Hey guys,

I was just wondering how long something like an intricate Tiger or Dragon (one thats maybe 8 inches long or so?) would take. It seems like tattoos like that are done in one session on Miami Ink, but of course the times are elapsed and edited, so I was just wondering how long something like that takes?

My only experience with tattoos is a four by 1 inch Marilyn Monroe Signature tat near my bum. And that took like, 15 minutes tops considering how easy and one color line work that it was.

It really depends on the complexity of the tattoo and the details and color.
My husband has an elaborate dragon half-sleeve on his right arm. It took a total of 8 hours to do (2 4-hour sittings). It also cost a pretty penny but worth all the time, money, and pain.

Like sunfox said..it's not really the size..but the complexity, the coloring. (A black and gray would take a little less time then a multi color, not because of less skin work but the extra time needed for color changes, set up, etc. Not much really..but time is time)

The number of sitting would be determined between you and the artist. My main artist, Monica, has a bad back and sometimes can only go for 3 hours, maybe 4. (Which works for me)
I have one though that we both agreed would take maybe six hours and we'd stick it out til done. It took about 5 and a half and we got through with some help from Jack Daniels and Purdue Frederick.

Wow. Ok. I was actually asking because I applied to be on MI, and I think I've been accepted. I'm just waiting on the quote. But the problem is, I'm from Los Angeles, so I would already have to fly there, and I couldn't do more than one sitting, since I'd probably only be there a couple days. Also, like I said, I hear about tattoos taking intense amounts of time, like the ones you guys talked about here...and I'n m a little intimidated. But thanks, you guys gave me some idea of how long it would take. :0)

Which artist did you request in your app?

Garver, baby! :0)

Yes I know Garver owns a shop in LA....but it seriously is easier to get an appointment with him through TLC at this point...he won't be back in LA til 2007 and it will probably be a several month wait after that.

Garver's speed is about average, maybe a little above. He could get quite a bit done in a few hours.

On a seperate note: Kat tatts like greased lightning. You would be shocked...

It does depend on how intricate the design is, but it depends a lot on how fast the artist is too. I have an 8" tiger on my back - the beginning of my back piece - done by an artist in Ohio whose been at it for 40 years. It took her two hours and it's an amazing job. I never saw anyone work so fast and do such a good job. I hardly had time to feel a thing. On the other hand, I've been going to a very good artist here in Virginia. I have an oval 6" x 2 1/2" multicolor tat on my arm that took her 8 hours. I have a six inch multicolor on my leg that took her 7 hours. She's very slow, but I like her work. Another artist I go to did a six inch portrait with some color in 3 1/2 hours.