scottyg

I'd say it's just a bad-ish scab, given the area it's kind of to be expected, with all the natural movement that occurs there. Not hot or painful is a good sign. I'd just keep *lightly* moisturizing it, and let the body heal itself. You'd be amazed. And if necessary you can get it touched up later.

Yes, the back is rough, but you power through it because you're tough and powerful. also, don't be afraid of breaks and communicating with your artist. I get completely naked, but I'm a dude so it's different. There's a thread here called "full back piece experience." Check it out for further ideas.

looks to me like over-application of moisterizer. could be creating a zit. can't see it scaring; probably not. you'd be amazed at the body's ability to heal itself. I had big scabs on a piece of mine during healing--much worse than this; two years later the spots look perfect!

There're right and wrong ways to do this. The right way is to slog it out as a shop assistant, eat shit, pay your dues, then MAYBE earn the right to be an apprentice. Then eat more shit, pay more dues, then MAYBE earn the right to tattoo. Do it the right way.

thanks!!!

sometimes a 4 is just a 4

thanks man!!

here's the latest on my backpiece:

my feeling is that's going to not look the greatest on the body, as it's not a figure, but rather a background. you know?

looks totally normal for a healing tattoo

I see. Well, be safe!

Hey guys. In like 2016 a film student made a video of an old session of mine getting waves and leaves added to my turtle by Takashi Matsuba in his old studio. Thought I'd post some stills from the video here. The video's locked, but it's cool.

this!

awesome! I feel you, but all indications are that it's safer here in NYC than other places now. I've got a session planned for this Friday in Brooklyn and not worried. Cheers!

flows much better on the arm than I'd thought. but yeah, I wouldn't add anything else. have fun!

Plus aren't chrysanthemums a fall/winter flower? And sakura are definitely a spring flower. So you might remove the cherry blossoms and replace with maple leaves, but even then, there's really a lot going on. The sketch itself is nice, but the images are very compressed. Did you design this yourself? I like the style of the waves, certainly, but something seems static about the picture. It should of course seem completely vivid and in motion. That's my 2 cents and I'm by no means an expert and don't mean to offend.

Three koi on one arm seems a lot. Also, wind doesn't seem intuitive, because they don't fly. You could pair with autumn flowers like maple leaves. Ultimately I think you'll have to decide if you want traditional Japanese or more modern, and then from there how trusting you are of the tattooer that he/she's going to do the right job.

It's very common; we get posts on here like every few days. I'd hold off on another one for a bit if this one is this concerning. Nothing to do now other than to grow to love it, which you've indicated you already do; it ain't going anywhere.

it's so beautiful as is I wouldn't change a thing, but if it's bothering you this much a year later why not just have the artist add the lipstick?

you're overthinking: it's really common for ppl to get upset when they first see it after its done. I wasn't panicked, but when I first saw a DUDE on my back... it took a minute. you'll grow to love it.

should be facing into the center of the body, like you have it, right?

oof. yeah one's mileage will definitely vary

I had a similar problem: I wore jeans (I have to work) and they chafed my then-new tattoo, causing scabbing, and then discoloration. While getting other work done with my artist, I asked him about it and he said to wait. Here we are a few years later, and the color has healed fine: there's no brownish red anymore where the scabs were. So a touch up isn't necessary at this point. Now, the color falling out is a different issue, which will most likely need a touch up, and my tattoos are tebori, but the lesson is that allowing the body to work its magic over a longish period of time isn't an unreasonable or unheard of thing.

looks fine

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