| Tattoo sleeves are very popular and now more | | | | common quarter sleeve tattoo designs that you |
| and more people are going to their local tattoo | | | | see or flames that go around the wrist and then |
| shop to get sleeved. However, they can be a big | | | | come up the arm to the elbow for example. |
| undertaking and a big commitment. It should be | | | | The Design? |
| planned for carefully so the person ends up with | | | | Once you have nailed down the size the next |
| the design they always dreamed of and now just | | | | issue that comes up is the design. Often people |
| something thrown together in bits and pieces. | | | | start with some ideas of what they want. Be it a |
| What Size Do You Want? | | | | tribal design, traditional Japanese design such as a |
| One of the first things to consider is to really nail | | | | koi fish or whatever it might be. Once you have |
| down the size of the design. That's right there are | | | | the rough ideas of what you wan tto get then it |
| a variety of sizes that a sleeve tattoo can be. | | | | is just a matter of collecting some resource |
| Most typically when a person says sleeve tattoo | | | | materials. You can find these easily in tattoo |
| it brings images of a full sleeve design. However, | | | | magazine, online or in real life. Often the tattoo |
| there are other sizes and the size should be | | | | shop will have a ton of flash to gather ideas from |
| chosen carefully. | | | | also. However, if you want to come in prepared |
| Full Sleeve - As mentioned above this is the | | | | then it is easy to do your research on the |
| classic sleeve tattoo that everyone thinks of. It | | | | internet. Find pictures of other people's tattoos |
| spans from the wrist just a little above where a | | | | and also designs online that can be combined, |
| man's dress shirt would fall or above your watch | | | | mixed and matched to make a unique design. |
| area. Then it goes up the arm to the shoulder and | | | | The Artist |
| stops there. It most typically stops right where | | | | The last piece of the puzzle is finding a great |
| the hem in a t-shirt is that connect the sleeve to | | | | tattoo artist and someone that will work with you |
| the rest of the shirt. However, in some designs | | | | on your project. You want to explain exactly |
| people go past this into a shoulder or chest | | | | what you are looking for and show your resource |
| tattoo. This is especially popular with something | | | | samples of designs that you have already found |
| like a dragon coming up the sleeve and onto the | | | | that you would like to incorporate. You are not in |
| chest. | | | | any way locked down to the designs but if you |
| Half Sleeve - A half sleeve tattoo typically goes | | | | give the artist some examples to work from it |
| from the shoulder down to the elbow area and | | | | makes their job or figuring out what you want |
| wraps all the way around of course like a full | | | | much easier. Be open to suggestions but consider |
| sleeve. The only difference is it stops earlier. The | | | | them carefully also it is your tattoo so take time |
| over space is smaller and so the design is a little | | | | to think about it and don't be indecisive. Figure out |
| bit easier to complete and often costs less. | | | | what you want and clearly express this to your |
| Quarter Sleeve - This is sometimes confused or | | | | artist. Most tattoo artists take pride in their work |
| spoken of in different ways. However, it is most | | | | and want the customer to be happy with their |
| commonly referred to a quarter sleeve when you | | | | design. After all it is like a big advertising sign to |
| tattoo the areas from the elbow down to the | | | | wear a tattoo. If you had a good experience you |
| wrist or from the wrist up to the elbows | | | | will tell everyone who did the artwork and tattoo. |
| depending on how you look at it. One of the most | | | | |