Large Scale and Sleeve Tattoos
Tattoo Sleeves
Are you trying to get a full tattoo sleeve, or a patchwork tattoo sleeve? What style? Traditional patchwork sleeves are built by getting various smaller designs and then finishing with filler. Full sleeves, non-patchwork, are cohesive, flowing designs. This is the type of sleeve I prefer! Planned from the bottom up to compliment your body.
What's the process?
I prefer to plan full sleeves that flow in their entirety before tattooing any part of them… that is the best way to control the overall aesthetic of a tattoo sleeve.
The process for getting a tattoo sleeve or large tattoo with me is the same:
1.E-mail the Shop with your concept notes and concept references.
- Set a day to come for an in person consult
– Go over the design and ideas
– We take notes and photos
– Go over pricing estimates and art deposit costs
– Do paperwork and pay deposit
– Set appointment day for your Check-in Appointment and first tattoo session.
- At check-in appointment
– Go over any changes
– Size stencils for your first session
- Come for your first session, and set the next two appointments at the end of the session
– Following Sessions are set 3 to 4 weeks apart.
Important to Note:
I do not send designs through email or text.
Adjustments and changes are welcome; within reason. If you decide that you want to go in a completely different direction, that’s fine, we’ll just grab another deposit.
It takes about a year to complete a sleeve, but I have done them in as little as six months when finances and schedules align.
I do not guarantee that a sleeve will be completed by a specific date, because, these things take time, and I’m not interested in rushing.
How much does a sleeve cost?
Simple sleeves cost anywhere between $2000 and $3500.00.
More complicated sleeves can be $5000+
Deposits for sleeves are between 20% and 25% of the total estimated cost.
For a $2000 sleeve, the deposit is $400.00
For a $2500 sleeve, the deposit is $500.00
For a $3000 sleeve, the deposit is $500.00
Half day Sleeve Sessions are usually $500, while full day, or ( double sessions ) are $1000.00
A Note about Patchwork Sleeves
The idea behind patchwork sleeves is that you get smaller tattoos little by little. You start with similarly sized small to medium tattoos and fill your arm as time and money allows. Once you have all the larger tattoo space taken up, you start to do filler tattoos and filler, which in traditional patchwork sleeves is little stars or dots. “Patchwork” is a new term coined by the newer generation of tattoo artists, which explains the pay-as-you-get style sleeve. It’s the exact same way traditional tattoo sleeves have been built for decades.
A couple tips for building a patchwork tattoo sleeve:
- Decide on a color theme before you start getting tattooed, this keeps your sleeve looking consistent. For example, “red, black and grey”, “blue, orange and electric green”, or “pink, purple, teal”. You can pick any colors, but its good to have three main ones.
- Pick an overall theme, or two or three, then mix it up. Generally, three themes, like, your favorite comic book series, book series or tv shows, or your hobbies make excellent jumping off points. The reason I say limit it to three main themes as the max is because things get to be a little crazy when you go too far, and it’s harder to make the sleeve look coherent.
- Wait for things like stars and fillers till all the medium and large tattoos are complete. The reason is, when the filler dots or stars are done by different artists, they can age at differing rates, or have a difference in style, which ruins the overall look and feel of the sleeve. so leave the tiny stuff till last.
- You should keep the sizes of your patchwork balanced… you want to alternate large and small, so that everything stays aesthetically pleasing. You don’t want to have three big tattoos on one side, and a whole bunch of small tattoos on the other.
- I recommend sticking with one overall style, unless the point is to go crazy and get all the styles. Consistent style always looks best in the end.
The minimum deposit for a patchwork sleeve is $300.00 This pays for the artist to generate ideas for your tattoo sleeve. Typically, there will be multiple concepts for each idea, and you can pick and choose the best ones to be finalized for your sleeve.
Patchwork sleeves do not require a Check-in Appointment. At the time of your first session you can simply pick the design or designs you want to start with, and give notes on the ones that aren’t quite ready yet so that they can be ready at your next session.
Patchwork Style sleeves are a little less complicated when it comes to planning, but they take the same amount of drawing effort.
The cost for a patchwork sleeve session is by the piece or pieces that you’re getting done that day. So, you can pick and choose from the designs that were generated for you, and choose whichever ones you want to start with.