I guess that’s just it though; I’m not really looking for someone to tell me whether it’s attractive or unattractive. I’m looking for a skilled professional to simply do their best at executing it. I’ve seen people bring in handwriting and have it tattooed before – It’s not really for the artist to say “Your dead relative/long lost brother/best friend’s handwriting won’t look good on your body. If it’s not magazine script, I’m not doing it.” And don’t get me wrong. I get it. Some artists only want to do work that they find aesthetically pleasing, or that fits a certain style. They want referrals and good samples to fill their binders. But isn’t there another type of artist out there? One who can trust that, if I’m willing to pay, and willing to have it on my body forever, it’s probably important to me? And, furthermore, aren’t there artists who would accept the challenge of reproducing someone’s design as closely as possible, and be proud of it? I’ve attached some images, because I know I’m not the only one who wants this. I’m just looking for an artist who says “I respect that. Let’s do it.” instead of “That’ll look strange. Wouldn’t you want a dragon? Here, look at all the dragons I’ve done.”

As for the Mandelbrot Set; It is a stunning, miraculously perfect image to someone who’s studied mathematics. It looks like nothing else on earth, and there’s a perfection and infinite symmetry to it that someone in my field would totally respect. Maybe it doesn’t look like flowers or whatever. But it’s beautiful to me, and there are so many ways it’s been tattooed in the past that, as I’ve said, I’m pretty shocked that people aren’t willing to take it on.

I’m definitely willing to travel away from DC if there aren’t folks here to do it properly. Recommendations are absolutely welcome!!