Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Tattoos

Thinking about a tattoo or piercing? Find inspiration and advice on our Tattoo forum.

Original poster

Is the tattoo really that bad?

260 replies

Unsuretattoo · 30/06/2022 13:05

Got my first tattoo a few months back and was really pleased with it. Just posted it on reddit (first mistake I know) and everyone's saying it's awful

Is the tattoo really that bad?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
knittingaddict · 30/06/2022 15:52

My husband is an artist and daughter is an illustrator, so I may not know my tattoos, but I know bad artwork when I see it.

lokabrenna · 30/06/2022 15:52

I like tattoos and have a few. I’m sorry to say this tattoo is bad. The design is poorly laid out, lighting is wrong, lines are poor, shading bad and colour patchy.

Something this big with a good tattooist the wait would be 6 months at least and it should be over £500.

I would get someone good to sort it out.

TheAverageUser · 30/06/2022 15:53

PoseyFlump · 30/06/2022 15:08

That's good advice @TheAverageUser so, find an artist first rather than a design. Is it silly to assume that if I find a local artist (whose style I like) who is the most expensive that they are likely to be of a high standard?

They probably correlate but might not! What I liked about my guy was he was an artist as well as a tattoo artist and the style he did was so like what I wanted.

wallpoppy · 30/06/2022 15:54

WiddlinDiddlin · 30/06/2022 15:18

Egad - they're really really not. Below average and that is being generous.

This is incredible (tattoo by Sandy Riffard, pinched off the interwebs by me)

Show quote history

@WiddlinDiddlin that is not a remotely realistic depiction of what that tattoo will look like in real life. That photo is when it's brand new, hasn't healed yet, and the picture is probably fiddled with to make the colours pop more. It's a fine tattoo especially compared to the one this thread is about, but you cannot judge the actual quality of a tattoo unless it's a few months old and you either see it in person or have some kind of guarantee it hasn't been photoshopped.

Notbeinfunnehbut · 30/06/2022 15:54

A suggestion is to look at a way of covering it , try and look around for a good artist

KilledByWitches · 30/06/2022 15:57

OP, if you're still reading, don't lose hope, that can be improved to an extent. Find yourself a decent artist, lots of research. Instagram is a good place to look. Book an appointment and see if they can work on it. I've seen many a tattoo transformed into something great with a fresh eye.

As for the ones coming on to the Tattoo section of the forums to tell us all you don't like tatts, well done you. Give yourselves a pat on the back. Assume you'll fuck off back to AIBU now you've finished kicking her?

Provenceinthesummer · 30/06/2022 15:58

I can’t stand tattoos sorry.
does it have meaning to you op?

oakleaffy · 30/06/2022 16:01

gabagoulghost · 30/06/2022 13:11

I'm going to be completely honest op.

If you want to have it developed into a full sleeve in this style, then I would find a different better artist that does colour realism style, and that would be able to rework this into a sleeve.

The artist that did this is not very good. Some of the lines are not very clean, and the shading looks patchy.

The snake/skull is an acquired taste, that's fine, but it could be done much better. A good artist could also tidy up the lines and shading that you've already had done.

@Unsuretattoo
I have zero tattoos, but know plenty of people with them.
Id agree with person above, you need a better tattoo Artist to tidy up the issues raised- ( patchy colour and unsure lines.
Good luck.

Provenceinthesummer · 30/06/2022 16:01

I have looked at it again and I’d be pretty devastated to have that on my arm. You can have it lasered so not all hope is lost. I would ask for a refund and pay to have it removed or sue them.

Sallypally0 · 30/06/2022 16:02

I do not get it. A purple newt some water and a skull? What is the theme?

Inthesameboatatmo · 30/06/2022 16:04

It's not my style but that doesn't matter. Of you like it that's all that counts isn't. I've got 6 tattoos and I don't give a shit if people like them or not. But back to your tattoo. It is very colourful with no sharp lines or proper definitions. That might be the thing people are saying. It does also look cheap op sorry to say but you've asked for opinions. If I were you I would have more black put into it and not much more colour if you go for a sleeve.

Squareflair · 30/06/2022 16:05

The most important thing is whether you are happy with it or not- it seems you are so that's good. Personally I don't think the artistry is as good as it could be, the shading and style doesn't seem to quite work- you could have it enhanced if you wanted.

PoseyFlump · 30/06/2022 16:06

Oh yes @wellhelloitsme I love those! Good shout. Single line drawings I'll research Smile

DaphneSprucesPippasClack · 30/06/2022 16:06

It's just not particularly well done. Really always go on personal recommendation ONLY for tattoos.

fuckboris · 30/06/2022 16:06

The Pokémon snake / dinosaur is so bad. Sorry OP, it's really not great.

Invisibella · 30/06/2022 16:09

Yes, it is that bad. The colours are off, it’s very badly done and you can’t even see what it is supposed to be really.

But it’s there now for the rest of your life, so as long as you like it who cares.

RedToothBrush · 30/06/2022 16:10

Its a snake?

I thought it was a dinosaur.

Everyone will always ask you about the dinosaur.

fromdownwest · 30/06/2022 16:10

I don't get the theme sorry, or how the are interlinked? Personal reasons?

SKull + water like wave / electric + Snake / amphibian / Dinosaur

Odd combos, and not well executed sorry.

Eeksteek · 30/06/2022 16:11

Your body, your business. (I‘m not the right person to ask, as I think virtually all tattoos are awful, but since you have genuinely asked for artistic feedback I can honestly say that yours doesn’t stand out as particularly bad to me)

reature · 30/06/2022 16:11

The style is purely a matter of personal taste but I would say the artist that did this was inexperienced or lacks skill. It won't be noticeable once you have a full sleeve added but choose a different artist for the rest

savemeagin · 30/06/2022 16:11

I'm sorry but I think it's awful, but that's just my opinion. What matters is you like it.

PoseyFlump · 30/06/2022 16:11

Thanks @TheAverageUser I've got some really good starting points now for my tattoo quest!

reature · 30/06/2022 16:12

However OP, it's totally balls out for a first tattoo so good on you x

youcantparktheresir · 30/06/2022 16:14

gabagoulghost · 30/06/2022 13:11

I'm going to be completely honest op.

If you want to have it developed into a full sleeve in this style, then I would find a different better artist that does colour realism style, and that would be able to rework this into a sleeve.

The artist that did this is not very good. Some of the lines are not very clean, and the shading looks patchy.

The snake/skull is an acquired taste, that's fine, but it could be done much better. A good artist could also tidy up the lines and shading that you've already had done.

Completely agree with this.

Sorry OP, but all that matters is that you love it. If not, find an amazing artist that can look to improve it so you love it. The colours are a bit unrealistic and seem a bit too cartoony and contrasted and don't really suit your pale complexion.

But don't take these replies to heart OP. The only person who matters is you.

lightisnotwhite · 30/06/2022 16:17

MolliciousIntent · 30/06/2022 13:12

If we're being totally honest, it just looks a bit cheap. The art isn't particularly sophisticated, there isn't any obvious theme, and it doesn't appear particularly well done.

Also as PP said, full-colour work is quite old-fashioned now and tends to age badly.

Really? Most people with tattoos look a bit of a mess as they tend to be done at different times by different people.

At least this one has a bit of colour and doesn’t look like someone’s taken a biro to themselves.