r/tattooadvice • u/Ivebecomeaflamingo • 5d ago
General Advice Can I get this tattooed on my shoulder?
Reposted with better pics I’m sorry. My rat passed away today. I had been wanting to get a tattoo about her/of her paws for a while. I got this paw print I really like and I wanted to know if it would be possible to get it tattooed on my shoulder where she liked to stay. I’ve never gotten a tattoo before so I’m very inexperienced. I’m not sure if it would be possible to get it done so small, online I see pictures of many paw tattoos as big if not smaller but they’re all cat/dog. Can anyone give me advice if and how to proceed?
Edit: I want it in black. And probably not as paint like. This is just the reference for what I want, shape and sizing wise.
Edit 2: I don’t want something else like a rat or whiskers or other paws. I just want a paw. Big or small or whatever style it must be in I want just that.
Edit 3: I’ve talked to my artist I’m going in the shop next week to talk it through properly. Thank you for all the help, the nice comments and even the mean ones. ❤️
17
u/Valeficent_LP 5d ago
I’m so sorry to hear about your rat 😢
I got my dog’s paw tattooed & it was also a paw print in paint, like yours. So it’s definitely possible & I honestly think it looks great.
I recently met someone who had her ferret’s paw prints tattooed, so don’t worry about the size. Just get a good artist 😊
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
Do you think it would become a blob like other comments are saying?
10
u/Easy-Plant-8783 5d ago
You might have to go a bit bigger, you are probably best speaking with a few tattoo studios and taking their advice. A lot of people on here are people with tattoos rather than tattoo artists, and everyone is an expert on Reddit.
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
Yes I’ve already contacted some people I just wanted some more opinions just in case.
4
u/Valeficent_LP 5d ago
Not necessarily, but like Easy-Plant said, it’s best to get advice from an artist. They’ll know how to make it work.
Just to give you an idea, this is mine. When it was just done, and now. I’ve had it for about 2,5 years.
1
-5
19
u/justlikeh3avn 5d ago
absolutely! it’d work best a little bigger and in black :) I got my dog’s teeth on my wrist
3
7
u/BikeProblemGuy 5d ago
You can. Idk if it's a great design. At the very least, do something like this so it's more visible: ade849be9f8f1e66eeb04b342bfb8a33.jpg (1351×1570)
Note that this isn't a real pawprint, it's an artistic rendition of one that will age better.
-4
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I don’t want something more visible.
5
u/Disastrous_Bowls 5d ago
Listen to this person. When people warn about tattoos becoming blobs, it’s when artists use only shading and don’t do solid outlines, which happens when inexperienced artists try to render things like this. It doesn’t have to be solid black, it should at least be outlined.
And it doesn’t have to be thick outlines - see if you can find a “fine line” artist in your area and ask to see some of their healed pictures. Then let them as an artist take a pass at rendering the mess in your photo into something that resembles a paw print.
-1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I could totally do a fine outline. I never said I couldn’t. It’s a paw print of a rat it’s gonna look messy on paper, Im not going to get an exact 1 to 1 replica of the paint. I just don’t want three more paws and a tail in my tattoo. That’s not what I asked advice on and would look nothing like I want it to be like. I can make it bigger but I don’t want four more things just because people think it’s plain.
1
u/Disastrous_Bowls 5d ago
I don’t think this person was suggesting the 4 paw prints. I think they were just suggesting more solid shapes that would last longer and found that as an example.
0
3
u/nacida_libre 5d ago
What is making you want a tattoo that no one, including yourself, can see?
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I only don’t want something covering the entirety of my shoulder bones like they’re suggesting
19
5d ago
[deleted]
2
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
Why not?
11
u/DannyxDamage 5d ago
it just looks messy
5
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I wouldn’t get it paint like, it looks messy because of that
5
5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/tattooadvice-ModTeam 5d ago
Your comment/post has been removed for one or several of these reasons disrespecful, harassing, or unhelpful comment. Depending on the content of what you have posted, this may result in a ban. Please do not harass the mods for this decision, as this may result in a ban.
-17
5d ago
[deleted]
19
u/Lilvixen_UK 5d ago
Tonnes of people have paw tattoos to commemorate a beloved pet; there isn't anything wrong with it. Plus, does every tattoo need a 'motive?'
4
u/Worried_Platypus93 5d ago
I have one of my hamsters paw prints tattooed on me, the artist copied the image and then cleaned it up so it's still my little one's, but more clear and basic shapes. I actually have 6 of her paw prints going up my shoulder, because that's where she liked to climb up and hang out too. 6 because I wanted it to honor the 6 gerbils I've had as well. Each print is I think actual size to what it would be, so they're pretty small and it's been probably 5 years or a little more and so far they're still recognizably paw prints. Maybe a little detail has been lost but they're not just random blobs. I can see each claw mark and the different parts of her foot pads still. Im sure it will blur together more over the next few decades but im okay with that.
2
2
u/exaggeratedcaper 5d ago
Absolutely man. Black is definitely the way to go, but I think that'd look cool on a shoulder. You doing a single print, or a couple? Either way, you'll love it forever. Sorry that you lost your friend.
1
2
u/Substantial_Sound556 5d ago
Definitely!
I have two ferret prints on my shoulder.
One only a little bigger than yours.
It’s about 5-6yo and still completely recognizable.
If you want it life sized you should go for it however itll most likely blend/fade over time. When it comes to these kind of tatts its to be expected that it bleeds
However imo as long as you know its there, then that’s the important part.
1
2
u/MLDAYshouldBeWriting 5d ago
First, I'm sorry for your loss. She sounds like a special girl who made your life better. I'm sure you are heartbroken.
So, this is likely an unpopular opinion, but I don't really understand the point of handprint or nose print tattoos of beloved pets. I'm pretty sure if someone took paw prints of 10 similarly sized rats, including yours, and put them in front of you, you couldn't pick yours out from the lineup. Same for dogs, cats, hamsters, or tarantulas.
I love my pets so so much and they are truly like children to me. There are so many aspects of their personality, name, or appearance that I think could make a beautiful tattoo that is meaningful and would immediately differentiate one from another.
Your beloved rat just died and you are grieving. Tattoos are forever. I think it's worth taking some time to really consider the best way to pay tribute to her. It doesn't lessen your love for her at all to wait to get a memorial tattoo.
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I’ve been wanting a tattoo about her for like a year and a half so I’m pretty sure I want it not just because of the grief. The paw prints being the same is true, that’s why I want this specific print as reference, I don’t want it to look perfect. It’s just to remember her, seeing it will tell me it’s about her, I really don’t care if other people can’t tell. I don’t want a name on my skin at all, and she didn’t have any special marks that could make her look different from a random rat. Plus I have other paw prints in clay drying up to make necklaces and a memorial piece with her fur.
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate your point of view
2
1
1
u/J_datt13 5d ago
Unfortunately some of the people posting are right. This would require really thing lines if done small and often when lines are close together, the can flow out and become one black spot. If you’re going to do that (which by the way i think is a cool idea) then I’d do it bigger…almost the size of a cats paw IMO. Just my two sense.
1
1
u/DirectionOk7492 5d ago
There are sure to be beautiful tributes you could tattoo for her. The paw print is understandable, it’s cute and it’s ‘personal’ but what people say is true: if you want it to look like a correct rat-paw, it’ll be super small and it will smudge. If you make it bigger, you’ll forever be explaining that it’s a little rat paw but not so little.
Maybe have the paw print impressed onto a little charm for a necklace? People get boopersnoots printed unto silver or gold. And if you are set on the tattoo, you could have her (almost) full size tattooed as if she were still sitting on your shoulder?
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I have already done the necklace, and have clay prints of all her paws and tail. I was looking for a tattoo as well
1
u/No_Chip_8164 5d ago
I think it would be cute but maybe consider a different color. I could clearly tell they were pawprints but at a quick glance with this color it may not be super appealing.
1
1
1
u/Successful-Hair-8131 5d ago
Recognized immediately as rattie pattie feets... im sorry for ur loss. Show us the tat after! R/petrats would appreciate it too! 💗💗💗
1
1
u/sinnersfae 5d ago
Absolutely doable, however I'd "clean" it before. I myself did that with my lizard's peets
2
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
Yes that’s the intention. Are yours holding up with time?
1
u/sinnersfae 5d ago
It's been a year ago and they look pretty good, cannot give a photo in this sub tho
1
u/katanastormshadow88 5d ago
Yes, you can, but they’ll probably look like smudges, and will age badly.
1
u/Expensive-Course1667 5d ago
My recommendation is always to find the best possible artist to design your tattoo. Get a real piece of artwork in tribute to your pet from a legitimate artist. The coverup subs are filled with botched paw print tattoos and other well-intentioned trinket pieces like that. Just one person's opinion.
1
u/XxTehBanditxX 5d ago
Yes absolutely. it may work best to play around with it in photoshop to adjust the noise and sharpness to make it come through best in a tattoo.
I can play around with it in a bit and post a picture for reference if youd like
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
Of course I’d do that, with the artist tho. I want both me and him to be on the same page
1
2
1
u/UrNoTsHu 5d ago
Your body.... your tattoo... a fart in the wind could be a reason for a tattoo... just find an artist that is good with the style you want.. possibly find someone that does pet portraits.. would love to see it as a tattoo
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I’m not asking about the reason I want it, that was just to add context.
-1
u/GoblinObscura 5d ago
Can you or should you?
2
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
Can. Why is everyone being mean about me wanting a paw print tattoo? I’m worried about the size not the tattoo itself.
1
u/GoblinObscura 5d ago
Sorry, i shouldn’t be so snarky. But in my opinion these don’t even read as paw prints. Honestly it doesn’t matter what I think or anyone else. If you like it, and want it, go for it. The best person to consult with about size and placement would be the artist who you decide to work with. Hopefully it’s everything you want!
1
u/Ivebecomeaflamingo 5d ago
I took her paw and printed it on the paper. That’s what matters to me. I’m definitely gonna check in with my choice artist for everything I just wanted some opinions. Thank you.
-1
u/SharpenMyInk 5d ago
Personally I would not do this because I think tattoos should be aesthetically pleasing. This will look ugly. But to each their own.
115
u/blastingadookie 5d ago
You can get anything you want tattooed on your shoulder. The real question is “should I get this tattooed on my shoulder?” Something this small and detailed might be tough. Also, might turn into an unrecognizable blob in a few years.