Space robot tattoo

[DKJ]

Since the forums seem to be very slow these days (not even some spam), here's my last:
Neotat Vivace, Black Claw single needle, nocturnal lining black.




All went pretty well, except i lost the stencil quite slowly and that's why many ovals are badly reproduced.

I got some insight from a pro who told me i was hitting too strong (actually 8.5 V, she told me i should lower to 6V). I sliced the skin, even i didn't fell like it was the case during the tattoo, it shows mostly on the back of the arm pic, and surely from the redness of it all. Need to be way more cautious about it next time.
The healing is going well and that's good news, but there's still a lot of space for improvement.

I feel like i did saturate a lot but not too much (no blowouts), but my lines look like a 5 or 3rl (too much ink in). I will try to look after my handspeed and maybe my depht, which seems good imo.


Peace,

DKJ

 

[MalligaMallan]

Nice - and crazy - motif I can't believe you used a single needle for those lines?! The pro - did he or she recommend you to lower the volts when using single needle, or any needle?

Nice to hear someone recommends lowering the volts for a change. Usually all you hear is "crank it up" - to at least 11 volts. Personally I never go over 7v.

How do you find your lining works now? We talked about it (both yours and mine) a while ago, if you remember

 

[DKJ]

Nice - and crazy - motif I can't believe you used a single needle for those lines?! The pro - did he or she recommend you to lower the volts when using single needle, or any needle?

Nice to hear someone recommends lowering the volts for a change. Usually all you hear is "crank it up" - to at least 11 volts. Personally I never go over 7v.

How do you find your lining works now? We talked about it (both yours and mine) a while ago, if you remember

Well, first she asked if i had enough tattoos under my belt to be using a single needle.

Then i showed her those pics and she said she couldn't believe it was a single and told me it looked like an open 5rl.
Honest, i've never seen a single needle tattoo other than on instagram, but i've always felt my single needle lines looked very much like my 3rl lines.
I will lower my volts and keep my handspeed the same on next session.

Like always the healing kind of "corrected and improved" the lines, i guess it's the fact that the skin was sliced and reacted by swelling during the session.
Now the lines are thiner and better looking than the fresh ones.

My lining? Really better, i hope the pics show. I feel i did grab the patience thing, plus now i know the motion, the stretch, the needle hang... Still there's a lot to improve but my attention is more concentrated on my moves than actual questionning about what i'm doing. I do it and reflect later about what needs improvement.

What about you?

Peace,

DKJ

 

[MalligaMallan]

It's hard to get a good idea of the quality of the lines on this tattoo, as they are made with a single needle and yet so thick, that's why I preferred to ask

As for my own lining I haven't tattooed since June, I took a break to get an art exhibition together. But i noticed a funny thing when recently adding a tiny part on a mandala back piece I did 4 years ago.

I have had some aching issues with my stretching hand, I found it hard to tattoo due to this, especially tattooing two days in a row. I started training my hand (and wrist) and apart from less aching, I've found that my tattooing hand (training both hands) has become much steadier when lining! As I'm often lining with single needles, it's a really big help. I'm not sure my depth has become more consistent though.

Here is the addition to the mandala single needle lining piece:



Only a tiny piece, but when I compare my old lines and new lines, I don't really see much difference. But I remember how I struggled with the single lines in this mandala to get them straight!



Crappy photo, but you get the idea.

#EDIT: I found a photo from when the lines were fresh:

 

[DKJ]

MalligaMallan that's a great piece of work, Malin!

Can i ask you what kind of training you're doing?
Is that the famous 'hand in a socket' exercize?

Cheers, Peace and yeah i think i saw some pics of your exhibition on IG.

DKJ

 

[MalligaMallan]

Yes, it's pretty much the "hand in sock" thing, however I use a training tool for it where I feel I get more control of what muscles I'm training:



I also do other moves:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. hands 5

I do each move like 10-15 times.

I know I'm too detailed in my answers sometimes, but there you have it

I do these moves, because I believe flexibility is as important as strength.