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Got this today - crappy picture so it's hard to see the colors. I'll post a better pic tomorrow after it is a bit less irritated and in better light. This is my 9/11 Pentagon survivor nod. I had the artist perch the eagle on a pentagonal-shaped piece of rubble. Had originally wanted to have the date 9-11-01 in the center but, after getting feedback here, decided against it. I'm glad I left it out. I asked him to create some clouds and show the sun beginning to peak out - really based on my desire to speak to the focus on the future and not just the event itself. I was very, very lucky to survive that day - this piece has much meaning.

I'm catching up on unread items and just saw this. Awesome with a capital A.

Very nice! I'm in Austin also. Kinda want the artist completing my first sleeve (Scott Ellis, Triple Crown) to do other arm. Kinda want to mix it up Jason Brooks is definitely on the short list. Like this a lot.

Hello all, I'm 47 years old from the Cincinnati area. I'm getting ready to start a traditional Japanese back piece after a 20 year gap since my first tattoo. I've got the feeling that once that's done I'll probably look to move right into knocking my sleeves out too. I'm not getting younger and I've always wanted this so now's the time. Loving this site, it's a great resource. I found my way here through Scott's Youtube interviews with the various well-known artists. Love those awesome insights into the artists' backgrounds and personalities.

i have to admit - i used to have the idea that you have to come up with your own design - i dont do that anymore as i love to work with classic designs or designs that the tattooer has created - but here are a couple of examples of 'this' becoming 'that' - luckily - Jamie Sawyer did my design ideas justice :)

Welcome! I'm 45 and about to finish a Japanese sleeve. It's never too late to start going big.

My preference is the full donburi. Really like the look of a giant image taking up the whole torso with all the heavy black connecting everything together. With the munewari opening down the centre torso I like the wider 'river' look. Fits the body nicely. I think if you go chest panels you eventually gotta connect it down the ribs and go for it. If chest panels are made without due care for fitment to the wearer's body it sometimes gives off a dude-in-a-bra look. For women the butterfly-bodysuit look (idk what the actual term is?) is simply beautiful, where the backpiece folds over the front and caps the shoulders. But really the japanese tattoo look is fitted to the individual and their body. I may like a certain look but my body may be built and shaped for another look that will fit and flow better. If I were to do it all over again, I'd probably do full arms with only black windbars and full legs with only waves and rocks. But tattoo ain't about regrats or shoulda/woulda for me...I guess it isn't too late though, should be easy enough to just run over the first layer with black! cheers

@Intomyskin Nice, Cindy is a great choice - really big fan of her work. I also believe, as far as Japanese traditions go, that, yes, it is best to plan and outline the whole thing out all at once. However, IF you were so inclined to piece-meal it, then it usually starts with the back piece first. Then it is easier to connect sleeves later, which are bascially extensions of the background and not necessarily separate or distinct imagines, as the back is supposed to be the main focal image and everything else just accompanies it. At least that's one school of thought. There are many more that I'm ignorant of.

J_bradburry3 is his IG. Some of the things he does, I'm not a fan of. I Mean technical application is there, but the style as a whole I don't like. I am a solid American and Japanese traditional guy. He has some beautiful Hannya masks on there and other killer Japanese pieces. That was all I cared about. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Okay, I get what you're saying (atrocious I think is a bit to far but fair enough). I understand that a tattoo artist will know what's best and going to see one who will be able to do my drawing all over again is the best bet, however talking to a professional and discussing what to change about the design is the whole reason why I'm here in the first place. There are plenty of tattoo parlours around me who would each do something different and unique in their own way. Drawing it myself means that it's a literal expression of self, not someone's interpretation of my feelings. I was hoping to find a bunch of people who have more experience than me in this domain willing to tell me what's wrong with the design, rather that just say it's awful and tell me to ask a professional, which is exactly what I am trying to do.

You can use your own designs as a way explain what you want, but dont expect the artist to follow your designs too closely. Tattooers have been designing tattoos and drawing for years and years, everyday. They also know what makes a tattoo design work. Theres no sense in adding a middle man, as it just complicates something that doesnt need to be complicated. Im an artist as well, but id never want my own designs on my body. I have the assumption that I dont know what Im doing, and most of the time its true. I cant imagine having something on me that I drew when I was 19. For example, for my 4th tattoo I was going to get a piece of shark flash on my leg, but being the idiot I was I thought I could draw it better than the tattooer could, so I traced his design and changed it, and got him to tattoo it. It turned out decent, but it would have been much better should I just have let him do his original design. I regret it. Ive been painting tattoo designs for over 2 years now, and Im JUST starting to understand what makes a good design. Im going to be honest and say your design is attrocious, and that I would advise you to trust the tattooer to make a better design than you can, as I can predict youll regret having your own art on you, especially if you plan on improving your drawing skill. Find a skilled tattooer and theyll give you a great tattoo. Theyll know how to work with your ideas and give you something that works. One mantra I find myself repeating to "tattoo noobies" is "Trust your tattooer", and thats the best advice I can give you.

ok so the first important thing is to find a good tattooer what this means is someone who is not only a technically a sound tatttooer but also someone who understands tattoo design the elements of what you want are fine - but in the wrong hands... a good tattooer will save you from yourself - but there are tattooers who will say sure I'll put this exact drawing on you - and that is where problems start so once you find the right tattooer - you can bring / send this reference and explain the jist of what you're after then let the tattooer develop the design - the design that will be on you for life to start - where you live - maybe you have an awesome tattooer right close by

welcome ! I'm 57 and still getting tattooed as often as I can ! just got this one a week ago !

So had my consult today. It is going to be awesome. Saw his other Japanese sleeves and was amazed. So we are going with the koi and dragon themed sleeve. He was Mentioning something about the koi collected a pearl and on his way up changed to a dragon or something like that. Anyways, his waves are some of the best I have seen. Seems like such a simply thing like water would be easy, but his just stands out. Also some windbars and cherry blossoms. He said in about 3 weeks he will have it drawn and ready for outlining. Put the deposit down and just waiting for the call. It's happening y'all. A bit nervous, but it's more excitement. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I used to scab a little,the last two tattoos I have had done I used cocoa butter and anti-microbial washing several times a day,but I kept the butter on lightly 24/7 for the first 5 or 6 days,and they healed perfectly,no scabbing,I get peeling,but no scabbing,after the first 5 or 6 days I go to Aveeno. . at night I lightly saran wrap the area and tape when sleeping so it would stay on and not soil the sheets. I use small towels on my armchair to watch TV,etc,etc I agree the color does tend to scab more than black/gray

Going to Hong Kong next week...so once I get back it's open season on tattoo time (re: winter) haha. I've got a bunch of fun ideas (in painful spots, not fun!) percolating in the brain so will see how things develop and how crazy/creative I'm feeling once I get through my trip. Hmmm maybe I'll postpone my return flight a few days and see what kind of mischief I can get up to in HK...my bud did get a bare-hand Jimmy Ho tattoo last year but damn it looked gnarly and took him months to heal. My wife is also getting tattooed by Jessie Beans in a month. I'm really excited, probably more excited about her getting tattooed than she is! cheers

Started this in January (i posted the lines here before)... this is 5 sessions in w/ 2 hrs each time. Again, I want to thank the LST community for leading me to Jason Brooks -- I could not be happier w/ the results :D

The koi and dragon is a great image. There is a Chinese legend of The Dragon Gate, where the koi that ascends the waterfall and reaches the peak is transformed into a dragon. In Japan, the koi repressents hard work, dedication, and confidence. The koi s a symbol used on Boys Day, in hopes that your sons would be like the koi. The koi swimming the waterfall and being transformed into a powerful beast repressents over coming obstacles in ones life and attaining greatness and success through hard work and dedication. The dragon ascending into the heavens repressents success in life. I think you should have the koi on your forarm and dragon on you upper arm. Its a beautiful image, and great story. The hannya repressents anger, jealousy and sarrow, and can be used as a symbol of change, (usually paired with maple leaves for this reason) a repressentation of the full swing of human emotion, (sarrow and mourning to bitter hatred and jealousy) or the dark side to something that was once beautiful. As far as motifs go it doesnt really fit. Id leave it out of your sleeve and get a seperate one-point style hannya elsewhere on your body. But this is just my western impression of the info I have. I encourage you to do your own research. I can see the tattoo now, with the koi on the forarm paired with rocks, water and sea grass, transitioning to the dragon on your upper arm paired with clouds and whirlwind. Really beautiful.

Not entirely true. From my understanding, dragons are neutral, but the majority of the time tend to be good omen. There are many instances in which dragon fight humans. Tamatori the pearl diver running from Ryujin is a good example of a ryu/human conflict. Or Susanoo who slayed the dragon Orochi to save Kushinadahime. Or the dragon that was eating children that the goddess Benzaiten soothed with her beauty, and latter (in some stories) married the dragon. There are other instances in which a witch transforms herself into a dragon as well, and stories of multi-headed evil dragon. Although rare, there are certain instances in which ryu fight swordsman. But as for your tattoo, less is more. If I were you Id just go with a dragon skeeve with nothing else, but thats just me.

I'd definitely leave out the samurai. The concept of a swordsman battling a dragon is a completely Western concept. You will never see man battling dragon in traditional Japanese tattoos. The koi and dragon existing in the same piece makes total sense because one evolves into the other. Post some photos when you get line work done!

Hey --- great topic! So I am exactly in your boat. Getting a Japanese dragon sleeve done here in Austin, Texas. Like you, I estimated this to be about 15 hours/3 sessions. But I am in that far now and we probably have 5-8 more to go. You can read a more detailed update on how it's going here: So, my sleeve is a 7/10th length, almost full. The first session was the linework. I don't know how your artist works, but mine the design was drawn freehand (after a lot of consultation, obviously). This took a few hours of mostly standing up. It was fascinating. He would draw it and be nearly done, then look at it and say -- no, the head needs to be an inch to the right - then wipe it off and start again. He would do multiple layers in multiple colors getting more detailed with each layer, and he erased amazing stuff many times because he wanted it to flow with my body correctly, and had to re-draw it. I think this is really important with your piece, especially with multiple elements. I was planning on tattooing to the wrist, but since I wear a watch, the 7/10ths made more sense. And putting the dragon head on my collarbone just never looked right, despite that being one of the more traditional locations. So as he is drawing it on you - think about how the pieces fit onto your body... and also.... think about what parts you want to look at all the time. If am not at the computer working, I am golfing, so what was on my top/inner forearms was important because that's the area I'll be looking at most. I had fewer flowers put there so I wasn't distracted by the pink that will go in there later. Here are a few pics I didn't put into the other thread: First layer. This was erased. and Re-done. Then the linework. Ouch. We did this in about 3ish hours: A month later we did all the shading in one 5.5 hour session: The healing of the shading was just awful. The Y of my arm got immediately dry and cracked making moving my arm very painful for 4-5 days and mildly painful for another 4-5. Applying Aquaphor those first 3-4 days just inflamed the whole arm it and - just - ouch. I had to really baby it, and luckily I work from home and can work shirtless for a few days and wash/re-ointment frequently. If I had to put on a dress shirt (or any shirt) and go to work and move around I would have been really sorry. If you do this much coverage, wash it a lot, because I had a few areas flare up looking like they were going to get infected, but luckily just got really heavily scabbed. So my artist went to Europe for 10 weeks, and I had to wait all summer for coloring! But like you, I was thinking 15 hours/three sessions. And I felt like one more 5.5 hours session like the shading would be enough to finish up almost entirely. Nope! Last Wednesday we did 5.5 hours (all I could take) and only got in green and red: Takes awhile to get some of that color in, I guess. This part on the shoulder hurt/bled a lot: The ditch was bad. Real bad. Healing the color has been about 60% as bad as the shading. I probably could have shirted up and worked a job with movement had I needed to... but it would have still been really uncomfortable. Healing the ditch is no joke. Those scales are all scabbed now, and I rarely scab on my tattoos. Ouch. So now I'm hoping one more 5 hour run will do it, but I doubt it. Just the flowers - by the numbers, could take a few hours themselves (there are more on the back of the arm). So I'm guessing it will be 5 hrs next month, then another 2-3 after that (fingers crossed). Take lots of pics, especially during if you can. I always wish I had snapped more after. Here is a video of the shading. You can compare that spot to the above pics to see how dark we got it eventually. Takes awhile to lay down those greyish areas on the windbars/clouds: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-znxv7VN/0/1280/i-znxv7VN-1280.mp4

I posted an update in the Initiation forum, but realized it isn't as widely seen. Here is a condensed version: Session 3 on the dragon sleeve is done. I went in thinking we would color it in and I'd be done or nearly done. Nope! 5.25 hours of green and red. In the ditch. Ouch. April: May: Last week: I'm very happy with it so far, but dying to get the final touches of detail into the dragon. I count 120 cherry blossom pedals all the way around. Given that 2 min each average is four hours, I'm doubting we will even finish next time.

This is Gunner. He's a dork. ♥️

Its just normal bruising. Both your new tattoos look great. Relax guys, the lines are fine. @Jason687 go back and see whichever tattooer you jive with. Or try someone new, enjoy your time at the shop.

I edited the quote intentionally so that the info didn't remain in my post. It's not really a big deal. Also nothing wrong with talking about tattoo experiences at all, in my opinion. It was just the brand of rotary that was mentioned, which falls under the technical equipment umbrella.

@DJDeepFried - At this point I've been communicating with Cindy Maxwell in Seattle.

Its strange. I admire the opposite. Theres something so appealing to me about the "modest" bodysuit design. By modest I mean full back, full front with the "river" down the front, just above the knee and just before the elbow, with one main image on the back and one accompaning images on each thigh and each shoulder. I think in the west, tattoos have become sortof trite because we wear tattoos so boldly and outwordly. It looses that speacial something. I like the idea of being in control of your situation at all times, to be a tattooed person when you decide to reveal yourself. You can carry this secret side to yourself that not many people would know about. Not only that but I find it fits the body so much more naturally. Theres something about the suit stoppingvat the hands feet and neck that looks unatural to me. Not sure how I can describe it. If I could start all over id go with the modest bodysuit design for sure, as apposed to the American one-point style bodysuit Im heading towards at thr moment. I still love my tattoos, but I appreciatethe Japanese philosophy much more.

Everyone has pretty much said everything that I was going to say. I like the idea of submission being separate from the voting process, I like the point/poll recommendation, and I definitely think it would be great if there were separate categories for one shots, and "the big stuff" -- sleeves, pants, torsos, & backs. Just cause I feel like a lot of really incredible small/medium sized pieces don't get proper clout with the magnitude of a large-scale tattoo competing for attention. edit: Also I'm super stoked that the contest is coming back! The video was cute haha

great feedback - i guess thinking about it i do have some specific feedback first i like @Graeme line of thinking with the poll i think once the month ends - you put up the poll and allowing a voting to occur - makes the whole process much more like a contest - i know myself there were probably plenty of months when I 'liked' all the tattoos posted - which kinda made it like i didnt vote at all i guess second - i wouldnt worry about themes and categories - when the contest was stopped one of the main issues was lack of posting particpation i do think it should be opened up to all tattoos though - clean slate - of course from that point a tattoo should only be allowed to be entered one time also i think that each member should be limited to one post / entry per month i do think its ok to post the tattooer - hey - we are gonna know who did it anyway as most people also post in the lowdown where it is customary to post the artist name now - are large pieces gonna have an advantage - maybe are pieces from favored tattooers gonna have an advantage - maybe but who cares - its all in good fun let the games begin :)

Starting the thread and entering my Amy Winehouse tattoo!