It was bound to happen: I was going to start atattoo sleeve.
Six years after my first tattoo, my right arm is more inked than not.
For those who know they’re planning on a sleeve, however, starting-spot trends have changed.
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“I was always of the thought that you should start at the top and work your way down.
“I suppose that works just as well, but it’s a little more ballsy.”
So, upper arm or forearm?
Erin Odea
In some cases, the answer is neither.
“I like to ask what three or four images are the largest, most important ones.
“But they need to stay simple to fit in small spots.”
Becca Genné-Bacon
Genne-Bacon likes to get accurate tracings and draw for exactly the spot being filled.
“Doesn’t get better than those.
“Works like a charm.”
Erin Odea
If you’re mixing styles, however, you may want to stick to something more monochromatic.
“There are so many ways things can come together,” Odea says.
It’s almost downright necessary to stick to the same artist if your sleeve is a single design.
Becca Genné-Bacon
However, a patchwork style doesn’t demand loyalty to a single artist.
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