Thanks Gino! I think it looks japanese too which is what I think bugs me the most about it. He is a traditional tattoo artist, almost all of his work I've seen is american traditional. When I went in he asked me if what I was after was japanese, and I said no definately american traditional, and he said ok. I thought the sketch looked a little more japanese but assumed he knew what he was doing. I like the side in pic 2,3 and 4, but what I want to cover up is the 'swirly bits' because they do seem so japanese. Also very different to the other side which is more layered cloud shapes than swirls. I thought it may end up too dark if I covered so thanks for the advice guys, I'll sit with it. Maybe just fill in some of the white with more black on the swirls to give it a more traditional effect. Planning an umbrella with rain drops coming from under it to go above this, so if I go super traditional with that maybe it'll offset the japanese look. What do you guys think about the raised linework on pic 1? It's only on the corners where it zigs, and hard to tell in photo. But its very thick and raised in that spot even 6 months later, like it catches the light and everything. Is it scarring? Will that go down like the rest did eventually? Thanks guys.
So this is my first reply on this site, but I honestly think your piece looks great!
I wouldn't say its american traditional however - definitely Japanese. But looks like your artist knew what he was doing. I dig the lightning bolts AND the clouds the way that they are.
Out of all my ink, my artist has made some last minute adjustments too that I "rolled with" and I'm glad I did. Mine were basically placement adjustments, but trust your artist if they have any sort of prestige to their name!
Gino_Spumoni got a reaction from Flippa in Need advice on the results of my first tattoo!