BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Body Art half-sleeve or back tat

Hi all. I already have a couple of tats--celtic band around ankle and tat on inside of one wrist--and now I really want to do something bigger like a half-sleeve or back tattoo. Problem is I'm having touble visualizing how to put together image(s) that will look good and create the effect I'm looking for. I prefer B&W/grey and I'm drawn to dragons, lizards, griffins and abstract design like celtic, greek, and some tribal design. So how do I go about coming up with a design that incorporates some of these elements and looks good either on my back or arm? I know that no one can really answer this specifically and that my tattoo artist will work out the final design details, but I'm looking for suggestions to put this together in my head before I go to see the artist. Thanks!

This is one of those questions that no one else can really answer. Collect photocopies or pictures of stuff that you like in a folder or pin stuff up on a bulletin board so that you can look at it. If you draw at all, start doodling and see if your brain answers the question for you in a sketch.

Go visit a lot of tattooists and take a look through their design books. Find someone whose art you like and talk with them about what you want to try and do tattoo-wise.

Thanks Rae. I do realize that I asked a basically unanswerable question. Your suggestions will be useful. Thanks again.

I like my armpiece better than my backpiece. I can see it whenever I want, not having to look at it through a mirror.

That is my personal preference.