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Here's a small one I got yesterday. It's a snail warrior, a symbol of the band Heilung. They play music derived from pre-viking northern tribes. Very ancestral.

I have an appointment next month with didac (@didactattoo on ig) for a big black panther covered in red hearts. I am so excited! It is going to be my biggest piece so far (about 35 cm)

Tattoo studios are all shut in the UK also right now - I'm looking out on IG for art/prints/Tshirts to buy - there's a couple that are going to be doing that - I'm also hoping the Govt over here sorts out some money for self employed people while they are mandating the shut down.

Quick Update on the tattoo. Saturday I did the first session and in 3.5 hours we did all the outlines. Here some shots of the day. For now really happy and surprise also about me. really didn't know what to expect from my first tattoo

Think less is more. Unless you have a giant arm, you have more than enough going on. Let the design breathe.

I wouldn't throw anything else in there. That's already very busy.

Hey, thank you! It went great! She was fabulous to work w and I think I was pretty okay too - I was twitching a bit by the end, but no complaining and a good tip! thanks for the insight 🙂

once it's healed, try coloring it in with a marker and see if you dig it. if you dig it enough to make it permanent, make an appointment and go for it.

I follow quite a few local shops on social media along with others that I'd some day like to travel to and in the last week I'm seeing a reoccurring theme. The lock down of tattoo shops in many states is quickly causing financial problems for the shop owners and tattooers. Many are selling merch and paintings or prints and offering to do commissioned artwork. The shop that I've gone to the most is selling gift cards to carry them thru this lean times. I realize many collectors are also laid off or facing reduced hours, but if you are in a position to help consider throwing a little something their way. It'd be a shame to lose a bunch of good shops and artists that we'll be wanting and needing when this whole nightmare is over.

Hi All - I hope that everyone is safe and well. My heart is broken for all of our friends and family that have been furloughed or had income disruptions. I have been doing what I can to support!

They don't just take an eraser to your skin and rub the tattoo off. Getting that much ink off would probably take a year or more and I can't even imagine the cost and the pain. And it never really comes off. I've seen tons of tattoo that were lasered "off" and you can still see them. $2,000 for that much work is a bargain, particularly since it's good work. Finish the sleeve and do better on the next one. You only think you're unhappy now. By the time you get through mucking with that arm, you'll probably have $10,000 in it and be REALLY unhappy with the way it looks. Not to beat up on you, but this is why you think BEFORE you get a tattoo.

Lines don’t heal crooked. They are put on crooked.

so me and my wife met with Oliver at the Feather Falls Tattoo expo and I got the horseshoe on my left knee ditch and she got the turtle on her left leg to go with a mermaid and octopus that he did a couple years ago.

I'm doing what I can to pre-pay for sessions and buy some art.

But if I ask in a different way, won't I get a different answer???

Our state shut all tattoo shops this week. I really feel for tattoo artists right now.

We need to stick together during these crazy times.

No real tattooist would tell you it's ok to submerge your new tattoo in pool chlorine. Did he/she happen to be working from a kitchen table? Only time will tell how it plays out.

Funny thing is, I'd feel safer going to any tattoo shop that I've ever been to compared to the vast majority of restaurants or stores.

When you said the forehead area of your "little guy" I almost didn't look! Tattoos take 4 -6 weeks to heal. You won't know anything until then. It doesn't matter how many times you ask, how you rephrase the question, or what nuances you add to your inquiry.

Last session is done... not sure how common it is to spend so many sessions on a single/first piece like this, but I'm having a lot of fun with the process so I guess it's all good! Again really appreciate all the info contributed on this site over the years (so if you're reading this: thank you!), it's helped my experience more than I can say. One more touch-up session scheduled in a month or so (artist wants to add a little more color to a few areas), but first tattoo down, now to figure out which of the dozens of ideas to have done next! Dang things really are addictive after all... 🙂

I've never joined photos to make one connected image, but I've taken rotating shots and put them together to show the various angles. Taking the Pics: this is obviously easiest if you have someone taking pics for you. have them stand at the same location as you rotate, to get the same lighting. pay attention to the distance from the camera to the tattoo - try to keep size and location consistent if you're taking shots solo set the camera on a level surface that frames your piece well set the timer and take as many shots as your camera will do on timer same as above - stand at the right distance from the camera and slowly rotate take more shots that you need. digital pics are free! check out the set and redo as needed. be patient. later, when you edit, you can choose the best ones that work well to show the piece as a whole I've never tried this, but you might also be able to just take a video, then take stills from the video. Editing the Pics Choose the best shots that show a good rotation Crop each shot at the same height locations of the tattoo - in this example, top of arm to bottom of half sleeve Resize each image to be the same height Adjust values of each image, to be as consistent as possible Save Open a blank file and insert each shot in the rotation Align to fit Crop if needed Adjust values as a whole rotated image, if needed This is pretty amateur, but it's good enough for my needs.I've got nothing on ATAK. If you haven't already, check out Bloodwork: Sleeves and Bodies. Hope this helps!

@Hogrider - Many of the "brightener" product contain Vitamin C and/or some other types of mild acids (re: not retinols but salicylic acid) sold in regular "anti-aging" facial creams. The "brighteners" simply exfoliate. My concern around these product is sun exposure. Anytime you use Vit C or mild acids, the number one rule is to avoid sun exposure due to increased sun sensitivity.

no fluid is fine and the wrinkles from the film will just go away.

Perfect place for a death head moth IMHO.

Let's play this through. Your artist tattoos you while sick. Your work looks subpar. You get sick. The name of this post would have been "My tattoo looks horrible because my artis was sick...why didn't they just cancel! I have this crappy tattoo forever! Plus I had to take a week off work because I'm sick!"

As others have said. This really sucks and as contact employees tattoo artists are hit hard. Wife and I looking into buying a painting or maybe some gift cards.

yep, I feel bad for these tattooers. they are all closed here too. plus all the ones we all follow & know around the planet. I am very fortunate to have an "essential" job here in probation, and my wife is retired so she is good at home.

Yes, it is a common phenomenon. It's a common question here. Take a breath and relax, it will pass.

Welcome to the internet. You sometimes hear things you don't want to. 😉

Another GoldWing rescued. Bought in December 2019 from a fence row in Kentucky. Still needs paint and a front tire, but this derelict is a runner again after at least 9 years.

It's an open wound. Do you not get that?

And it seems to me since you questioned the artist multiple times, you must have already known that you shouldn't do it. That puts at least 50% of the responsibility on you.

Dan thanks. Sorry just seen your reply to my post last year. I love tattoo now!

You have to wait until it heals to know what it's going to look like. At two weeks, it's not even healed yet. Hyper fixating is a recipe for disaster hen getting tattoos. You're more likely to make things worse than better by acting without thinking. Patience is your best friend.

easily covered. Get used to the idea that it's going to be significantly larger - and send us a link to the intended artist.

Gah...hoping that my appointments can still go on next month in NYC. #covid19

Yep. The only way to even that all up would be to cover it with something fairly dark. It could end up awesome, but finding the right artist would be key.

No, you can't fix bad line work. All you can do is make sure you don't make the same mistake twice. I wouldn't worry about that tattoo. I've seen many, many more that are far worse. Just look at it at a high level, don't look at every detail. I say this at least once a week - you start fooling with a tattoo like that, you're far more likely to make it worse than to make it better.

My 2 cents. 3 koi are too much. They'd be so small they'd lose their detail and look amateurish. If you're really set on having 3, consider moving it to your leg. Most important, if you really want it to turn out well, go to an artist that has studied Japanese tattoos and understands how they are to designed. Don't just go to someone who has "done a few".

Plus aren't chrysanthemums a fall/winter flower? And sakura are definitely a spring flower. So you might remove the cherry blossoms and replace with maple leaves, but even then, there's really a lot going on. The sketch itself is nice, but the images are very compressed. Did you design this yourself? I like the style of the waves, certainly, but something seems static about the picture. It should of course seem completely vivid and in motion. That's my 2 cents and I'm by no means an expert and don't mean to offend.

It's very common; we get posts on here like every few days. I'd hold off on another one for a bit if this one is this concerning. Nothing to do now other than to grow to love it, which you've indicated you already do; it ain't going anywhere.

go see your doctor to be sure.

How exactly does it brighten and protect tattoos? Sounds like marketing bullschitt to me. No need for special lotions and potents.

My advice: sit well, tip well and don't bring drama (no micromanaging). See how it goes. Good luck!

In my experience, treat a tattooer like any other business owner. Work with them, don't cop an attitude, and remember that they are the experts. Be understanding and everything will work out fine. BTW, you can't start a new thread in any other section until you have 10 posts... I think, lol.

No one will notice, no one will care but you. I say it at least once a week, if you start monkeying with the tattoo the chances are you'll make it worse, not better.

Get a new tattoo with the new names. You commemorated a point in time.