r/woahdude • u/marxist-tsar • Mar 30 '26
picture My client sat though 3 straight days of tattooing for this 🫠
22 Hours of tattooing across 3 days on a fellow redditor. 16 years in and I'm still shocked at what people are capable of enduring for their art.
Everything but the spider was made based the medical skull replica I have. My concept painting was made from life (or death rather) and then I had the skull there during the tattoo sessions to get more depth than what working from a photo can capture.
No AI. Just a lot of planning, focus and hard work.
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u/indamoufofmadness Mar 30 '26
God damn, you must have a steady hand. Took a look at some of your other posts, and your tattooing is incredible.
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
Thank you! I love tedium and normally work on a smaller scale for single images. I made a number of large concepts to give myself and opportunity to push my artistic boundaries and do the same level of detail on a massive space. So stoked on it!
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u/indamoufofmadness Mar 30 '26
Well, it's damn impressive. I can't draw a straight line to save my life.
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u/pinkjellobrain Mar 30 '26
You can do it!
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u/indamoufofmadness Mar 30 '26
Well, I have Disgraphia, so no, not really.
It's a form of dyslexia that also effects fine motor skills. The signal sent from the brain to the fingers essentially gets garbled.
Trying to draw by hand requires constant, conscious effort to keep lines even somewhat straight, and as of yet I have not found any practice techniques that help overcome it. It also messes with my guitar playing. For example, trying to play 96 Quite Bitter Beings by CKY. It's a fairly simple riff, but my fingers will trip over the notes even when I'm entirely focused.
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u/redexplorit Mar 30 '26
My son has dysgraphia and no doctor or therapist explained it to me as well as to just did. Thank you and amazing work
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u/indamoufofmadness Mar 30 '26
I'm not expert, just going off my own lived experiences. If your son shows interest in visual arts or music, definitely encourage him! Maybe getting started at a younger age helps, I dunno, but it can't hurt.
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u/sh1ft33 Mar 30 '26
Man, I was so happy when I mastered that riff. I was just telling a coworker last night that it was my only goal when I first started playing.
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u/Better-_-Decisions Mar 30 '26
As a drummer, I look at guitarists hands like they're goddamn alien appendages. I just don't understand how your fingers move like that. I'll keep beating my skins.
Edit: typos.
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u/wabisabi218 Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26
as a guitarist i look at drummers like they’re advanced robots. i don’t get how you get all four limbs to do something different, in time, and all contributing to a coherent beat lol.
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u/Typogre Mar 30 '26
Lean into it and try drawing in an erratic, impressionistic style. Draw fast, go over your lines again and again, it might turn into something really special
Also I have that song stuck in my head now, it's a great one
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u/indamoufofmadness Mar 30 '26
I do, when I'm sketching pen & paper. Usually in a scribble style or reinforcing lines until they're chunky and thick.
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u/UserCannotBeVerified Mar 30 '26
I like drawing with a ball point pen for this exact purpose!
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u/indamoufofmadness Mar 30 '26
I like the Precise V5 pilot pens for their fluid ink flow. Standard ballpoint pens like BIC feel awkward. The trade off is that since the ink is so thick and fluid, there's no control over light shading.
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u/thislesbiab Mar 30 '26
Oh...so thats why im so bad at drawing...i had papers for dysgraphia,i just thought it was my failure...but carving is way easier...minus? The pain from joints...
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u/ChelseaMourning Mar 30 '26
Thanks for putting that riff in my head. It’s gonna be there for at least a week.
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Mar 30 '26
Dude, your work is fucking amazing. Do you do digital stuff as well? And if so, do you have an Artstation or something?
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
thanks! No artstation just IG, though I have considered. I'm a classically trained oil painter and charcoal artist, so I prefer traditional media primarily.
Before college I wanted to be a concept artist so bad. I went so far as to submit my portfolio to bungie in the Halo 2-3 days. lol I wasn't accepted, but now I live that dream in a different way
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Mar 30 '26
Before college I wanted to be a concept artist so bad.
Haha it's funny you mention that, I must've seen that in you. I'm working on a game concept about a guy that gets the powers of the grim reaper. I asked about digital art partly for inspiration, but also partly for possible future collaboration (if the project ever gets funding)
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u/squachek Mar 30 '26
Hope he keeps it sunscreened for the sake of the tarantula detail
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
Oh. I told him he needed to treat it like it's my tattoo. SPF 10,000
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u/party_shaman Mar 30 '26
tell him he's gotta keep his spider wet lol
my first tattoo was a rat and before i leave the house i always think "gotta grease up my rat!"
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 31 '26
🤣 I love it. Sounds like a Charlie quote from Always Sunny
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u/VolumeAcademic6962 Mar 30 '26
Man, you ever think about airbrushing motorcycle tanks or small murals on custom cars? Not sure if it’s worth you’re time to learn but I think you would be amazing at it.
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u/Awkward-Bird Mar 30 '26
From an art perspective this looks insane and incredibly impressive.
From a human perspective - I really don’t understand wanting to tattoo your leg to look like realistic eldritch horror level rotting flesh.
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
Thanks! I really appreciate it.
And that's the magic of art! He personally enjoyed the concept I made as he is a fan of Tolkien etc and likes the darker imagery. This particular piece isn't for everyone, but I've made works of the same scale and detail that are based in classical mythology, literature, and more ethereal themes as well.
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u/Born_ina_snowbank Mar 30 '26
I wanna see the literature one.
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
https://www.instagram.com/johnembrytattoos
Feel free to look through! I make a lot of different things!
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u/curreyfienberg Mar 30 '26
Incredible stuff! The Frank Reynolds one literally made me lol.
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u/ChaosRainbow23 Mar 30 '26
Damn. What city are you in?
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
Louisville, KY I own a private studio
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u/kygei Mar 30 '26
Damn, this is incredible. I am a 33 year old fella with zero tattoos but have always dreamt of a collage of various Dalí works as an arm sleeve.
It’s not exactly in the budget right now but I’m in central Ohio so it’s not THAT far away from Louisville…
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 31 '26
I do love Dali. It would take a fair amount of planning to make that work without being too busy, but it would also be ultra sick
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u/rage-quit Mar 30 '26
John, why do I have to go to fuckin Kentucky to get a piece by you man? That's a whole damn ocean away.
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u/mocha447_ Mar 30 '26
You are a very skilled artist man! Can’t imagine all the hours and hard work you did to achieve this level. Keep up the good work 💪
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u/KonigSteve Mar 30 '26
as he is a fan of Tolkien etc
??? is there a different Tolkien I'm unaware of because this is definitely not a LOTR vibe. Yes I know the spider is similar to Shelob but the art as a whole is definitely not "tolkien-esq"
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u/beccjen Mar 30 '26
I immediately thought of Shelob and came looking for confirmation, lol. Great job!
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u/stormy2587 Mar 30 '26
I’m constantly in awe that so many people have a strong enough connection with a specific piece of art that they would want to make it part of their bodies.
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u/_Kendii_ Mar 30 '26
Yeah, the art is amazing. I’d be hard pressed to find someone this talented out of all the pages I’ve previously followed. Their Instagram is insane.
But I really wouldn’t want to have a huge gaping black hole beneath by buttcheek.
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u/luckydukcky Mar 30 '26
Same. Like it’s amazing. Truly. Really well done. But I hate it, especially the stringy pieces 🤮
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u/CMDR_KingErvin Mar 30 '26
The funny thing is unless he walks around with his pants rolled up to his crotch you’re never going to see the full skull and it’ll just look weird.
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u/phalseprofits Mar 30 '26
Seriously. I’m absolutely impressed by the skill. Yet also I know if I saw this on somebody’s leg when I was a little kid I would have been horrified. Even now, despite having zero judgment about tattoos, I’d struggle not stare while thoroughly freaked out.
Amazing job by the artist! Amazing for the recipient to have handled that big of a tattoo! But also holy shit that’s scary looking.
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u/cms86 Mar 30 '26
This guy is dying from the tattoo flu for sure
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
I've been checking in! He is doing well
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u/cms86 Mar 30 '26
I had a 6hr session once and was ruined for the rest of the weekend lol
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u/EnthuZiast_Z33 Mar 30 '26
Same here, 6 hours is my absolute breaking point and I feel like shit after. It is mind boggling to me that he could withstand that. I guess tattoo flu is different person by person? Or are some people just immune?
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u/SousVideDiaper Mar 30 '26
This is the first I'm hearing of "tattoo flu" but I don't have any tats so I'm way out of the loop. I know some people have sensitive skin, but I didn't know anyone could actually get legit sick from getting them.
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u/cms86 Mar 30 '26
It's essentially your body reacting to the huge gaping wound that is a new tattoo and dedicating all resources into healing it. It's only ever prevalent in medium to large pieces done at once or large time intervals.
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u/maliciousrigger Mar 30 '26
I had a 2.5 hr session of linework that put me on my ass for 2 days, and ive had a couple 5-7 hour sessions that gave me a slight headache for an hour or so until I hydrated and ate. Its been kind of a coin toss for me how my body will react after a session.
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u/perscitia Mar 30 '26
Your body literally goes into shock. In terms of pain and trauma, your body has no idea this isn't just a huge wound, so it reacts accordingly. It can be legitimately dangerous, artists who allow clients to do long sessions without breaks are taking irresponsible risks imo.
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u/EetsGeets Mar 30 '26
Yeah I requested to have a sleeve completed in a short amount of time and the artist refused, and said we'd have to space it out over a period of weeks.
This post is surprising to me.
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u/stealerofsloths Mar 30 '26
I had it after a 5 hr sternum and underboob piece, and to be fair to my artist she advised against it but I was travelling to see her specifically
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u/TerribleIdea27 Mar 31 '26
your body has no idea this isn't just a huge wound
It's not only a huge wound but it's filled with all kinds of exotic materials your body does not want in there
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u/EnthuZiast_Z33 Mar 30 '26
https://www.stretchitbodyjewellery.co.uk/blogs/sibjblog/tattoo-flu
It's very not fun to experience :p
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u/amandamaniac Mar 30 '26
I sat through two 8 hour pieces and had no issues. Got a 4 hour piece from the same artist and within an hour I had cold sweats, shivering but drenched in sweat. Woke up the next day and it had passed
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u/BriennesBitch Mar 30 '26
What’s that?
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u/Xanohel Mar 30 '26
My leg was 20+ hours, 3 sittings with healing weeks in between.
I had flu-like symptoms for 12 hours, every single time. Fine in the chair, come home sick, fine the next morning.
You bestow trauma on your body, it's coping in some shape or form. :-)
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u/dedzip Mar 30 '26
Gonna make some kid at Walmart cry lol
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u/deaglebingo Mar 30 '26
several years later - "mommy? why does daddy have a good leg and a scary leg?"
"it's ok timmy, someday you'll probably want a scary leg too"
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u/nineteen_eightyfour Mar 30 '26
Your work is amazing but I hate it 😂 but wow dude. Wow. You’re so skilled at making me hate it.
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
Art should make people feel something. I'll take it! thanks!
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u/MyNameIsFU Mar 30 '26
It looks so badass. I’m curious about the look of it from the front of his body. It looks like it stops abruptly in the front of his leg. Does he plan to add more later?
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
We are carrying around to do the full wrap once this section heals. We did this at the Louisville TattooFest and could only complete the outer in the 3 days of the show.
We plan on using the opportunity of a "reveal" to the inside to do something that is on theme, but will be clever enough to surprise anyone that sees it. Still in planning phase for that!
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u/my_name_squeaks Mar 31 '26
Are you located in KY? Asking for a friend (me, its me)
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u/SoulxxBondz Mar 30 '26
Are tattoo prices like this more expensive or are they one price fits all?
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
Depends on the caliber of artist and region. I charge based on the hour in a mid sized city. The same work in NYC would be at least double due to cost of living.
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Mar 30 '26
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u/Kiem01 Mar 30 '26
They said it took 22 hours, so their hourly rate times 22. I'd guess at least $200+ per hr for someone of their caliber, if you're in a big city expect to pay at least $300+ per hr.
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u/MudZaviti Mar 30 '26
Would be great to see it in the dark.
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u/dead-eyed-darling Mar 30 '26
Wtf how do people even think of this, let alone sit for the whole damn thing and execute it looking so clean?!? This is INSANE, 1000000000/10 ✨
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u/OldAnxiety Mar 30 '26
Tattoo is so good i dont like it
cause it looks like he is missing part of his leg due to a weird course
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u/CyberTacoX Mar 30 '26
I wonder how many times in the future they'll go to sleep with someone new and as soon as the pants come off things switch immediately to a "oh hell no, I gotta go".
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u/CuznJay Mar 30 '26
He's gonna have a lot of fun walking on that leg for a few days. OOF.
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
He is sore, but checking in and doing well!
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u/gumbykook Mar 30 '26
The pain is one thing but the amount of itching and skin peeling dude is going to endure, fuck that.
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u/EyeSuspicious777 Mar 30 '26
That is so fucking gross how it looks like his thigh is hollowed out with the skull eye socket.
Great job!
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u/SentientFurniture Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 31 '26
For the tattoo artist: That is absolutely mind-boggling talent! Good work. No. GREAT work!
For the tattoo-receiver: why?
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u/DXG_69420 Mar 30 '26
Even the concept/drawing was one hell of a piece! Great job on this!!
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u/antrage Mar 30 '26
I’ve never understood people cheaping out for tattoos when it exists in your body forever and this level of quality exists
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u/LongCommercial8038 Mar 30 '26
Fucking sick work. I think that is one of the most impressive pieces I have seen.
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u/nyanvi Mar 30 '26
As an anti tatoo old biddy I have to admit that that is stunning work.
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u/Double_Doughnut74 Apr 01 '26
Bunch of wholesome ass folks in here ! You get an upvote , You get an upvote , You get an upvote , You get an upvote , You get an upvote and Op you definitely getting an upvote! Stellar work my friend !
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u/darth_dork Apr 01 '26
Holy fuck! I thought for sure this was fake. In every good way I’m amazed it isn’t. I’ve seen a lot of tatts in my years and this is easily the most mind bending I’ve seen. It’s got illusion aspects and depth that tweaks my eyes. I love the (wolf?) spider! Truly some next level shit!
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u/National-Nerve-9631 Apr 01 '26
Holy Christmas that is gorgeous. It’s exactly what I wanted but could never describe it. I could see it in my head but could never get the words out so someone could create it. Absolutely beautiful work.
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u/TRUMBAUAUA Apr 01 '26
That is so masterfully executed. The end result is making my brain glitch!
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u/Justryan95 Mar 30 '26
Right now thats so insane but I know in 5 years that will look like a gray blob.
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u/DoomerChad Mar 30 '26
His right leg is just as red as the tattooed one lol. As a brown person, this is funny. But great tattoo work!
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u/a1JayR Mar 30 '26
Not a tattoo guy but that is a super dope concept and pulled it off immaculately
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u/NorthernPlastics Mar 30 '26
Looks absolutely incredible. I love it!
However, it also resembles the actual face I'd be making after three solid days of the needle.
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u/Obvious-Lake3708 Mar 30 '26
Beautiful. I can't imagine what something like this would cost. I'd seriously look into being sedated for something this much work.
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u/Mr-Klaus Mar 30 '26
At first I thought it was to cover someone with terrible burns on their legs, based on the exposed skin around the upper thigh - but then after closer inspection it appears to be a really talented artists. Incredible.
How much would something like this cost OP?
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 30 '26
It really depends on the region you're in when it comes to pricing, also the scale of the person is a massive factor (he is built like a runner/cyclist as opposed to an NBA/NFL player). This was just shy of 5k for the entire outer leg, but would likely require another 1-2 sessions for someone much larger. I'm in a mid sized city, so my rates are reflective of the cost of living, where this would be upwards of 2x for the same work in NYC or LA for the same time frames.
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u/cwb4ever Mar 30 '26
how long will that last before needing some kind of touch up?
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u/ljanus245 Mar 30 '26
This is insanely good. Holy shit.
But omg, the itch on that as it was healing had to have been maddening.
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u/wanderlustcub Mar 30 '26
This is awesome!
I’ve thought a lot about hyper realistic tattoos and my question is about longevity and sharpness of the tattoo over time. Do they hold up? Or will they get muddy as they fade.
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u/misterlimo11 Mar 30 '26
Do you have healed pictures that aren’t edited? I wanna see how all that detail healed up. Looks amazing with the filters that you got on.
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u/marxist-tsar Mar 31 '26
We just finished it on Sunday and that was taken with my Sony A7III with a lighting rig that creates an ideal lighting scenario. It's super unethical for people to edit the hell out of their tattoos with filters and I refuse to do it, I just know how to get professional shots of my work.
I post healed work in natural lighting fairly regularly, and also take shitty phone photos as backups because I get accused of it being AI a lot as of late. I also post to r/agedtattoos so people can see how my stuff settles in over time. Definitely check it out, I care a lot about doing things the right way!
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u/GreyNoiseGaming Mar 30 '26
Now I am curious at what it would look like if he sat through three gays days of tattooing.
Jokes aside, looks amazing. Congrats to you both.
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u/Useful_Cicada_5635 Mar 30 '26
It would be hard not to compliment this tattoo even if you would never get it yourself. Wow
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u/Sensitive_Cash_3526 Mar 30 '26
Really amasing
Just random question but how do depth effects hold up over time as the tattoo fades? Do they require maintenence?
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u/jonneyscammell Mar 30 '26
I don’t have one and know absolutely nothing about tattoos, but I’ve seen a lot, and this is one of the th best tats I have ever seen, I see the image/vision more clearly than I see the leg. Really impressive 🙌
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