I'm in the process of getting a 3/4 sleeve - a black abstract design - and I've just had the latest installment, so here's an update.
I've been down to Temple Tatu in Brighton to see the tattooist (Nigel Palmer) twice since the first part was done - once to spend a whole day designing, and again on Wednesday to put the main structure of the sleeve on.
The design day was alot of fun. I was expecting to get tattooed, but we both agreed that we didn't really have a clear idea of where the sleeve was going, so we spent the whole day knee deep in tracing paper, sticky tape, coloured pens and Nige's ideas (with a few of mine thrown in).
It does surprise me that tattooists are expected to do alot of design work in their own time - time they don't really get paid for. And on their own, without the customer there to give their input, and really feel part of the design process. I would highly recommend a day without ink to anyone considering a big piece. Ok, it'll cost more, but it's really rewarding.
So, the design day produced this:
Might not look like much but alot of thought went into it.
The main idea was to deconstruct the components of the first piece and have them morphing into each other, which we thought would give a good sense of movement and continuity.
On Wednesday just gone, it took a fair while to get the sketch transfers in the right place, and we had to tweak the design a bit as the flat sketches wrapped round funny shaped arms didn't always fall in the right place.
After an early start for me, 150 miles of motorway, a flat tyre, and nearly 2 hours of transfer application, we were ready to start tattooing. I was uber nervous. I knew it was going to be more painful than the first piece, and I've just got a thing about the crook of my arm: anyone messing with it makes me feel sick. Sure enough, I felt sick. I quickly got used to it though. The first half an hour was the worst, and the next 2 and a half were bearably painful.
It's probably just under half done now, with alot more shading to go into the bits done on Wednesday, and some blank spaces to fill. Next appointment is in December, and then what should be the last on my birthday in January.
Here are the pics:
3/4 sleeve detail shots
I've been down to Temple Tatu in Brighton to see the tattooist (Nigel Palmer) twice since the first part was done - once to spend a whole day designing, and again on Wednesday to put the main structure of the sleeve on.
The design day was alot of fun. I was expecting to get tattooed, but we both agreed that we didn't really have a clear idea of where the sleeve was going, so we spent the whole day knee deep in tracing paper, sticky tape, coloured pens and Nige's ideas (with a few of mine thrown in).
It does surprise me that tattooists are expected to do alot of design work in their own time - time they don't really get paid for. And on their own, without the customer there to give their input, and really feel part of the design process. I would highly recommend a day without ink to anyone considering a big piece. Ok, it'll cost more, but it's really rewarding.
So, the design day produced this:
Might not look like much but alot of thought went into it.
The main idea was to deconstruct the components of the first piece and have them morphing into each other, which we thought would give a good sense of movement and continuity.
On Wednesday just gone, it took a fair while to get the sketch transfers in the right place, and we had to tweak the design a bit as the flat sketches wrapped round funny shaped arms didn't always fall in the right place.
After an early start for me, 150 miles of motorway, a flat tyre, and nearly 2 hours of transfer application, we were ready to start tattooing. I was uber nervous. I knew it was going to be more painful than the first piece, and I've just got a thing about the crook of my arm: anyone messing with it makes me feel sick. Sure enough, I felt sick. I quickly got used to it though. The first half an hour was the worst, and the next 2 and a half were bearably painful.
It's probably just under half done now, with alot more shading to go into the bits done on Wednesday, and some blank spaces to fill. Next appointment is in December, and then what should be the last on my birthday in January.
Here are the pics:
3/4 sleeve detail shots