Tattoo cover ups are tricky things, and broaching the subject can illicit any number of reactions among tattoo artists—fear, anxiety, and occasionally excitement in an artist keen to prove their skill.
One metaphor we tend to come back to when explaining the process of covering a tattoo is this: consider writing on a piece of blank paper with a solid black permanent marker, then taking a black pen and trying to write over it. Or take a marker of a different colour (for instance red or blue) and go over the original script. While the fresh marks may tint colour of the black marks, chances are that it will still be visible beneath. The original marks can be added to easily enough, but covering it is a whole other ordeal.
Oftentimes, cover up tattoos pose the same problem but they are by no means impossible; all it takes is a bit of skill, experience, trust, and an open mind. Inquiries for cover-ups are always directed to book in for an in-person consultation with one of our artists, as it’s essential that both artist and client are on the same page regarding the current versus desired ink. Pictures don’t always tell the full story, and what appears to be a faded tattoo may actually be a matter of lighting.
Recently our resident senior artist Pong took on a sensational cover up for a repeat client. The goal was to cover an old outline of a flying eagle on the torso. After a consultation, it was decided that a rooster, spanning from the tip of the shoulder to the bottom of the rib, would do the job.
Pictured below is the progress of this cover up over three sessions. The resulting ink is incredible, leaving us wondering if there ever was a tattoo underneath.
Session 1:
Session 2:
Session 3:
This client left the studio tired but happy! It’s always an honour to be trusted with projects like this, and we’ll never shy away from meeting new clients in similar circumstances.
If you have a tattoo that you’re wanting to be covered, give us a call at (02) 8399 1973 or fill out an inquiry form here. We’ll be in touch as soon as possible to get the ball rolling!