A Japanese full sleeve is one design that wraps the arm from shoulder to wrist. It is not a collection of small tattoos joined together. The main subject, the background and the flow are planned as a whole before any work begins, so the sleeve reads as one picture from every angle.
At Primitive Tattoo on Barrack Street, Japanese sleeves have been part of what we do since 1997. Our Japanese work is traditional, including tebori, the Japanese method of tattooing by hand.
How a Japanese sleeve is designed
Every traditional sleeve has three parts:
- The main subject: a koi, dragon, tiger, phoenix, hannya mask or a figure from folklore.
- Seasonal flowers: cherry blossom, peony, chrysanthemum or maple, chosen to suit the subject and its meaning.
- The background: wind bars, waves, clouds or rocks. This ties the sleeve together and gives it movement.
The design is drawn to follow your arm: the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist. Big shapes sit where the arm is broad and calm areas sit where the skin bends. That is why a sleeve is drawn for your arm, not taken from a flash sheet.
Choosing a meaning
Each subject carries its own story. Koi swimming upstream stand for strength and perseverance. Dragons stand for wisdom and protection. A tiger with bamboo stands for courage. Your artist will talk you through the meanings at your consult, so the sleeve says what you want it to say.
How long does a full sleeve take?
A full sleeve is built over a series of sessions, with healing time in between. The outline usually comes first, followed by the background and the shading or colour. The number of sessions depends on the size of your arm, the amount of detail and whether the piece is in colour or black and grey. Your artist will give you an honest estimate once they have seen your arm and your idea.
Working FIFO?
If you work fly-in fly-out from Karratha, Port Hedland, Newman, Tom Price or Kalgoorlie, a sleeve is still very doable. Tell us your roster at the consult, and we will plan each session around your days off in Perth, with enough healing time before you fly back to site.
Looking after a sleeve
A sleeve heals in stages, one session at a time. Follow your artist’s aftercare, keep it out of the sun and away from pools while it heals, and use sunscreen once it has healed. Good aftercare keeps the blacks solid and the colours bright for years.
Start with a free consult
The best first step is a conversation. Bring your references, your ideas and any questions to a free consult at our Perth studio, 146 Barrack Street. Have a look through the sleeves in our Art Gallery first, then book your free consult. There’s no obligation to book. Payment is EFTPOS preferred, or cash.
