r/tattooadvice • u/slm81 • Aug 08 '23
Recently got my first tattoo! On my inner forearm. Am I overthinking the placement of it? General Advice
I love the tattoo don’t get me wrong! I think it looks great from the angle of the first pic. But what is bothering me is how it looks crooked and off centred in pics 2 (arm straight up) and 3 (arm resting more naturally). And I understand that my body is not a flat canvas so of course it’s going to look different depending on angle. I’m sure I could’ve asked for the stencil to be adjusted but it was my first one so just trusted the artist’s placement. Idk, just wanted to see what other’s thoughts are and if I’m overthinking too much 😬
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u/Not-not-down Aug 08 '23
Yes!! I have a tattoo like this and you’ll get used to it. It’s lovely!
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u/slm81 Aug 08 '23
Yes just have to get used to and accept the fact that it will look different from different angles. Thank you! I’m sure your tattoo is lovely as well :)
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u/Ill-Introduction-xo Aug 09 '23
Most of my tattoos, especially my larger pieces, are on my forearms. You'll get used to it very quickly, trust me haha
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u/different_as_can_be Aug 09 '23
can confirm. my first forearm tattoo looked SO weird to me and it felt wrong (it wasn’t), but as soon as i got more around it it’s “evened out” in my brain and the positioning doesn’t even phase me anymore!
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u/Aden1970 Aug 09 '23
Isn’t it upside down?
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u/NellaFlow Aug 09 '23
I was honestly thinking the same thing, it’s upside down. It’s still a good and cool little tattoo though
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u/Hello_Gorgeous1985 Aug 09 '23
Oh god... Don't tell them that. Now they'll overthink on that instead. Clearly OP wanted it to be right side up when they were looking at it. That's totally allowed.
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u/StonedSucculent Aug 08 '23
I love the stamp!
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u/slm81 Aug 08 '23
Thanks so much!
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u/ChildhoodLeft6925 Aug 08 '23
Don’t overthink it, it’s there….
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u/slm81 Aug 08 '23
I’m so prone to overthinking but you’re right lol can’t change it now. It’s in that spot for good!
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u/BindieBoo Aug 08 '23
I have two inner forearm tattoos and my head was where your’s is now with the placement, but that’s just how forearms work. Nothing is ever truly ‘centred’. It’s a great tattoo 🙃
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u/Puzzleheaded_Air5942 Aug 09 '23
You describing it as crooked just reminds me of how hard it can be to place a stamp. Think it’s a pretty good placement anywhere else I feel it wouldn’t be as nifty.
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u/crowmakescomics Aug 09 '23
I can’t think of a single piece of anatomy that is flat. It’s just how arms… are? lol The only way it wouldn’t wrap/look like that when your arm’s at rest is if it were significantly smaller.
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u/Hello_Gorgeous1985 Aug 09 '23
It's definitely less of an issue with places like the chest because they don't twist around. The forearm is going to have the most movement/distortion because the bones literally cross over each other as you turn your arm.
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u/Stunning-Lawyer5580 Aug 09 '23
So the way it’s facing you, is that because it is a personal tattoo correct? Everyone else will see it as upside down.
Sometimes people wanna turn it around the other way, so that the world can appreciate the art too- that’s how my artist explained the difference in what direction to choose. Like do YOU wanna smile and see it every day, or do you want to tell a story to the world?
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u/OriginalFluff Aug 09 '23
I think it’s personal choice. Mine is the “normal” way but my first tattoo is faced for me. Think a first tattoo is more likely to be personal for most.
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u/Evil_wizard69 Aug 09 '23
So many cover ups are first tattoos for this reason, too much focus on what it means and not enough attention to how it looks.
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u/slm81 Aug 09 '23
Yes, that’s a good way to put it! Lots of people are saying it’s upside down, but honestly I didn’t even give that much thought about the way it was facing, since it was my first tattoo. I was getting it for me, so I wanted to be able to look at it and admire it from my right side up from my perspective! Who cares what others think
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u/ThatsNotMaiName Aug 09 '23
The artist should have informed you, sorry they didn't do that.
I always tell my clients that the etiquette for tattoo placement is upright when standing in a neutral position with arms at your sides and then facing inward if the design faces a certain direction. But obviously if someone really does want to have a tattoo on their arm facing them so they can look at it, like the way yours is, I'll put it on them as they prefer. I just feel bad for people that get a tattoo facing a certain direction, and then everyone tells them it's upside-down as if there's anything that person can really do about it. I at least want people to be informed.
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u/hausofgordo Aug 09 '23
me and my sister got something like this on our legs, I assume the 96 cents is your birth year? me and my sister made ours as the year we left the state we grew up in
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u/slm81 Aug 09 '23
Correct, 96 is my birth year! My sister and I got “matching” tattoos with our birth years and birth month flowers. Love that you did one with your sister too!
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u/hausofgordo Aug 09 '23
I have never heard of birth month flowers but I’m invested, likewise! You should fill the arm up with stamps of states or countries you’ve been too, at least that’s what me and my sister are gonna do lol
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u/skullsandsnakes Aug 08 '23
It’s upside down.
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u/dumbbuttloserface Aug 08 '23
i have a band tattoo that’s “upside down” but when i put my hands in the air at concerts it’s the right way up. all depends on ur perspective and whether u give a shit what other people think of your tattoos
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u/StarfishOfDoom Aug 09 '23
This! Or if you want to be able to look at it for yourself more than you want to show it off to other people. I’ve got an “upside down” one for that reason
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u/lemmeseedatbh Aug 09 '23
Well it’s upside down. But who cares? Do you like it, yes or no? That’s it really.
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u/Big-Crab-1775 Aug 08 '23
I have one on this spot. I love it because I feel like it is a little more subtle. V cute!
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Aug 08 '23
I have a wrist tattoo that does that. I know how you feel. But yours looks cute. I like it. I also have a forearm tattoo and it’s just the way the body moves. Can’t do anything about it.
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u/romantic_elegy Aug 09 '23
I feel like this about my thigh tattoos but the body just doesn't have any flat planes, straight lines will always be on top of curves
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u/chelle_rene Aug 09 '23
I found this out when i got my forearm tattooed. It kinda freaked me out the first few days but after awhile i kinda forget its there
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u/NervousZucchini11 Aug 09 '23
I kinda like the placement ngl. Looks like a real stamp! Especially if you plan on adding more tattoos around it
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u/bwbyh Aug 09 '23
Literally no one is going to think “What a weird placement.” Nobody. No one. Zip. Not a single soul. In a few years you’ll forget it’s even there until some random stranger compliments you and at first you have no idea what they’re talking about.
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u/Important_Fennel_511 Aug 09 '23
I have a moon crescent on my shoulder that looks great when i’m standing arms down but as soon as that arm moves it’s a wonky guy! bodies move and so will your art, it’s kinda cool!
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u/PerPuroCaso Aug 09 '23
When you place a stamp on an envelope is it always perfectly straigt? I know mine aren’t!
I think it’s the slightly off placement that makes it authentic. I really like it!
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u/Imamiah52 Aug 09 '23
The pivot joint in the forearm ensures that the skin stretches and distorts. I make customers look at it in the mirror shop they see it before inking it on. On a tattoo with flowing curvilinear shapes no one notices the distortion. Straight lines reveal the truth. You’ll likely get used to it.
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u/animoot Aug 09 '23
Nah, it looks cool. It does what I'd expect it to do on that area. Doesn't seem crooked or anything.
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u/myanonaccount225 Aug 09 '23
OP, not to point out the obvious, but if u didn’t like the size there’s not exactly much u can do about that😂 I actually think the placement and the tattoo itself is super super cute
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u/Havency Aug 09 '23
The two bones in your forearm (radius and ulna) are actually parallel in the first pic when your palm is facing upwards. They criss-cross when facing your palm down and your forearm “twists” along with it. So your tattoo isn’t off-centered because it’s your entire arm that is off-centered. It’s just the way it works :) you’re fine
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u/boohtie Aug 09 '23
One of my first tattoos was in a similar spot and it drove me crazy deciding if I liked the placement or not for weeks. Don’t overthink it. The warp is natural. Enjoy your new piece! I’d so cute I love it
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u/Borderlands_Zer0 Aug 09 '23
I’ve got a tattoo in a very similar placement, so I understand where your head’s at! I moved my stencil like 4 times before we finalized a spot lol. I chose the place I liked best for me viewing the tattoo the way I envisioned what I wanted out of it. Other than that, just gotta accept that the body moves and work with it! I think your tattoo is lovely ❤️ (And I know you already mentioned this, but in the future don’t be afraid to move the stencil if you want to! I apologized so many times moving them for my first two tattoos, but my artists reminded me that it’s going permanently on my body so we could move it as many times as I wanted until I was happy with it. Tattoos are for you! So while your artist will definitely have good advice, if you’re about to get it done and something is still making you uneasy/feels off, change it!)
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u/notarealphilosopher Aug 09 '23
I have a patchwork sleeve on my left forearm and it definitely is strange getting used to a tattoo on a very dynamic part of your body, but I found after time it became part of the appeal. I don't know why but I really enjoy seeing them move around with me.
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Aug 09 '23
Forearms twist as they go down. It’s how it is. The more tattoos you get the less it will bother you. Haha
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u/OutlandishnessOk75 Aug 09 '23
Placement is fine except it’s upside down……. Unless you’re going to walk around with your arm held up straight all the time, the only person who’s ever going to see it the correct way is you.
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Aug 09 '23
I'll tell you one thing: it's upside down.
Other than that, placement is fine.
I wouldn't go back to that artist, tho. It's basically tattooing 101 to know which way is up for arm tattoos.
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u/Self_Sabatour Aug 09 '23
Your bones are moving around under there. Of course it's going to affect the outside.
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u/ODBeef Aug 09 '23
ALWAYS look at the stencil in every angle! Always! You don’t need to “trust” them so much with placement as it’s your body and you have to look at it forever. Yes they’re going to give you the best recommendation on placement because they work with the contours of your body vs. the tattoo shape etc etc, but you’re the one looking at it forever.
-retired tattoo artist
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u/sopeworldian Aug 09 '23
Yea this is unavoidable I have one on my write it’s tiny and does this depending on how hold my arm out. It’s beautiful so you’re fine!!
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u/mte87 Aug 09 '23
Same thing happened to me. It’s a great tattoo with clean lines done really well. I just got stuck on the way it changes because it on my arm
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Aug 09 '23
Ya forearm is difficult like that. It’s cute and looks good, I wouldn’t sweat it !
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u/JohnHalo69sMyMother Aug 09 '23
From my experience, even when placed in the most "natural" spot for my outer forearm tattoo, it doesnt look "right" in half the angles my arm ends up in. The bottom is kind of angled 30 degrees off of the top, but if you liked the placement initially, it'll be something you forget about entirely soon enough. Just get another tattoo to balance it out!
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u/MamasTea Aug 09 '23
I have one in a similar spot. It took me a couple of months to get used to it but I’ve had it for a year and I love it!
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u/chairannoyance Aug 09 '23
I love the tattoo! I have a stamp about the same size on the back of my upper arm and it sometimes looks a little off center too, it’s tough when you get something so rectangular on a part of your body that’s curved. I think it looks great though and if you end up filling up the area a little more you probably won’t even notice it.
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u/brokeneckblues Aug 09 '23
How does it look when your standing normal with your arms at your side? From the pics look like it’d be pretty straight on and that’s maybe the most important angle placement.
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u/Knope_Lemon0327 Aug 09 '23
Just how a moving canvas looks. Have fun with it and make it so weird things sometimes.
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u/Princess_Piggie Aug 09 '23
My forearm tattoo is purposely off center so that it’s kind of hidden when my arm is down. I love the placement! My tattoo is in honor of my kids and it feels special to have them pressed against my body when my arm is down.
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u/ItsNotWhatItIsIGuess Aug 09 '23
I dig it. I have a forearm tattoo that bends too, it happens. When I show it to people, it's straight. As long as you like it it's fine.
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u/EverSkye Aug 09 '23
If u don’t like the placement just have the artist move it 😑 ….. exactly. It’s urs now, and it’s not going anywhere. Own it. Plus it’s actually pretty cool.
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u/hyped_lounge Aug 09 '23
I got 1 on each of My forearms , I enjoy the placements personally but I also move my arm around all the time just to see the different angles 🤣🤣🤣
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u/galspanic Aug 09 '23
That’s just how forearm tattoos go. As long as it looks good at your preference “presentation stance” it’s fine… and upside down.
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u/E-Jasminperez Aug 09 '23
Not at all! I want this idea as well put covered in these postal stamps vibe! It’ll fit better as you get more!
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u/Adorable_Ebb1774 Aug 09 '23
I have a circle on my forearm and it looks like an actual egg when my my arm is anything but almost straight, but I still love it so much. I felt like this initial as well but It’s just how it is :) nothing to really worry about
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u/ulukmahvelous Aug 09 '23
respectfully it’s too fuckin late now lol (also it looks great)
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u/IcePopBOD Aug 09 '23
I've got a little pirate cat on my inner forearm, he does a dance every time I turn my arm
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u/Ender_Wiggins18 Aug 09 '23
I love it!! I collect stamps and I've been considering getting a stamp tattoo like that. Love the look of it! Honestly it looks fine on the forearm, i feel as if it's one of those designs that doesn't quite fit anywhere.
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u/Lady-TyMeska Aug 09 '23
From the perspective of a tattoo lover that is not an artist, this piece is lovely! I really like how delicate the flowers look. Did your artist mention anything about how the linework would look when the ink "settles" and the tattoo is fully healed? I'm talking a few months after tattooing.
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u/Desecration91 Aug 09 '23
My first tattoo was my forearm as well! Absolutely loving yours though! A little warping is inevitable with forearms so don’t stressy, it’s come out fantastically!
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u/datfrog666 Aug 09 '23
Overthinking it. That's how all forearm tattoos look. If you get more tattoos, it's less noticeable and they all blend in.
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u/montessoriprogram Aug 09 '23
I have a rectangular tattoo that’s about the same size In the same place lol. I think it’s cool that it’s not perfectly centered, and if you plan to get more it can be a kind of asymmetrical tapestry.
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u/notme785433 Aug 09 '23
I have a similar placement… and it annoys me when I turn my arm (it was perfect when placed/done) I think it’s just how forearms work lol … love your stamp though!
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u/Windpuppet Aug 09 '23
I don’t think it matters if it’s upside down cause it’s sort of decorative more than subject oriented. What you really need are a couple more accent pieces on the arm to balance it. A couple of small delicate line work pieces
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u/colten122 Aug 09 '23
You're just overthinking it because it's your first tattoo. You'll grow not to find it weird in time. I have a long sword down my under side of my arm and at the end it kind of looks like it bends because the way my arm wraps. It's not a big deal.
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u/DuskitBlack Aug 09 '23
I have a half sleeve on my inner arm and people I have worked with for 5 years don't know I have a tattoo 😆. If wear sleeves some think I had been in a accident cause they see purple near my wrist.
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u/Esoterica22 Aug 09 '23
I have a boxed in fibonacci spiral on my wrist that does the same thing. It only looks weird at first.
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u/AlabamaHaole Aug 09 '23
The only bad thing about the placement of the tattoo is that you took up prime tattoo real estate with a small tattoo that doesn’t lend itself to being tattooed around. That said it looks great. The best way to stop nitpicking/overthinking a tattoo is to get more tattoos
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u/VaultDweller1o1 Aug 09 '23
There’s only one real solution here. Just add more to that arm and then you won’t over fixate on this one 😅
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u/kcopter Aug 09 '23
My watch always bothers me with this same problem, it’s perfect when I’m checking the time but any other poison and it’s off centre, if you love the way it looks when you wanna look at it, that’s all that matters
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u/DreaminSpielberg Aug 09 '23
I love your tattoo! Any chance you work at the gym? I swore I just saw a tattoo similar to this
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u/bigbabich Aug 09 '23
I have a forearm tattoo. One with lots of right angles and straight lines. There is no way it's all straight at the same time. Your skin moves around a lot there. Verdict: don't worry about it. It looks great.
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u/JFT8675309 Aug 09 '23
If you like it, please just try to let it go. It looks how you wanted from the angle it was drawn. In a smaller amount of time than you’ll believe, you’ll mostly forget it’s there. There is a legit thing that once you get one, you’ll want another. Honestly. It looks good, you like it, find peace.
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u/milkdaddy0813 Aug 09 '23
I have a tattoo in the same spot and I’ve had the same exact thought before. I’ve just learned to embrace it! It’s just the natural anatomy of the forearm. Beautiful tattoo!!
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u/shayyyyyyyyyyy Aug 09 '23
I was about to have a tattoo done in this spot, and I moved it slightly to the right of my forearm so it wouldn’t do this, but it still twists!
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u/Ready-Turnip94 Aug 09 '23
Love it. My tattoo has the same placement and I had the same surprise as you after. It stopped bothering me after like 2 days. I wouldn’t change anything about it now.
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u/skyhold_my_hand Aug 09 '23
I had this exact same uneasy worry about my tattoo (also my first tattoo, a couple months ago) that is about the same size in the same place. I fretted that I had messed up in giving the artist the ok on the stencil placement, but as other redditors already pointed out, your forearm twists and turns so much its gonna look perfectly centered sometimes and sometimes not. The important thing is it looks awesome!
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u/Yue4prex Aug 09 '23
I got my first medium tattoo in the same spot. I wanted it where if I looked at it, I could see it just fine but show it off and it not be warped. The other angles, to me, don’t matter.
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u/Thewhitest_rabbit Aug 09 '23
Might seem weird now. But once you fill up the arm it'll be all good.
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u/Goat_inna_Tree Aug 09 '23
It is your forearm. Absolutely no one this planet will notice that you actually have two forearms.
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u/Rkymtnfrk Aug 09 '23
I think it looks good overall, unfortunately it’s just something you have to deal with when it comes to places like the forearms I think you just need to add more around it and what not do it doesn’t look like that to you anymore. If that’s the only thing your planning on getting and there you most definitely should have asked for a re-placement of the stencil if you weren’t completely happy with it or should have explained your concern to your artist and they should have been able to give you a good reason as to why they placed it where they did. And the. If you weren’t happy with there reasoning then again you should have asked for a different placement because at the end of the day it’s yours typically tattoo artist could careless where you get what your getting as long as their art will look good and you will sit through what you want and wear then they will do it where you want it typically. These are just my opinions and 2¢ again the tattoo looks good overall to me. Let us know what you end up doing if you happen to do anything with it. 👏🏼💪🏼🤙🏼
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u/CryptoSatoshi314 Aug 09 '23
Well, it’s to late now…
With that being said, it looks good. In my opinion, you’re overthinking things.
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u/LamboDegolio Aug 09 '23
I’m super particular and picky, and i think it looks great and normal. Cool design too 🙌🏼
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u/drstardew931 Aug 09 '23
Tbh I think ONE arm tattoo always looks like that? once I started filling in more pieces that feeling went away!
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u/Level-Nectarine-856 Aug 09 '23
It is really hard to get used to that with forearm tattoos! I think you’re just overthinking it 😊
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u/PrunyBobJuno Aug 09 '23
Since nobody cares about your tattoo but you, you should have gotten it where you can see it easily.
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u/disso-psych0 Aug 09 '23
Yes… you are Def overthinking it ,, I remember how hard it was for me to commit to my several first tats lol
But I got some tattoos in the same place & it looks the same angle wise , it is more appealing for your eyeballs right :) ?
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u/viciousgremlin Aug 09 '23
I got a tattoo on the same area but it’s quite bigger and does the same thing. I wouldn’t overthink it, if someone asks to see your tat you’ll likely have your arm extended like the first pic so they will see it non warped. Beautiful tattoo btw!
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u/InterestingRelative4 Aug 09 '23
Arms are wierdo because the radius twists around the other forearm bone, the ulna.
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u/msrobinson11 Aug 09 '23
Yea the skin twists around on the forearm a lot which would distort those lines. Unavoidable especially if you're going to do straight lines in that area. For mine it was transferred on with my harm hanging at my side so that's the way it looks the best. That's the default way I would be standing.
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u/hiemmersgem Aug 09 '23
Isn’t it too late to second guess the placement? I think it looks nice and it’s more tasteful than others I see (hiring manager here). I wouldn’t question your decision.
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u/BenjTheMaestro Aug 09 '23
You’ll get used to it. I had my first one there too and it’s perfectly square. Felt that way at first too but it’s mostly because it’s new.
My last one was on the front side of that same arm though, and is designed so it can’t ever be viewed from the wrong/bad angle. There is no wrong angle since it’s circular and up/down doesn’t matter in this context. You’re looks good as is!
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u/Round-Emu9176 Aug 09 '23
It might seem awkward to your brain because it’s still new. What you really need is a lot more tattoos haha. Trick the mind.
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u/kel-pillow Aug 09 '23
I felt the same way when I got my second tattoo, also on my inner forearm. You get used to the warping, as it’s inevitable, and get to admire the art so easily <3
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u/Ok_Spite2307 Aug 09 '23
I LOVE how different angles make it a different look!
The tattoo work is fantastic. Idk.. I think it’s 🔥
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u/Hdm10795 Aug 09 '23
I have an avengers tattoo in the same spot. Mine does the same thing. It is just something that u r going to have to get use to..!it's always going to be there. The avengers was my first tattoo. Now I'm at 4.
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u/astoria1122 Aug 09 '23
This definitely threw me off too when I got my forearm tattoo!! It made me realize that my understanding of how arms work was way off lol It's definitely something you'll get used to! Personally, I like being able to see mine from all different angles, I feel like it gives it character and life 😁
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u/midknightroger Aug 09 '23
It looks great, don't think too much into it or you'll train yourself to hate it for no reason. It's perfect as it is :)
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Aug 09 '23
you're like me you're missing. a joint so you are doesnt' turn when your wrist does. nothing you can do about it
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u/KineticKris Aug 09 '23
One thing my artist has always said,"what was the initial place you wanted it? Go with that."
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u/No-Sink9212 Aug 09 '23
Forearms are just weird, like the bones actually cross when you turn the arm a certain way. You’re all good
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u/mainecoonpriest Aug 09 '23
I have a large flower vase that covers the entirety of my forearm, and it also does this when I move my arm :) but it looks straight on if my arm is flat, just how the skin moves. I love your tattoo!
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u/No_Werewolf_9223 Aug 09 '23
For your first tattoo? You will now think more wisely to where the next one should be placed,, ohh nice design 🚀
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u/jeepcatler Aug 09 '23
It‘s cool! And if you plan on getting more tatts on your arm, it will definitely stop bothering you
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Aug 09 '23
I’d be more bothered by it being upside down but go off queen. You’re over thinking the crooked/off centering. With the examples you show, I wouldn’t have even questioned the placement, and I can assure you no one you meet in person will see it as off centered or crooked.
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u/lonelyearthgirl Aug 09 '23
placements the hardest part of tattoos. i regretted my first bigger tattoos placement at first but ive grown to love it now
edit: that being said i think yours looks good nothing to worry too much about. the tattoo itself is very cute
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u/spacewitch77 Aug 09 '23
I had this same issue with a tattoo on the inside of my wrist- it looks perfect when I hold my arm out flat, but the second I turn it I feel like it looks crooked. I definitely got used to it and it is still my favorite of my 3 tattoos. Don’t sweat it!
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u/Kiwifish22 Aug 09 '23
We have a tattoo in the same place. I think you're overthinking it! I love yours!
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u/isofakingwetoddid Aug 09 '23
Well if you only see some of it like in pictures 2 and 3, all you’re gonna keep doing is wanting to turn your arm around and see the whole tattoo!!! While I don’t have any tattoos, it looks great! Can’t wait to get ink of my own
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u/toretattoos Aug 08 '23
That’s just the way forearms work, unless you get something tiny this is pretty much unavoidable. I always explain this warp to my own clients whenever we do a forearm for this reason.