self inflicted sleeve

[krow]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on how to keep my skin tight enough to do my own sleeve or at least half of it, imma have some trouble aroung my upper shoulder so ill prolly have another artist pick up where i left off.ummmmm i know this sounds kinda ghetto but could i use some kinda tape to pull the skin tight like around my inner elbow n stuff.any advise would be a big help.thanx

[DOPPLENHAKEN]

duct tape,i dunno thats what i use on my girlfriends (but not for tattooing) :lol: ,but i thought about it when im bored,but i have my friends tat me,aspecialy on a sleeve.duct tape mite work :wink:

[Choppers4Life]

If you end up working on yourself it's faster and easier to have someone else there to stretch the skin for you.

[krow]

also do yous have any advise on how to map out a continuis peice of art with no fill.how do i make a stencil that wrapps around my entire forearm with out it crinkleing up, i havent had the best of luck with stencils that have to contour around somthing.is a skin scribe going to be the best way to go with it?and im prolly only going to do from my wrist to elbow my self and if i do that its going to cut off a peice of the art how much of a pain in the ass is it going to be for my other artist to pick up where i left off.i imagine theres going to be no makeing a stencil to complete it, getting it to line up seems almost impossible.

[Papa Gee]

When you make your stencil for larger pieces you should make marks above and below or on one side and the other. Depending on how you plan to cut the stencil. Just a straight line about an inch long will do.

Then use an exacto knife to cut the stencil making sure you cut through the marks you made above and below or side to side. Apply the cut part of the stencil then use the marks you made to line up the other piece. Having someone to help you align it would be a huge help. This negates having to match up every line in the stencil. Anything thats not completely lined up use the skin marker to correct.

Seeing as how you're applying the stencil to the contour of your arm it might be a good idea to shape the stencil paper (top sheet only) by grasping it on each edge and running it back and forth over the edge of a table or counter top. Do this in the direction of the contour then tape it down to your spirit master. After you've made your stencil it should still hold the curve you're looking for. This will make it easier to lay down with a minimum of wrinkeling.

Hope this helps...........Papa Gee

[krow]

thanx for the help pop

[sundance4725]

I have done afew on my arm working towards sleave.To do forearm I stretched my skin useing my knees and the same for inner elbow.My upper arm I just did it took some thought I did 3 sets of 20 pnd curls the day before put on lotion did the same right before I started.My skin tighted up alot and was o so baby soft Ilaid my arm across a bench stool your skin sticks to Flex you arm and bamBA it was vertually painless and the ink took very easy.I tried the have afriend stretch it but THEY kept moving or loosend grip.O and your legs upper inner thighs are real sore the next day.