When to add "filler" tattoos

[slayer9019]

As I continue getting tattooed, I have always wondered should I wait to get the smaller "filler" tattoos when I start running out of room or is it a good idea to get them now. I am far from running out of room but the spots I have tattoos now feel a bit incomplete with gaps around them. I know some people say it's better to wait.

Any thoughts?

[SStu]

Personally, I like connecting the dots as I go . . .

[Ismael Plascencia Zavala]

I like the small gaps. Looks like a sign or the bottom of a skateboard with a bunch of stickers on it. The gaps kinda give each piece a frame kinda feel too

[cfgsteak]

I'm waiting for filler. I'm also trying to make efficient use of the space I have left (although I have a LOT of space left).

[irezumi]

People come in all the time asking me to just fill up their arm with backround (not in those words)

"just a whole lotta smoke around this and fill up my arm with it" *pointing at tattoo the size of my palm*

[lving4today]

I like the idea of having negative space as the filler, but filler looks good too

Definitely wait though

[Our Endless Days]

wait it out until you've gotten all of the bigger tattoos that you want out of the way.

[Gregor]

I dont like filler I like every tattoo to stand out, love the forcefield idea tho , forcefields make tattoos look cool

[bulldog]

i'm going for space around all my tattoos with just smaller filler tattoos in the bigger gaps. Also want it to looked unplanned, not into sleeves, symmetry etc.

[slayer9019]

I'm not a big fan of the dots stars smoke wind bars just for the sake of filling space but more along the lines of smaller tattoos in the gaps between bigger tattoos

[Jake]

  slayer9019 said:

I'm not a big fan of the dots stars smoke wind bars just for the sake of filling space but more along the lines of smaller tattoos in the gaps between bigger tattoos

dots and stars could be considered smaller tattoos in the gaps...

wind bars and smoke are often what can help bring together a bigger piece. Some Japanese back pieces in progress look really weird to me until those wind bars are dropped in

[hgiles]

I like filling as I go. 'Negative' space is only 'negative' if it's in the foreground. Good background fill is imporant, and gives the tattoo a frame of reference and it gives the viewer a sense of time and place.

I am more stringent and particular about an artist's smoke, clouds, wind bars, water then I would be about skulls or hanyas, dragons. It matters.

[Patrickkinder]

Yea I haven't seen many sleeves that use tons of stars or dots that looked great IMO. Unless it's for a traditional sleeve with color.

[Dan]

  Gregor said:

I dont like filler I like every tattoo to stand out, love the forcefield idea tho , forcefields make tattoos look cool

:) what is that ?

[Garrett]

Wait until you know for sure you want them