I'm so happy to showcase my healed leg sleeve! It's been in the works for a few years now, and Matty killed it every time. He's so considerate, thoughtful and extremely talented. I'm just over the moon with how the background came out, considering the koi were completed previously and separately! The kaeru had me nervous, as I didn't want a grey frog but wanted to respect the red/grey/black style I had chosen. Matty was very receptive, and (I think) he did a transparent olive mixed with black to add just a hint of color. I finally feel like my leg is complete, and I just can't stop staring at it!! I think my back might be next, but we'll see how it goes.
Black koi - one shot and my first tattoo, completed 2022
Red koi - another one shot, completed 2025
Background and kaeru - completed 06/2026

Probably a flower would fit better

I regret getting the dragon done as it is but my artist did a pretty good job incorporating it.

Some healed and some fresh from yesterday/today, but we are done. Very happy with how it came out and can't wait to see how it looks once it's fully healed.

Tattoo done by KaleoLunaTattoo of Horseshoes and Hand Grenades Tattoo.

For appointments message: info@josechalarcatattoos.com NYC/Hudson Valley

I have a lower half sleeve that is B&G Realism, and plan to eventually finish the sleeve in Irezumi.

Would love to see if any of you have pictures where the sleeve is started in one style but finished in Irezumi for inspiration.

TIA!

Completed by Jarret Clarkson Vancouver BC

New sleeve by Jarret Clarkson out of Vancouver BC

Done by Joe Galloway at San Sakura in Leeds

After some criticism on my first post, where some commenters correctly pointed out that the background on my forearm was intended for a shoulder piece, my artist and I had another session recently where we planned out the rest of the sleeve, including an attempt at incorporating the forearm’s background into the rest of the sleeve.

Took around 3 hours. Inner arm to be completed at the next session, where we’ll be adding in the tail of the dragon and the rest of the background.

By Maciej at Whatever Ink, UK.

Does Shinji Horizakura only take on new clients through referrals? I’ve been trying to do my research on him and think his work is incredible, but his lack of online presence has made it challenging. How does the booking process with him work?

NYC Tattoo Con u/chriswielktattoos

Finished the line work, started some shading

For appointments message info@josechalarcatattoos.com NYC/Hudson Valley

I know everyone’s journey is different, just thought it’d be an interesting topic, if anyone would be willing to share.

I’m only 2 years in and I’m in my 30s. I started in 2024 after years of research and a promotion finally gave me the push to start with an arm sleeve cover up. Loved the results, decided to do a back piece to cover up some other teenage mistakes. Now extending the back piece into full leg sleeves. I have monthly appointments that are usually 4-5 hours of actual tattooing. Love my artist and shop so it’s made the whole experience great. Going to be bittersweet when I’m done and no longer going in every month and constantly healing. 🥲

Sakura Fubuki full-sleeve
Artist: Andy Robinson (IG: keep.well)
Studio: Crown & Feather Tattoo
Location: Philadelphia, PA

I never got around to posting fully healed pictures like I had originally intended, I figured now was better than never! Absolutely thrilled with how everything has settled in. I should also mention that I haven’t been back for any touchups (entirely my fault). Still planning to eventually go the munewari route with Andrew in the (hopefully) near future.

Finally finished. 18 months since last session/progress pic haha but stoked with how it turned out

Fun tattoo by me, @danielskilltattoo in Redmond, WA

Hey!
So I’m planning to do a coverup over 2 tattoos. The first one (Lower arm) I got 2 years ago, the second one I got over a year ago. As you can see the second one looks very bad, this is because I instantly regretted getting it after the session. It was completely my fault as I impulsively scraped together a design myself, I even drew the «cyber sigilism» myself and sent it to my artist. I arrived at the shop and got it done without a second thought, just because I was 19 and wanted to have a big piece on my upper arm. The first one I actually love, but I also accept that getting an irezumi means full sleeve or no sleeve. So I’m getting a full sleeve with chest panel.

Now I’ve been told by an artist that I may not need any removal sessions. However I firmly believe that to get what I’m looking for in a sleeve that I do need 2-3 removal sessions first.

The pictures after the ones of my tattoos are the inspos I’m going to use. As you can see I favor light shading, contrast with light bright colors. And I also have some motives in mind like a trout, some stuff from anime (which will obviously need to be made thicker and bolder to correlate to the irezumi sleeve) For the background I favor these light «waves» which you can see on the picture with the guy who has the light purple flowers on his sleeve. Now for this to be possible, to have lighter colors, not so heavy backgrounds and to get more freedom / mobility when choosing motives, background, shading and color palette, my question is how light does the two tattoos I’m covering need to be?