A large percentage of my clients are wanting a tattoo to either cover a scar or an old tattoo. This kind of work is especially tricky, and require some extra consideration in design and application of the tattoo.
Here are 6 basic tips for making that cover up into a great piece of art:
- approach the design from a positive- what is the art you want to see, don’t focus on what is already, what you don’t like. The new art should be something you really like for itself, not just because it covers the old.
- look at lots of designs and collect several different ideas so, together with your artist, you can find the best design idea to cover your tattoo or scar.
- generally, art with variation in color and art with light and shadow work well for covering as they are better at camouflaging the tattoo or scar underneath. Designs with negative space (skin showing) like tribal, script, celtic, etc, don’t work as well as images with more fill.
- choose your artist carefully, s/he should do work you like as well as doing good covers. Look at photos of coverup work, you want covers tattoos not to look like cover tattoos
- be willing to have some of the tattoo or scar show a bit through the new art if it a design you really like
- take your time- you’ve got something you don’t want already, make sure your next tattoo stands on its own as great art that you love.
Good luck and take your time to get the best art for a great tattoo, not just a great cover.
