When we talk about tattoos, your back is one of the most expansive canvas on your body, and that means space to create and display an amazing piece of art that has tremendous visual impact.
However, back tattoos are much more complicated than a simple tattoo on your wrist, shoulder, or even a sleeve tattoo. They are not something you just get on a single random Saturday afternoon, or even a couple of Saturday afternoons.
There’s a lot of commitment involved.
Think big — Michelangelo didn’t paint the entire ceiling of the Vatican in an afternoon, did he?
Why Back Tattoos Require Commitment
Much like painting a mural across an entire wall, back tattoos are large-scale pieces of body art.
They are major projects that are going to require long hours in the chair over many sessions, taking months to complete.
You’ll be investing significant amounts of time and money in order to reach completion. You’ll need to be sure that you’re fully on board for that long-term commitment required to see this project through to completion.
But, time and money aren’t all you’re going to have to commit to get the back tattoo you’ve been hoping for.
Truth: Back Tattoos Are Usually Painful
All tattoos are painful, and this is a fairly serious test of endurance and tolerance.
It’s important to consider that each person has a different threshold for pain, and some areas of the body are more painful to tattoo than others.
Areas covered with little to no fat or muscle, where the bone is very close to the skin, are far more painful than meaty areas like your shoulder or thigh.
Your back, being the broad canvas that it is, is going to have some bony areas, some meaty areas, and some areas that are in between. Some areas are going to hurt more than others when subjected to the tattoo machine needle.
When thinking about this, consider that the spine, composed entirely of nerves and bone lying directly under the skin, is going to be directly involved at certain points of the project. The shoulder blades and rib cage are similarly very sensitive areas.
Your pain tolerance is going to directly affect how much work can be done in a single session, and that, in turn, affects how many sessions your back tattoo will require.
Large-scale Tattoos Require Special Skill
People don’t ask for large-scale back tattoos all that often, so this isn’t a skill every artist has.
Many artists have never done a full project from start to finish themselves, and few artists are prepared to take on large-scale projects as detailed or involved as back tattoos can be.
That means it’s critical to find an artist who has the inking skills and also understands the design concepts necessary to pull off the Quest for the Holy Grail, which include the following:
- Focusing on a single main design element
- Making sure the main element has sufficient size to deliver its visual impact
- Designing the piece to flow around the more painful, difficult areas of your back
Choosing the right artist, one who is prepared for the challenges that back tattoos entail, is key to the project’s success.
Choose Your Artist Wisely — There’s No Turning Back
If you want the best back tattoo, do your research.
Find out about the artist you’re considering hiring.
Check out their portfolio to see what their work looks like — whether it speaks to you or not.
Most of all, find out the artist’s experience with back tattoos and larger-scale pieces. Experience counts when designing and realizing a project of this magnitude.
Don’t be afraid to visit more than one artist before making your decision — click here for some valuable suggestions that can help you make the best decision about the right artist for you.
Back Tattoos — One of Hannah’s Specialties
Not to beat our own drum, but this is one of the areas where Hannah stands out.
She has a lot of experience doing back tattoos and other large pieces, excelling in both the design and the needle work required to create the impactful work of art you’re looking for.
Putting it bluntly, she has a passion for the major challenges.
What about you?
If you feel you’re ready to take on this major project, visit our webpage and fill out our contact form. Let’s find out if we’re the right fit to take this journey together towards an amazing piece of body art.