Well, today I sat for a grueling 5 hours. That doesn't seem like much, but the first 3 hours were on my back. It kind of locked up on me, and was very uncomfortable. I am really bummed. He didn't get a chance to finish my half sleeve. He had injured his back earlier today, and said he would go at least 3 hours. OK, it took forever to get the appointment, and I was already there, with a day off, so lets go. He ended up squeaking out 5 hours instead. I have about 2 hours left or so, and unfortunately, the lower part of the half sleeve that sticks out of my shirt sleeve is what is left. One piece is still uncolored, and there is a key that needs to be relined and recolored. I understand that he becomes no good if he is concentrating more on his back than my tattoo. I get that.
My issue lies with how distracted he becomes and how others bother him while he is working. Their policy is to accept consults while they are working. Guy came in inquiring about a cover up. Took about 10 minutes. No biggie. I stretched, took a leak, got a drink of Coke, sent a few texts, then back on the table. I understand that. It is how I was seen originally. Thought it was weird, but that is how the 4 guys there do it. No problem. It was a good time for a break anyway. What pisses me off is the other artist who had a no call no show bail on him, and he is bugging my guy showing him shit on his phone, and talking about a new shop banner, and pretty much just all over my guy. Now, my artist is the co-owner of the shop, and I am pretty sure that this other guy is the other co-owner. I don't know if I should have said something, or just kept my mouth shut. I didn't say a word. Now, had this guy not fucked around and bugged my guy, my tattoo might have been done. Might have. He didn't blow him up for 2 hours, but he did interrupt the groove. My guy starts slow, but he gets going, and knocks shit out pretty quickly, if he isn't bothered.
I am already $1150 into the rework of this half sleeve. I have at least another $200-300 to go. I don't mind paying for quality work, which I really feel like this artist does. He spent a lot of time fixing the fuck ups that the last guy did. I would say that almost 45 minutes was spent with a Sharpie drawing on my arm, working to cover up some gross anatomical errors made in the past. I am very happy with what he has accomplished in fixing and reworking this piece. However, I do not know if I will continue on with a full sleeve like I had originally planned. He usually books 3-4 months out, and the thought of running around all summer and into the fall and winter with a half finished tattoo doesn't sit well with me. I know that it can't be done in one sitting. I am also not sure that I am ready to shell out the cash that will be required to finish my arm off. He is talking about doing some really technical stuff on the lower part, which will be time consuming. He will be doing all of his own work though, and it might not take as long. To get a general idea, he said at least 3-4 more sittings, and anywhere from 5-7 hours each. I am not ready to spend upwards of $5000 for ink. I just can't do it.
Pictures will be posted hopefully tomorrow. My arm is currently wrapped and soaking in its own fluid. I will be taking that off tonight, and not rewrapping it like I did in the past.
Oh, and sorry for the rant. Just had to vent a little.
How's the inner arm feeling?
