I'm finally starting the process for getting my 1/2 sleeve done. I made the appointment yesterday and told the guy at the desk roughly what I'm looking for. I'm going to make an appointment with the artist next week to discuss it personally with him to get the details worked out. I've got 3 hours scheduled on April 28th, I can't wait!! I'm getting it done in traditional Japanese style. Two koi with water and cherry blossoms. I'm a Pisces so that's why the 2 koi, I might try to work in something else on my inner bicep. I'll keep updating as the tattoo progresses.

congrats!

I talked with the artist the other week and he thinks that having 2 koi in a 1/2 sleeve will look crowded. And, when i finish the whole sleeve it will look like it is pieced together. Right now, I'm thinking I'll just get one koi and if I want the other one later I can always add it on the lower arm or as a chest plate. Does anyone else think it will look too congested as a 1/2 sleeve the way I originally mentioned? I trust his judgement as a tattoo artist, but don't want to compromise what I wanted too much. But I also want a great looking tattoo. Looking for any input...

Is that your pic posted as "gotyellowlabs"?

no it's not, i do like that one though.

nope that's my picture.

did you decide to stick with one koi?

kind of off the subject but i am going with the koi theme and will only have one koi on my rib cage (going to be farely large). I did see a pic with two koi that looked really good and was placed on the arm. I can email it to you to see what you think, and maybe take it to your artist to see what they think.

April 28th has passed so I'm afraid that I'm a bit late on this one. Is Shinji doing the tattoo? I'd definitely listen to him. Tattoo artists, who know what they're doing, are going to suggest something that looks best. Maybe choose another spot on your body that will accommodate what you really want. Good luck.

Well, here's what's been going on. I lost my job on April 5th. So, I needed the money for other things and had to cancel my appointment. It's been 2 months now, and i still haven't found a job. i've been living off unemployment, which doesn't lend to affording tattoos. i'll update once things get rolling again.

wow, i can't believe this post is still around. i had to do some real digging to even find it.

it's been almost 2 years since i initially started this process. a lot has changed in my life since then. i got married last january and we had a baby in october. it's life changing to say the least.

well, my wife decided to get our son's handprint and his name tattooed on her upper back between her shoulder blades. she went in last friday to do it and i thought i'd get something also. i decided on doing a frog and then having it worked into my eventual (now) 3/4 sleeve. the artist said it's much better to do everything at once to make sure everything works together nicely. he was very nice and had a good portfolio. he sounded excited to do what i wanted and told me to stop back in a few days to see a drawing. i went in on tuesday and he showed me what he had and i liked it. so, i made an appointment for last night to get started...finally!

so i went in, sat for like an hour while he revised his drawing and finally got going at about 8:00 last night. he didn't get everything finished up, but i'm really stoked on what i've got so far. it's only 1/2 sleeve length now, but that's going to be fixed soon enough.

i'm going back on tuesday night to finish the outline. so far there's the koi swimming upwards with a waterfall and some rocks at the top. it looks very nice! he'll be adding some of the wind bars, a frog which will represent my son, a lizard to represent my wife and he's going to put some maple leafs in instead of the usual cherry blossoms.

i can't wait to see what it will look like finished. and for anyone who is in a hurry to get a tattoo, this shows that patience does pay off. if i had gotten to do this when i originally planned, it wouldn't be the same and i'm much happpier with the current result. i believe things happen for a reason and am glad it took this long to get the ball rolling.

wow, it's pretty quiet around here. i suppose that will change when the show is back on.

i've had 3 sittings on my 3/4 sleeve so far and it looks awesome! the 2nd sitting i got the inner bicep area and down my arm to where the seam will be. there's more waves and rocks with 4 japanese maple leafs. i gotta say, the inner elbow area (the ditch as he called it) hurt like a mutha! i was back there on monday night and got the koi colored. it's black with the scales having red tips and a lot of red on it's head. i'm really liking how this is turning out.

i'm going back in 2 weeks for a 4 hour session to finish it. i'm so excited to get it finished after almost 2 years. it will actually be finished 5 days short of the 2 year anniversary of when i initially started this whole process.