Time to time as a tattooist, you got bumped with people who has made decisions which they regret. One of the regular customers dropped in and showed me an old tattoo of hers. Tattoo itself was not the problem, she was okay with it, but the place was not good for her. Tattoo was not centered well.

Solution was not simple as normal coverups. Normally you just take care of the old picture and replace it with the one, of course it needs lots of planning with the shades and stuff, but it’s way more simpler. This one had few things which would not to be covered… And that’s what makes it so difficult.

Center had to be removed and upper stuff needed to be left alone. hard case, but after the “brainstorm” this came up.

There is still few things to add, but mainly it looks good. Main bird centers the back and ink stains takes care of the rest. future sessions might be few feathers and more ink stains, depending how much of the old one needed to be left alone… For sure the heart and others will not go e touched, we’ll see.

I used 14round liner (hollow point) needle mostly for this picture, there was so much those heavy lines and old tattoo was made little bit too deep I think. Few areas were still swollen after all these years. Hollow needle is great for making different shade work like ink stains or blood spills. Hollow point needle stack also gives you little bit lighter lines.

7round liner had to be used on those tight spots and that’s it. Great session, loved to do it.. I learned so many things at the process.

Another one who came to see me, had old small dolphin on his hand.

Pretty basic story: “Get shitfaced, have a tattoo, dance all night..”

Anyway, his son draw a beautiful Father’s Day card and there was a heart and a poem. We did the heart straight from the card and see it as a coverup. Afterwards, must say…: “I don’t even remember where the dolphin were at the first place, it’s gone now and daddy’s heart came out as beautiful as ever..

Surprisingly hard todo tattoo from the drawing where all them lines and pretty much everything is misplaced… fun piece still to make.

I used 9round shader and 7round liner in this coverup. This spectacular piece looks as in the drawing and it’s so cute. Call me old fashioned, but my heart melts every time when I see tattoos which are converted from the drawings of the loved ones.

Yours. “Cover-up lover” Jay