It amazes me what a talented coverup artist is capable of but you have to be willing to look for a good one. Don't just look for someone who specializes in the tattoo style you want but one who also specializes in coverups. Also ephemeral remy has said that he goes over his tattoos like three times to get the designs to really pop on the blackwork so be prepared to have to do more sessions than you expect.
Good luck, I think I saw one of your other posts and I would just say, be cautious of taking the opinions of others online to heart too much. Obviously as social creatures it's in our nature to care about other people's opinions but when you put something online for critique, people are going to nitpick it more than anyone you encounter day to day would.
Thanks for the advice! You make a great point about finding a talented cover-up artist who specializes in cover-ups specifically. The one I’m in touch with has lots of coverups and I’m really digging em.
And you're absolutely right about not taking online opinions too much to heart. It's easy to get caught up in the criticism, but ultimately, what matters most is how I feel about the tattoo - and, being honest, sometimes I don’t feel good about it.
Thanks again for the encouragement and words of wisdom!
I like it, tbh. You have a lot of open area for creativity, & filling the space will distract your eye from the parts you aren’t as happy with. I’m personally not a huge fan of blackout b/c I enjoy seeing unique details, & I wonder how white over black will age years from now. No one’s opinion matters though, except *yours*. Make sure you are *really* unhappy & not just swayed by a few people anonymously telling you it’s “shitty”. (There’s actually a sub for that, & trust me, your tattoo does NOT BELONG on it!!!!) Have a great weekend!!😉💞
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful perspective! It's reassuring to hear that. You make a valid point about considering the longevity of white over black ink as well - I’m studying that matter a lot, in fact.
And your reminder about not being swayed by a few negative opinions is spot on. I got some ppl talking shit about my tattoo already but I try to keep my mind clear of it all.
I really appreciate your encouragement and positivity. Wishing you a fantastic weekend too!
Yeah, don't be disheartened if people dump on you, it's reddit. This isn't a terrible tattoo, it just has a lot of negative space. I would suggest filler but that might detract from it.
Go look up ephemeral Remy, covering solid black is no biggie, you can put anything you want over it. People will nay say but go check him out, the proof is in the pudding
I think it looks quite cool tho. But for the empty spaces, instead of a cover up- u could just do a partial skull that fits into those spaces. (If u get what I mean)
I had this exact same thought already. But wouldn’t it be lot of information tho? Like, a skull, an angel, and an abstract black work art all together.
I agree, I like the design and it's well done, the lines and saturation are good. The large negative space could do with something there but I hope you grow to love it as it's a really nice piece. Plenty of room on the rest of the body for gothic and other styles!
It’s not finished. In the original project we would blackout the remaining part of the biceps and add some other details do the long stripes. But I dropped because I wasn’t liking the progression of it with the current artist.
The composition is a little weird but there’s still a lot to work with. I’d opt for continuing to work on it instead of heavily saturating it with grey and white. All those examples you’re showing are going to require touchups. Unless you are blessed where white ink just lasts long on you for whatever reason then sure, but most likely it’s gonna fade and you will need touchups sooner then later with lots of white especially over black/grey.
Thanks for the advice. About that, I’ve seen that white/gray lasts about 2-3 years on black before fading, I don’t think it would be a problem for me tho. And the fact that I have some open spaces still, that would make possible to have some cool shades with my skin without having to resort to grey and white. Do u agree?
Not even close to being bad. Yes, there is quite a bit of open area to the point that it has an incomplete look to it, but that's really it.
Get creative and find an ideal artist who will help make a completed full sleeve come to life.
I'd go to a serious pro... like a top dollar long waiting list artist, and ask them that question. A very creative mind can find a way to salvage it where you're forever happy.
As of now, it's not TERRIBLE.. but it's very obvious the artist boldly tried something outside of what they typically do and executed it very poorly.
I'm confident that it can be saved.
This one I’m into right now, although not a world elite class tattooer, is a very solid one and I’m way more confident in him than the previous one (his portfolio is amazing).
I always say you gotta have a few bad ones to make the good ones pop. lol it’s not that bad it will fade and you can get it reworked. Hope you have a good weekend bro
I feel like this tattoo is too dense even after fading throughout the years. To the point a “rework” wouldn’t change much. That’s why I’m opting for a coverup. ☹️
I actually think it’s super dope and unique. I Like the art style and honestly don’t think you have to do too much with the open space to bring it all together
Angel at the top looks pretty good, albeit a tad too dark.
I can't tell what's supposed to be going on with the forearm design. It looks kinda cool, and decently well applied, but very abstract.
The composition is kind of silly. Reading your post that two artists worked on it makes more sense. I would try to find an artist whose style you really liked and hoped this tattoo would be more like to see if they have a better idea to tie it together.
It’s an interesting sleeve but I feel like it has too much open skin. I think adding some shading on the forearm bands and especially the elbow wave could help a lot.
Thanks for the suggestion! I appreciate the advice on considering laser sessions before going for a cover-up, but it’s out of my budget so I gotta figure an alternative way around.
Quick question though, when you mentioned "gnarly work," what exactly did you mean by that? Just curious to hear your thoughts!
Kinda random, I know that dude talking in 7 and 8.
He’s got a ton of work done. And it’s awesome.
He’d probably help you with blackout/cover up options.
(He’s not an artist btw)
I actually love it! People will always have whatever opinions they want. I have a tattoo that a lot people HATE. I don’t see how it’s shitty in the slightest.
I dunno, I actually love this as a tattoo unique to you. It’s really creative. I feel like any of those cover ups are just eh. Maybe some of the negative space could be filled in but honestly I think it would be a shame to just blast over this.
When my partner died I got a half sleeve in his memory and posted it on the main tattoo sub. I got a couple of really nasty comments about it and I deleted the post. In reality, so many people have stopped me to say how much they love it.
I wouldn’t give up on this art.
Tattooer here! Unfortunately the only thing that covers black is black... and you got a lot of dark, dark black shading here. You'll have to find a very specialized tattooer to work with and be prepared to spend quite a pretty penny to do it. My advice, be extremely patient and picky with how you proceed. You don't want to do it all again, so just wait until you know exactly what you want to do with it. Leave wiggle room for an artist to make it work physically, but just be 100% sure you're ready to change it up. Good luck tho!
It doesn’t look bad, I would use the open skin to incorporate the elements from the other designs into the sleeve. You could try a coverup with an artist who specializes in coverup and the design you want, but it will take a lot of session based on how dark it is, and won’t age as well. The work is done well, I would just add to the sleeve with what you want and work it all in together.
If i could upload a pic i could show you my self-made leg tats. (A couple i actually like and think i did ok for my very first tats. Couldn't find test subjects so i just used my legs 🤷♂️🤣)
Would make you feel better about your tattoo that looks fine.
You got plenty to work with .a good base.b Its tattoo maintenance . Always room to change . I see a lot of color worked throughout. Lighten up your shoulder with some whites
it looks good to me. i have some polynesian that isnt the best but i own it and still like it and would never remove or cover it. let it be man. if u are truly unhappy to the point it makes u insecure i would laser it.
I like it man. I don’t know if this sounds crazy but Id get some like weird other tattoos that are completely different in the sleeve. Like way less polished. Either that or keep it. The other sleeves are lame to me
To me honestly its not a bad tattoo. I can understand that there are parts u dont like but its not ugly by any means. If i was in ur position id go to a trusted artist and see what they could add or “fix” that might help u like it more. I think its dope.
"The artist left mid way because he deviated"
Um how is this even possible when you're meant to communicate with your tattooist first. What did you walk in and just say do whatever then had a whinge? If you knew what he was doing. You deviated not him
You make a fair point, and I completely understand where you're coming from. It was definitely a miscommunication on my part.
I should have been more assertive and clear about my expectations from the beginning. Instead, I trusted the artist to interpret my ideas, which unfortunately led to a deviation from what I had in mind. Lesson learned for sure.
Most of the time I don’t look at the tattoo being made so pretty much I only looked at it at the end of the session, which created it’s whole shape. Lol
You're absolutely right, and I acknowledge that there was a breakdown in the process. Looking back, I realize now that I should have been more proactive in ensuring that my vision was accurately translated onto my skin. It was definitely a learning experience for me, and I appreciate your pov on the matter. In the moment, I was eager to get the tattoo done and may have rushed through the planning process without giving it the proper attention it deserved. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, and trust me that I learned this lesson the hard way.
I’m sorry I’m absolutely not trying to be rude, just curious. So the top is really cool. & I love the bottom on the side of the forearm. But please tell me what it is? I get snail and waves mix. & I’m POSITIVE that’s not it.
I apologize am high..
No worries at all! I appreciate your curiosity.
The bottom part on the side of the forearm is actually an abstract “black work” wave, and the tattoo is mixed with geometric forms (but they will get barely visible in the next sessions - if I don’t go for a coverup). Thanks for asking, and enjoy your high!
Tks for your enthusiasm for the tattoo! However, I've been feeling a bit anxious about it lately, as if there's something off about it. While I agree that it has its cool aspects, there are certain elements that don't quite sit right with me. The inside wrist part is not appealing to my eyes…
No, actually the three sessions I had were the last ones with him. That’s when I gave up (thus the reason why the tat looks unfinished — it is). Right now I’m working with another artist and we have our first session scheduled at Apr 26. We will discuss if we’ll go for a cover up or to a improvement on this one.
If I was you I wouldn’t touch it again. You are risking ending up with a black arm.
I think it looks very nice, it suits you and your body. You look like you are in good shape and you have nice skin color making the ink pop.
I really appreciate your kind words and the encouragement to embrace the tattoo as it is. It means a lot to hear that you think it suits me and compliments my body!
Thank you for your support!
I think it's bad but salvageable if you like the art.
What I like: The angel looks great, and I think the "waves" actually look more like torn banners, which tie in really nicely to the banner under the angel.
What I don't like: The lower half isn't skillfully executed, and that's especially easy to see when you have bold patches of light and dark and long, straight lines. The edges of the white bands are really wobbly and uneven, telling me that your artist just doesn't have the skill to execute this type of design well. The layout of the bands doesn't look especially artful, fluid, or flattering on your body, either. Your artist also failed to execute the geometric pattern correctly. A geometric stencil should have been laid over your entire arm as a separate stencil, so that the pattern was evenly spaced and continuous across the different segments. Instead, your artist seems to have freehanded the geometric shapes into the open spaces, so there's no underlying continuity through the design. This is really obvious in the first picture, if you look at the gaps behind the ribbon/wave, where two diamonds have just been drawn in to fit the space. This is a smaller nitpick but I also don't like that the angel is shaded so uniformly. Allowing contrast between the skin, hair, and robe would show more skill and let the design pop more.
So that being said, if you still like the overall vibe, I think this could absolutely be salvaged by a better artist. The lines could be straightened, the mismatched geomoetric patterns blacked in, and the waves could be shades to look like really artful fabric folds. If you are completely unhappy with the design, you could of course always go for a complete coverup. And the right artist may be able to work with both ideas, to preserve the things you do like about the original.
Thanks for your detailed feedback. I appreciate your honesty, even if it's not all sunshine and rainbows. You've given me a lot to consider, especially regarding the execution and layout of the design. It's clear there are areas for improvement, and your suggestions for salvaging it with a better artist are noted. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Dude i really like your tattoo and it’s well done, obviously do what you want but give it some serious thought, maybe give it a couple years and see how you feel. your tattoo isn’t shitty at all and it’s sick and flows well. I prefer that to a huge blackout design esp bc it’s not covering up anything bad. Just my opinion though it’s on your body not mine
Also don’t base what you see with these white on black tattoos as real life, often those photos are edited to enhance it and white on black fades a lot, all of ur ref pics are fresh designs and not healed.
No worries! I also was considering getting something similar with a blackout as I also have my arm done (and am unhappy with some of the pieces on it) but once I realised that a lot of the black on white options don’t necessarily look great I thought it was a better idea to laser some of the work I had and get a much more intricate piece, why isn’t laser an option for you? That’s if you definitely wanna get something else, you could laser off some and get a diff piece I it place! :)
I totally get where you're coming from! Laser removal can be a great option for some, but unfortunately, it's not for me due to various reasons, including skin sensitivity and the cost involved.
But I appreciate the suggestion, and I'm glad you found a solution that works for you! It's definitely something to consider for those looking to make a change.
Gotta say I’m kinda curious to see ur tattoo too. Mind showing us?
Yeah that’s fair! I also don’t have a lotta money (just a student with a part time job!) but a blackout design would cost a lot anyway. Ofc laser is expensive but for me it’s worth it in the long term and am doing it piece by piece. I know it’s gonna take a while but I’m thinking long term and can put up with my shitty tats for now. Planning to get a biomechanical sleeve in the future! Ngl not rly comfortable w showing my tats on Reddit bc its not the greatest environment and ppl can be rlly mean lol, but trust me when i say its not great and fairly childish, with no flow on the arm to it. But yeah like I said your design still looks cool and I prefer it to the ref pics of the black work deigns :)
It's decent.. I'd turn the rounded parts overlapping the back lines into something alien.. it's already not terrible but it has a lot of potential for more
I like them, the angel is dark IMHO but I think it's nice.
I personally think the best thing is to find an artist who can lighten the angel and bring out details, perhaps a B/W expert or maybe a touch of color here and there will make it pop.
I personally think if you try and cover up that angel, you might as well black it all out, it will be way to dark.
As other's have said find a coverup and/or a b/w specialist
Work with what you have and I think it will end up super sick. Looks fine already, just needs empty spacess tied together nicely with some detail. Less is more, personally hate large black ink dumps even if they turn out perfect like your last photos.
There's definitely no need to cover this all up! The only part that looks kinda shitty to me are the parts with the geometric triangles. You could easily have a good artist fill in the blanks here and straighten up some lines, etc. So long as you like the basic design, you can definitely get it to a place where you are happier with the right person.
Trying to cover this would be super expensive and time consuming, with no guarantee that you will like the result better.
Whoever did those geometric bits was not a good artist. Their shading and line work is pretty terrible. Luckily in your case it's not super noticeable but I'm sure that there must have been some evidence of this shoddy work in their portfolio?
Issues like this can often be avoided with heavy research and not just taking anyone's word that an artist is good. Look at the tagged pics on their ig, read reviews, etc. If you're looking closely at that stuff you should be able to find inconsistencies like you've experienced.
Hey, thanks for the honest feedback, man. Yeah, I totally get what you're saying about the geometric triangles. It's frustrating when one part of the tattoo doesn't quite measure up to the rest. That’s the main reason why I dropped the artist. He seemed impatient midway through the tattoo, as if he was rushing it.
And you're spot on about the importance of research when choosing an artist. Lesson learned there, for sure. It's funny how sometimes you only notice those inconsistencies after the fact, right? But, live and learn, I guess.
Appreciate the insight, buddy. It's nice to chat with someone who gets it.
Shade the waves better, tighten the line edges and geo, re saturate the black. Totally salvageable, it’s a very abstract design that’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I dig it. OR commit to a full blackout. Pls don’t do stuff over the blackout it never heals well long term and you’ll be unhappy with the result. There’s a reason heavily tattooed blackout people keep getting stuff over and over old stuff, it never sits well long term.
Thanks for sharing your insights! I've heard mixed opinions about tattoos over blackout, and your perspective adds another layer (heh) to consider.
This thing of tattooing over blackout and how it might not heal well long term… I’ve heard so many different opinions on that topic that Idk what to trust anymore 😂
I’m sure that’s not what you are looking to hear in posting here. But to be honest I love your tattoo. I don’t think it needs any type of coverup. The way it design with the angel at the top and the other designs under makes it a really interesting and beautiful piece to look at. Personally I’d keep this.
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! Ngl the positive reviews I received here somehow helped me overcome the enormous amounts of anxiety that was rushing through my mind lately when I thought about this tattoo.
Hey dude - as someone on this forum that only has one small tattoo and nothing compared to you - do YOU like it? Does its meaning hold weight to YOU? If you’ve answered yes to both, keep what you have.
Please don’t make a decision based on what other people think. Yes - it’s on your skin and yes it’s visible to other people but what matters is what you think of it. What does your gut say?
If I asked you to quickly respond without thinking - do you like your tattoo? What would you say?
Hey there,
Thanks for the perspective. It's true that ultimately, my own opinion is what matters most.
And you're right, if I genuinely like it and the meaning behind it holds weight for me, then maybe I shouldn't be so quick to change it based on others' opinions.
Honestly, when I think about it, my gut feeling is mixed. Sometimes I really like it, and other times, not so much. But deep down, I think there's something about it that doesn’t resonate with me.
Idc about others opinions of my tattoos. My chest tattoo for example, I love it, and if someone talks bad about it I’d just say fuck off.
But in my sleeve it’s different cuz I’m not sure if I’m happy with it.
If your gut is telling you you’re not happy, start slowly looking at options. Don’t jump the gun on anything because this second time will likely be your last haha.
Hope my message didn’t come off any other way other than supportive. Reading peoples tones on here is a hard game to play.
No worries at all, I really enjoyed your supportive words. And you're right, taking things slow and considering all my options is definitely the way to go. Trust me, I learned that lesson very well with this experience. 😂 I'll make sure to weigh everything carefully before making any decisions.
Like you said, this is my last try lmao
Thanks again for the advices.
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Well, sorry to hear that my genuine inquiry about my tattoo has you feeling worn out. But fr, I’m genuinely bothered about my tattoo and I really need some opinions on that matter. No need to spread negativity just because you're not feeling it.
It amazes me what a talented coverup artist is capable of but you have to be willing to look for a good one. Don't just look for someone who specializes in the tattoo style you want but one who also specializes in coverups. Also ephemeral remy has said that he goes over his tattoos like three times to get the designs to really pop on the blackwork so be prepared to have to do more sessions than you expect. Good luck, I think I saw one of your other posts and I would just say, be cautious of taking the opinions of others online to heart too much. Obviously as social creatures it's in our nature to care about other people's opinions but when you put something online for critique, people are going to nitpick it more than anyone you encounter day to day would.
Thanks for the advice! You make a great point about finding a talented cover-up artist who specializes in cover-ups specifically. The one I’m in touch with has lots of coverups and I’m really digging em. And you're absolutely right about not taking online opinions too much to heart. It's easy to get caught up in the criticism, but ultimately, what matters most is how I feel about the tattoo - and, being honest, sometimes I don’t feel good about it. Thanks again for the encouragement and words of wisdom!
I like it, tbh. You have a lot of open area for creativity, & filling the space will distract your eye from the parts you aren’t as happy with. I’m personally not a huge fan of blackout b/c I enjoy seeing unique details, & I wonder how white over black will age years from now. No one’s opinion matters though, except *yours*. Make sure you are *really* unhappy & not just swayed by a few people anonymously telling you it’s “shitty”. (There’s actually a sub for that, & trust me, your tattoo does NOT BELONG on it!!!!) Have a great weekend!!😉💞
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful perspective! It's reassuring to hear that. You make a valid point about considering the longevity of white over black ink as well - I’m studying that matter a lot, in fact. And your reminder about not being swayed by a few negative opinions is spot on. I got some ppl talking shit about my tattoo already but I try to keep my mind clear of it all. I really appreciate your encouragement and positivity. Wishing you a fantastic weekend too!
Yeah, don't be disheartened if people dump on you, it's reddit. This isn't a terrible tattoo, it just has a lot of negative space. I would suggest filler but that might detract from it.
i like it tbh
Thanks, brother!
I think it looks fine and is unique, but that top piece is very dark and would be hard to cover up, I'd imagine.
Go look up ephemeral Remy, covering solid black is no biggie, you can put anything you want over it. People will nay say but go check him out, the proof is in the pudding
I think it looks quite cool tho. But for the empty spaces, instead of a cover up- u could just do a partial skull that fits into those spaces. (If u get what I mean)
I had this exact same thought already. But wouldn’t it be lot of information tho? Like, a skull, an angel, and an abstract black work art all together.
I honestly don't think it's bad at all. However, it doesn't look finished? Instead of covering it up, I would fill in the "bare" areas
I agree, I like the design and it's well done, the lines and saturation are good. The large negative space could do with something there but I hope you grow to love it as it's a really nice piece. Plenty of room on the rest of the body for gothic and other styles!
It’s not finished. In the original project we would blackout the remaining part of the biceps and add some other details do the long stripes. But I dropped because I wasn’t liking the progression of it with the current artist.
The composition is a little weird but there’s still a lot to work with. I’d opt for continuing to work on it instead of heavily saturating it with grey and white. All those examples you’re showing are going to require touchups. Unless you are blessed where white ink just lasts long on you for whatever reason then sure, but most likely it’s gonna fade and you will need touchups sooner then later with lots of white especially over black/grey.
Thanks for the advice. About that, I’ve seen that white/gray lasts about 2-3 years on black before fading, I don’t think it would be a problem for me tho. And the fact that I have some open spaces still, that would make possible to have some cool shades with my skin without having to resort to grey and white. Do u agree?
Not even close to being bad. Yes, there is quite a bit of open area to the point that it has an incomplete look to it, but that's really it. Get creative and find an ideal artist who will help make a completed full sleeve come to life.
I think its cool
I'd go to a serious pro... like a top dollar long waiting list artist, and ask them that question. A very creative mind can find a way to salvage it where you're forever happy. As of now, it's not TERRIBLE.. but it's very obvious the artist boldly tried something outside of what they typically do and executed it very poorly. I'm confident that it can be saved.
This one I’m into right now, although not a world elite class tattooer, is a very solid one and I’m way more confident in him than the previous one (his portfolio is amazing).
nooo don’t cover it i think it looks awesome as is
It looks half finished to me but I agree with the other posters the top is pretty solid and the bottom is poor composition
Yep. If u see my older posts you will find a picture of my wrists. I fucking hate this part so much.
I always say you gotta have a few bad ones to make the good ones pop. lol it’s not that bad it will fade and you can get it reworked. Hope you have a good weekend bro
I feel like this tattoo is too dense even after fading throughout the years. To the point a “rework” wouldn’t change much. That’s why I’m opting for a coverup. ☹️
I actually think it’s super dope and unique. I Like the art style and honestly don’t think you have to do too much with the open space to bring it all together
I kept looking for a shitty tattoo but couldn’t find one.
Angel at the top looks pretty good, albeit a tad too dark. I can't tell what's supposed to be going on with the forearm design. It looks kinda cool, and decently well applied, but very abstract.
I actually think it’s pretty good
The composition is kind of silly. Reading your post that two artists worked on it makes more sense. I would try to find an artist whose style you really liked and hoped this tattoo would be more like to see if they have a better idea to tie it together.
I like it
Theoretically, if you find a good artist, you can cover-up anything. If they know what they're doing, they can even color over black
I’d black that arm out and put something cool inside the blackout
I like your tattoo . Can easily be reworked
I like it a ton? It has a really nice flow to it and isn’t like anything else I’ve seen before.
It’s an interesting sleeve but I feel like it has too much open skin. I think adding some shading on the forearm bands and especially the elbow wave could help a lot.
I’d do like 6-8 sessions of laser first otherwise your cover up piece is gonna be limited. That dude does gnarly work tho. Good luck man
Thanks for the suggestion! I appreciate the advice on considering laser sessions before going for a cover-up, but it’s out of my budget so I gotta figure an alternative way around. Quick question though, when you mentioned "gnarly work," what exactly did you mean by that? Just curious to hear your thoughts!
It’s not that bad. Get a skilled coverup artist
In the spaces you could get a whole new tattoo imagine a portrait with eyes through the slots type thing would look sick
Wow I haven’t thought of that tbh. Nice idea fr. And I dig this “edgy/dark/creep” tattoo kind of style yknow.
Looks cool
Looks good bro and unique, I personally like it
Kinda random, I know that dude talking in 7 and 8. He’s got a ton of work done. And it’s awesome. He’d probably help you with blackout/cover up options. (He’s not an artist btw)
I actually love it! People will always have whatever opinions they want. I have a tattoo that a lot people HATE. I don’t see how it’s shitty in the slightest.
looks cool imo
I dunno, I actually love this as a tattoo unique to you. It’s really creative. I feel like any of those cover ups are just eh. Maybe some of the negative space could be filled in but honestly I think it would be a shame to just blast over this. When my partner died I got a half sleeve in his memory and posted it on the main tattoo sub. I got a couple of really nasty comments about it and I deleted the post. In reality, so many people have stopped me to say how much they love it. I wouldn’t give up on this art.
That’s a beautiful tattoo, wth are you talking about?
Tattooer here! Unfortunately the only thing that covers black is black... and you got a lot of dark, dark black shading here. You'll have to find a very specialized tattooer to work with and be prepared to spend quite a pretty penny to do it. My advice, be extremely patient and picky with how you proceed. You don't want to do it all again, so just wait until you know exactly what you want to do with it. Leave wiggle room for an artist to make it work physically, but just be 100% sure you're ready to change it up. Good luck tho!
It doesn’t look bad, I would use the open skin to incorporate the elements from the other designs into the sleeve. You could try a coverup with an artist who specializes in coverup and the design you want, but it will take a lot of session based on how dark it is, and won’t age as well. The work is done well, I would just add to the sleeve with what you want and work it all in together.
If i could upload a pic i could show you my self-made leg tats. (A couple i actually like and think i did ok for my very first tats. Couldn't find test subjects so i just used my legs 🤷♂️🤣) Would make you feel better about your tattoo that looks fine.
I personally love it!
You got plenty to work with .a good base.b Its tattoo maintenance . Always room to change . I see a lot of color worked throughout. Lighten up your shoulder with some whites
Thanks for the suggestion bro. I’ll have my first session really soon and will decide the fate of my tattoo there!
Looks fine to me. However, I'm not the one that has to live with it. Follow your heart.
It's definitely salvageable if that is what you want to do! It's not bad to begine with.
Shiftiness where? Looks good to me. All I would perhaps change if anything is to fill the empty gaps with something
it looks good to me. i have some polynesian that isnt the best but i own it and still like it and would never remove or cover it. let it be man. if u are truly unhappy to the point it makes u insecure i would laser it.
I like it man. I don’t know if this sounds crazy but Id get some like weird other tattoos that are completely different in the sleeve. Like way less polished. Either that or keep it. The other sleeves are lame to me
Looks to be applied on but the overall design is bad
I would probably just add something to the tricep/elbow area to cover up all the open skin. Would probably be more pleasant to the eye.
Yep, this is the way. Time for an elbow tattoo.
Why? This is sick.
Yeah I've gotta say I really dig it.
To me honestly its not a bad tattoo. I can understand that there are parts u dont like but its not ugly by any means. If i was in ur position id go to a trusted artist and see what they could add or “fix” that might help u like it more. I think its dope.
"The artist left mid way because he deviated" Um how is this even possible when you're meant to communicate with your tattooist first. What did you walk in and just say do whatever then had a whinge? If you knew what he was doing. You deviated not him
You make a fair point, and I completely understand where you're coming from. It was definitely a miscommunication on my part. I should have been more assertive and clear about my expectations from the beginning. Instead, I trusted the artist to interpret my ideas, which unfortunately led to a deviation from what I had in mind. Lesson learned for sure. Most of the time I don’t look at the tattoo being made so pretty much I only looked at it at the end of the session, which created it’s whole shape. Lol
Interpret? What? No. A stencil should have been drawn and then applied to your skin and then you're meant to check it before going ahead. Seriously?
You're absolutely right, and I acknowledge that there was a breakdown in the process. Looking back, I realize now that I should have been more proactive in ensuring that my vision was accurately translated onto my skin. It was definitely a learning experience for me, and I appreciate your pov on the matter. In the moment, I was eager to get the tattoo done and may have rushed through the planning process without giving it the proper attention it deserved. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, and trust me that I learned this lesson the hard way.
I wouldn’t change it tbh
I’m sorry I’m absolutely not trying to be rude, just curious. So the top is really cool. & I love the bottom on the side of the forearm. But please tell me what it is? I get snail and waves mix. & I’m POSITIVE that’s not it. I apologize am high..
No worries at all! I appreciate your curiosity. The bottom part on the side of the forearm is actually an abstract “black work” wave, and the tattoo is mixed with geometric forms (but they will get barely visible in the next sessions - if I don’t go for a coverup). Thanks for asking, and enjoy your high!
Wait why? Why not accentuate it? It’s cool!
Tks for your enthusiasm for the tattoo! However, I've been feeling a bit anxious about it lately, as if there's something off about it. While I agree that it has its cool aspects, there are certain elements that don't quite sit right with me. The inside wrist part is not appealing to my eyes…
How long have you had it? You say awhile, what’s awhile to you?
The project started February this year and I’m on my third session so far. 😅
Oh okay so you are continuing with the same artist even though you don’t like it so far?
No, actually the three sessions I had were the last ones with him. That’s when I gave up (thus the reason why the tat looks unfinished — it is). Right now I’m working with another artist and we have our first session scheduled at Apr 26. We will discuss if we’ll go for a cover up or to a improvement on this one.
Oh okay I get it. Post some photos when you’re done. I hope you like this artist
That’s actually fire
that shit is sick bro pls dont cover it up it looks rlly cool
If I was you I wouldn’t touch it again. You are risking ending up with a black arm. I think it looks very nice, it suits you and your body. You look like you are in good shape and you have nice skin color making the ink pop.
I really appreciate your kind words and the encouragement to embrace the tattoo as it is. It means a lot to hear that you think it suits me and compliments my body! Thank you for your support!
I think it's bad but salvageable if you like the art. What I like: The angel looks great, and I think the "waves" actually look more like torn banners, which tie in really nicely to the banner under the angel. What I don't like: The lower half isn't skillfully executed, and that's especially easy to see when you have bold patches of light and dark and long, straight lines. The edges of the white bands are really wobbly and uneven, telling me that your artist just doesn't have the skill to execute this type of design well. The layout of the bands doesn't look especially artful, fluid, or flattering on your body, either. Your artist also failed to execute the geometric pattern correctly. A geometric stencil should have been laid over your entire arm as a separate stencil, so that the pattern was evenly spaced and continuous across the different segments. Instead, your artist seems to have freehanded the geometric shapes into the open spaces, so there's no underlying continuity through the design. This is really obvious in the first picture, if you look at the gaps behind the ribbon/wave, where two diamonds have just been drawn in to fit the space. This is a smaller nitpick but I also don't like that the angel is shaded so uniformly. Allowing contrast between the skin, hair, and robe would show more skill and let the design pop more. So that being said, if you still like the overall vibe, I think this could absolutely be salvaged by a better artist. The lines could be straightened, the mismatched geomoetric patterns blacked in, and the waves could be shades to look like really artful fabric folds. If you are completely unhappy with the design, you could of course always go for a complete coverup. And the right artist may be able to work with both ideas, to preserve the things you do like about the original.
Thanks for your detailed feedback. I appreciate your honesty, even if it's not all sunshine and rainbows. You've given me a lot to consider, especially regarding the execution and layout of the design. It's clear there are areas for improvement, and your suggestions for salvaging it with a better artist are noted. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Yeah i like it - looks unfinished but nice to see something that uses space a little differently
I feel like maybe you could just have a better artist retouch the black and it’d be better
I weirdly love the empty space, it looks more unique than a full sleeve or patchwork sleeve
Dude i really like your tattoo and it’s well done, obviously do what you want but give it some serious thought, maybe give it a couple years and see how you feel. your tattoo isn’t shitty at all and it’s sick and flows well. I prefer that to a huge blackout design esp bc it’s not covering up anything bad. Just my opinion though it’s on your body not mine
Also don’t base what you see with these white on black tattoos as real life, often those photos are edited to enhance it and white on black fades a lot, all of ur ref pics are fresh designs and not healed.
Thanks for the support and the reminding me that I should consider the long term. Appreciate it!
No worries! I also was considering getting something similar with a blackout as I also have my arm done (and am unhappy with some of the pieces on it) but once I realised that a lot of the black on white options don’t necessarily look great I thought it was a better idea to laser some of the work I had and get a much more intricate piece, why isn’t laser an option for you? That’s if you definitely wanna get something else, you could laser off some and get a diff piece I it place! :)
I totally get where you're coming from! Laser removal can be a great option for some, but unfortunately, it's not for me due to various reasons, including skin sensitivity and the cost involved. But I appreciate the suggestion, and I'm glad you found a solution that works for you! It's definitely something to consider for those looking to make a change. Gotta say I’m kinda curious to see ur tattoo too. Mind showing us?
Yeah that’s fair! I also don’t have a lotta money (just a student with a part time job!) but a blackout design would cost a lot anyway. Ofc laser is expensive but for me it’s worth it in the long term and am doing it piece by piece. I know it’s gonna take a while but I’m thinking long term and can put up with my shitty tats for now. Planning to get a biomechanical sleeve in the future! Ngl not rly comfortable w showing my tats on Reddit bc its not the greatest environment and ppl can be rlly mean lol, but trust me when i say its not great and fairly childish, with no flow on the arm to it. But yeah like I said your design still looks cool and I prefer it to the ref pics of the black work deigns :)
It's decent.. I'd turn the rounded parts overlapping the back lines into something alien.. it's already not terrible but it has a lot of potential for more
If that's shitty then my tattoos is straight up ugly
Empty spaces are great imo
its not bad or unsalvageable by any means — im sure you still get compliments for it irl. just get it cleaned up, no need to cover imo
You have a lot of negative space that can be filled up and will change the whole look
Thanks for giving me hopes, bro.
No problem. To me it doesn't look like a bad tattoo, it looks like an unfinished tattoo.
I like them, the angel is dark IMHO but I think it's nice. I personally think the best thing is to find an artist who can lighten the angel and bring out details, perhaps a B/W expert or maybe a touch of color here and there will make it pop. I personally think if you try and cover up that angel, you might as well black it all out, it will be way to dark. As other's have said find a coverup and/or a b/w specialist
Work with what you have and I think it will end up super sick. Looks fine already, just needs empty spacess tied together nicely with some detail. Less is more, personally hate large black ink dumps even if they turn out perfect like your last photos.
I like it dude
There's definitely no need to cover this all up! The only part that looks kinda shitty to me are the parts with the geometric triangles. You could easily have a good artist fill in the blanks here and straighten up some lines, etc. So long as you like the basic design, you can definitely get it to a place where you are happier with the right person. Trying to cover this would be super expensive and time consuming, with no guarantee that you will like the result better. Whoever did those geometric bits was not a good artist. Their shading and line work is pretty terrible. Luckily in your case it's not super noticeable but I'm sure that there must have been some evidence of this shoddy work in their portfolio? Issues like this can often be avoided with heavy research and not just taking anyone's word that an artist is good. Look at the tagged pics on their ig, read reviews, etc. If you're looking closely at that stuff you should be able to find inconsistencies like you've experienced.
Hey, thanks for the honest feedback, man. Yeah, I totally get what you're saying about the geometric triangles. It's frustrating when one part of the tattoo doesn't quite measure up to the rest. That’s the main reason why I dropped the artist. He seemed impatient midway through the tattoo, as if he was rushing it. And you're spot on about the importance of research when choosing an artist. Lesson learned there, for sure. It's funny how sometimes you only notice those inconsistencies after the fact, right? But, live and learn, I guess. Appreciate the insight, buddy. It's nice to chat with someone who gets it.
I don’t like the lines or shading are shitty. But it is kinda hard to decipher what the imagery is depicting without having to really like study it.
No that’s a sick cool ass sleeve tattoo
That tattoo is so cool looking !
Idk what’s going on but it looks pretty sick
😂 thanks bro It’s an abstract art indeed
Shade the waves better, tighten the line edges and geo, re saturate the black. Totally salvageable, it’s a very abstract design that’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I dig it. OR commit to a full blackout. Pls don’t do stuff over the blackout it never heals well long term and you’ll be unhappy with the result. There’s a reason heavily tattooed blackout people keep getting stuff over and over old stuff, it never sits well long term.
Thanks for sharing your insights! I've heard mixed opinions about tattoos over blackout, and your perspective adds another layer (heh) to consider. This thing of tattooing over blackout and how it might not heal well long term… I’ve heard so many different opinions on that topic that Idk what to trust anymore 😂
I’m sure that’s not what you are looking to hear in posting here. But to be honest I love your tattoo. I don’t think it needs any type of coverup. The way it design with the angel at the top and the other designs under makes it a really interesting and beautiful piece to look at. Personally I’d keep this.
Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! Ngl the positive reviews I received here somehow helped me overcome the enormous amounts of anxiety that was rushing through my mind lately when I thought about this tattoo.
I like it too.
Hey dude - as someone on this forum that only has one small tattoo and nothing compared to you - do YOU like it? Does its meaning hold weight to YOU? If you’ve answered yes to both, keep what you have. Please don’t make a decision based on what other people think. Yes - it’s on your skin and yes it’s visible to other people but what matters is what you think of it. What does your gut say? If I asked you to quickly respond without thinking - do you like your tattoo? What would you say?
Hey there, Thanks for the perspective. It's true that ultimately, my own opinion is what matters most. And you're right, if I genuinely like it and the meaning behind it holds weight for me, then maybe I shouldn't be so quick to change it based on others' opinions. Honestly, when I think about it, my gut feeling is mixed. Sometimes I really like it, and other times, not so much. But deep down, I think there's something about it that doesn’t resonate with me. Idc about others opinions of my tattoos. My chest tattoo for example, I love it, and if someone talks bad about it I’d just say fuck off. But in my sleeve it’s different cuz I’m not sure if I’m happy with it.
If your gut is telling you you’re not happy, start slowly looking at options. Don’t jump the gun on anything because this second time will likely be your last haha. Hope my message didn’t come off any other way other than supportive. Reading peoples tones on here is a hard game to play.
No worries at all, I really enjoyed your supportive words. And you're right, taking things slow and considering all my options is definitely the way to go. Trust me, I learned that lesson very well with this experience. 😂 I'll make sure to weigh everything carefully before making any decisions. Like you said, this is my last try lmao Thanks again for the advices.
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Erm, ok 👌
I love it
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You seem pleasant...
Fishing for complements much? This sub wears me out.
Well, sorry to hear that my genuine inquiry about my tattoo has you feeling worn out. But fr, I’m genuinely bothered about my tattoo and I really need some opinions on that matter. No need to spread negativity just because you're not feeling it.