Black Swan Tattoo Company Updates & Information

Straightforward content for the tattoo enthusiast

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Jason Metka Jason Metka

Irezumi goals can be achieved in Austin, Texas - one session at a time

We often see really inspirational photos of full body Irezumi tattoos from Japan, where it all began. It can feel out of reach, impossible, expensive… even painful to imagine the time and commitment it took to achieve. But how inspired are you to make it happen for yourself?

Japanese Irezumi Dragon Koi Lotus water clouds leg sleeve for men in color

Large scale tattoo work requires a dedication to persevere, through the tedious minute after minute of needle annoyances on your skin. Whatever motivates you to get tattooed; to look cooler, transform, grieve, express yourself, add some color to a blank slate, to tell a story… it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of your plans. It all comes down to you in the tattoo room with your artist, pushing through discomfort to make your way to the finish line one session at a time.

In progress Freehand Japanese Leg Sleeve In Color

A common concern when approaching a new large scale tattoo design is can I sit for a longer session? If you want it, you will - and you can prove to yourself that you are capable of doing hard things to get what you are after. Some people prefer to sit in the moment and relax to get through each appointment, others bring headphones and zone out to their preferred music, and of course the client who needs to talk a bit to distract themselves. Each person will find a way to make it happen, but it requires patience and follow through to get the results in those stunning photos of adorned, patterned bodies.

Once you have a concept in mind and you’ve considered options to land on a general idea - we offer a chance to discuss your tattoo goals at our studio; which is free and no obligation to move forward. Some people are ready to book right away, and others need time to mull things over before launching into a project; there is no pressure either way to commit. But information goes a long way; and gathering more details on what your plans include gets you closer to making them a reality.

If you are local to Austin, Texas and hoping to discuss your tattoo ideas; click here to find a time on our calendar to come in for a complimentary consultation.

For our traveling clients out of area, you can either submit an inquiry form here to start the process; or simply select a consultation appointment from the calendar and we can host a virtual call for clients out of area. You can also visit our FAQ page for general information and frequently asked questions in the meantime. We are here to help however - and if you haven’t read through our Google reviews from our awesome clients; scroll to the bottom of this page to read through some of our client’s experiences getting their large scale Japanese work done.

Testimonials from some of our large scale project clients on their experience making their tattoo goals happen with us.

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Jason Metka Jason Metka

Japanese Color Koi Tattoo Sleeve : finished in 3 full day sessions.

Japanese Color Double Koi Tattoo Sleeve done in Austin Texas private tattoo studio

Double Koi Tattoo Sleeve: water and wind bar background with sakura blossoms.

A common question we get from new clients is how long does it take to finish a tattoo sleeve? There are many variables involved such as subject matter, the size of the person’s arm and the amount of detail the client has in mind for their overall style direction. But for something like this example of a Japanese inspired double koi sleeve (from wrist to the top of the shoulder) three full day tattoo sessions is an accurate estimate. The first session involves drawing the design on to fit the client’s body/musculature and tattooing the outline with some initial shading. The second session is dedicated to background and ongoing shading work. And in this case, the third and final session was adding color to the koi and cherry blossom elements. For the initial sleeve start session a full day booking is required to allow proper time to get the entire sleeve design laid out. But for clients who are newer to getting tattooed and a bit apprehensive to sit for additional full day sessions; it is easy to switch to half day visits for the ongoing work after the first full day to chip away until the sleeve is complete. Of course we always suggest a consultation to confirm the details for each client’s specific plans; so get in touch to get more information for planning your next tattoo!

Colorful Japanese Inspired Men's Tattoo Sleeve with black and grey background

Freehand tattoo sleeve finished in three full day sessions.

Men's colorful Japanese Tattoo Sleeve with koi fish and cherry blossoms

Custom tattoo sleeve featuring two koi fish, florals and background.

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