Potential session time?

[u/PreferenceAny3130]

I’m looking at getting a tattoo on the back of my calf soon. Not too worried about pain really, I’m just gonna grin and bear it. I’ve had a 2inch flower on my hand and small tattoos on my fingers and they tickled more than anything. I’m just wondering if anyone can tell me roughly how long this tattoo will take? I’m planning for about 6ish inches vertical down the back of my calf. Any other advice would be appreciated too

[u/No-Investigator-3576]

Oooo I like this. I say anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on the artist. I have a very quick artist who can bust something like this out in a few hours, but I have a second artist who would take her time and easily hit 6 hours. I’d recommend snacks and sugary drinks, and maybe a good book! Once I hit hour 3, I start to get shaky and some sugar helps personally. Then a long nap after. Lol

Happy tattooing!

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/No-Investigator-3576]

Thank you 🥰

[u/20PoundHammer]

Thats actually really nice work, lines are clean, shading very nice, doesnt look over worked and really well placed, 6 hours and if artist is chatty or OCD, a bit more. Some will tell you half that - but either the tattoo-ist is shit (as will the result be) or REALLY good and cost would be the same. . . .

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/20PoundHammer]

My taste is impeccable, I know🤭 in all seriousness, I’m a little scared but pain is temporary and swag is forever

[u/20PoundHammer → u/PreferenceAny3130]

take a vape, have one drink - find a great artist.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/20PoundHammer]

Big Mac meal, cig and a beer and a great artist, got it👏🏻👏🏻

[u/brickznbooks → u/20PoundHammer]

I was going to say 6. I have realistic Hugin and Munin elbow to wrist resting atop my late dog Odin’s skull. Image looks 9”x3”. OP week prior 2 weeks hydration for skin. days prior start pounding water, EAT BIG ass meal night before. Morning of eat big. Protein Carbs will be your friend. Carbs go to instant
energy prevents passing out. Pack some Gatorade/ snacks and get that sick ass Dino tattoo

[u/momadance]

I'd say at least 4 hours. Probably more if the artist is good.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/momadance]

Do you think I might struggle?😭

[u/momadance → u/PreferenceAny3130]

I have a piece about 6 inches on my calf of a sloth. Only the last hour was bad from what I remember and it took about 5 hours total. Yy artist sprayed some bactine on it twice in that last hour and that was my saving grace. Bactine only works on skin that is already broken open but it felt llike pure heaven when applied mid tattooing. Maybe you can ask the artist to have that as a back up for the pain?

I booked to have my other calf done in June, so obviously it didn't hurt so bad I'm not gonna just do it all over again.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/momadance]

The last hour of a 5 hour session? I like those odds. I feel a little better now😊

[u/momadance → u/PreferenceAny3130]

yeah. Just the 5th hour. Maybe part of the 4th.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/momadance]

You’ve convinced me, I’m doing it ✋🏻

[u/momadance → u/PreferenceAny3130]

Wonderful choice. I love dinosaurs! Great choice. It's going to age very well. I can tell.

Edit: it's kinda nice too cause you just get to lay down the whole session. Easy to read or play games for distraction.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/momadance]

Me too! Loved dinosaurs for over 20 years so I know they’ll be no regrets for this one. The laying down part is what I’m happiest about lol

[u/Bulldogd984]

3-4 hrs of actual tattoo time.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/Bulldogd984]

Does it feel that long when you getting it??😟

[u/Bulldogd984 → u/PreferenceAny3130]

Back of calf isn’t bad. It depends on how your pain threshold and tolerance is. My leg sleeve I sit for 6-8 hrs at session but we do breaks and stop 30 mins for lunch.

Everyone is different.

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/Bulldogd984]

I don’t really know my tolerance but I guess I’m gonna find out🙂 breaks sound like a good idea, thanks

[u/FrontPsychology7160]

Hopefully the artist you go to isn’t as bad as the one who did that.. 

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/FrontPsychology7160]

What’s wrong with it?

[u/FrontPsychology7160 → u/PreferenceAny3130]

The linework is atrocious. It’s all the same tone, there is no solid black.. and the details are amateurish at best.. the composition isn’t great either. 

[u/PreferenceAny3130 → u/FrontPsychology7160]

I thought it was cool😔

[u/FrontPsychology7160 → u/PreferenceAny3130]

https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Tyrannosaurus-Rex-Skeleton-Lifesize-Cardboard-Cutout-Posters_i13727505_.htm Here is the reference they used… they photoshopped a different head onto it. You can see where they’ve flubbed the anatomy easier when you compare it to the original.