rdinak

Finished. Artist insist I come back for a touch up in a couple weeks. It was worth the wait and sticking with a good Artist.
 

Finished. Artist insist I come back for a touch up in a couple weeks. It was worth the wait and sticking with a good Artist.
 

Finished. Artist insist I come back for a touch up in a couple weeks. It was worth the wait and sticking with a good Artist.
 

Well I waited. My artist went to a new shop and get set up. Went is for session 2 today and we had a great afternoon laughing. Project is almost complete.

Well I waited. My artist went to a new shop and get set up. Went is for session 2 today and we had a great afternoon laughing. Project is almost complete.

Well I waited. My artist went to a new shop and get set up. Went is for session 2 today and we had a great afternoon laughing. Project is almost complete.

Well I waited. My artist went to a new shop and get set up. Went is for session 2 today and we had a great afternoon laughing. Project is almost complete.

Well I waited. My artist went to a new shop and get set up. Went is for session 2 today and we had a great afternoon laughing. Project is almost complete.

Going in for another session on the sailor jerry on my left leg tomorrow 

Going in for another session on the sailor jerry on my left leg tomorrow 

Getting started on a fun piece before my back project. Artist changed the classic photo to match the color of my dog. So this is tattoo number five and I am still learning. Yes your biceps are free. Back is not too bad. Thigh is a little more sensitive until you start rounding the corners.  Got the line work this session. Going to be a fun summer

Getting started on a fun piece before my back project. Artist changed the classic photo to match the color of my dog. So this is tattoo number five and I am still learning. Yes your biceps are free. Back is not too bad. Thigh is a little more sensitive until you start rounding the corners.  Got the line work this session. Going to be a fun summer

Getting started on a fun piece before my back project. Artist changed the classic photo to match the color of my dog. So this is tattoo number five and I am still learning. Yes your biceps are free. Back is not too bad. Thigh is a little more sensitive until you start rounding the corners.  Got the line work this session. Going to be a fun summer

Getting started on a fun piece before my back project. Artist changed the classic photo to match the color of my dog. So this is tattoo number five and I am still learning. Yes your biceps are free. Back is not too bad. Thigh is a little more sensitive until you start rounding the corners.  Got the line work this session. Going to be a fun summer

Getting started on a fun piece before my back project. Artist changed the classic photo to match the color of my dog. So this is tattoo number five and I am still learning. Yes your biceps are free. Back is not too bad. Thigh is a little more sensitive until you start rounding the corners.  Got the line work this session. Going to be a fun summer

Getting started on a fun piece before my back project. Artist changed the classic photo to match the color of my dog. So this is tattoo number five and I am still learning. Yes your biceps are free. Back is not too bad. Thigh is a little more sensitive until you start rounding the corners.  Got the line work this session. Going to be a fun summer

Happy update: my tattoo wasn't infected 😬 I've taken off the Tegaderm and it's peeling and healing nicely. 
Can't wait for my little monster to fully heal.

Pardon the glare.  First half a Sailor Jerry type tattoo. The lower half of the blade is going to come out of my chest just above the heart.  A very personal spin on a classic. My artist did great this afternoon!
 
 

Went back for another session today. Made great strides of progress. Shop was quiet on a weekday. I took the gang a box of hot wings and a chocolate cake. Artist thinks we need one more touch session after everything heals to get the final blending and shading. The areas near my armpits almost had me standing up. 

latest session on the dragon project tonight. Tried some  wonderful cream for those longer projects.

Went back for session 2 on the dragon yesterday. Got all of the black shading done, and just started on color. After five hours I was wore out.  Cant wait for my next session. 

Original was my first tattoo from 20 years ago. Met with my artist to see what would work. He took several photos, did an outline tracing and committed to drawing what might work. The old dragon was 20 years old and tired.  Got it on a business trip in Chicago at the Jade Dragon Tattoo Parlor. At the time a group of young, enthusiastic managers went downtown to see the iconic tattoo shop. 6 of us left with new ink. Many years later, I wanted something new, fresh and keeping with the dragon theme. 
My artist carefully explained what colors would work, what design would work and the size of the new piece to effectively cover the old work. Little did I know this was going to be a journey, a process and commitment of many months. Once I saw the stencil and the pc screen illustrating the color choices. I decided to take the plunge.
First session was about four-five hours for outline work.
Second session was the beginning of shading. (4-5 hours)
Third Session more color. ( five hours)
Fourth Session-almost done ( Was coming down with the flu and getting cold chills and shaking thinking I was getting cold) close to 4 hours..
Have been back for two touch up sessions and have the last one scheduled this week. If you notice the yellow areas in the whiskers and scales between the horns, a little more color saturation is needed to prevent the old image from showing through. 
Comments-Cover work can be very complex. Its a blend of design, choosing the appropriate colors that will cover light and dark and going larger to find a design that will obscure the old work. It may never be completely invisible, however the focus of the new work will draw the eye away from the previous work. Detailed shading and design is never one and done. Plan on more than visit to get the deep color saturation you desire and to cover the old areas. I waited 30 days in between sessions to allow my skin to heal and allow my artist to see what really needed to be done next. Learned a lot about what after care products I prefer. When doing a lot of shading work, some products with lidocaine do make a difference. While you might not experience the same level of relief on line work. When shading and the pores get opened up..there is a difference.  At my age-(56) five hours is longest I can sit. Four hours is much easier. Having a cool artist that understands you and the end goal are very important. I wont be doing any more cover work but I plan on lots more ink. Have had a couple more new pieces since this piece was almost done. 
Hope this helps those thinking about cover work. My artist explained he would much rather work on a 20 year old piece than one done six months ago.
Just one old guys experience.
 
 

Made an appointment for next Thursday. Going to get a Sailor Jerry Boston Terrier on my leg. Something close to this except the colors will change a little to match my dog. She is a seal brendle Boston