semele Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 That amount of tattooing on your back is no joke dude! I would say you did damn well. I usually sit for 5 hours at a time on my back and its all I can do to remain functional. Seriously! I used to sit really well, but I'm down to three, three and a half hours on my back and I'm barely functional at the end of it. 5 and 6 hours is pretty good in my book. The back has been the only tattoo to bring me to my quitting point nearly every session--this shit is hard. Cork 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85049 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diehardonvhs Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Seriously! I used to sit really well, but I'm down to three, three and a half hours on my back and I'm barely functional at the end of it. 5 and 6 hours is pretty good in my book. The back has been the only tattoo to bring me to my quitting point nearly every session--this shit is hard. Same with me buddy - the most I could handle on my back was 4. And that was a solid 4, no messing around, no breaks, just 4 solid hours of shading, and my artist has a heavy hand holding a 49 mag. Felt like death at the end of it. To the person saying they think they feel bad for tapping out - don't. Get back for the next session, do as much as you can, whether its two hours or eight, then keep going back and going back until it's done. You will be proud of yourself at the end, guarantee it! Graeme and semele 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85051 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I think I'm glad I didn't see this thread until after I committed to a full back! I hadn't read any forums actually, but had an idea for an underwater tattoo for years. I found an artist at a convention who had done underwater and he designed a tattoo for me and I said, let's go for it. It wasn't originally to be that big, but he explained with the critters I wanted that it would need to be bigger unless I wanted to change the idea. Well, I didn't have any idea what I was getting into in terms of time, money, pain, etc. The first session was hours of drawing and then 6 hours tattooing and ended at 4:30 am and I was an exhausted mess. I have no reference for pain - I have one very small tattoo on my shoulder. But as soon as the needles hit my skin I thought, what the hell did I get myself into?!? And now I read that the back is one of the worse places, and it feels like a scalpel on my spine and ribs, and love handles hurt like hell. This is pure agony. I get very cold, so I wear a backwards hoodie and then a fleece jacket backwards over that. And gloves. And I'm still cold. I think because the sessions are so long. I've had 2 so far. This tattoo has no negative space that I can tell (no stencil) and he won't estimate how long it will take because he's letting it grow organically. I just gave him some critters I want. It's a little nerve-wracking that I only have a rough sketch of what it will look like, especially now that it appears it will take waaaay longer than I thought. I had hoped to have a tattoo in a couple months but with it being so big, I am kinda clueless what to think now. This thread has been very useful. There seems to be a big range of experiences. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85560 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chap Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I think I'm glad I didn't see this thread until after I committed to a full back! I hadn't read any forums actually, but had an idea for an underwater tattoo for years. I found an artist at a convention who had done underwater and he designed a tattoo for me and I said, let's go for it. It wasn't originally to be that big, but he explained with the critters I wanted that it would need to be bigger unless I wanted to change the idea. Well, I didn't have any idea what I was getting into in terms of time, money, pain, etc. The first session was hours of drawing and then 6 hours tattooing and ended at 4:30 am and I was an exhausted mess. I have no reference for pain - I have one very small tattoo on my shoulder. But as soon as the needles hit my skin I thought, what the hell did I get myself into?!? And now I read that the back is one of the worse places, and it feels like a scalpel on my spine and ribs, and love handles hurt like hell. This is pure agony.I get very cold, so I wear a backwards hoodie and then a fleece jacket backwards over that. And gloves. And I'm still cold. I think because the sessions are so long. I've had 2 so far. This tattoo has no negative space that I can tell (no stencil) and he won't estimate how long it will take because he's letting it grow organically. I just gave him some critters I want. It's a little nerve-wracking that I only have a rough sketch of what it will look like, especially now that it appears it will take waaaay longer than I thought. I had hoped to have a tattoo in a couple months but with it being so big, I am kinda clueless what to think now. This thread has been very useful. There seems to be a big range of experiences. that not knowing what to think now, I have the same feeling even after just on session the outlines are pretty far from finished. But the doubt is setting in a bit of how will it look finished its because you don't have the overview that you got a little afraid of how it will look in the end. But if you trust your artist and you saw his work then you know a little bit how it's going to turn out in the end. It's going to be ok probably Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met behulp van Tapatalk Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85585 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CultExciter Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I was super stoked with Mike posted pics of the "Asian Sensation" @ironchef 's back today. ironchef, HaydenRose, tatB and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85586 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cork Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I was super stoked with Mike posted pics of the "Asian Sensation" @ironchef 's back today. Pretty much recognize that ass anywhere at this point. CultExciter, Duffa, ChrisvK and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85587 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugxjuice Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I was super stoked with Mike posted pics of the "Asian Sensation" @ironchef 's back today. I thought that looked familiar! Super cool. This thread makes me want to work on my back some more. It's been six months since my first and only session... at this rate we'll be finished in 2018. ironchef and CultExciter 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85589 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CABS Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I have a friend that wants her first and only tattoo to be a backpiece. I gave her a rough estimate of how much that'll cost, and how many hours we are looking at. I hope she pulls through. CultExciter, ironchef and tatB 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
introspect Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 This is where I'm up to with my back piece so far. Got a few more months to wait before I can get some more done. Graeme, FXRrich, hogg and 17 others 20 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffa Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 thats looking great @introspect ? sorry if you've mentioned it before but who's doing that fine tattoo? Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85626 Share on other sites More sharing options...
introspect Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 thats looking great @introspect ? sorry if you've mentioned it before but who's doing that fine tattoo? @Duffa all my work has been done by Diego Azaldegui, working from Argentina and Leeds UK. Duffa 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85627 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaeTae Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Love Diego's work. He has a really unique style. That Monju bosatsu is so nice. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85629 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogg Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 @Duffa all my work has been done by Diego Azaldegui, working from Argentina and Leeds UK. Whoa! That is a jaw-dropper. Such a beautiful style...a nice mix of old and new that just ends up looking timeless. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85634 Share on other sites More sharing options...
introspect Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Whoa! That is a jaw-dropper. Such a beautiful style...a nice mix of old and new that just ends up looking timeless. Thank you. Yes I know what you mean about his style. I think it will age well and still look nice in years to come. Love Diego's work. He has a really unique style. That Monju bosatsu is so nice. Thanks, it took me a while to decide what to have but I'm really happy with my choice now. TaeTae 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85643 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaeTae Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Great choice, I had also been considering Monju Bosatsu, but I think I am going to go with Fugen Bosatsu for my back. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85645 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoryQ Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Diego Azaldegui is also just a super nice dude, as well as a good tattooer. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85648 Share on other sites More sharing options...
introspect Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Diego Azaldegui is also just a super nice dude, as well as a good tattooer. Yeah he's super nice. I really enjoy chatting to him during sessions. Makes the time fly by really fast. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85650 Share on other sites More sharing options...
paladini Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I have a full back piece done in Thailand. I had to do fast, cause i left to do the tattoo in my last days of traveling! So... i did in 3 days straight, first day i stayed 9 hours ( fever and very bad afterwards), i don't even know how i came back next day, but i did for another almost 9 hours and in the third day around 5 hours! Never more i could do this, and even now me and my wife don't know how could i do! lol Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85933 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I have a full back piece done in Thailand. I had to do fast, cause i left to do the tattoo in my last days of traveling! So... i did in 3 days straight, first day i stayed 9 hours ( fever and very bad afterwards), i don't even know how i came back next day, but i did for another almost 9 hours and in the third day around 5 hours!Never more i could do this, and even now me and my wife don't know how could i do! lol Wow. Just wow. I bet you sure had a hell of a tattoo hangover for a good couple days after that. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85936 Share on other sites More sharing options...
paladini Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Wow. Just wow. I bet you sure had a hell of a tattoo hangover for a good couple days after that. I just thought that i would never do any tattoo anymore, but we always forget the pain and suffer after a while lol So i can't stop anymore :) but of course my full arm i did in sessions of 1 month in between Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85937 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoryQ Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I have a full back piece done in Thailand. I had to do fast, cause i left to do the tattoo in my last days of traveling! So... i did in 3 days straight, first day i stayed 9 hours ( fever and very bad afterwards), i don't even know how i came back next day, but i did for another almost 9 hours and in the third day around 5 hours!Never more i could do this, and even now me and my wife don't know how could i do! lol I'd be curious to see a picture of it? Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85941 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 I just thought that i would never do any tattoo anymore, but we always forget the pain and suffer after a while lol So i can't stop anymore :) but of course my full arm i did in sessions of 1 month in between LOL I'm with you on that. I hit a low in mental fortitude after long sessions 6 days apart 2 weeks ago and knew I needed time to get my head back in the game. But I think I'm back and can't wait for the next one. Funny how all that changes when you see the piece taking shape. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-85946 Share on other sites More sharing options...
baberry64 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 My back is in progress and last session I realized that getting one's back tattooed is like getting your ribs done all over again. I foolishly thought going into it... "At least my ribs are done. Nothing could hurt that bad." If I'd given it an ounce more thought and considered the anatomy involved I might have realized that ribs wrap from front to back... fucking duh! I told Scott we will be finishing this thing in 30 minute increments. What a cry baby I've become in my old age. It looks like it will be well worth it..Congrats!!! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-86058 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TattooedHiker Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 SO. How's it been for all of you who either have full coverage or are on your way? How's the process? How incredibly draining is it? How much have you had to plan, artistically? Mentally? Physically? Financially? My back was my first piece that took more than two sittings to finish (and the only other one that took two sittings is being covered up by my sleeve). It was a really fun process, from start to finish. You can check out my back in my main photo. I started the Hannya about four years ago and not sure why but never went back after the outline. Then I finished hiking all the 4,000 foot peaks in NH so I got a tattoo on my forearm for that and it made me realize what I was missing. I went back soon after that and finished the hannya. During that session I talked to my artist about full back and started the snake/peonies a few weeks later and went monthly after that until it was done (only about 6 sessions in total including hannya). Like I said, I thought it was really fun and exciting. I used this lidocaine cream called Dr. Numb and that helped out a lot with the pain on some areas. Having full back feels like the coolest thing and is one of the smartest decisions I've made. Now, I've fallen in love with the BIG work and don't plan on stopping. Financially it wasn't a big deal because I'm in a great place job wise. I guess it was such a great experience because I wanted until I was in a great place mentally/financially to do anything. I always knew I would be heavily tattooed, I think deep down I was just waiting for the right moment and here it is. And I am an awful person to talk about how draining it was because I love that kind of shit, that's what life is all about. The oscillations, so drain me. bongsau 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-86851 Share on other sites More sharing options...
idyllsend Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 So I have a modesty related concern, directed mostly at women with full back pieces or tattooers.. I would say I'm fairly comfortable being naked, but not with an audience, and the shop I'm getting my full back piece at [with partial buttocks] is pretty open, and there's two big windows by his station [in retrospect I should've directed these concerns to my artist already, but until then...] and a big parking lot can see directly in. Any respectable artist will cover the windows and possibly provide a screen from the rest of the shop, yeah? I will have to get pretty naked, the most I can see keeping on is my undies but they'd have to be pulled down anyway...do you ever bring a blanket to cover your front side while your stencil is being put on? Any advice related to being completely naked while being tattooed will be extremely appreciated. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/815-full-back-piece-experience-thread/?page=9#findComment-90820 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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