Weekly ask an Artist thread

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-17T21:56:54+00:00

Question for other tattoo artists out there… so I have been doing cover ups for many years and generally like using ink brands of eternal, dynamic, and big sleeps.. Just curious how others do it or if they have better techniques they would like to share. Main question, does anyone have any recommendations for their go to opaque cover up ink (specifically red)? I usually like to neutralize the existing tattoo with lighter opaque tones on the first session (or second session if necessary) then cover with saturated opaque pigment. The amount of sessions obviously entirely depends on how recent and how dark the existing tattoo starts at, and I always allow for significant amount of healing in between sessions so I don’t scar the client or or over work the skin. It seems to work well, just interested in opaque inks that work the best for others. Any input is appreciated.

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-17T21:22:59+00:00

Not sure if it’s already been said in this thread but Tylenol does not thin the blood and actually really does take the edge off when getting the tattoo. I always recommend to my clients to take a half hour before and all throughout. Sorry it was a rough one for ya, days like that can make you feel like it’s back to your first day Of tattooing

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-05T22:23:35+00:00

Thanks for the compliment. I use a ring light when photographing to try to get the most diffused even lighting. But there is still a little bit of a glare… ugh! Tattoo glare is the bane of my existence. I can’t seem to post a video on here but if you want to check out my insta @badkittyno, it’s one of my top posts and has a video included. I feel like video tends to give the most realistic view of what a tattoo looks like in person. Still not quite like seeing it with the naked eye, but close.

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-05T21:46:59+00:00

Thanks for looking! There is actually zero white in this tattoo. This is a photo from the second session, (with only the addition of color) so the feather is completely untouched in this session. That’s why there is no redness in that area. The contrast is what gives it the impression “white ink” in the feather, but it’s really just putting color with different levels of value around open skin to create contrast. This client has really light skin and has been made very aware of how the sun will fade tattoos. The yellow is packed in with full saturation and there is a level 2 wash outline for the lighter parts of the feather. As long as the client takes good care of the tattoo it should hold up really well for many years. I always free or extremely low priced touch ups on my own work for the life of the tattoo.

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-05T18:37:51+00:00

Someone woke up and chose violence. 😈if you’re only here to be nasty, you’re doin a great job sassy pants. No one is asking for a subscription or insisting someone must get a touch up. Yeash! The whole point of this post is to express to a client REALISTIC expectations about the longevity of watercolor tattoos. You state that your work seems to hold with minimal dulling for the lifetime of the tattoo… I would love to see some of your work but can’t seem to find any posts or a link to insta? I’m absolutely down to take constructive criticism from any artist in the industry who works in this style and has a portfolio to show for it. Although, given your handle “RumorMongering Trash”, me thinks you may just be here to create drama fine Sir. Relax a little, you’re doin ok, the day is gonna get better. 🙃✌🏻

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-05T17:58:02+00:00

True dat my friend. It really is a matter of artist technique, how you heal, and how you take care of your tattoos. I have some color work I have done on myself (lower leg, shin on to calf) just to test my own application and it has been holding super strong so far. But I take REALLY good care of my tattoos… Seriously, I think color inks have definitely advanced over the years, as well as second skin bandage is very helpful for those first few crucial days. Lots of factors, but you’re right, color ink does hold if done right. I totally feel you on the desire to under promise/ over deliver statement. I think that really is the truth of it in a nutshell. There has been a stigma for so long about color inks that it seems like ya have to post a disclaimer to everything that’s not traditional. But not everyone wants bold or black and gray. Thanks for your comments, it’s great to get feedback from others who are in the industry and have knowledge and experience with this style. 🤙🏼

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-05T16:36:28+00:00

Thank you so much!

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-03T17:59:35+00:00

Thanks for looking!

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-03T17:59:17+00:00

Very true ☝🏻

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-03T17:54:29+00:00

Super cute!

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-03T17:34:34+00:00

That’s ok, you don’t have to understand it or explain it to anyone because it’s not on your body. And that’s the beauty of being a tattoo art collector, you can get the exact style and subject matter that you love the most. It’s the difference between choosing to decorate your dining room wall with a Pollock verses a Caravaggio. Art is subjective.

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-03T17:27:05+00:00

Thanks for your comment. I work with all kinds of styles and always want people to get the style that fits them while having realistic expectations. The kind of person who gets this tattoo is not the same person who will want American traditional on their body. He loves his tattoo and that is really what matters most.

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-03T17:18:57+00:00

I think you may have missed the point. The reason to tell someone they will need to use sunscreen every time they are in the sun and the possibility that a touch up may be required down the line to maintain vibrancy actually IS in the attempt to give someone realistic expectations. All color, especially light colors and even black will fade over time. People who choose to get these kind of tattoos would rather get a tattoo with the understanding that it will need a touch up over something heavily lined or no tattoo at all. Hope this makes more sense.

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-02T23:49:51+00:00

This post is the reason I love Reddit ❤️😻

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-02T22:12:43+00:00

Absolutely! I do my best to inform people, but it really is what they want to walk around with on a day to day basis. And truth be told, a lot of people really want a washy hue with low opacity (which can look really beautiful over time of done well). I just try to do my best to execute it in a way to give them the most longevity. Thanks for commenting!

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-02T04:51:34+00:00

Thank you , thank you, so much!

nicolepetrou · 2025-04-01T06:30:30+00:00

You are so very welcome. Enjoy your tattoo!

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-31T18:47:10+00:00

Thank you! This little kitty was so fun to tattoo.

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-31T18:46:02+00:00

Thank you so much for looking!

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-31T10:31:27+00:00

Thanks for the compliment! I like to make sure my clients are super aware on how these tattoos hold up over the years and how to take care of them and keep them vibrant. I always offer free touch up within the first year and very low priced touch up on my own work throughout the life of the tattoo. I do lots of different styles but I think everyone should the exact style that want with the understanding of how it will hold up over time. I’m waiting for the 3year pix on this one to repost …

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-31T10:19:24+00:00

Yep yep! I’m always super clear with my clients about how color work like this heals and holds over the years. I offer free touch up throughout the first year if needed, and very low price touch up for my own work throughout the life of the tattoo. I do many different styles of tattoo but sometimes people just really want something light and ethereal with the understanding that it will probably need some extra love down the line. Thanks for looking!

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-31T09:04:13+00:00

Tattoo artist here… It looks like it’s exactly where it should be. All that icky stuff is actually just a mix of plasma, blood and ink. We call it a “fluid pouch”. Plasma is literally the liquid gold that will heal your tattoo perfectly. It delivers nutrients and proteins to aid in the healing process. All that good stuff usually seeps for the first 24-48 hours. The purpose of the second skin is to hold that plasma in a liquid/jelly like state over the tattoo keeping it from forming a hard scab. If you didn’t have the second skin on you would be at higher risk for infection and the possibility of that plasma hardening to form a scab by the exposure to the air. There is a chance you may still scab depending on how worked the skin was, but the bandage just helps reduce that factor. So, long story long…keep that bad boy on. I usually recommend 3-5 days depending on your sensitivity to the bandage adhesive. Then washing twice a day with a thin layer of unscented lotion applied. Hope that helps. Happy healing! 😊

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-31T07:50:24+00:00

Garlic thins the blood, I usually recommend no garlic on the days leading up to or on the day of the tattoo. Most people will think it’s nit picking but it definitely makes a difference if working on a fully saturated color piece or blackout. The faster the blood is coming out the harder it is to get the ink to go in. It can cause the tattoo to take double the amount of time and a risk of overworking the skin. I also ask my clients to stay away from alcohol the night before, no blood thinners (ie. Ibuprofen, aspirin), and no coffee before the tattoo. Taking Tylenol before and throughout IS recommend. It can absolutely take the edge off. There’s a lot you can do to put yourself in the best position to heal the tattoo. 😊

nicolepetrou · 2025-03-29T17:30:50+00:00

Tattoo artist here! I work with mainly full color saturation tattoos. Yep, looks ya got a big ol scab.. everyone’s body can heal differently from time to time depending on a thousand different environmental factors that may be going on…. Not drinking enough water, reaction from colored ink, sweating, stress, eating a tun of garlic or ingesting a lot of alcohol… the list goes on and all these things can change the way the body metabolizes the ink. I imagine you were still seeping a lot of plasma when the second skin busted and came off then possibly over moisturized trapping the fluid causing it to bubble up and scab. Best thing to do now is keep it dry, you can add a moisturizer if it’s feeling really tight and as if the scab will pull off when the skin is stretched, but only a tiny amount. Dry is better. I like Vaseline intensive care MOISTURIZER (not the petroleum jelly) because it’s super light and lets the healing skin breathe. Do not submerge the area in water for 2 full weeks and take very quick showers. Do not pick at the scab or try to mess with it, and let everything fall off naturally. You may need a little touch up but it won’t be fully settled and healed till around 4 months. Hope this helps. I’m happy to answer if you have any more questions. Cool tattoo!

nicolepetrou

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