I would have never imagined that this guy would end up getting a full biomechanical sleeve. He came to me with a request I hadn’t heard in almost fifteen years: he wanted a tribal design on his shoulder to cover up an old, very dark tattoo. To be honest, the request didn’t excite me at all, but he seemed really determined. So I suggested, “If I’m going to do a tribal, let me create something unique, an original design created by me.”
I showed him some innovative creations by other tattoo artists I admire, to give him an idea of the possibilities, but nothing I proposed interested him, he was stuck on the tribal designs of the 90s. So I took the time to sketch something out. However, coming up with tribal drafts is somewhat tricky, given the abstract and flat nature of the design. The only way to really judge a project like that is after it’s finished. After several attempts, I realized the best approach was to draw it directly on him.
From the Tribal Idea to the Drawing on Skin
After various experiments, I wasn’t very satisfied, and noticing my frustration he asked if there was a style that excited me and could also cover that black spot on his shoulder. There weren’t many options that could adequately cover it. I showed him some of my biomech designs, and he was struck by one I created for a guy in 2020, who, due to the events that took place that year, had to give up on the tattoo. With some adjustments, not simple or quick ones, due to the typical insecurity of someone who has a few tattoos but has never adorned their body with true artwork, and after waiting almost two years for the laser removal of the old tattoo, we finally started working on the new piece.
Creating the Biomech Tattoo
The process took several sessions and was relatively challenging, especially to make the chiseled decorations on the metallic parts look believable. The final result is truly original and unique. Even though the writing on his inner forearm, which meant a lot to him and he didn’t want to cover or remove, despite my efforts to integrate it into the design, feels out of context to me. Still, compared to the black blotch he had before, this is an improvement he didn’t expect, and naturally, he’s thrilled about it, and that’s what matters.
Why Choose a Biomech Tattoo?
This journey shows how a simple idea, like a tribal design to cover up an old tattoo, can evolve into a complex and custom biomechanical work of art. The client’s satisfaction and the uniqueness of the final result are what make every project special.
Do you want to know more about biomech tattoos? Here below you’ll find some info:
Here Below: images of the working process and the video of the healed tattoo
