Help me design my tattoo

[Twodogsonthecouch]

I’m about to turn 59. My daughter gave me a Christmas present of a voucher for a tattoo from the same artist that did hers. This will be my first tattoo and I know I would never have done it if she hadn’t given me a push. I’m now excited and nervous.
This was triggered by me fighting the stereotype of middle aged menopausal women who tend to become invisible in society. I’m really lucky; I have a great job which is well paid. I’m a partner in the job so was able to take 8 weeks off last year and used this to walk the Camino de Frances solo from St Jean to Santiago. I have a very supportive husband and 4 adult children that I am very close to. Despite all this I can still feel invisible at times!
So back to that tattoo. I want a tattoo to commemorate my Camino. I want it on my forearm because I want to see it myself and if I’m getting one I refuse to compromise and hide it away. I want a simple, minimalist line tattoo incorporating the symbols of the Camino: mainly a shell, arrow and a path. A friend of my daughter’s, who is a graphic designer, is going to help me and obviously I will chat to the tattoo artist but I would love to hear from experienced tattoo people 😊
I’m thinking of something like this

My Camino thread last year
I got loads of support here last year

Only issue is fine line tattoos tend to fade and get blotchy over time. Just something to be aware of.

How exciting though. Good luck with the process

@KittenOnTheTable my understanding is that block colours or colours will fade??

This was triggered by me fighting the stereotype of middle aged menopausal women who tend to become invisible in society.

By all means get the tattoo if it will bring joy to your life, but I wouldn't get it for the 'trigger reason' you've stated because lots of middle-aged women (and men) get tattoos, it's become part of the 'mid life crisis' stereotype. I feel more proudly individual by not having a tattoo in this tattooed world we live in.

@Twodogsonthecouch I've had mine for 20 years and the colour is still bright 😎 love your tattoo design 🥰

I would only get a tattoo if you really want one. You said your daughter gave you the push or you would never have done it, why?

I love the design. I'd probably go for a more cartoony version though. Have fun working it out, and well done on your walk.

I got my first tattoo last year when I was 56 - also fine line. My DD got one similar. I hired a designer from Fiverr.com it was the best thing! I gave them a few rough ideas around the theme I wanted and they came up with some brilliant ideas that I would never have put together myself. Definitely recommend.

All tattoos fade really. Fine line tattoos look great but maybe look up how they age then you'll see what I'm talking about it's just something alot of people don't think about with fine line ones

I’m not having a mid life crisis. Far from it; I’m enjoying this stage of my life very much, just very keen not to settle into a rut and close my mind to anything. I have done a number of road trips in a camper van, the Camino and lots of weekend trips. I’m also working away, supporting my recently widowed father, training my dog to be an assistance dog..
I’ve pondered a tattoo for a few years, just not sure if I’d have made the leap without the push of the voucher. I’m not so foolish that I’ll be influenced to do something I had no interest in

I guess sometimes I just need a push over the edge to do something that’s a bit outside my comfort zone. It doesn’t mean I didn’t want it, just that not getting it is the easier option if that makes sense. You can never make a mistake by doing nothing but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t make a leap

You could think of a design that works with the shape of your forearm. The one in the picture is great but arguably better suited to the ankle because it will always be oriented the right way.

Because your arm is a long space you could have the three symbols stacked down your arm and linked in some way (intertwining flowers/vines/a path!). Or you could do something like a single line drawing of the shell (the single line is the path) with a small arrow at one end. For this the orientation will matter less.

Do you want to look at it or do you want others to look at it? Something to think about.

The one you shared as at the bolder end of fine line and they say “bold will hold” and the details aren’t too close together so when the lines inevitably spread a bit as it ages it won’t merge together. Keep aging in mind.

And to be honest you’ll get better advice and more constructive support on Reddit than here for this particular topic.

@Isittimetodeclare thanks so much. Very helpful. Heading over to Reddit now 😂

Final result. Delighted with it 😂❤️

Forgot to add the photo 😬

Oh I like that! Looks really good.

Amazing, congratulations!