Bird lover seeks tattoo!: Swift Pulling Message

Summary:

A swift carrying words 'I would rather spend my life close to the birds than waste it wishing I had wings'.

Description:

The tattoo idea I have is a swift (derived from the old type of swallow design e.g. http://www.tattoofinder.com/friend.asp?flash=24219 (But a more masculine version) carrying the message ‘I would rather spend my life close to the birds than waste it wishing I had wings’. Either carried on a banner via the beak (like the link example) or feet, or trailing the swift. The font, for which, I would like to be as similar as possible to English Script Hand. Was thinking of my left foot (Size 11) as a location. Not really sure whether to have it coloured or shaded, I leave it to your imagination! Be cool if the design was abstract but still retained some reality to the swift as the bird itself means alot to me.

Additional Details:

• Gender: Male
• Size: 18 x 7 centimeters
• Detail: High
• Winning artist must provide stencil / line work at completion of contest

Appended Description (August 25 2010 11:38am):

P.S This is my first tattoo hence I want to get the best design possible as the idea really means alot to me :)

Appended Description (August 25 2010 12:15pm):

PPS. If you find the message ‘I would rather spend my life close to the birds than waste it wishing I had wings’is too long, I would also take 'Fidelis ad mortem' which is my family motto. Would prefer the first one tho! :D

Appended Description (August 26 2010 5:51am):

Or maybe create the common swift  in a 'Ukiyo-e' (See link for example) Japanese style? Just giving you guys plenty of scope :) (for example like this crow: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/ukiyoe/a.crow4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/aboutmeebay3crowprints.htm&usg=__t1TNqH2slV27jPUcLei5pgZN1-w=&h=456&w=633&sz=47&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=S51eZrIfxOtiDM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=173&prev=/images?q=Ukiyo-e+bird&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1R2ADSA_enGB361&biw=1379&bih=849&tbs=isch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=221&ei=-Td2TN-nJdvPjAf_7fTmBQ&oei=-Td2TN-nJdvPjAf_7fTmBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=43&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=84&ty=85 )

Appended Description (August 26 2010 12:30pm):

Sorry! What I was meaning by abstract is that I dont want it to be like a potrait of a swift, but a design that you can still recognise as a swift (Like japanese wood block art). Apologies poor use of words on my behalf.

Payment Methods:

This contest has been pre-paid. The winning artist will be paid directly by CreateMyTattoo via Paypal.