Koi's and flowers

Hi, I am getting a koi tattoo and it is in transition between fish and dragon, it is also swimming up-stream. I was looking at getting cherry blossoms scattered in the design, but was told that depending on the meaning of the tattoo, that maple leaves might suite better. Can anyone tell the the actual meanins of both the cherry blossom and maple leaves when they are with a koi? Thanks

Ha! Precise, descriptive & tres Australien! Nice one. The maple leaf thing is seasonal i.e. the carp go up the rivers, merrily jumping up waterfalls in autumn, hence the link to falling Maple leaves. Unless you're one of those purists Japanese (and I assume you're not) then it doesn't matter what flowers you throw up in there. I believe that the cherry blossom is symbolic of the shortness/frailty of existence which is why it was a popular symbol among the Samuri (akin to our "Live fast, Die young, leave a goodlooking corpse).

THANKS aujimbo! That was exactly what I was trying to find out. Im not aiming to be 100% correct but also didnt want to have an obviouse wrong image as what little meaning is left in the design still means something to me. Mark

No problems, who is gonna be tattooing it (I see you're from Vegas)?

Not sure hey, Im going around shops now..do you have any recomendations? I have done the design myself and want to give it to an artist to redraw/ fix up my crap bits and then do it.

Not really up with the shops in BNE, but the guys at Westside over at West End seem pretty cool compared to some of the others I've visited. I was thinking about getting something done by Matt Cunnington, but he seems to have a pretty long waiting list. The guys at All Star (City & Taringa or Indooroopilly or somewhere out that way) seem pretty switched on as well.

If you're southside or get to the Goldy much, you could check out any of the Braniff Family's 3 shops around the Surfers/Southport area, Borderline at Burleigh or a guy called Nutz in the main drag at Cooly. All of them do top flight work that I'd recommend.

Great, Thanks for the info. I am going to check out All Star on the weekend, from what ive seen they are getting quite a name for themselves. Also saw a link to Borderline on their website. I am southside so I might pop down the coast and check out the shops down there. Thanks for you help

No worries. Borderline's website really doesn't do them justice, nor does Westside's. Studio's that do a lot of (large) custom stuff quite often don't get to put it up on their sites, figuring it's asking to be ripped off, but their hard copy portfolios are a different matter. I imagine you'll be able to find what you're after at AllStar but. (Couldn't help throwing the Aussie "but" in there...I'm still fired up after yesterday's result in Adelaide!!)

Hey, can you guys post up any links to good artists down there. We dont represent any, but sure would like to!

The Australians are slowly but surely taking over the internet *insert evil cackle here* Anyway I've been researching Oz studios so I'll put up a few links (in no particular order or state, I don't have that much time (:op) : www.holdfasttattoo.com (limited pics but great portfolios and guys) www.reillytat2.com www.innervisiontattoo.com.au www.borderlinetattoos.com www.chapeltattoo.com www.dynamictattoo.com whttp://www.goldcoasttattoos.com.au ww.marcpinto.com (traditional hand tattooing, site contains links to primitivebodypiercing.com where the gallery is) That's all I can think of at the moment off the top of my head. These are he studios I have come across which have impressed me enough to note down. Obvisiously I haven't checked them all out personally. I can comment on the work of Marc he is really nice and does good work and I've booked in with holdfast tattoo myself so I'm impressed with them.

A few of those sites might need a ".au" in the address. www.allstartattoo.com www.westsidetattoo.com.au These are the only ones not previously mentioned that I can vouch for, but there's a bunch in Sydney & Melbourne that seem to have an act.

Trevor McStay is from Australia, I believe a place called Richmond. Either way, even if its a haul from where your at, its definitely WELL recommended to go see him. He is one of the best in the world at Japanese stuff. His work is mouth watering. http://www.dynamictattoo.com/ BTW, I really wouldnt hand him a design. Chances are, a tattoo artist will sucseed much bettr in their own style, unless their are flash based, and if so, then usually arent profecient at doing great japanese work. Peace

I was trying to recall Trevor McStay's name, his stuff does look sorta wonderful. He's in Melbourne, Vic (Richmond's an inner-city suburb).

All this info is great :) Dont get me wrong, my design is just to express the layout that I want, being an artist myself its not total shit scribble. But I want the artists to look at it and say "I know what your trying to get at" and then basically do what they want with it to make it right.

Seems as if you've pretty much on the right track. Keep us posted on how things progress.

Trevor McStays stuff looks "sorta" wonderful?? My man....then what do you consider to be good japanese tattoos? Trevor is absolutely ONE OF THE BEST at japanese composition. Giving the dude a general idea is OK, but cramping him is something entirely else. I know tattoo artists who can tattoo circles around most guys, and they wouldnt dream of telling Trevor McStay how to draw a particular piece. Its part of the magic, indeed. If his stuff doesnt appeal to your liking, then study japanese work for a few years, then decide who should tattoo you. Granted, everyone has certain tastes, but japanese work does follow certain traditions, so therefore, its kinda has its own inner circle of tattooers who know the deal. Needless to say, Ive met guys with 10+ years of tattoo experience, who thought Horiyoshi 3's stuff was "boring". This is pitiful. To be a average person and not know better is one thing, but to have experience as an artist, well, they should just stick to doing "baby daddy names in gansta lettering". Haha. No seriously, I have often wished I lived in Australia so I could get tattooed by Trevor. His body suits and sleeves are AMAZING. He is definitely one of the eliete of the japanese tattoo enthusiasts. I only have one gripe about his work......He borrows heavily from one artist in particular, who BTW, is OUTTA CONTROL. So, in comparison, its not a match, but still, you cant go wrong with Trevor. If you want a dragon koi, or koi, or dragon, or ANYTHING JAPANESE, you'd be a fool to not see Trevor, or to see him and present a drawing and start to choose colors and what not. Think guys.

Bim [sighs] "sorta wonderful" is an Australian understated way of saying "friggin' awesome"...no need for the kneejerk..peace