My First on real skin (my leg)

**keyamon** · 8th May 2008

ok this is my first go on human skin and it's on my calf.
this pic is about 13 hours after I did it and it's on my bed because I'm just going to bed. (thought I best explain before I get flamed for a fresh tat on bed sheets)

I was shaking like a shitting dog and by the end was dripping with sweat, felt a little dizzy too, but then I hadn't eaten yet and it was lunch time hehe..

Anyway, the bottom right hand line was my first and you can tell, I was shaking a lot. lol. I knew a star was a hard thing to start with and it's quite a big one, but I wanted it as the first part of a bigger design I want.
I was pleased the lines went down in one pass even if there were a couple of shaky bits.
The fill is a little patchy, but I'd already gone over some bits twice and I didn't want to over work it, so decided I'd leave it, let it heal and come back to it later.

I know it's far from perfect, but as far as I can see there's nothing that can't be cleaned up and I'm happy I've got over that initial barrier and already looking forward to doing another on my self

**crashtestmac** · 8th May 2008

I don't think that i can reach my calf never mind tatoo it.

Mad bastard...!!

Good effort though i have to say..

**Spennyboy** · 8th May 2008

Looks much better than i was expecting after reading your post first

Well done .

**gunner** · 8th May 2008

Very crisp, looks good.

**keyamon** · 8th May 2008

thanks guys..
I know it's not perfect but I'm happy with my start and think the next will be better.

I'll see how it heals and then I plan on doing another a bit smaller below it.
will see how that heals then I'm going to fill the first with simple waves and the second with a wind swearl to represent the 2 elements I love the most in my outdoor sports.

Originally Posted by Spennyboy

Looks much better than i was expecting after reading your post first

Well done .

lol they weren't that bad were they.

**diablos** · 8th May 2008

Originally Posted by keyamon

ok this is my first go on human skin and it's on my calf.
this pic is about 13 hours after I did it and it's on my bed because I'm just going to bed. (thought I best explain before I get flamed for a fresh tat on bed sheets)

I was shaking like a shitting dog and by the end was dripping with sweat, felt a little dizzy too, but then I hadn't eaten yet and it was lunch time hehe..

Anyway, the bottom right hand line was my first and you can tell, I was shaking a lot. lol. I knew a star was a hard thing to start with and it's quite a big one, but I wanted it as the first part of a bigger design I want.
I was pleased the lines went down in one pass even if there were a couple of shaky bits.
The fill is a little patchy, but I'd already gone over some bits twice and I didn't want to over work it, so decided I'd leave it, let it heal and come back to it later.

I know it's far from perfect, but as far as I can see there's nothing that can't be cleaned up and I'm happy I've got over that initial barrier and already looking forward to doing another on my self

Can you slip stockings over that lovely leg and post again.

**WTD** · 8th May 2008

thats neat mate, well done!

**MonkeySputum** · 8th May 2008

Originally Posted by keyamon

thanks guys..
I know it's not perfect but I'm happy with my start and think the next will be better.

I'll see how it heals and then I plan on doing another a bit smaller below it.
will see how that heals then I'm going to fill the first with simple waves and the second with a wind swearl to represent the 2 elements I love the most in my outdoor sports.

lol they weren't that bad were they.

So you're into watersports and fart play?

**keyamon** · 8th May 2008

yeah, Japanese fart pr0n FTW

and diablos, I'll shave my legs properly first

**casio** · 8th May 2008

that looks very crisp m8, on the right side (looking at the photo) the flat bit of the star looks a bit 'blued' like youve gone a bit heavy/deep but that could be a bit of bruising or maybe some ink left on your leg but other than that its very well done, and ive seen people pay for worse

i remember posting a while ago when youd posted some of youre early work and i think i said youd be on skin by the summer -looks like i was right

although i said youd be charging by winter so your on course lol

cas

**keyamon** · 8th May 2008

thanks dude.
I'll just have to see how that heals. I think it was more the angle I had to have the machine at rather than going too deep. but I'll bare that in mind next time.
slight bruising along that line seemed to come out today when I started using Bepanthen nappy rash cream on it. (which has come highly recommended by many tattooists) so hopefully it'll heal nice.

**B B Leo** · 8th May 2008

nice one m8 and good straight shape lines and dark colour. would be interesting to see once the scab has cleared in ten days

**MercuryRises** · 8th May 2008

As Cas said above, I've seen "professional" tattoos that were worse than that mate, a bit more practice and you'll be well away

**wizer** · 12th May 2008

That's actually very good. I had that same sort of star done at the beginning of the year with a letter in the middle and it wasn't as crisp as i'd hoped. Brave picking all those straight lines for your first tat.

I missed your earlier posts, are you working under an experienced tattooist? Or just bought the kit and doing it on your own? Do you have an artistic background?

**casio** · 13th May 2008

as far as i know m8 hes bought the kit and going on it on his own

**petey85** · 13th May 2008

Nice work. Doing that yourself, and on your calf, is very impressive. You can tell, but only when you look really close up and know where to look.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out with the rest of your design - keep up the good body art.

**keyamon** · 22nd May 2008

Originally Posted by wizer

That's actually very good. I had that same sort of star done at the beginning of the year with a letter in the middle and it wasn't as crisp as i'd hoped. Brave picking all those straight lines for your first tat.

I missed your earlier posts, are you working under an experienced tattooist? Or just bought the kit and doing it on your own? Do you have an artistic background?

Thanks.. I was concerned about the straight lines, but I'd practiced them quite a bit before hand and was confident I could do without fuking up too bad.

I have a mate who has tattooed for 7 years and works in a shop in Leeds.. he's given me some tips and guidance on setup, cleanliness and equipment.

my power supply is a bit naff, but I have upgraded the rectifier diodes and it's running nicer now.
my machines are all hand made. and 1 was built to my specs by a guy called Forgiven and shipped over from USA.

I did study advanced art and design. and more recently I've been learning to Airbrush, and I think that helped a lot.

can't wait to carry on. just need to wait till after my biker road trip

**Tattooed Freak** · 5th June 2008

Do you have an updated photo of the healed tattoo?

**keyamon** · 13th August 2008

I'll sort one out and post it up.. healed pretty patchy really. going to touch it up eventually, but in no rush. I've done two more now and learnt a lot... mainly that I'm going way too fast and got my angles sorted.

Going to be doing some spiralling japanese clouds round the first star (the one above) then some blue waves round the bottom star near my ankle.