stalks.

If you send me your email, I can scan it in and send it to you - I'm not very good at describing things.

I know what you mean about layout. The artist that did my first tattoo (long-stemmed rose) did the same thing, using the form of the muscle and a curve in the design.

Thank you for the flower suggestions, I will look those up too.

Sheye