Thinking about doing this on my thigh or ankle

wrighty · 4 Dec 2021

Hi people
Hope your all good .

I have been wanting to do one of my daughters names and though I would combine it with a rose .

was thinking of doing it in my thigh or lower leg .
It will be my third tattoo in myself .

I used a 5 rl and 3 gray wash .
Would have been a lot quicker using a small mag but as I’m just starting out I thought it would be best to use a 5rl.

Any opinions would be great . Will be my first shading tattoo my other two where just line tatts .

MalligaMallan · 4 Dec 2021

wrighty said:
Hi people
Hope your all good .

I have been wanting to do one of my daughters names and though I would combine it with a rose .

was thinking of doing it in my thigh or lower leg .
It will be my third tattoo in myself .

I used a 5 rl and 3 gray wash .
Would have been a lot quicker using a small mag but as I’m just starting out I thought it would be best to use a 5rl.

Any opinions would be great . Will be my first shading tattoo my other two where just line tatts .

Would be good to see your previous efforts to better advice you if we think you're ready for this motif or not.

Very nice practice btw

wrighty · 4 Dec 2021

Hello malligamallan
Here is my first and setons tattoo .

Medusa one was first .

I have been doing loads and loads on realskin the fake stuff .

just feel like I need to progress to actual real skin

KyleBl4ck · 4 Dec 2021

Based on the work posted, and dont take this the wrong way, I wouldn't jump into something that intricate with shading. Unless you can do it on fake skin / pig skin. It's not worth it. I learned how to tattoo by tattooing my leg and can tell you, I wish I invested in pig skin and fake skin first.

The 2 tattoos you posted are decent however they have no shading, and shading is a lot more difficult than lining when it comes to ink dillution and such.

My recommendation?
Do it on fake skin like 4 or 5 times to see the differences in ink consistencies, then tattoo it on yourself.

wrighty · 5 Dec 2021

Hello mate , thanks for feedback .
I have practiced that a few times on fake skin also done these .

so I have done quite a bit of shading practice .
Just not shore weather to take the leap !:0

MalligaMallan · 5 Dec 2021

I agree with Kyle, but why don't you do the line work one session, and shading another session (when lines are healed)? No need to hurry with it all in one and same session. You don't have to do all shading in one session either - you actually give yourself more opportunities to practice and learn if you divide it in more sessions (I did that with a quite big rose motif with a lot of shading, on my thigh. Appr 6 sessions I think. Great practice).

whippet · 5 Dec 2021

Based on the two latest posts, I think your shading looks good and I'd be inclined to say go for it and be prepared to start light and let it heal, then see what more you need to add later. Better to be in a position to add some after the first session heals and this should give you a decent feel for how greyish works in skin.

However...there's a world of difference between these shaded fake skins and your two previous pieces on skin. No offence, but I don't think many would guess these 4 examples were by the same person.

I practiced for around a year on fake skin, after a 20-year break from 'real tattoooing', and I think I did some really nice stuff. Then I hit real skin and it wasn't so easy, flesh is not as forgiving as the fake stuff.

Ultimately I'd say start small(ish), maybe a simpler piece. I know you can't keep avoiding flesh forever but best to minimise the chances of real disaster. Good luck!

wrighty · 6 Dec 2021

MalligaMallan said:
I agree with Kyle, but why don't you do the line work one session, and shading another session (when lines are healed)? No need to hurry with it all in one and same session. You don't have to do all shading in one session either - you actually give yourself more opportunities to practice and learn if you divide it in more sessions (I did that with a quite big rose motif with a lot of shading, on my thigh. Appr 6 sessions I think. Great practice).

That’s a great idea

I’ll probably do that . Never thought about that

wrighty · 6 Dec 2021

whippet said:
Based on the two latest posts, I think your shading looks good and I'd be inclined to say go for it and be prepared to start light and let it heal, then see what more you need to add later. Better to be in a position to add some after the first session heals and this should give you a decent feel for how greyish works in skin.

However...there's a world of difference between these shaded fake skins and your two previous pieces on skin. No offence, but I don't think many would guess these 4 examples were by the same person.

I practiced for around a year on fake skin, after a 20-year break from 'real tattoooing', and I think I did some really nice stuff. Then I hit real skin and it wasn't so easy, flesh is not as forgiving as the fake stuff.

Ultimately I'd say start small(ish), maybe a simpler piece. I know you can't keep avoiding flesh forever but best to minimise the chances of real disaster. Good luck!

Hi whippet thanks for your input .
Yea I agree that there is a big difference between my practice skin and real skin .

think that’s why I need to make the leap to shading work on myself .

might just do the rose on its own as a test and the name separate .

thanks for you input

Thinking about doing this on my thigh or ankle

wrighty

Attachments

MalligaMallan

wrighty

Attachments

KyleBl4ck

wrighty

Attachments

MalligaMallan

whippet

wrighty

wrighty

Free Linework Secrets Guide