My Cogwheel Heart Tattoo

Today I once again went to Nille at Salvation Tattoo to get some ink done.

I have always been fascinated by mechanics, robotics and mechatronics, and for the last few years I have been thinking about how to incorporate that into a tattoo. Early sketches covered basically the whole back, incorporating the biohazard sign I already have on my back into the design. Though I like biomechanical tattoos to a certain degree I now think an entire backpiece would be too much for this type of design (ask me again in five years though). The particular idea with a cogwheel using a heart as the hub first crossed my mind about a year ago, and shortly after I did the first design.

I have doodled on this design and changed quite a bit during the last year. The main problem lately has been that I have done too much details and thin lines. Since human skin is a living material it is extremely hard to make small details by pushing down ink between the skin layers (which is basically what you do). Even if you do, chances are that the details will be lost. Ink is a liquid, and liquids float and spreads out, making everything a bit fuzzy at close range. This is considerably more noticable on older tattoos, where it can be hard (or even impossible) to make out text that was clearly readable when the tattoo was first made. I have still kept a certain degree of details, mostly for thin light lines and shadows. We’ll see how they look like a few weeks from now. Also, it is quite a bit darker now (especially the lines) than it will be when healed.

I put in some symbolism in it as well, but will not go into details (let’s just say I’ve been hurt enough times). Also, can you find the Douglas Adams reference? 🙂

Tattooing your chest is a strange thing. It really hurts, but you don’t always feel the pain where you should. When Nille first started on the top right side, I felt it in the shoulder. Moving down, all of the sudden it felt like someone put a soldering iron to my nipple. This was not quite as bad as doing the elbow, but not far from it. Good thing I had my phone with me; Playing Solitaire and FreeCell partly took my mind from the pain – It helps to concentrate on something else.

So, what do you think?

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Fredde
Fredde
15 years ago

Yea!
Ser bra ut hörru.

(Bara en liten detalj. “an entire backpiece would be TO much”. Stavas med tvÃ¥ “o”. ;P )

Heidi
15 years ago

Hej Frank!
Vad kul att du hittade till mig så att jag kunde få hitta till dig.
Hur länge har du smygläst utan att ge dig till känna då? 🙂
Inga planer på att bege mig av till dina trakter nu i de närmaste. Men när jag gör det ska jag defenetivt höra av mig så att du kan bjuda mig på en dyr stockholms latte.
Kramar i mängder.

Mike
15 years ago

Hi, nice posts there 🙂 thank’s for the interesting information

fouslyawalf
15 years ago

Hi, discriminative posts there 🙂 express’s for the gripping advice

KeHoeff
15 years ago

hey this is a very interesting article!

Dianiffer7628
15 years ago

My friend told me about your blog…. it’s bookmarked now

Lucina Pappy
15 years ago

So many tattoos to choose from. I search the net looking for the best pictures! Great site!

Angel Morris
14 years ago

I love tattoos and don’t for a second regret getting any of them, I’m currently getting a dragon tattoo done down my left arm can’t wait to get it finished! as can only afford smallsittings at a time. My local tattoo artist is extremly experienced and also extremly expensive but, he’s worth it! Fantastic site btw

mumushummus
14 years ago

Nice one man……

Awesome may I say!