Suggestion for skull/snake sleeve

[KVipers]

So I have an appointment booked for two weeks from now to have my 3/4 sleeve lined with my artist and I'm looking for some suggestions on the details. It is going to be a skull and snake as the focal point with some peonies or cherry blossoms and finger waves etc. What I'm curious about is the type of skull and also if there were any other cool headdress things that could be added to the skull such as a samurai helmet.

I have seen lots of hanya skulls and snakes (specifically O'Donnell's) but was wondering if anybody has ever seen a cool oni skull for example. I had trouble finding any good examples just using the Google machine.

Lastly, I'd like to dress the skull with something but am open to ideas for specifically what that would be. My first idea was a samurai helmet, but I'd like to see what other unique options are out there that I haven't thought of. Anybody have any cool ideas?

Any tips or ideas are greatly appreciated

[marley mission]

skulls and snakes...uh...what could go wrong

[Pugilist]

Go to the library! Google sucks for this stuff, but our nearby library has a pretty fantastic collection of art books including lots of Japanese print books, etc. It will be a much more productive use of your time than filtering through all the junk on the internet. I know we all forget that libraries exist these days, but it is the best place to look for reference.

[KVipers]

I'd be lying if I said I remembered that you could go to a library. I'll check it out this week. Thanks for the heads up haha

[polliwog]

I know we all forget that libraries exist these days, but it is the best place to look for reference.

This. Don't forget your local reference librarian if you're really stuck, too. (Disclaimer: daughter of one.) Interlibrary loan is also an amazing resource for art books.

[Dumpleton]

Go to the library! Google sucks for this stuff, but our nearby library has a pretty fantastic collection of art books including lots of Japanese print books, etc. It will be a much more productive use of your time than filtering through all the junk on the internet. I know we all forget that libraries exist these days, but it is the best place to look for reference.

I have found myself in bookshops a lot lately, bought a few good bird books a rad tiger book and a few other good books for reference. Need to get back to the library.

[Cork]

I'm not sure how easy it would be to find an Oni skull. If I were you I would go with a Tibetan Skull. The decorated skull with snakes and flowers.... awesome.

[KVipers]

Heading to the library tonight to see what to can dig up. Tibetan skulls were really the only other idea I had. I'll see what the library turns up!

[tatB]

This is going to be a great tattoo. Who is the artist?

[KVipers]

@BrianH the artist is Mike Young. He's a local guy here on the East Coast of Canada.

@Cork doing some poking around and thinking a Tibetan skull with the right flowers and color pallette could look awesome. Will update once I hit the library.

[KVipers]

I will chat with my artist as we nail down a design as well, but I wanted to ask here, too:

The more research I do on snake/skull pairings the more I am seeing them on flatter panels (ribs, thighs, backs). Do people do this so as to not distort the skull? Will a skull on an upper arm look funny because of the round shape of the arm? I am not a small person, but I'm not huge either..

What are people's experience with this?

[Killercook76]

i'm sure it will be fine as long as you have a good tattoo artist. Usually I go with a bunch of ideas but at the end of the day I mostly listen to the artist. Sometimes I want a bunch of stuff but I think for a skull and snake less is more. Maybe just the cherry blossoms or just peonies flower. Unless you're doing a full sleeve. Just my opinion.

[Graeme]

I have two skulls on my right upper arm. One takes up most of my inner arm, the other one is smaller, about the size of a fist, on the outer part of my arm. They look cool because skulls always look cool.

[rozone]

My right arm is a full sleeve consisting of a Tibetan Skull, a snake, and a bunch of peonies...

So I support this decision.

[KVipers]

Well i can't argue with that @Graeme haha

I am confident in my artist and this is his jam and at the end of the day I will listen to whatever he suggests. Just the anticipation of knowing you have a date set and wanting to see the final product. It sucks waiting.

@rozone any pictures?

[rozone]

@rozone any pictures?

This is a picture from right after it was finished a few years back.

Done by Hugues Lauzier at Imago in Montreal.

[marley mission]

damn nice rozone

[KVipers]

Looks awesome @rozone!! We'll compare notes in a few weeks haha I really like that Tibetan skull.

[rozone]

Thanks, @marley mission and @KVipers!

One day I'll take a photo of it healed because they greys have settled in super nicely over the last few years.

Also, Thomas Hooper extended my right hand tattoo about halfway up my forearm on top of the myst, which looks pretty cool and ties the whole thing together.

[SStu]

I think an Oni skull is a fantastic idea! Oni skull clamping down on a snake. Yeah.

[KVipers]

So I decided to go with a hanya. I let the artist do what he wanted. My only input was having snake head come into my chest. He added a couple cool things like the skull ropes for the mask. This is after the first sit. Next sit will be some more details and lines and maybe background and then for some color. Have to decide on a color palette. I'm open to suggestions!

Ps sorry for the sideways pics. Doing this on mobile and will fix it when i get a chance.

[exume]

tough stuff

[KVipers]

Gonna update this after almost a year from starting. Moving a couple times has strained funds but here are some progress shots.

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