I always enjoy seeing how other tattooers approach a cover up, what solution they find to the problem that has been posed. I believe being able to to do this successfully shows an in depth understanding of design and versatility in ones skill set. I have written a previous blog entry on my approach to cover ups here for any of you that may be interested.

As with all tattooing balance is key and once I had put the last of the black ink in to Alistair’s back and stepped away taking in the whole completed piece for the first time, I felt the reassuring confidence that comes with knowing you succeed in what you set out to do some time ago. Of course I had a vision in my head of what the end result would look like but to know for sure I must see it in the flesh.

Tattooing a full back is never going to be a quick one shot piece and it takes great dedication, determination and grit from the person lying on the table to not only get through each session but to keep the momentum of constantly booking the next one. I tip my hat to anyone who has been able to collect large scale work, it’s far easier on the mind and the body to fill up an arm/leg/back/torso with smaller tattoos where you constantly have the buzz of getting something new and will often not need to reach down to the bottom of your soul to survive the final 30 minutes of an 8 hour session.

I hope you enjoy seeing the journey of this tattoo from the rough sketching on the skin with an orange sharpie through to a mostly healed and hairy full blackwork backpiece. We managed to get this whole project done in 4 sessions and not because of the pace I work at but rather Alistair’s ability to sit, unwavering whilst I pushed ink in to his flesh.

Thank you Alistair for the opportunity to do this tattoo for you, it was truly my pleasure and I look forward to working with you again in the future. Tattoos like this are earned the hard way.

I’m now taking a long due family holiday where all of my focus to go the woman in my life and the little girl of my life. Enjoy your day as you’ll only get this one once.

H