SStu

Indeed. I could understand it if you got crappy work - but those are both great!

Yep - looks like he's doing really well. Your back will feel better later 😄

Yeah, as long as those pieces of paper had NO bacteria on them (?) then you should be fine.

yep. typically 3-4 weeks before you can really tell what you've got.

thanks for remembering to post!

well done!

Tattooist's personalities vary just like the regular population, so how they might react is more known to you than us, assuming you've already had a personal consultation. More than 9 times out of 10 you're drawing isn't even started 3 weeks in advance. Go and visit the artist, if it's feasible - and express the above. E-mail should be a workable option, too.

That's super! Great contrast. Love the commitment, too.

I like it! Roses would work really nice. Ferns? Sextant? Tools? Engine? Close-up of a Scarab or other bug?

Most/many tattooists only work on the next idea the day before your appointment. Just like everybody else outside of tattooing, many are poor communicators and some are not all that competent. It'll be hard for us to evaluate the situation without more info, but the indication that his initial presentation doesn't include what y'all originally talked about isn't good. Do you have an actual appointment to get started? Can you post a link to his previous work?

looks totally normal for a tattoo that isn't even close to being healed.

send us a link to your artist in Goa

definitely salvageable via someone who is proficient at white over black - but that criteria isn't all that common. Where are you located?

honestly to me that doesn't look healed yet. a month is just a bit unusual but not unheard of, especially if was always a rough spot. easily touchupable but you'll have to wait at least another month or more, and by then it might look better anyway. looks like you're black web-eyebrows will need to little touchup, too. Go visit your artist and lay the groundwork.

yeah, there's no turning that around.

My advice would be to review the rules of the forum.

still looks like it's healing to me . . .

perfectly normal. looks decent, too!

Yeah. As long as it isn't red/hot/painful you should be ok.

Lol. Awwww . . . he's cute!

Art is subjective, so I would only address what appears to be the application itself. Not horrible but not particularly great, either. The design is pretty dark to begin with. I'm assuming you brought the picture to the artist and asked for him/her to reproduce it? Is this a cover?

Yeah, a couple of years ago the forum was popping, with dozens of active members sharing ideas, experiences, opinions and pictures. Now we seem to be relegated to answering the same 4-5 questions for 1-visit noobs. Covid and the temporary closure of most shops hasn't helped - and even now we here (in New Orleans) can't just go and visit a shop. A fair number of my collection has come via visiting artists, both in New Orleans and Austin. Nate Kostechko, Henry Lewis, Nate Kemr, Robert Ryan and Samantha Storey have all contributed while on the road. I think the way the community supports the whole premise is fantastic. If you follow your favorite shops on Instagram you get good access to world class talent.

We haven't had any active tattooists on the forum for a few months, so you may not get a lot of input from the practical, delivery side of this question right now. I can help with the receiving side of visiting artists, but you've probably already gained insight on that, yourself! 😁

In all honesty, the result seems a bit muddy. I'm not so sure the 2nd tattooist has had much experience with this endeavor.

welcome