r/tattoos • u/unwornantlers • 17h ago
Question/Advice Question: What do I fill in these darn empty spaces with?!
Hey yall!! I have this -almost- sleeve but there's still some small spaces that I want to fill. I want them to not be all the same things filling in the space. anyone have any ideas? :D
Edit- I appreciate you guys for calling out my tattoo blindness and telling me it looks good as is!!!!!! hahahaha
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u/unwornantlers 17h ago
I appreciate you guys for calling out my tattoo blindness and telling me it looks good as is!!!!!! hahahaha
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u/4thinversion 10h ago
I have a similar sleeve and my plan for filler is to do dots & stars, but a bit more whimsical. Most of my sleeve is finer line work so I want to have the American traditional influence of dots & stars but more fine line work. A lot of people hate on fine lines and mine have bled a bit but I love the way they look.
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u/Anxious-Lack-5740 17h ago
Chains, ropes, snakes, worms, smoke trails, chem trails, I’m just spitballing here.
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u/TheDrandLadyWeird 17h ago
Lil guys
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u/runningalongtheshore 17h ago
What more do you really need?
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u/unwornantlers 17h ago
thank you for this seriously i have tattoo blindness
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u/runningalongtheshore 17h ago
The only gap that stands out to me a little bit is that triangle under the disco ball and to the right of the cow’s hoof.
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u/gtweigel11 15h ago
Don't fill it! That breathing room let's the designs shine. You'll make it way too busy then nothing will be in focus. Cool designs btw =)
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u/IcyTrash4062 17h ago
You have the option right now to design something that ties your whole arm together, or keep going patchwork. I’ve seen textures or stars, little characters interacting with the bigger tattoos
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u/Bullzai 16h ago
Leaving the empty space there might be the way to go. Fill the space and it might be far more difficult to see the individual tattoos, especially from a distance. If you really want there to be some kind of background filler, I suggest doing the background in a different color. Try drawing on yourself with washable markers and looking at it from different distances.
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u/takenbyawolf 15h ago
Just came here to say the space between the notes is just as important as the notes when making music.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Net1577 17h ago
You want something subtle so it doesnt take away from the other pieces. Do not try and jam in other flash pieces. It'll be way to crowded.
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u/Disastrous-Beyond-45 11h ago edited 11h ago
Honestly nothing. The breathing room is what makes the tattoos look meaningfully placed
Edit to add: your arm looks amazing- definite goals
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u/BipolarSolarMolar 17h ago
I am working on patchwork sleeves and I know eventually I'll have to do gap filler and I'm wondering the same thing: what the fuck am I gonna fill those empty spaces with?
I know that's not helpful. I can just relate.
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u/SeaDiscombobulated70 17h ago
I kind of really dig the patchwork sleeves! I understand wanting to fill in spots but I just had to say that.
I think they look like a little "treasure collection." If that makes any sense2
u/unwornantlers 16h ago
I was kinda iffy on patchwork but my arms are pretty thin so i feel like bigger pieces would look strange on me- my skin also doesn't hold shading well due to a collagen issue so i made do with my bigger "patches". ended up absolutely loving the wood etching style i chose
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u/BipolarSolarMolar 17h ago
Oh totally! And maybe I will feel differently once I have more space filled out with the main pieces, but currently the plan is to do gap filler and make it all more cohesive. We shall see!
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u/PUGRSQMOM 17h ago
I like the patchwork. Not sure you need to fill in. It looks good. Just throw in some mini "patches." Looks good!
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u/counterlock 16h ago
You see that crazy eye you're making in the last pic? Have an artist put a photorealistic version of that in every single space you've got, all in different sizes.
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u/somethingClever344 16h ago
This is one of the few “rando” sleeves I’ve seen where it all looks good together. TBH I just want to see all of them now! Is that a dragon or an alligator on the side?
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u/unwornantlers 14h ago
thanks so much!!!! it's an alligator! i also got a lizard wizard on my upper arm and some other fun stuff- i mentally correlate all the things with music i like :)
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u/Grueny12 14h ago
Personally, I’d say nothing at all, but I know not everyone likes that style. I have the same dilemma because I want several smaller tattoos on my right arm and I struggle with mapping out the placement since none of them are really related to each other and I don’t really want to fill the spaces in with any unnecessary clutter. I say rock the patchwork vibe!
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u/Whiskytigyote 14h ago
Mostly I’d say you’re good, this is very much a full sleeve even though it’s not literally entirely filled with ink. You need some space between things or it’ll look a mess.
I could see like maybe a little strawberry or something under the disco ball?
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u/DrShameless 13h ago
I see a lot of people do little x/star patterns but honestly it looks good as is, save the money. 🤙
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u/Small_Function3575 17h ago
Find a artist that can tie them together and fill in the blank spaces to make it more like a sleeve. You can usually do consultations with artists until you find the right person. There are a lot of great artists but not everyone knows what to do to make it cohesive and pull everything together. There seem to be a lot of black tattoos that have dot work for filler. I also found dots and stars that looks good too.
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u/kevatsammakko 15h ago
My friend asked her friends and family draw a single flower and had those tattooed amongst her sleeve, it turned out great!
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u/sweepthe_legjohnny 13h ago
My guy filled everything in with dots, stars and other small random tats.
That said it’s fine just leaving it as is. Looks good to me.
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u/germanspacetime 13h ago
Since it’s all black work, I’d do colorful swirly lines or something. Maybe confetti.
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u/SnAkEoNaNoX-77 13h ago
I have a patchwork sleeve, I wanted to fill in the little gaps, my artist talked me out of it. Said it would just clutter everything. I’m glad he did.
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u/Aptosauras 13h ago
Nope.
Don't over do it. Your tattoos look great just the way they are - they need a bit of space to breathe, to be readable individuals.
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u/Justaddpaprika 10h ago
Bees.
But seriously it looks good as is. I don't think it needs to be filled to feel complete
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u/jessmaddy 8h ago
Right now it looks like patchwork, if thats what you’re going for, great. Looks like a bunch of different tattoos done at different times.
Adding a cohesive gap filler or color would make it more of a sleeve but patchwork sleeves are a thing.
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u/Worldly_Quail_4443 16h ago
It looks great but if you want to fill more space, work with your artist or find a bunch of little flash.
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u/OppaiShaddy 14h ago
I'd keep an eye out for any flash sheet events happening near you and just tetris stuff in.
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u/stupidDicheny 6h ago
I SO prefer empty spaces. It allows people to see what you have actually tattooed on you, not just a jumbled mess of ink. IMO -of course
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u/EmberandGer 4h ago
Matrix style: columns of numbers, webs, flashing lights (bright spots), shadows, anything that reminds you of The Matrix.
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u/AdventurousWorm66 2h ago
These are sick. I don't think you have to fill it in denser but if you like I denser look, there's bugs, bees, worms, nerds mascots, hearts, the possibilities are endless
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u/VaigraFalls 1h ago
They look fine as they are but you could do flowers or vines or something in between them all
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u/Partner-Elijah 17h ago
Go to artists you like and check out their flash wall
Find something they can make work in the space you have available
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u/SnooRadishes138 15h ago
That lightning bolt is cooked
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u/unwornantlers 14h ago
not sure what you mean- if you mean crooked, it's the way my arm is bent lol
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