Geometric/Blackwork sleeve

RhoDoDenDron

Alright guys, so I think it may be time for me to delve into the world of tattoos, and I've decided to start with a bit-by-bit sleeve on my left arm.

The idea is to continually add "panels" of maybe 3" or 4" on my arm until it makes a complete sleeve, with as much time between panels as I feel is necessary.

I want to start on my upper forearm, so just below my elbow. Plan is for 70% to be a design incorporating a lot of overlapping rectangles and then for the remaining 30% or so to be rings with dots and/or zig-zags between them.

So, this post has two prongs!

Firstly, what do people think of the idea itself? Is 19 too young to start a sleeve? I'm quite confidant, but always welcome comments. Like my scarification, the design will echo aspects of my personality that is integral, like love of symmetry and mathematical designs. I've wanted some form of band for a year or two now, but have only begun to articulate it into a design that I'd actually want.

Secondly, artist and price. Who would be an appropriate person to work with, and how much is it likely to cost me per session? I have no idea how long a relatively repetitive 3"/4" band would take, with a lot of black ink.

Thanks in advance, peeps!

P_1

Interesting idea, reminds me slightly of Tim Commerford's half sleeves.

To be honest 19 is too young/old to start on a sleeve depending on who you ask, the only person who can answer that one for you is your good self.

Price wise, €80-100 an hour seems to be the going rate these days so depending on how skinny/muscular your arms are I'd guess in and around €200-400 for a 3/4" band but your best bet is to get chatting to a few artists and show them the design to get a more accurate quote.

Artist wise, I'd say others here have more reccomendations but I'd say Kris in Wildcat would do a decent job at it

RhoDoDenDron

P_1 wrote: »

Interesting idea, reminds me slightly of Tim Commerford's half sleeves.

To be honest 19 is too young/old to start on a sleeve depending on who you ask, the only person who can answer that one for you is your good self.

Well, they won't end at upper forearm. First I'll work my way up, and then when I'm a little older, I'll work my way down.

Which kind of responds to both of those points :P

raze_them_all_

hey man age wise yer fine, but if I was you I'd start from the shoulder down, YOu'd be surprised how many jobs wont let you have tattoos on show and being able to go in a short sleeve compared to something long sleeve may not sound like much but it makes such a difference on a hot day.


Speaking as someone who started from my forearm up and am currently finishing my blackwork/negative space sleeve in september

RhoDoDenDron

If I need to get a job with a dress code, a tattoo on my arm will be the least of my worries. I'm studying IT in college, and I have about 20 facial piercings. I'm not taking them out any time soon. At the moment I'm working with a few creative side-projects, so any job that I go for will be about being artistic and creative rather than neatly-dressed. I wouldn't want to work for a company that expected me to look like your typical office guy or whatever.

jenizzle

Age-wise, as the others said, that's up to you and how you feel. It's not like you're a stranger to mods, and the perception people will have of you.

Design-wise, do you have any images of what you were thinking? I do enjoy geometrical tattoos, especially if there's a bit of dotwork thrown in too!

If there is going to be a lot of black in it, I think that could take a little longer to ensure there's no white space left. But I'd say any decent artist would fly through it. As others have said, it'll cost up to €100 an hour, with each session maybe 2-3 hours long?

Adiboo

As for artist recommendations, I'd suggest Dave Barry down in Cork.

http://www.facebook.com/david.barry.3386/photos_albums

Personally, when I start my geometry sleeve soon, I will be travelling over to the UK to Deryn. Her work is simply beautiful.

http://www.facebook.com/tenacioustattoo/media_set?set=a.588513377840897.101820663.100000467217717&type=3

There is also Phil Cummins who was based down in Cobh, but now living in Mallorca. He does come back for guest spots though.

http://www.facebook.com/philcummins/media_set?set=a.157991280898155.32581.100000618534281&type=3

jenizzle

Adiboo wrote: »

Personally, when I start my geometry sleeve soon, I will be travelling over to the UK to Deryn. Her work is simply beautiful.

http://www.facebook.com/tenacioustattoo/media_set?set=a.588513377840897.101820663.100000467217717&type=3

Her stuff is awesome!

Star Lord

RhoDoDenDron wrote: »

I wouldn't want to work for a company that expected me to look like your typical office guy or whatever.

This is my life. Shirt (formal shirt), trousers, shoes, tie. Shirt buttoned all the way, including the collar.

raze_them_all_

RhoDoDenDron wrote: »

If I need to get a job with a dress code, a tattoo on my arm will be the least of my worries. I'm studying IT in college, and I have about 20 facial piercings. I'm not taking them out any time soon. At the moment I'm working with a few creative side-projects, so any job that I go for will be about being artistic and creative rather than neatly-dressed. I wouldn't want to work for a company that expected me to look like your typical office guy or whatever.

I don't do office work, I teach people how to kayak and rock climb and all that stuff man, you never know a companies policies, I also had about 20 facial piercings at one stage.

IT was just my opinion man, tis your decision

RhoDoDenDron

Thanks for the input guys. Any other suggestions besides Kris and Dave Barry? I obvs don't need to explain to anyone here why I want to carefully choose an artist

Adiboo

RhoDoDenDron wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys. Any other suggestions besides Kris and Dave Barry? I obvs don't need to explain to anyone here why I want to carefully choose an artist

TBH, I actually wouldn't recommend Kris for a job like this and I'm a big advocate of Kris in general, gotten work done by him many times. His bag is more realism, etc. You want somebody who specialises in sacred geometry and lots and lots of blackwork.

There is Graham Wallis in Sligo. But he would be more along the lines of tribal blackwork rather than geometric.

Honestly, imo, your best bet, for the truly best geometric experience, you should be looking at going to the UK.

IamMetaldave

RhoDoDenDron wrote: »

I wouldn't want to work for a company that expected me to look like your typical office guy or whatever.

I worked in IT and have sleeves, I was lucky that my bosses didn't mind, but you'll need to seriously rethink there pal, a lot of IT work is client facing, so you'll have to look like a typical office guy at some point for a while until you find something that allow you some freedom.. Then again, you may be lucky! The way the world is now and jobs, I don't think you can pick and choose so easily anymore.

P_1 wrote: »

Artist wise, I'd say others here have more reccomendations but I'd say Kris in Wildcat would do a decent job at it

I also would recommend Kris, he's awesome.

RhoDoDenDron

Mate of mine really enthusiastically recommended Phil Cummins, so I'm going to look into him. Don't mind travelling to Cork, much for convenient than the UK. Should be a fairly simple design, as I like to have as much input as possible.

To be honest, I don't really want to be one of those people who sells their souls for money. Not saying that everyone who takes out piercings or hides tattoos is doing that, but for me, they're a very important part of my life. Getting into body mods is probably the best thing I've done with my life, and I don't think the money I'd be missing out on would be worth it. I'm a competent worker and there are plenty of jobs in IT that I could work in with mods, so I don't mind excluding the few that won't have me. My long-term plan isn't IT anyway.

innad

I used to think that way too, but ended up taking out my facial piercings because it was "against company policy".

It took me until my late 20s to figure out what I really wanted to do work-wise, and only then did I decide to get my arms tattooed - not because my chosen profession is super liberal, but because I decided that I'd just wear long sleeves to work. Well, that was all well and good until this heatwave started! Still, my ultimate goal is an air-conditioned office, so it won't matter if anyone has a problem with tattoos or not

Anyway, by all means go ahead with the sleeve (can't wait to see how it turns out!), just be aware that your goals and priorities might change in the future.