3/4 sleeves, different styles

[jimmyirish]

Hey all,

So i know there is already a thread on integrating different styles of tattoo into a collection, but I think this is a little more specific and I have been trying to figure it out for a while.

Currently I have a 3/4 Japanese peacock sleeve on my right arm and a great big eagle on my upper left arm. I have an appointment at the London tattoo convention with Steve Byrne, and I was

originally going to get him to do my eagle but I just couldn't resist snapping up a Valerie Vargas cancellation (I love her eagles!). I was thinking of getting Steve to do a clipper ship on the inside of

my right arm, I love his clean, bold take on traditional subjects and i'm sure he'd do an unbelievable job.

The only problem is that i'm a sucker for symmetry and i'm worried that it will look a little lopsided with a 3/4 sleeve on one arm and just two large tattoos on the other. I'm also not totally comfortable

with moving down to the wrist, I know i've gone half way down the forearm but it still feels like a big step somehow. So i'm thinking I could get Steve to do something on the inside of my bicep (a panther or

a girl head maybe?) and then get little filler pieces dotted around my upper arm so its kinda a 3/4 traditional American sleeve. Do you guys think that would work or would it just draw the attention

away from the eagle?

Sorry to be so long winded! heres a couple of pics to give you an idea of what i'm working with. Thanks very much for your help.

[tatB]

my vote is a tradtional american design on the inner bicep area then roses and japanese clouds and wind bars to tie it all together. rose in that open area between the sparrow and your shoulder, another on the elbow/outer forearm area, then maybe a skull in the elbow ditch.

[Fala]

I second the rose suggestion - would balance out the peonies nicely.

[jimmyirish]

Thanks for the input guys,

I would prefer not to have any more Japanese, just because i like the contrast between western and Japanese styles - do you reckon it would work

if I went for a traditional piece on the inner bicep and then filled up the rest of the gaps with little fillers and a few roses as suggested?

I just ordered 'These old Blue Arms- the life and times of amund dietzel' and was hoping I might be able to incorporate some of that old flash as filler.

Thanks again

[sighthound]

My arms are set up that way, too. I have a japanese half sleeve on my left arm and traditional flash designs filling up my right arm down to the elbow (another half sleeve).

I didn't really plan it out that way it just kind of happened. And my right arm wasn't planned out either, I just got designs I liked by artists I admired. It filled itself out nicely because if you go to a quality artist they will, by default, fit the design in with the rest of your work. Even though I went to all different artists, they still made it all come together seamlessly.

The symmetry is a little off just because of the contrast in styles but I don't mind it as much. Just express your thoughts to your artist(s) and be open to their suggestions because they'll know best how to give you what you want.

[jimmyirish]

you don't have any pics do you? @sighthound

[sighthound]

not at this moment, no. It's hard to get a good pic of oneself

[sighthound]

@jimmyirish I took some quick, really bad, laptop cam pics for you.

There was pretty much no coordination between the arms. I like the negative spacing and how each image can stand on its own on my american arm. I also like the coverage and how heavy the japanese arm is. I couldn't decide so I just said I'd get one of each lol.

Understand that your arms will always be a little asymmetric, just a little. The only way, imo, that you might make them more similar would be to get stars & dots filler when you finish the american trad arm. I probably won't go that route just because I like the negative spacing on it. But to each their own.

In the end, overall symmetry wasn't that important to me. I just like tattoos, and wanted both styles.

Sorry for the horrible pic quality, but it's enough to get the idea I think :cool:

[suburbanxcore]

Not to sound dismissive at all, but with Steve Byrne and Valerie Vargas putting pieces on there, you can't really go wrong with whatever you decide!

[sighthound]

^ this is true, too

[Jon Reiter]

Thanks for the input guys,

I just ordered 'These old Blue Arms- the life and times of amund dietzel' and was hoping I might be able to incorporate some of that old flash as filler.

Thanks again

Can't go wrong with Dietzel designs! :)))

SOLID STATE BOOKS