Tattoo Caligraphy

[newbie4234]

I recently got a calligraphy tattoo of my last name from a world renowned artist

 

the artist is quite famous and specializes in brush stroke tattoos, with coverage on cnn and many china media outlets

 

however - I showed the character to my parents and they said it is very poorly written (is this true or just a projection of their distaste for tattoos in general?)

 

 

here is the photo please provide feedback

 

 

[ink-syringe]

Take this with a grain of salt as I generally greatly dislike tattoos. Rarely do I ever see someone get a tattoo and think "that looks great" and I have no idea if the character is poorly written or not (though I do look at calligraphy from time to time) but I will say this: I sure as heck looks like it was written with a brush, which, I imagine, is not easy effect to produce in a tattoo.

[platon951]

looks bad contrast

[Seele]

The penmanship could have been better, to my mind.

[Uncial]

I can't tell you if it is great calligraphy, but it's a very impressive demonstration of skill in tattooing.

[nakiana]

I don't know how it is supposed to look, but IMHO the tattoo is too fresh for anyone to be able to give an honest opinion. It will be much easier to tell once it is past the initial healing stage. But even then, the only relevant question is whether or not _you_ like it. No one else's opinion should matter, especially when it comes to your own tattoos.

[Tas]

STUNNING !!

[DaveBj]

Every time I see Chinese characters on a tattoo, I'm reminded of the cartoon I saw where someone was showing his kanji tat to an Asian, and the Asian was saying, "It means 'beef with broccoli.' "

 

I don't know the characters for "beef with broccoli," but I know enough to see that what's on your back isn't that. And yes, it does look like real brush-stroke calligraphy. Having lived in Japan for six years, I've seen plenty of that.

[Pen Nut]

No idea what it actually says but looks good in its own right to me matey

[Ian the Jock]

New tats are always that shiny way when the skin is healing.

When it's healed and blends with your others it will be stunning.

 

A work of art

 

Ian

[AGxM]

Lovely tatt - just had my name done in Cantonese as a reminder of my time here in HK

[Jimmy Joe]

I don't speak or read Chinese, but from a Japanese perspective, it's a little odd, a little out of balance. It's heavier on the right than on the left. Typically, the left radical (think "chunk") would start higher relative to the right, and its vertical stroke would extend farther down. The left-downward diagonal stroke of the 東 section would be the one made shorter to make space for the vertical stroke of the left radical (if necessary), rather than the other way around. Both sections, left and right, would normally have the same heights, rather than the left part being tucked into the right. But that's in Japanese penmanship, not Chinese calligraphy. I have no idea what the rules are for the latter.

[stevesurf]

I recently got a calligraphy tattoo of my last name from a world renowned artist

 

the artist is quite famous and specializes in brush stroke tattoos, with coverage on cnn and many china media outlets

 

however - I showed the character to my parents and they said it is very poorly written (is this true or just a projection of their distaste for tattoos in general?)

 

 

here is the photo please provide feedback

 

 

I wish you were reading the book I have open right now, "Chinese Writing and Calligraphy." Your art is gorgeous. The expressive brush strokes typify the "ying-yang of stroke techniques (light-heavy, fast-slow, hidden-revealed), the characters (face-back, dispersed-compressed,etc.), and it goes on. You are wearing art. As soon as one realizes that, the "writing quality" issue goes out the window and you're left with an opportunity to interpret an expressive artist.

 

This is why I not only love tattoos, but the differences of Kanji in both Japan and China. You should be celebrating on their technique and unique interpretation.

 

I you email me (not message here) stevesurfaro at GMail dot com I'll forward you a few revealing pages of this great book.

 

Enjoy!

[haruka337]

As someone else noted, it looks like real brush strokes.

As for your parents opinion on the tattoo, uh, they may just dislike tattoos in general.

[Frank C]

What does it matter? Tattoos are pretty much permanent. Especially when they are that big. Don't worry, though, in a few years, you'll forget you have it.

 

I once had a patient with some Chinese characters written on her back. I asked her what it said, and she replied that she had forgotten that she had the tattoo and that she didn't remember what it was supposed to say.

[newbie4234]

 

I wish you were reading the book I have open right now, "Chinese Writing and Calligraphy." Your art is gorgeous. The expressive brush strokes typify the "ying-yang of stroke techniques (light-heavy, fast-slow, hidden-revealed), the characters (face-back, dispersed-compressed,etc.), and it goes on. You are wearing art. As soon as one realizes that, the "writing quality" issue goes out the window and you're left with an opportunity to interpret an expressive artist.

 

This is why I not only love tattoos, but the differences of Kanji in both Japan and China. You should be celebrating on their technique and unique interpretation.

 

I you email me (not message here) stevesurfaro at GMail dot com I'll forward you a few revealing pages of this great book.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Thanks a lot! That is reassuring

[newbie4234]

What does it matter? Tattoos are pretty much permanent. Especially when they are that big. Don't worry, though, in a few years, you'll forget you have it.

 

I once had a patient with some Chinese characters written on her back. I asked her what it said, and she replied that she had forgotten that she had the tattoo and that she didn't remember what it was supposed to say.

 

you're right it doesn't matter since its on there already

just curious as to the extent of bias on their distaste relative to the quality of the character itself

 

I don't care about their opinion of tattoos, if I did I wouldn't have gotten 2 chest pieces as well

I only care about the quality of the work - thus was surprised when they discredited the art given the extensive background of the artist and coverage on her work

 

Thanks for all the feedback!