My Japanese-style tattoo drawing, with two sparrows, a coiled snake and red maple leaves against a dark swirling background. Color and shading sit alongside the remaining outlines; this is a design, not a tattoo photo.

Peony flowers the size of dinner plates? Heck yes. It’s my favorite when someone gives me the opportunity to let flowers take up this much real estate.

Completed leg sleeve with big ol’ peonies, crashing waves and lava rocks.

This accompanies his arm sleeve and chest panel, which we’re fixing to complete next week. It’s a privilege to have someone trust me with this much of their canvas. I never take it for granted. Thanks for looking!

Adam Sky - San Francisco, California

I Love how Classy looks a 3/4 sleeve

Tebori colour and shading, outlines by machine.

Finished set of dragonball/nintendo traditional Japanese sleeves, made for Fredric who travelled from Switzerland to get these done over the space of a few years, a few photos added to show the details but hard to capture it all!

Please delete if not allowed as a more general tattoo question 🙂

Story time:

I love Japanese tattoos and always wanted one. 

For various (definitely stupid) reasons I waited until I was 40 to get one; a Hannya on my thigh by Deneka in London.

I love it! 

Fast forward to today: 

I have booked in for a full leg sleeve, a snake and Sakura and rat, to go around/with my Hannya; also with Deneka.

It's booked for a couple of weeks' time.

Now onto the question: 

Why am I freaking out about it?

I flip flop between looking at full leg sleeves and thinking they're awesome and I'll just be a tragic old man with one; which one is it?!

Tattoos often look so dark when they're fresh, and I don't want to have one dark leg 😐

The artist doesn't share images before the session and it's making me really anxious.

Closing thoughts

I don't really know what I want to ask, just writing it down is enough to calm me down and make me think I do want it 😂 (in about an hour I won't want it).

Any words of wisdom are welcome 🙂

***** Edit ***** Thanks for everyone's comments.

I think the main takeaway is that it is a big thing, but don't overthink it.

Will post a progress picture once the first session is done 👌

lines are (almost) done. 9 sessions in so far, 7 have been tattooing. has been an absolute privilege to get work done by Regino. awesome artist, awesome dude. I couldn’t be more thrilled with how it’s going

22 hours to complete 🙇🏻‍♂️

All done by myself @kyhallport_tattoos

There’s a cover up on the back of the calf aswell. Potentially going to darken the blue on the horses rug to contrast the lighter on the edge.

Thanks for looking

🇦🇺 Gosford, Central Coast

Healed work 3 weeks old
Shading by hand (Tebori technique)

I see for the arms people typically choose traditional figures such as koi, dragons, snakes, and tigers but wondered would it be odd to use Japanese characters and historical figures instead as the main focus for this piece?

My concept right now is using Miyamoto Musashi standing over an Oni demon in the same manner as the image of him standing over the giant bat (nobusuma).

Reference Pictures:
Miyamoto Musashi vs Nobusuma

Final Results (day after)
Tattoo done by Kappa Tattoo (West Palm Beach, FL)

Hey everyone! I’m planning to finish off my 7/10 sleeves with Juzu bead. I’m pretty set on the placement, size, and most of the details, but I’m still a little unsure about the colours...

As far as I know, the most traditional colour combination is alternating red and green beads, however, I’ve also seen lots of different variations in all sorts of colours, including black and grey, and I’m having a hard time deciding what would work best, so I thought getting some outside opinions might help me figure things out !

As you can see, the colours in my sleeves are quite minimalist, mostly pink and "cool" red (by that, I mean a red that leans slightly towards purple rather than orange, or pure bright red) variations, with a few touches of yellow-orange here and there, and green.

I’m not sure whether I should stick to a cohesive colour palette for the beads or go for something completely different, maybe even something brighter and more vibrant... My artist suggested purple, blue, turquoise, colors that really pop, I like the idea, but I also like restrain...

I'd love the hear what you think !

Done by Nick Wilson (me) Montreal, Canada