Mumsnet, what do you think of this tattoo?

[treeinthedistance]

Hi,
I got this tattoo done on my left inner calf last year and ever since I've not been too sure if I like it. Not sure why I approved the stencil really - all I can say is I wasn't in the best place at the time and maybe not thinking very clearly.

Anyway, it's done now and I just wanted to see what others thinks of this, and does anyone have any ideas on what I could add/change to improve it? I don't want to get it removed, I'm just wondering if a good artist could make it better.

(Excuse the hairs lol)

But too clean for me… some shading would make it better I think

I like it. Maybe a little more white in the snakes scales and slight definition on the leaves?

OMG just realised you’ve done it already!!

it is gorgeous by all means! Just perhaps in the future you might want to add some shading just for more natural look but I’m just a view .. 😶

It’s a well done, strong tattoo.
Just a bit one colour/dark. A tattoo artist may be able to add some white highlights to brighten it, or add some more colourful flowers around it?

It's okay. The snake is a bit dark.

I like it. It’s strong and confident looking.

Snake is cute

The tat is fine...but how the hell did you take such a good photo are you a contortionist?

I'm not a fan of tattoos, but this looks like a skilfully done one; I would leave it as is it rather than spoil the clean lines.

I really like it

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Interesting that a couple of people have said the snake is too dark, as that's one of my issues with it - it came out much darker than I thought it would, and this was something that I couldn't tell from the stencil beforehand. I think I'm going to look in to adding something either to lighten it up a bit or just take away the feeling of overall darkness. I don't hate this tat by any means, I just don't love it, and I really want to.

@pursudebyablackdog I photographed my leg from above and flipped the picture 😁

No, I don't like large leg tattoos though so it was a non starter for me. I don't hate it - I wouldn't think twice if I saw it but now I've looked because you've asked it's a bit weird that the snake only curls round the stem once (at the bottom) and that would annoy me so I would probably see if that could be fixed!

I think it need more tonal qualities and a bit more detail. So some slight darker contrast in the rose - just for definition to make it pop more and if it's possible, some white/light, highlights in the snake's scales to give it definition. Oh and a few veins in the leaves and perhaps a tiny bit of tonal shading there too.

I like it.

I like the snake. I think though that it looks like the snake and the flower were done by 2 different people and were 2 separate tattoos done over eachother. It doesn't exactly look to me like it belongs together if that makes any sense.

I am jealous though I've been desperate for another tattoo for years I just haven't gotten round to it

Its not my style but I think its well executed

The line work is well done, better than some of mine. Personally I think the snake is too dark and I would probably have had it done in a colour or two. Might be a bit late for that now, but maybe some white could be added. Probably needs some shading too. But I think the quality of the actual work that has been done is very good.

Thank you everyone - your comments are much appreciated and I'm taking everything in to consideration.
@Whatwouldscullydo I had a 13 year gap between my first and second tattoos, so I know what you mean! (this one in the thread is my third)

My personal opinion aesthetically as I'm by no means any kind of expert, is its a nice, well done tattoo but seems a little flat.

Adding some colour could add some dimension and movement to it.

A bit like these:

Roses and snakes aren’t very original is what I think. Sorry if that’s rude. I assume you’re steeled for negative feedback, hence asking on a public forum.

Fwiw OP, I prefer your tattoo to these. It looks cleaner. (Sorry it those are yours FlamingPinkFlamingo but I'm assuming you've googled them rather than happening to have 2 snake/rose tats yourself)

No, not offended at all. They're not myeither taste but I was googling for examples of snakes with a bit of iridescence to try to show how it reduces the density if the op snake.

Thank you everyone - it seems I could benefit from going to a good artist and getting a few adjustments made. I wasn't exactly going for a photo realistic snake but it just came out so different to what I thought I had asked the artist for. Many thanks for all the feedback, it's really helpful.

A bit of green in the snake would make it sexier IMO. Just black is a bit boring/safe/generic.

Thank you. I was going for a contrast between black and the colour of the flowers, but the snake came out much darker/blacker than I thought it would!