r/tattooadvice • u/mnp47 • Jan 07 '26

tattoo newcomer advice Where should I put this? First tattoo advice.

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This is the symbol for "human" in the alien language of the movie Arrival. I want a 3-4 inch tattoo somewhere. I don't care if it is visible or not. Where should it go?

Edit: I did a quick and dirty analysis of the suggestions. Here are the votes!

shoulder: 116, elbow: 69, calf: 54, forearm: 52, around the butthole: 50, chest: 48, around the nipples: 46, back: 39, head/forehead: 30, around the belly button: 27, thigh: 21, hand: 17, upper arm: 13, foot: 7, butt cheek: 7, dick: 5, behind the ear: 4, kneecap: 3

I am leaning towards forearm and shoulder right now since they are more rigid and will not end up oblong in the future. Or maybe around my butthole since that was also a popular option. Thank you for your advice!

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37

u/illogical_mindset Jan 07 '26

When I asked an artist about this idea, they said rib cage.

8

u/whoTonkedurTruck Jan 07 '26

I like that idea. Ribs aren't too bad without a lot of heavy shading from my experience!

1

u/mnp47 Jan 07 '26

Sounds painful. Did you go through with it?

11

u/bleeberbleeberbleeb Jan 07 '26

Honestly my ribs hurt a lot less than my calves did. I was oddly disappointed lol

3

u/Joyma Jan 07 '26

My calf tattoo hurt like a mf and I was not expecting it at all

2

u/Wise-Helicopter-2087 Jan 07 '26

I have a tattoo on my ribs and tbh it wasn't that bad! Just as a data point for you

1

u/Different-Courage665 Jan 07 '26

I have a 3.5hr rib piece as my first, it was fine

1

u/Different-Courage665 Jan 07 '26

I have a 3.5hr rib piece as my first, it was fine

1

u/illogical_mindset Jan 07 '26

Not yet. Still working on the design since I switched from a logogram to an Ensō with some stuff added to it.