Tattoo of Shame- Help me find a cover-up image/artist

July 15, 2011 7:31 PM

[Tattoo Mistake Filter] Please feel free to laugh. I've heard it a lot over the past 20 years. Got horrible tattoo almost 20 years ago while underage and over-served, and am seeking advice/recommendation of a Massachusetts based tattoo artist who can cover it. Snowflakes and laughable picture inside.

Long story made short, I ended up with a tattoo of a cartoon character. It's awful and as a result I can rarely remove my shirt without being filled with shame. I was young and under the influence and while I know that it was illegal, someone tattooed me. I'm not even sure why I ended up with this.

I've worn it with shame for about twenty years, and would like to get cover-up art of some kind.

Do you know of a reputable MA-based tattoo artist who would look at this picture and recommend what they could do?

I know that the cover-up will need to be larger, and I'm okay with that. I know that it will be difficult to cover color ink, and I know that many in the meta-verse will tell me that at the age of 35, I should just accept it and move on with my life. My birthday is next Friday, and I'd really like to spend my Saturday getting this covered up.

Details: Mickey Mouse Fantasia (barf)
Location: outer Left Bicep
Size: 2.5 inches square

Please help me!!

Email at [e-mail] or post here.

posted by Draccy to Grab Bag (14 answers total)

I'm not going to suggest that you live with it, but given that you don't sound at all enthusiastic about actually getting a new tattoo except that it would cover the first, have you thought about doing a tattoo removal procedure? Something like this?
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:54 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

It's really not that bad. But seconding removal.
posted by unSane at 7:58 PM on July 15, 2011 [2 favorites]

My friend got a poorly done and embarrassing old rose tattoo covered up by Dan Bythewood at Regeneration Tattoo in Allston MA. She was very pleased with the results, but it does have to be a bit larger. You can see some of his work here.
posted by Valender at 8:00 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

i think most great shops will suggest you get a couple layers removed first via laser. it'll be far, far easier to cover if it gets a little lighter.
posted by nadawi at 8:13 PM on July 15, 2011 [2 favorites]

Best answer: There are a lot of really wonderful and talented cover-up artists. People who've made it their career to advance the field of tattoo art by using new techniques to transform really shitty tattoos into works of beauty to be proud of.

I'd recommend doing a lot of research into artists who specialize in cover-ups. Look all over the globe. Find someone whose style you really like and has a track record of quality design that you can actually witness through before and afters on their website. Talk to the artist, design something together, book the appointment and then go there - wherever they are - four+ months later (or whenever you can book to see them) and get it done right. What a better way to turn this thing around? Take the time, do the background work, do it and look back on the whole thing as a positive, life-changing and transformative vacation, investment and gift to yourself.

I speak as someone who had a really ill-advised and very colorful ankle tattoo for 12+ years. Now I have a really beautiful piece of art that I am proud of. Years of shame cannot be turned around in a birthday weekend. But you can start the process and claim this your year to make it happen.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:30 PM on July 15, 2011 [2 favorites]

I wasn't suggesting your tattoo is 'really shitty', btw. I've seen way, way worse. And I don't want to pass judgement, other than to say that yours seems pretty neutral to me. Nothing to comment on, really. But that has no bearing on how you feel about it. I get that. Good luck with whatever you decide.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:32 PM on July 15, 2011

Best answer: I'm not in Massachusetts, so I don't have an answer to your specific question, but tattooing supports my family, so I've seen a lot of work over the years. That doesn't look like it would be any trouble for a decent artist to work over. You don't have much black there, and much of it has faded already. It's more of a challenge to cover dark with light than to cover color with another color. Removal is much more painful and expensive than being tattooed.
If you have the time, and don't find exactly what you're looking for from this thread, look online for highly reviewed shops and then visit a few of them. There should be artist portfolios available for you to look at. Don't feel bad about just browsing the albums and leaving. When you come across someone whose aesthetic speaks to your own, talk to them about your arm.
posted by droomoord at 8:34 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

Seconding iamkimiam. If you end up getting another tattoo in a week, you'll just be back here asking how to cover up a tattoo that's a cover up of another tattoo. Take a year for research and meeting with artists and do it right this time.
posted by lesli212 at 8:53 PM on July 15, 2011

Response by poster: I wish I could get rid of that link, but I thought it would be okay.

This one is probably better: Here



Thanks for all the responses so far, there are some good ones.

I've been thinking about this for years, and really think I'd like a koi to cover it. I'm just not sure what will actually look good. It's something I've wanted so long, and have never wavered on wanting changed. I really don't want to spend the money on laser treatment, and would rather cover it with something new.
posted by Draccy at 9:03 PM on July 15, 2011

Or a koi that already ate Mickey and it's in koi's belly which is why you can't see it anymore.
posted by iamkimiam at 9:17 PM on July 15, 2011 [9 favorites]

Best answer: If you are willing to go to Hyannis, Mark Corliss, the owner of Spilt Milk Tattoo, does really good work, with a particular focus on Japanese style tattoos, like koi. I got a technically difficult tattoo from him, and my husband had him redo an old tattoo, and we were both really impressed.
posted by girl scientist at 4:47 AM on July 16, 2011 [2 favorites]

Best answer: i know folks who have gotten tattoos covered/transformed at Holeshot Tattoo in Amherst. they've been very happy with the results.
posted by jammy at 5:34 AM on July 16, 2011

Best answer: I'm not sure where in Massachusetts you are, so here are some geographically spread out recommendations. Fat Ram's in JP does great work and could definitely offer ideas. I just got a tattoo from Khristian at Mooncusser Tattoo in Provincetown--he covered up an old tattoo that I didn't like much (it was all black) and did an awesome job.
Also Jennifer at Sanctuary Tattoo in Portland, Maine is amazing. She's done some amazing coverups and would definitely be able to make recommendations to you.
Good luck.
posted by jdl at 6:19 AM on July 16, 2011

It looks like you've already chosen your "way to go" via best answers, but just coming in here to say that when I was at my tattoo studio last, someone was in there asking about cover up and they said "honestly, just have it lasered, it'll take five minutes" (it was smaller than your Mickey but not much).
Of course if you actually WANT a bigger tattoo on your biceps then go for it.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 1:00 PM on July 16, 2011