I have two tattoos and my fiance has...a lot. lol
I don't wanna be upsetting - but those two designs probably won't work. They'll look like someone just randomly attacked you with house paint. Without any real definition, it'll all end up being splodges on your arm. Could look nice when you get them, but in a few years all the lines will begin to blur.
Pastel colours, as far as I know, are fairly rare (though I guess they'd just mix some white into a base colour), and they will fade faster, as said before. You can't have a design with too much small detail, unless you can find an amazing tattoo artist. Most of them are pretty limited though. It's hard to hold onto that gun and draw tiny little lines.
Basically, tattoo art is the way it is for a reason. Bold lines and bright colours are what suits best.
You'd better have a bloody good think. lol. If anything, I'd stick with the first design, but be prepared for it to not turn out the way you imagine.
that.. is so cool!
so the male was telling me this story about his travels. He was in a random violent country (which i will not name) where he noticed EVERYBODY had their initials tattooed on their left hand near the thumb. Eventually he asked his bodyguard (who also had them) and was told its because of the number of decapitated corpses that float up on the beach everyday....
I have a big cross on my back, i dedsiged it myself and had it done about 6years ago, i still love it, its part of my personality and so far it hasnt been a problem with modelling so im happy !! :)