A quarter sleeve, which covers from the top of your shoulder midway down your upper arm to your elbow. A half sleeve, which reaches from the top of your shoulder to your elbow. A full sleeve, which covers from the top of your shoulder to your wrist. A Hikae sleeve, which is a Japanese style sleeve that runs continuously from your chest to your elbow or wrist.
A few popular styles include tribal, new school, traditional, watercolor, Japanese, and Celtic. If you want your sleeve to be more uniform and have a clear flow, you may want to stick to just 1 or 2 styles.
For example, if you’re passionate about fantasy novels or movies, you could conceptualize a fantasy theme with tattoos including dragons, romance, and other thematic elements. [4] X Research source Your theme could also be a message or feeling, such as harmony, heartbreak and redemption, or peace. You can then choose symbols and motifs that express that theme for you.
For example, if you want your sleeve to represent harmony, you may choose symbols and motifs relating to nature, such as waves and clouds, if you feel harmony with nature. If your major theme is heartbreak, for example, you may want to include heartbreak symbols like hearts, roses, a shipwrecked boat, or waves crashing into a heart.
For example, if you want your sleeve to have a more muted vibe, you may want to stick to black and white or greyscale color scheme. If you want your sleeve to really stand out, you’ll likely want to choose a few colors that will pop. Keep in mind, however, that colors tend to cost more and do tend to fade faster than black and greyscale options. [7] X Research source In general, tattoo colors that are significantly lighter or darker than your skin tone tend to show up best. For example, if your skin has a pinkish shade and warm undertones, pinks, faded reds, and yellows won’t show up as much as darker shades of cooler colors, such as blue and green. [8] X Research source
The number of large tattoo pieces depends on the look and meaning you’re going for, as well as how large your sleeve tattoo will be. If you’re only doing a quarter sleeve, for example, you’ll likely want to stick to 1 or 2 larger pieces in addition to the connective elements. If you want your sleeve to have a singular focus, try choosing a few larger pieces that speak to that main message or theme. For example, if you want your sleeve to signify how you’ve overcome obstacles, you could choose a 1 to 4 larger pieces that fit this theme, such as a shipwreck and a mountain.
When deciding on the placement, keep in mind that your artist will likely complete these elements first. Since tattoo sleeves generally take several sessions over the course of months and even years to complete, you may want to consider whether the placement of your larger pieces will look good on their own for a time. In addition, consider any injuries or sensitive areas that might impact the placement of any elements of the design. For example, if you have chronic wrist pain, you might want to avoid having any full color elements on your wrist so the artist won’t have to spend as long drawing the design. [11] X Research source
Tribal patterns and naturally-occurring continuous elements such as smoke, flames, swirls, water, or vines, for example, are great options for background and connective designs that help you create a continuous, flowing sleeve. For example, if your sleeve signifies how you’ve overcome obstacles, and your larger pieces include a shipwreck and mountain, you could then sketch out relevant motifs or patterns to connect these, such as gusts of wind or waves.
To find tattoo artists in your area, trying doing an internet search for studios nearby. Then, you can go to each studio or artist’s website to look at their work. Looking at an artist’s Instagram profile is also a great way to look into their past work and get a sense for their aesthetic.
Many tattoo artists will provide a free 1-hour consultation, during which you can discuss the sleeve design you’ve created and make sure you’re on the same page. During the first meeting with an artist, make sure that you speak up about any concerns you may have. Remember that tattoos are meant to last forever, so it’s important that you are 100% confident with an artist before moving forward. Bring pictures of tattoos you like to give your tattoo artist an idea of what you’re going for. [15] X Expert Source Burak MorenoTattoo Artist Expert Interview. 11 October 2019.
If you have any existing tattoos on your arms, make sure the artist is aware of them so they know they’ll need to incorporate them into the final sleeve design. [18] X Research source
