Finding the ideal location for your realism tattoo takes thought, planning, and patience. Because realism requires extreme detail and space, ensuring your placement matches your needs remains essential to long-lasting beauty without sacrificing the minute details. You’ve put a lot of thought into the piece, and providing enough space for your detailed tattoos allows the work of art to shine on your skin.
The professionals at Beauty and Ink provide some insight into tattoo placement and can help you determine where on your body you want your next beautiful piece. Keep reading to learn more.
About Realism Tattoos
Realism stems from the art movement in the 1850s and involves 3D, detailed tattoos filled with color, shading, and life-like illustrations. They’re breathtaking, and you should request the help of exceptional, highly trained tattoo artists to guarantee satisfactory results.
This illustrative tattoo style requires space for the layering and details to shine through adequately. Ideally, your new tattoo will jump off your skin and appear realistic throughout your lifetime. Some options for realism tattoos are as follows:
- Portraits
- Natural landscapes
- Paintings
- Architecture
It doesn’t stop at real life, however. A common form of realism tattoos comes from works of fiction, gothic pieces, and fantasy. Consider hyper-realistic dragons, fairies, or horror. Whatever your goals, realism tattoos provide a way to create the ideal vision on your skin.
The two main types of realism tattoos are gray-scale and color realism. Black and gray appear similar to a black and white photo, focusing on shading. Colors add complexity to a piece and usually require multiple layers for the desired effect. In the following, we explain what you must consider before placing your tattoo for optimal results and long-lasting beauty.
How Visible Do You Want Your Tattoo to Be?
Not everyone wants their tattoos visible all the time. Some have deeply personal meanings for only the owner, and their outward visibility matters less. However, with color realism, you may want to show off your piece with its placement.
Consider your professional goals, the appropriateness of the piece, and its meaning before deciding on its placement. If a tattoo means less to you, you may not want to see it regularly and can put it on a less obvious portion of your body.
How Will the Design Look on a Specific Body Part?
Realism tattoos require space, and placing a tattoo filled with small details and lots of colors on a small piece of skin may not have the same effect. For example, your ankle, wrist, or behind the ear may not be an appropriate location for a life-like portrait. The smaller area may smush the final image, and the details may not show as clearly.
Large, flat sections of skin work well with realism. Some examples of preferred places are as follows:
- Thighs
- Back
- Shoulders
- Upper arms
These areas have room for the tattoo artist to work and help the details shine through for longer. However, smaller realism tattoos, such as flowers, work well with small areas of skin. Determine the size of the piece, and if you’re unsure, you can always ask your tattoo artist’s professional opinion.
Consider your body build when considering tattoo placement. A full, detailed tattoo may look better on your side or thighs if you have small arms.
How Do the New Tattoos Relate to Current or Future Pieces?
Is this your first tattoo or your 20th? Are you planning on creating a sleeve, or is this your only designed piece? Consider your other tattoos’ placements before selecting an area for your realism tattoo. If you’re balancing out a previous tattoo, you may choose a section on the opposite side of the original.
While you don’t have to have a master plan for your tattoos, give it some thought so you create a final look you’ll be happy with. Your artist can help you make the piece look planned and provide professional guidance for the most beautiful appearance. However, it’s your vision, so if you have a plan or a goal in mind, go with it.
Whatever your goals, we’re with you!
Your Tolerance
The location you pick for your realism tattoo will determine the level of pain. Realism tattoos require extensive time, shading, and detail. If you have a hard time experiencing pain for long periods, you should consider placing the tattoo on your thigh, upper arm, or back.
If pain is not a significant concern for you, you can put your piece on your ribs, ankle, or wrist. Just remember that you’ll be in the chair for a good length of time, and always speak to your professional beforehand if you have concerns.
Get Your Realism Tattoo in San Diego
Realism tattoos offer depth, personalization, and beauty to the owner. They take extreme planning, time, and attention to detail. Always research your artist before selecting one, as finding an artist that provides high-quality work proves essential to getting the tattoo of your dreams.
Because of the depth of detail, you must find an artist capable of providing the style you want; not all artists have the same level of skill and experience. Search through an artist’s portfolio to see if they can meet your expectations.
If you’re looking for an artist for your next realism tattoo, call the professionals Beauty and Ink at (619) 951-9916 in San Diego, CA, today!
