SStu

I like it. Close enough, and trying to "fix" it could easily make it even less even.

I like it fine - but (and forgive me if I've missed the name) did this artist actually have a history of work in the realism style?

I guess that would depend on just how abstract the artist gets with it. Just like all tattoos, the ink is going to "bleed" or spread out over the decades, no matter how much you keep it out of the sun.

Quite honestly, it looks to me like 3 different tattooists have worked on you. I'm curious to see what the artist's vision is going to turn out to be, once finished.

If you're looking for perfection from 1 inch away, you're going to be disappointed . . .

take your time and do your research. If you spend a few weeks or months checking out websites, instagrams and such you'll get a feel for which style speaks to you. You need this tattoo to resonate with you for many decades . . .

Mechanical or steampunk is a theme or subject matter. Good artists rarely limit themselves to one or two special themes, certainly because that would get pretty damn boring year after year. My recommendation is that you learn something about different styles (photorealism, neo-traditional, illustrative, new skool, etc) and then pass your overall idea and subject matter by an artist that excels in the style you want. Aaron Bell specializes in the Japanese style, so he likely wouldn't be such a good target or fit, but there will be many, many artists of each style up in the PNW. Something else to consider - any great artist probably isn't going to have much if any interest in exactly reproducing your friend's artwork. The exception to that "rule" might be artists who specialize in photorealism, but even then you're friend is going to have to be one helluva artist himself. Your inspiration piece should likely be considered only as such - a reference (amongst others) for what the tattoo artist is going to create just for you.

Not familiar with how that looks, but it would be unusual for there to be an ink reaction only after 5 months.

Biomech is so abstract that it's kind of hard to tell, especially in the primary stage it is right now. Alot just depends on how experienced your artist is with coverups, how he/she has handled similar issues in the past.

I like the way it looks stylewise and colorwise. There are lots of factors that affect the pain being felt. Certainly going back into a non-completely healed area is a big one, but generally after 2-3 weeks it should be back to mostly normal. Shading always hurts me more than outline, but lots of people feel the opposite, too. Going into it thinking it was going to be a breeze might the the culprit, too.

There are some really excellent tattooists in South America. I'm not sure about Peru specifically, but do you get a chance to travel at all?

There are dozens of excellent blackwork/geometric specialty artists who could incorporate and build around that. Where do you live?

Welcome. You're going to have to find an experienced artist who can overlap flowers over the existing ink. It can be done, but it's going to take at least 2-3 trips. Just my $.02 but banner idea isn't necessary.

Yeow. You might be the 1st African visitor to this forum - at least as far as I recall. Do you have any shops in the area (or within your acceptable travelling range) that have website portfolios you could link and forward to us for review?

easy enough to cover, even or especially with the same theme (Japanese flowers). Trick will be to find the right artist this time. Where do you live?

@Devious6 Happy Birthday, but you left out one of the most interesting parts of the story . . . what kind of car?!

Starting my 1st side piece with Pauly Lingerfelt tomorrow evening. Ugh.

Lots of great artists in the Dallas area. Do you know what style of tattoo you'd prefer?

1 = Certainly not 2 = Sure, or a combination of the black and grey 3 = almost anything Japanese inspired 4 = not cluttered if it's done right. As with most design questions, a lot depends on finding the right artist. Where do you live and/or is traveling an option?

@oboogie = what year and model Toyota?

very solid.

Panther

I don't know about San Antonio, but Austin isn't far from there and you'd have dozens of choices there.

Including this guy for whomever might search "Phoenix" next time . . . https://www.instagram.com/byronwinkelman/

I didn't realize Matt had moved from Detroit. Just moved him to my potential Philly list.