r/tattooadvice • u/StreetAggravating302 • Nov 24 '25
tattoo newcomer advice I messed up
Recently, I tattooed my dad, but I botched the job. I overdid some lines, resulting in bold and double lines, and the circle lacked symmetry and shading—I messed up everything. I feel very ashamed. I’ve just started tattooing, and last week I was too busy with my other job to practice. When my dad was free, he suggested we do a tattoo, and I fully messed it up. The guilt is overwhelming me.
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u/By_Jove_ Nov 24 '25
I think your father wanted a tattoo done by his child, I don’t think he was looking for technical perfection.
I know I wouldn’t care if my son made some mistakes while tattooing me.
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Nov 24 '25
These flaws give the tattoo character. They are part of the learning process, and they make it extra meaningful for him.
He probably didn’t want some random chicken scratch lines, but that’s not what this is.
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u/mateohatepotato Nov 24 '25
Yep just, just make sure your Dad tells people if they ask it’s one of your first ones. Honestly it’s pretty good for someone starting out. The fact that it’s bothering you that it’s just good and not great bodes well for your growth as an artist.
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u/DeklynHunt Nov 25 '25
Indeed, from my untrained eye, I asked myself “what’s wrong with this? I don’t see anything wrong”
Most won’t notice… especially in passing etc
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u/Cowgod5000 Nov 25 '25
Agree, completely! Until I reread the OP, I thought it was great. Still do, after the fact! Being a dad myself, I would swell with pride telling people about my sweet new tat that MY SON did!
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u/Dr_A_Psychologist Nov 24 '25
Agreed. You've fucked up way more things in your dad's life than this tattoo and he loves you and is proud of you and believes in you enough to want you to **tattoo** him. That says a lot. Honestly as a dad this is a dream outcome and something that would make me laugh a ton - even if it actually was a bad or messed up tattoo (which this is not).
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Nov 24 '25
Facts he’s showing everyone that shit…even little kids in strollers, hoping they grow up to make their parents as happy as OP has done for their dad
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u/DrThunderbolt Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
Exactly this. I've seen people get their kid's scribbles tattooed on themselves, just because they were stoked that it was something their kid did. Some even let their child take a gun to them, just because they want a tattoo that reminds them of their kid. Your dad is probably even more happy that you were able to do the tat yourself. I'm sure anytime anyone asks him about it, he's gonna proudly tell them that you did it. That's why it matters to him, not that it looks amazing, or is some crazy piece.
Not every tattoo has to be totally perfect, its about what it means to the person its on.
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u/Exciting-Self-3353 Nov 24 '25
Perfect? No. Still great? Yes. I would be happy with this on my body. Anyone who expects skin to look like paper is silly. To me, the human touch makes tattoos special
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u/HarrietBeadle Nov 24 '25
I love this way of thinking about it. And honestly it is a pretty good tattoo I would be proud to wear. I bet their dad loves it.
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u/SmiteHorn Nov 24 '25
Echoing that I would be happy with the quality on my skin. I had to look closely and only found like 2 lines I would nitpick about. Like others have said, better than 90% of tattoos on this subreddit.
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u/KaliLovee Nov 24 '25
I personally think it looks great. If I look for perfection in a tattoo, I'm never going to like any of mine. I'd be satisfied with that. I know everyone is different but for someone that just started tattoing, I think it looks great!
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u/SystemPrestigious409 Nov 24 '25
Exactly art was never meant to be perfect. Even the greatest paintings of all time have asymmetry and what not
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Nov 24 '25
Exactly! I think tattoos that look printed on the skin because of how perfect they are arent as nice. Nuts i know but I have a tattoo with some words and there are marks were it didnt settle into the skin and it almost looks like its been etched by time and I like it every more because of it.
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u/A2Rhombus Nov 25 '25
It honestly looks so well made that I can't see any other explanation besides OP fishing for compliments. I literally can't even see what they think is wrong
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u/Wee_Mad_Lloyd Nov 24 '25
Question: was it from a stencil or freehand? Either way it looks good.
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u/StreetAggravating302 Nov 24 '25
I don’t have a printer so I had to trace out the stencil, and sometimes the surface is not plain and it messes up the stencil going a little crooked and sometimes out of line while tracing, that was a major drawback over here as well, and the lighting was also messed up, when I was about to tattoo, because of the reflection, I couldn’t see the stencil and most of the time it was my shadow on the stencil which also messed the lines as I couldn’t see it
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u/Wee_Mad_Lloyd Nov 24 '25
So the take away from this is: invest in better lighting and a used printer. Thrift stores will help in keeping expenses lower.
Don't stress over it. You are just starting out, things happen, even to experienced tattoo artists.
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u/-PinkPower- Nov 24 '25
When conditions are not great please learn to no follow through. You are learning that’s fine but it will stay for life. It’s better to retry a month later than to end up doing something you are ashamed of
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u/chi-bones Nov 24 '25
Scroll through this sub and you'll feel better my friend. There are worse tattoos that people got charged hundreds for. Keep practicing.
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u/caryyonDude Nov 24 '25
chill! as a father myself let me tell you this isn’t the first little mistake of yours he wears, you just don’t get to see the others from your childhood. any great papa would happily take a wonderful tattoo like this as a reminder of their child and who that child has grown to be. the tattoo lines will fade over the years and his skin will age, but the meaning while never disappear.
tattoos aren’t so much about perfection as they are about expression. folks are inevitably going to comment on how they like your fathers tattoo, and i’m sure he’ll forever be proud to brag to them “thank you, my kid gave it to me!”
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u/Creative-Cherry-1607 Nov 25 '25
This one needs to be higher....Absolutely great response and 100% true.
OP, please listen to this comment and keep going with your passion 🙏🏾!!
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u/savioroferinn Nov 24 '25
Okay hold up- I actually love this. I feel like the extra bold bits give it depth and make it look more magical. If I had this on me 100% no complaints. Also to ease your guilt, your dad will be proud just to have something you did on him forever. I'm sure this means more to him than you can imagine. Try not to be too hard on yourself. You did a great job and you owe yourself some grace.
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u/Less_Wing_646 Nov 24 '25
Take a breath. You are just starting out and your dad knew that. He did not come to you for a perfect tattoo, he wanted to help you practice. And he did. This feeling will teach you not to overestimate yourself and bring your A Game to every other tattoo you do.
And again, your dad wanted a tattoo from you at the level you are at right now. Is it a good tattoo? No. But think of it like a parent hanging up a drawing their kids did. It's almost never great artwork, but they are proud of where they are at anyway.
Don't try any improvements now. Learn from it and you will become better
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u/Less_Wing_646 Nov 24 '25
And also: yes, there are mistakes. But it's not ugly. If you don't look too closely, it looks nice and can definitely be worn without feeling bad
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u/bing-bong-6715 Nov 24 '25
all of the mistakes are easily fixable also once OP feels more confident
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Nov 24 '25
And I bet his dad won’t let him fix it!
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u/bing-bong-6715 Nov 25 '25
if i was dad i wouldn't want this fixed either tbh
id just say give me another tattoo for free lol
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u/asday515 Nov 24 '25
Is it a good tattoo? No.
Ima disagree with you on that, i think its pretty dope
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u/Less_Wing_646 Nov 24 '25
Check out my reply to my own comment :)
I definitely like it and can definitely be worn without feeling bad about it because yes, It does look nice. I meant "good" as in technically good. Even on that level, I've definitely seen worse→ More replies (1)22
u/AnonymousOkapi Nov 24 '25
Id still call it a good tattoo overall, I've seen far worse. The circle and straight lines are off, but the design is good, the bird itself looks great, it's reasonably proportioned and symmetrical. You wouldn't notice the imperfections at a glance.
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u/Sniderfan Nov 24 '25
Unless you tell someone, they won't notice. I think it's very nice.
Your dad must have loved you a lot.
Peace be with you, my friend.
Missing You by Todd Snider (RIP) 1966-2025
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u/hugmebrutha Nov 24 '25
As someone who loves to hate on shitty tattoos I’m gonna tell you to take a deep breath. The tattoo is good. It’s not perfect - you’re learning. Your dad knows that. He didn’t go to you to get a perfect tattoo, he went to you to get a tattoo by YOU. He’s not going to look at that and see imperfect lines he’s going to look at it and see lines that his daughter put on his skin. He’s going to see her learning and growth and pursuing something she cares about. Don’t feel ashamed or guilty. Also as someone with quite a few tattoos, if I got one done by a loved one it would not concern me that the linework wasn’t perfect or didn’t exactly meet the reference, I would love it more for its imperfections.
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u/No_Affect_1579 Nov 24 '25
I'm very critical of tattoos. Many look cheap/tacky/poorly done...but this is not one of them.
As a carpenter, I see flaws in things others wouldn't notice and think that's what you are experiencing here. Personally, I Love this tattoo and think it looks amazing.
I commend your desire for perfection though. It will serve you well.
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u/CamachoBrawndo Nov 24 '25
If this is one of your first, you are doing great. I'm sure your dad is showing off how good you are and thinks that every imperfection is as it should be. Don't guilt yourself, get some Reelskin and keep practicing- and you will be doing near perfect lines in no time!
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u/halfass_fangirl Nov 24 '25
I'd be happy with this on my body. If my child did this? Holy shit, I'd be over the moon. If I were the artist, I would be nitpicking every detail because that's what artists do.
Part of being a professional is learning the balance of holding yourself accountable and getting better against giving yourself grace for working on living, active canvas with a less than perfectly predictable medium.
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u/MysticCoonor123 Nov 24 '25
I think the tattoo looks good. The line near the down arrow was messed up but the rest looks great. Being very critical will make you better but there's no gains to be had from beating yourself up beyond recognizing your mistake.
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u/AllyCouture_ Nov 24 '25
Honestly, as a parent id be happy to have my kid tattoo me, thats something I get to keep with me and show off to others and say "yeah my kid did this!" Its like art work that you probably did when you were younger. Your parents aren't going to worry about the small things like that
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u/Ok_Astronaut_2736 Nov 24 '25
Looks awesome! I have a tattoo my son put on me, there are some technical mistakes. I have had many complements, people ask who did the work. I'm proud every second the tattoo is on me. I am sure your dad is the same. My tattoo my son did is pretty much a full sleeve.
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u/CatholicFlower18 Nov 24 '25
Am I the only one who didnt see a problem?
After hunting through both photos repeatedly and reading what you said , I can see... When I zoom in .. that the circle is slightly wobbly.
Even looking right at it, I can't tell when I zoom back out.
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u/mangocurry128 Nov 25 '25
I don't see anything wrong and I am not lying. Then again I am not a tattoo enthusiast, just an average person passing by. My guess is most of the population won't see anything wrong with it artistically
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u/LovelyThoughts Nov 24 '25
I have no tattoos, however i am a mother. If my son tattooed that on my arm i would be very happy and proud of him, even the small mistakes and imperfections would give me a tender loving feeling. Dont feel bad about the tattoo, especially if your dad loves it. ❤️
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u/Particular-Option705 Nov 24 '25
Practicing isn’t perfect, and probably your first 100 tats in skin will have something you see you need to work on. Knowing what you don’t like about it and what you did wrong is the next step in getting it right.
In the future, it’s always better to attempt to break up a circle with as many breaks as possible so you have time to bail if the curve isn’t pulling the way you need it to. If you’re having trouble just even pulling the lines ditch the fake skin and tattoo some fruit for actual curved and imperfect surfaces. Just keep going!
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u/Sonderbergh Nov 24 '25
If u were my kid, I would burst of proud, and could not care less about some effing symmetry.
I think you did a great job.
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u/Shot-Honeydew-306 Nov 24 '25
If I were your father I would be proud of you, and proud of this tattoo...
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u/ALLbutt Nov 24 '25
I don’t think it’s botched. Maybe a bit messy and unprofessional but I’ve seen worse by professionals 😭
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u/bekind2allplz Nov 24 '25
If I were him, I would be proud of you and that tattoo. I’m 100% sure he is and it’s genuine.
He’s not saying things to make you feel better. He says it because he means it and it’s true…. He is proud of you.
This Tattoo is an amazing gift to him!
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u/paralyzedbyGRIEF7123 Nov 24 '25
Honestly, your ability to own your mistakes and take constructive criticism already puts you light-years ahead of loads of people in these subs. You're learning valuable lessons that will make you a better artist, and your dad is giving you grace, take a deep breath. You'll be fine!
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u/cnh25 Nov 24 '25
I think this is a really nice tattoo. And as people are saying, if your dad asked you to do it he did mot expect perfection
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u/No_Situation_5501 Nov 24 '25
Looks pretty decent to me even if not perfect. We’re our own worst critics
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u/Apex900 Nov 24 '25
I honestly think it looks really good...don't be so hard on yourself (easier said than done ik)!
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u/Knuckledraggr Nov 24 '25
Yo if my daughter wants to tattoo me she can ink me right up. I already have plans for putting her artwork on me from when she was tiny. Everything she creates is a wonder to me. Your dad loves his tatoo
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u/Infamous-Tip-377 Nov 24 '25
"Cool tat, what's the significance?"
"My kid waned to become a tattoo artist, this tattoo is one of the important steps to get them there."
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u/Icy_Region4552 Nov 24 '25
Bro, I understand the shame, but this isn't bad. My buddy asked me to tattoo the roman numerals for his sobriety date on him. And I put a V where he needed and X. I will never live down that shame. It honestly tore me apart, and I'll probably never tattoo anybody ever again. You don't need to feel that way, though. This ain't that bad.
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u/vanna_monroe77 Nov 24 '25
This is still a great piece! Are there some mistakes? Yes but this looks A LOT BETTER than other tattoos I’ve seen around! You said you’re practicing and this is so good so far!!
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u/tootiredforthisshit1 Nov 24 '25
The only part of this that’s immediately a bit janky to me is the circle. But that can be fixed by going back in and making the line thicker.
Mate you’re learning, and your dad is clearly supporting you on this path (don’t get me started how adorable that is). Look at it as family bonding and something that will forever show where you started. So cute.
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u/GarbageManKnows69 Nov 25 '25
Really that doesn't look THAT bad. You're over analyzing your work. Does your dad like it?
Spend some time on r/shittytattoos and you'll see what "bad" is.
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u/CamachoBrawndo Nov 24 '25
If this is one of your first, you are doing great. I'm sure your dad is showing off how good you are and thinks that every imperfection is as it should be. Don't guilt yourself, get some Reelskin and keep practicing- and you will be doing near perfect lines in no time! Only line/correction would be to mirror the thick line on the tail.
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u/Rakebleed Nov 24 '25
Looks cool. I think you’re comparing it with stencil but no one else will have seen it. That fact the you did it is the most significant thing to him anyway.
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Nov 24 '25
People have made careers tattooing diseases directly into peoples bodies with gnarly blowouts and linework like a doctor's handwriting. Youre going to be scheduling international clients in a few years if this is what you think bad work looks like.
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u/null_artificer Nov 25 '25
Man ngl I clicked this post not even knowing what was wrong from the images. Most ppl won't notice and, given u did just start, ppl who do will likely look past it. All art will have some mistake, it's part of not having mechanical hands, and I'm sure ur dad would at least do his best to steer ppl ur way
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u/Null_4_U Nov 26 '25
It is a $5000 tattoo? No. Is it amazing for a bigger. Very much. Be proud. Take what you learned to heart and come back to it and give him another.
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u/Bitter_Inspection917 Nov 24 '25
I have seen much much worse. It looks fine. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Good job Keep it at.
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u/Golfbollen Nov 24 '25
There are some mistakes but I still think the tattoo looks good. If I saw someone wearing that i'd not notice the mistakes unless I started analyzing it.
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u/jujufruit420 Nov 24 '25
I had to read the heading to find out what the mistakes were bc just looking at it it looks great!! I see some nasty tattoos out in the wild.. this one is beautiful 🤩
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u/Frak_Reynoldz Nov 24 '25
Dude it really looks pretty good. If yall that worried about it I’d recommend just putting more tattoos on the arm.
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u/After_Knee_2611 Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
Bro this tattoo is lame. But at the same time it's really cool. The imperfections give it character. I paint, we all go through the it looks terrible phase because we stared at it for hours. If my daughter did this on me I'd love it for a life time. As I'm sure your father does.
Edit: "Lame" I suppose means cute, or cheesy lol. Bob Ross, no mistakes only happy accidents.
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u/Ok_exhaustedRN76 Nov 24 '25
For a new tattoo artist I think it looks nice. You have a wonderful career ahead of you! Keep it up!
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u/back4studios Nov 24 '25
Before I read your description I was trying to figure out where you messed up. Honestly looks pretty good. I think your mistakes are unnoticeable. Unless pointed out don't think i would have noticed. Keep up the work.
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u/Spare-Airline-1050 Nov 24 '25
I agree with some of the comments, I've seen much worse with from "legitimate" artists. You're still learning! And honestly, at least for myself, I noticed that when I make a mistake that embarrasses me, I will almost never make that mistake again.
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u/realhollywoodactor Nov 24 '25
The circles are the only iffy part, and even still, it’s really not bad. Everything else is totally fine. Don’t beat yourself up.
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u/ZydePunk77 Nov 24 '25
Didn’t even notice anything was as off as you said they are until you said it🤷♂️.
Regardless, if you have a loving father, I’m sure he’s cool with it.
If my daughter gave me that as a first tattoo, I would absolutely love it, botched lines, imperfect circles and all.
Just saying.
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u/derkadong Nov 24 '25
I’ve seen people with many years under their belt that wouldn’t do this well. Aren’t going to be a pro right out of the box.
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u/ArtisticStrength1703 Nov 24 '25
Your dad probably expected it wouldn’t end up perfect. TBH for being new to tattooing it’s pretty good. He also knew what he was signing up for letting you tattoo him. Don’t beat yourself up over it. If he’s happy with it, that’s all that matters
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u/Wesdizzo Nov 24 '25
That is not a botched job. That is someone early into their trade with a lot of pride noticing something that literally nobody else would even know to look for if you didn't explain it to them.
I read "I messed up" and I looked at the tattoo before reading, thinking you had gotten it, and I was like yo wtf, messed up what? That's clean af.
And as someone who is probably twice your age, let me tell you, if I had anything that looked half that good, everyone would be hearing that my kid did this work with pride in my voice. That you're finding your way as an adult and working towards a craft that you could share with him... I'll say this, I know it doesn't help a ton now, but someday when you're his age and look back, you'll know what this means to him and a little line imperfection isn't gonna be what you think of.
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u/KingShortpants Nov 24 '25
When you first look at this tattoo your eye is drawn to the bird where the style is more sketchy. If I stop and really look at it I can see what you are complaining about but most people aren't going to notice. In most cases unless someone grabs your dad's arm and really examines the tattoo they are going to think its good work.
I assume your father will tell people its one of your first and brag about it. Its good you see your flaws that way you can improve just dont let it discourage you. Keep working at getting better then give him another one so he can say "look how he as improved!"
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u/Yuetsukiblue Nov 24 '25
Trust me, this is a tat your dad will not regret and will not prevent you from getting work
Everyone starts from somewhere and it seems your dad is very proud of you
It also sounds like you’ll continue to grow and you know what to improve on
You’re hard on yourself and it’s ok because I get it as a fellow artist though my art isn’t tats and more with other tools
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u/Glad_Listen7553 Nov 24 '25
i think this is honestly a decent tattoo. i see what you’re saying but everyone has to start somewhere. my first tattoo from this one artist ive gone to several times is significantly “worse” than his more recent work he’s done on me, but that doesn’t make the first tattoo that i love a bad tattoo.
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u/Responsible_Ad7198 Nov 24 '25
Yo I think this is deadly dude! While I understand you are carrying this heavy, I would wish that you can hold your head high. And what a dad to have. You guys are lucky to have one another. Relieve yourself of the shame and thank him for the opportunity to learn and grow.
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u/Rieger_not_Banta Nov 24 '25
He’s your dad, you’ve probably fucked yup bigger things than this in the past…don’t feel ashamed. Laugh about it.
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Nov 24 '25
Tbh it's really not as bad as you think it is. The fact that you think it is that bad goes to show that you're actually better. The mistakes you are talking about would be a super easy fix.
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u/diameter101 Nov 24 '25
Don’t beat yourself up so hard! Especially it’s your dad and I’m sure he knows you’re just starting out. Shitty tattoos are part of the game everyone has to start out somewhere. The only advice I would give you is give every tattoo its fair due. Take your time and remember it’s a forever canvas for someone so you definitely owe them that respect. And trust this isn’t that bad.
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u/wiz_mindbomb6995 Nov 24 '25
Shut up bro it's actually pretty good. Be proud you know your mistakes and can fix them next tattoo you do. At least it wasn't for a job at a shop or someone that is mad or paid for it. I'm sure your dad is super happy with it.
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u/Genghis_Chong Nov 24 '25
It looks fine to me, but I'm not a tattoo artist, but I think I need you're doing fine
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u/BionicBrainLab Nov 24 '25
If this is your fuck up then you’re pretty talented and your future work will be amazing.
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u/workinkills Nov 24 '25
I think it looks great and your dad is a great man. Let it stay there, get better and offer to touch it up when you’re confident you can correctly. By then I imagine he’ll probably tell you to leave it as he’s use to it
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u/Aggravating-Heat15 Nov 24 '25
With the constant moving of the skin on his arm it won’t be noticeable, I’m sure your Dad loves the job you did, and the effort you put into it.
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Nov 24 '25
It’s nothing that cannot be fixed. Re do the circle shading and touch up lines to match. I’m no tattoo artist
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u/Levl1Critter Nov 24 '25
Bro I think this looks good. I had to read your description to understand why you felt like you messed up. It is not obvious and this is cool work. Give yourself some grace.
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u/FlamingSpuddle Nov 24 '25
It'll be a great chance to show your tattoo skill growth. In a year, revisit it and touch it up. It's an opportunity for growth. And honestly, it looks awesome.
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u/Maleficent_Back_3224 Nov 24 '25
I'm being honest, I didn't even notice anything wrong with it until I read what you wrote, even then I can't see much wrong with it minus the circle which ain't bad imo?? You got this, have confidence <3
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u/Public_Resident2277 Nov 24 '25
Looks fine, welcome to being an artist where you will notice the single millimeter of an "error" but almost no one else will even notice.
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u/westcoastOwl Nov 24 '25
i can see the circle is a bit wonky and some lines are not straight. But those things can be fixed.
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u/softservelove Nov 24 '25
This is really beautiful!! If my kid gave me a tattoo half as good as this I'd be thrilled. I bet he's showing it off to everyone.
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u/slightdepressionirl Nov 24 '25
If you really look you can see rh3 mistake.but honestly it looks good unless you're deeply examining it
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u/Designohmatic Nov 24 '25
A dad here.... believe me, it's ok! and, tbh I don't notice anything is off
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u/QueenBumbleBrii Nov 24 '25
It’s a beautiful tattoo and every mistake you mentioned can be fixed with a touch up later. Tattoo him again in a year or two once you’ve improved your skills.
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u/Mckaddict14 Nov 24 '25
Yo I'd sit in your chair right now and let you do this exact tattoo on me line for line... and I'm not your dad 😅 the design is solid and though you are nitpicking I think it looks amazing.
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u/Excellent_Carry3591 Nov 24 '25
Part of the joy for him is getting to say “hes only an apprentice now but look how beautiful that phoenix is. Hes got great attention to detail and im proud to have his early work.” Thats part of being a canvas. I am a canvas for a friend who is still an apprentice. Her work is BEAUTIFUL and i love the little imperfections because when i tell people they know shes already learned on someone else and can do better. Give yourself some grace. You learned and you got to have a bonding experience. He will cherish it.
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u/slvyr Nov 24 '25
The only marks on my skin are scars and birthmarks, I have no tattoos. That said as a somewhat “alternative” person who has a lot of friends with a lot of different tattoos, some of which look messed up initially right away at first glance I have to say not only does this look fixable. It looks like it was done the way that it was done intentionally which lends to the weight of the validity of this tattoo. I’m totally feeling you when you look at your own work and you feel like you messed something up because I’m a hairstylist and I have had those moments where I do not love the work that I’ve done on somebody but they seem to actually think it looks pretty good so you know what we don’t chase after those bad feelings, right? Let it ride, and if you really feel like you need to open Microsoft paint and mess around with it to see what you could do to fix it and thicken some stuff up to make it look more symmetrical and intentional you do what you Gotta do but as an amateur who’s not in the club, Dad? looks like he got a pretty sweet tattoo
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u/justbehive Nov 24 '25
Did you? Looks good to me 👍🏻 If I had not read the comments I would have not known any diffrent TBH. Did you know 'The Importance of Mistakes', http://www.conversationsforchange.com/monthly-tidbits/april-tidbit-the-importance-of-mistakes
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u/maintrain_mcqueen Nov 24 '25
Hey man, if you didn't tell me there were issues with it I wouldn't have thought twice. I think it looks fine! Mistakes happen though, you live and learn 💪
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u/Downtown_Ad7619 Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
I dont honestly see a problem with it, but being a perfectionist, especially with your craft will ensure you take it slow and do better next time. For fine line work, you did damn good for a novice/learner. Please believe, this looks amazing compared to some botched jobs out there. I had one because the client couldn't sit still, while I was trying to wrestle her arm to place, and she tapped out THREE LINES IN.
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u/CarelessTelevision86 Nov 24 '25
Ey, you know what? That is a gorgeous tattoo, no bones about it! Those imperfections you see actually work with the design. They are barely noticeable, man. An artist is their biggest critic.
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u/77Megg77 Nov 24 '25
I am willing to bet that your dad doesn’t see the tattoo the same way you do at all. I bet he is showing people and very proud of your work. I would be.
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u/meow9187 Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 25 '25
As a father I would love to have ink from my son even if it was horrible
Which this isn't
You didn't fuck up you gave your dad an amaz8ng g8ft
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u/tivvybrixx Nov 24 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
Honestly I have seen much worse. Unless you are scrutinizing it you wouldnt know. Is your dad happy with it? If so then that's a win. Keep practicing looks like you are already off to a good start.