knucklehead211

I wouldn't go with that exact design. You could take it to your artist as a reference, but I'm sure most artists worth their salt won't want to be aping a complex design like that altogether. They're ARTISTS; they like to make their art unique, within the realm of what the client wants of course. And there's really no way to tell how much it will be. Best bet, take this pic - and a few others - to a reputable artist. Be open to the idea of them putting their own touch on it. You can ask him what he thinks it might cost, but better to just go in prepared. Just some tips!

I'm guilty of starting threads for simple questions, but I try to only do it if it's something specific I haven't seen asked before. But I'm still pretty new.

Gotcha @xcom, probably jumping the gun a bit. @marley mission, definitely. It actually peeled down if that makes sense (further from my heart, later to peel).

Thanks for the input. It's about thirty minutes drive and my work doesn't allow much time lately for me to do everything I need in a day. With the way it's progressed I think it's 50/50 that it'll heal up in time. I found my lotion too so I think that'll help!

Just curious if anyone has experience with this. My leg sleeve outline has been in for three weeks so far. My next appt for shading is in one week, and my ankle is still flaking. Any ideas on what I should do? Rescheduling would suck, but I don't want to mess it up. Any advice appreciated!

Awesome man! What are you getting? 4-18: I got confirmation from my scheduler that I will have three days off to heal up. More than likely unnecessary, but I am pumped to actually get some time off. Glad to say it'll only be shading, but I worry since my ankle is STILL peeling! Hoping it won't interfere. Just over a week til game time!

Torn between giving harsh advice or leaving this alone...

I'd say he showed his hand pretty quick. Let the guy follow your advice or not: this being the internet you're probably never going to hear a follow up from him anyways.

So an illustrator thinks he can draw something up that would go on a body for a lifetime...reeks of "don't kbow what you're talking about".

Typically I get most of it. I think I got it all on my calf sleeve outline too, but there were spots where the excess ink didn't wash off for a few days since I was gentle. Took more than a week for the sharpie marks where he freehanded some stuff, I thoight my heel would be greenish yellow forever!

I agree. I think getting inked on my bicep the past three years spoiled me. I used to be done peeling within a week!

Very nice @xcom ! What's behind the pixel design? Update on mine: after two weeks, I'm still peeling. Not used to seeing ink flakes still. Probably compounded because of poor circulation and smoking. On the plus side, it's only the lightning, drowning hand and whirlpool areas by the ankle; Poseidon's face is on the final peel!

Awww dude...vaseline is like the no.1 no no... Update on my leg - still peeling after a week and a half. I think it's just because legs heal slower, which is compounded by my poor circulation to my extremities (had my fingers and toes "die" on me before where they go all white with no blood flow unless I warm them up), which is also made worse since I'm a smoker. Hoping it will be good soon.

That is awesome work, @Swifty!

Exile (either 1 or 2) or freaks in kansas city Missouri are both great shops, and I highly recommend Nathan Blankenship at exile 2. He has done all my work so far. A few hours from chicago but just saiyan.

If you're trying to do traditional style flash, I think you need to start using way thicker lines. Also limiting your color range a bit. Pick something classic, like skulls, devils, roses, snakes, banners etc, and do about four to six variations on it, while keeping in the same artistic style (i.e. all traditional, all japanese). Sticking to a theme makes it easier to get your art across I think. Also, not an artist myself, just throwing out what I've seen on parlor walls.

Right? I always expected my artist to have it drawn up before hand, but most times he gets a quick measurement of the area, then draws it up. Probably helps that my first four were around palm sized. The only time I've seen him pre draw was for my calf sleeve, and I think the fact that I came in just to chat with him about it a few weeks prior helped, as he took the approximate measurement of the area then, and knew exactly how much space he had.

My artist has done it both ways. Sometimes I've sat for an hour while he did a quick sketch. Last ttme he had already drawn it up so we were just waiting while he set up the station and I filled out the form. Either way works well!

That is awesome. Maybe tomorrow I'll have the girlfriend help me out, hard to tell when I've got the whole thing covered. On the other end, it's SO DAMN ITCHY! I went to itch the part by the top of my foot yesterday and was like whoa, stop dude! Not to mention trying to keep my leg away from my dog when I'm playing with him, or my lady accidentally kicking or scratching it!

You could have it be a black and white pair of koi. Or any other animal

Couldn't put it better myself, except to say this: tattoos can have meaning without going overboard with them. Sometimes the meaning can come to you without even planning it out. My snake that I got to tie my half sleeve together wasn't really meant to have any meaning to it, but when I thought about it, it is very representative of the people in my life who have snuck up on me and screwed me over, like snakes in the grass. I say get the tattoos that sound cool to you: if there's a meaning, you'll find it along the way!

Thanks my man!

So before I put this on, is aveeno HAND cream okay? It doesn't have any lanolin, is unscented, but I just want to nake sure.

Damn, that is crazy man. Nicely done!

Pics or it didn't happen!!