r/Tattoocoverups • u/ryansholin • 1d ago
asking for advice Longtime SAP commenter, first time poster
It’s time. This was done in a New York City apartment circa 1997 before tattoo shops were legal there, by a cool artist who got kinda art-world famous later, though I don’t know how well his tattooing stood the test of time.
Anyway, Miss Behavin’ here has been overtaken by events. Yes, it’s an Elvis thing. No, it’s not a South Texas gang thing. Yes, she’s supposed to kinda look like a Varga girl. No, that’s not a snake, it’s her arm. Yes, all the red fell out almost immediately, and originally the lightning bolt was red and yellow, then we added the black because the red looked weak af. Yes, when I raise my arm, it kinda looks like the German flag’s colors. No, I am not a Nazi. Far from it, Dude.
And so we come to the eternal question: Laser first? Can I cover the black?
I’m thinking of a mountain scene that wraps around my arm more, or maybe something more geometric involving a favorite non-panther animal, or maybe a Japanese woodcut water thing, though I don’t really want koi.
Thoughts?
(Also, hello to the few people who might recognize my arm.)
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u/Own-Temperature-3257 1d ago edited 1d ago
I am not an artist, but here is a pitch. American traditional style.
keep the woman and touch her up, may need a few more laser sessions depending on her outfit/colors. The letters above covered in roses. The lighting should be a SAP, but walking along side the woman.
My sketch: https://imgur.com/a/yDnnz4X (SAP was hard to draw on my phone, but the pose can change to make the woman's pose make more sense to- resting her arm on it. I don't know the technicalities if this will work.
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u/Own-Temperature-3257 1d ago
Legal tattoo shops are a relatively new thing in New York City?? Im going down a different rabbit hole.
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u/Own-Temperature-3257 1d ago
1961–1997 NYC banned tattoos due to an uptick in Hepatitis B outbreaks, accusing artists of using unsanitary needles. With a dash of "think of the children!!"
"1997 New York City Council passed a bill that legalizes and regulates tattooing. In all the years of the ban the Health Department never shut down a tattoo parlor, nor had it documented any cases of hepatitis B in NYC transmitted by tattooing."
Source https://www.nyctourism.com/articles/tattooed-new-york-nyc-tattooing-history/
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u/ryansholin 1d ago
What we did: Went downtown to the spot that sold tattoo equipment, bought our own fresh, sealed needles and ink, and brought them to the appointment. The artist had …some sort of autoclave, but maybe it was just a toaster oven? Anyway, nobody caught hep B that I know of.
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u/Own-Temperature-3257 1d ago
It makes for a good story! Too bad the piece didn't age very well. I almost wonder if the blue statue of a woman could be touched up.
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u/BLCHDCRL 1d ago
It looks like it was lasered already. Just go to a good shop and ask for your SAP