Random or theme based

[markdeerhunter]

Do you guys and gals try to make a theme when you do a sleeve of traditional tattoos or just random stuff that you think looks cool?

[exume]

On a traditional style arm full of one shot pieces I don't think a cohesive theme is necessarily important, unless of course the theme is "rad tattoos." It is of course possible to put together a collection of related imagery but when you start filling in awkward gaps you would have less freedom of choice for those areas.

I do like the look of a big cohesive piece, and it can be done in a traditional american style, but I think big conceptual or thematic designs lend themselves better to the Japanese aesthetic.

[Mark Bee]

I just added small pieces as I went along. I didn't think thematically, except to say that I chose all traditional tattoos.

[ChaosDani]

"Traditional american" is theme enough. I think the style lends itself well to having a bunch of random stuff. Because they're so bold, and the color palette is limited, they are going to look cohesive together no matter what the subject matter(s).

[SeeSea]

Somewhere there is a thread about this and I can't find it. Grrr.

[markdeerhunter]

Somewhere there is a thread about this and I can't find it. Grrr.

I searched but didn't come up with anything. I am going to approach my collecting the random way.

[CultExciter]

I'm pretty sure it's this thread n00bs (said in jest)

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/4394-your-overall-look-tattooed-person.html

[Rikhall]

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-designs-books-flash/2697-leg-sleeve-tattoos-aka-squid-pants.html

This one could help aswell, I know it's legs but...

Wrong one try this one

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-designs-books-flash/5601-squidpants-leg-mania%3B-where-were-our-leg-tattoos-page12.html

[melt]

when i started, i had a theme going in that i wanted all of my tattoos to be vaguely family-related. but then when i ran out of ideas i just started slapping them on there : )

I agree with ChaosDani that:

"Traditional american" is theme enough.