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Hello Last Sparrow Forum. Got my first tattoo around 1999 at 222 Tattoo in San Francisco. (Just to put the time in context: this was so long ago, I had to type out my idea, print it out, and FEDEX it to the shop. Also, I actually picked up the phone, and called to make an appt) Stopped getting tattooed around 2002. At that point, I had an above the elbow half sleeve and 1/2 chest panel. I didn't get tattooed again for 15 years. Jumped back in in 2017, when I saw the amazing things that people were pulling off now. I feel pretty fortunate to have gotten tattooed by some really cool artists. Finished my right arm this last Christmas, and I have 98% of a full chest done. I didn't plan on a sleeve or a chest piece when I got my first tattoo 20 years ago. I had NO plan, but in my opinion - it's a testament to the power of great artists that my patchwork collection of dissimilar ideas can live together in some cohesive way. I put a bunch of pictures down below.

My artist's shop reopened with one person at a time and only two artists working. Everyone wears masks, and they can only get in a couple of scheduled tattoos a day (no walk-ins). Got this yesterday. My artist and I both love John Prine.

Leave it alone and get more tattoos around it. No one will notice it except for you.

Ended up going with a mandala over the knee. Did the skin rip along the bottom because my other piece came up too high to allow for the full circle.

No you don't.

In these narcissistic times, too many people think they are the center of the universe. No one knows what it says or cares what it means.

No one cares what it says. Trust me on that.

Screw what people think about your tattoos. That's one of the biggest reasons that I started getting tattooed, I put up my entire life listening to people judge me and I decided that I was done with. Accept me tattoos and all or go F yourself.

our tattoos are a roadmap of our lives,the good and the bad, actually that's what makes us who we are,so it's important IMO to remember the good and the bad and all the lessons learned form life experiences and relationships we have all had.so wear it with pride and don't worry about what all the judgmental a s sholes think of you and your tattoo.

At this point you're really just wasting your time and ours.

take a breath and relax, it will pass, and start planning your next tattoo.

It's a nice sentiment. Cover it if you want, but why not just interpret it a new way? Otherwise, you are just going to have a big weird black bar.

It certainly can be done, but you have to realize that: a/ it'll just look like black panels, probably not like ribbons any more b/ the black ink on the cover is going to be much blacker and look much newer on top of what is a well-settled in tattoo.

I recommend you learn how forums and tattooing. Your first post is asking for something??? Get real. There is no viable market for tattoo designs by nobodies. Back to the drawing board.

Jesus I got the other day. Was a much needed session with all the craziness going on. Glad shops are opening back up!🤘

And educate yourself about tattoos. People think that simple tattoos are easy. Actually, it's just the opposite. There's no where to hide in a simple tattoo. Thin lines on thin skin are prone to blow out. Learn how to tell a good artist from a hack.

It looks pretty rough and full of blowouts. I think you need someone to cover that up and just put the dainty bird somewhere else. Also, don't go back to whoever did that. Find a new artist who excels at coverups.

That's a tattoo btw. I was thinking on turning it into half a sleeve maybe or some kind of background. But these mixed feelings make me depressed

Thanks friend. Really trying my best but it's like I can't even focus on anything else. I think that the fact that it's on my forearm doesn't help because I always stare at it

That doesn't particularly look like those spots relate to where white highlight ink would have been placed, at least from this vantage point here . . .

hi I am new to the forum. this is the only forum I can post in. I am guessing that its ment to be that way for whatever reason. So hello.

A picture or two would help us provide the realistic possibilities . . .

It depends. If it's a big dark, poorly done tattoo, it might be hard. If it's a small, light, faded tattoo, it will be a lot easier. Make sure you get someone really experienced with coverups. Look at samples of their work. I've seen coverups that were worse than the original. I was getting tattooed one day and this woman comes in with one of the most amateurish, God awful tattoos I've ever seen. It was a cover up. After she was gone my artist looks at me and said, "That looks like Arnold Schwartzenager climbing out of a tar pit."

find the right artist that likes doing coverups & is good at it, they could do just fine, what you have to do is a lot of research to find the right person, I have a couple coverups that are perfect.

Hello! and if you've got initial questions you can do that here, too.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Appreciate it.

I always use a zinc based sunscreen which is the best for protection. But it’s also the greyest, thickest balm. Gets on everything like the op described. So now I wear golfing sleeves whenever I’m commuting or taking any kind of prolonged solar beat down on my arms. They’re really comfortable actually. Just google golf sleeves.

I guess someone had to make up “news” to meet a deadline.

If I happened to read that on someone- as an employee. socially, whatever- I would 100% interpret it as a general motto not some kind of needed reminder because otherwise you would be bad. It's possibly the most benign, least offensive words possible on a tattoo. I ❤️Mom is edgier and more controversial. Tattoo looks good. If you are taking votes mine is to not change it.

Thanks. Since I got my first tattoo on this arm at 222, I thought it was super cool when I got the chance to have Eddy Deutsche do the last two tattoos to finish the sleeve. Ended up being like bookends on a story. That's why I kind of hit the gas and did two session in Dec, just because I was able to get in. Didn't want to miss the chance. Also, it was an elbow and a weird gap fill that I tasked him with. I really wanted a master level person, just because I had no idea how to fill 2 such weird spaces. So, when I was able to book with Eddy, it was perfect.

You are right. Most people don't notice a whole lotta stuff until we call attention to it by being overly self-conscious. And honestly, the words could be interpreted many ways. Don't stress it. Could even be a cool prop for a pickup line.

Totally this. Imo, tattoos chronicle our lives. They are ours and ours alone. No one will ever get what each tattoo means or what stage of our life each represents. And that's totally cool. No point worrying about what others may think. One man's meat is another man's poison and all that.

The fact that you don’t seem to understand that great art doesn’t necessarily make great tattoos tells me you’re out of your depth.

No and no one wants to buy yours.

Turning up to a new place to try to get people to back your crowdfunding product is a bad idea. I've backed many Kickstarters, but I learn about it organically and find out for myself. Also, this isn't going to work. My artist has a degree in art and can draw anything I need him to. The vast majority of tattoo artists aren't going to tattoo something you brought in from some nobody who has never tattooed. They will laugh about your request after you leave. It's just not how this works. That's not how any of this works.

Many talented artists, like many talented tattooers. There is a problem when I am in another part of the world and cannot make a tattoo in the style of a master who is in thousands of kilometers from me. There is an option to buy his design and make a tattoo in my city. Our mission is to reduce the distance between tattoo lovers and creators. We want to bring you all under one roof, to make the art of various cultures and nationalities available for fans, who can decorate their bodies with tattoos.

You should learn about the industry. There is a difference between great art and art that makes a great tattoo. Nobody is going to buy art from someone who isn't even a tattooer.

agreed, leave it alone. besides, the actual earth is deformed, anyway.

It's perfectly fine. Tattoos will always shift or contort with your body when you move. It is inevitable and unique to tattoos since the canvas is not static. If this is an issue for you, you might want to avoid getting any other tattoos. Messing with the tattoo by changing it will just make things worse. Honestly, after a while, you don't even notice the momentary distortions any more.

It looks fine as is, don't worry about it. Every tattoo deforms as the skin moves, not much you can do about it. I think artists do what they can to compensate for it, but you can't make it perfect in every position. Enjoy it and start planning your next one.

Welcome, and glad to assist in any way we can. I'm seeing tons of awesome work coming out of Spain - especially Barcelona.

@SStu Thanks dude! That spot sucked but was well worth it! He's a great guy to boot!

"Dainty" usually involves thin lines. There might be an artist out there who incorporates both dainty and thick into the same images, but that's not what I usually look for - so I'm not familiar with any.

@SStu I post most of them on my IG, @hellomegaphone. Some aren't on there but i can always try and take photos of any in particular!

That cage is pretty dark with fat lines and the examples you're posting are pretty dainty. Any cover is going to have to be quite dark to hide the old work, and trying to incorporate that cage with dainty next to it doesn't sound appealing, at least to me . . .

You can't really clean up something like that. I'd get the whole thing covered up, or you will wind up hating it.

Don't overthink it man. Just get something simple that will remind you of what you want it to every time you look at it. Something like this with a similar colour palette to the one you have.

The "meaning" of a tattoo doesn't need to be literally linked to the visual objects depicted in it, unless it's very important to you that strangers have the opportunity to try and understand your vision. Any tattoo that reminds you and your girls of those memories will fulfill the purpose of displaying that artwork. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about trying to find the right '1 large, 2 small' objects as much as coming up with any camping scene (or any scene that reflects the vibe) that reminds you of those encounters.

@Oiocha Pagoda cancelled today. It's the right choice but I am sad!

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.