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Forearm Tattoo

Forearm portraits

The forearm is the most requested placement for a single portrait, and the one most often done at a convention, because a well planned forearm portrait is a realistic one day piece.

Realistic black and grey eye tattoo on the forearm
Realistic eye
Black and grey portrait of a young man on the forearm
Portrait
Healed black and grey portrait of a woman on the inner forearm
Healed portrait
Black and grey portrait of Travis Scott on the forearm
Music portrait
Realistic tiger with one green eye on the forearm
Tiger
Black and grey skull and eye on the forearm
Skull and eye

It is also the placement you will look at most: it faces you, all day, for the rest of your life.

The practical part

TimeA single portrait on the outer forearm is usually one long day.
Inner or outerOuter heals cleaner and hurts less. Inner is softer skin and a sharper sit.
SizeA face needs room. Shrinking a portrait below about a hand span is what makes it blur later.
ReferenceSharp, well lit photograph, sent as the original file, not a screenshot.

Questions

Can a portrait be done in one session?

On a forearm, usually yes, if it is one face at a sensible size. Two faces, or a face with a detailed background, is two days.

How small can a realistic portrait go?

Smaller than roughly a hand span and the detail that makes it a likeness starts competing with how ink spreads in skin over the years. He will tell you if your idea is too small before you book it.

Inner forearm or outer?

Outer if you want it to heal easily and hurt less. Inner if you want to be the one who sees it.

What reference photo works best?

One sharp, well lit photograph. Good light on the face beats high resolution, and both beat a screenshot of a screenshot.

Related

Ask about a piece like this

Requests go straight to Federico, not to an agency inbox. He answers from his own address.