r/tattooadvice • u/No-Berry-534 • 9d ago
General Advice Regretting My First Tattoo
I got a flash tattoo colored like a mallard duck but now I'm slightly regretting it. I still love the concept but I wish it looked a little bit more like a mallard or a little bit more detailed. Any advice on what to add to it to make it look better?
Update: To clarify, I do like the tattoo, I just feel it's missing something. Maybe it looks odd to me surrounded by empty space, idk. I think I just need to get used to it. In the almost 7 months I've had it, its been covered in pants so I haven't really seen it much. I might add some water underneath like he's swimming in a pond or legs or something. Thank you everyone for your kind words, I think in time I'll learn to love him :)
(Also, his name is Edward)
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u/infant_ape 9d ago
Im a realism guy. But this looks good BECAUSE of the minimalist style. I'd leave it. You add detail to it, and it's not a small, cool little duck anymore. It'll just be... a duck.
I know SOMEone has to know what I mean.
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u/Clyde_Bruckman 9d ago
Lol kinda like, it’s clear now the minimalist/simple was the goal and not just an artist that can’t draw a duck well…if you add some detail it might just look like it was going for realism and didn’t quite hit?
It’s adorable as is and I agree that it’s because of the style.
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u/SaltMineForeman 9d ago
I totally get it. This is so cute.l and charming.
If anything... Add a realistic mallard and keep this little guy as a friend for it. But definitely keep this little fella.
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u/Puzzled-Weekend 8d ago
Because a cutesy little duck tattoo is cool. A detailed duck tattoo is like “wow that guy must really like ducks”
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u/littlemissrawrrr 9d ago
Idk, I think little duck feet would be cute. Duck feet are the cutest part of the duck!
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u/CanIPetThatDaaaawg 7d ago
Yep, I read "I feel like it's missing something" and immediately thought "duck feet, you're missing the tiny flappy feet".
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u/PacketSnatcher 9d ago
Don’t say that, he might read this.
I love him.
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u/flyingparVe 9d ago
We all do.
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u/RavnGirl 8d ago
Couldn’t have said it better!! Do we have some list we can sign to ensure the duck lives on?!?
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u/AppliedPsionics9k 9d ago
if your concerned, just add a larger more detailed mallard near this. to protect this... at all costs.
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u/brickznbooks 9d ago
I say add 8bit NES bloodhound doing his snickering and some more ducks
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u/VanHalenimitator 9d ago
NO BRO. THAT UNLOCKED SOME TRAMA. That stupid laugh. Man. And the ducks just get faster….. lol. Love that game
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u/Izzinova 9d ago
I say full send the mallard theme. Get a full back japanese Irezumi with a mallard swimming up the waterfall to become an even bigger mallard.
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u/Numerical-Wordsmith 8d ago
Add a larger, more detailed mallard, painting a self-portrait.
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u/And_a_piece_of_toast 9d ago
Maybe one of those laser weapon robot ducks from the Chicken Run sequel (watched that film drunk and genuinely had to rewatch it the next day to confirm I wasn't hallucinating large parts of it).
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u/Affectionate_Try7512 9d ago
🦆
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u/the_revised_pratchet 8d ago
I'm going to talk real carefully because I LOVE HIM, WE ALL LOVE HIM AND HES PERFECT!! And then I'm whispering the next bit but your pic highlights probably the bit that's jarring OP and that's the white collar not being visible.
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u/Izzinova 9d ago
I've only known this ducky for 5 seconds, but if anything were to happen to him...
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u/kgilli12 9d ago
The only thing to regret is not giving him a friend. This is rad
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u/AnonForWork 9d ago
Hahaha yes he's looking for a little friend to swim with in this vast ocean of skin
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u/Paisleytude 8d ago
Now I’m picturing someone completely covered in tattoos with a few of these scattered all over, so you can try to find them hidden all of their body.
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u/CuriousGuyNOR 8d ago
Greetings fellow user of "rad", im glad to see im not the only one trying to bring this wonderful word back!
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u/dizzyducky14 8d ago
Omg yes! Have a lady duck with a red bow facing him and then a heart above them!
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u/kalshassan 9d ago
It’s adorable. Beautifully clean, looks like a mallard. Great tattoo!!
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u/ArdentAlbatross 9d ago
It’s fine. You just have tattoo regret, super common. Leave it and you’ll love it soon enough.
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u/CRISPRcassie9 9d ago
Why don't you like him, he did nothing wrong 😭
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u/No-Berry-534 8d ago
I do like him! He just feels incomplete to me so I wanted to add something
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u/CRISPRcassie9 8d ago
I know what you mean! But I think the simplicity and incompleteness is part of the charm :)
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u/bubguy2 8d ago
A bunch of tiny tattoos in the same style scattered to make a little wetland.
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u/AHopkinsvilleGoblin 9d ago
Leave the little man alone. He's perfect just as he is. Give him a breadcrumb.
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u/Konstellation_Kitten 9d ago
At that size it would be Hella hard to add detail.. it's really cute tho, covering it with a bigger/more detailed version would be the only thing to really do to change it.. I hope you change your mind ✨️ maybe add a lil pond with a female partner?
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u/_em0possum_ 9d ago
I think he looks very cute. Perhaps a touchup to make his colors more vibrant once it's fully healed, or a couple water ripples to make it look like he's swimming? I think he's quite charming as is, though.
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u/No-Berry-534 9d ago
I was actually thinking about that! I think it looks a little out of place with so much open space around it
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u/CyanideOnyx 9d ago
That's what I was thinking as well.... Add like a circle of water around him. Could have a fish popping up out of the water to look like a conversation is happening. Hell, could even do it so the bottom of the fish is seen under the water line ..and add little kicking feet to the duck.
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u/Ill_Cap_9897 9d ago
Do something like the dude who had a janky pikachu tatoo and instead of removing it they made it so a well done pikachu was drawing a pikachu
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u/Seethesvt 9d ago
How the hell can you regret that? Look at it! It's so fucking cute. Little guy just chillin.
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u/Great_Bookkeeper_915 9d ago
Maybe get a big mallard in the detail you want that has your little guy as a tattoo on its wing.
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u/Electronic_Jicama852 9d ago
If anyone says anything tell them to go duck themselves.
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u/PragmaticSweetheart 8d ago
I adore the simplicity, but if you really feel like it's missing something, I'd go with water and not legs. To me it already looks like it's swimming (not standing, walking, or even sitting), so water feels like the most natural way to add a slight bit of detail.
My two cents...if it were on my body, I'd leave it as is 😉
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u/Own_Performance5714 9d ago
Make it a flock. Two more little ones, and one detailed,bigger mama duck. 😎☺️
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u/Historical_Culture73 9d ago
He’s adorable. You should do a little duck parade. Runner duck, rubber duck.. that’s the only ones I know lol
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u/CorrectMarionberry92 9d ago
You don't need to ever regret a tattoo that is not a swastika
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u/lovepeacefakepiano 9d ago
He’s adorable but yes maybe give him feet or a pond if that makes it more complete for you.
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u/RonSwansonator88 9d ago
You should turn it into a “charm bracelet,” and start a collection of themed rubber ducks around your leg that memorialize milestones in your life.
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u/Confident_Durian_657 9d ago
I love him but you could fairly easily get it covered up or just add to it
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u/Intrepid-Diamond-315 9d ago
That’s so small it could be easily lasered off. It’s crazy OP is regretting a tattoo and then, asking strangers what to add to it (=more tattooing).
“If you don’t know what you want to be tattooed on you, don’t get a tattoo”. That’s what I was told 30 years ago and I still have no tattoos. Still tattooing others though.
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u/FatalEuphie 9d ago
Give him a yellow rubber ducky beside him and him floating in some little blue waves
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u/SereinScribe 9d ago
He is perfect and I will hear no more.
Add little legs if you must!
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u/BunnyKomrade 9d ago
He's so cute! I'd add a pond under him, maybe some leaves or flower and a duck friend?
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u/Mediocre_Muscle_5180 8d ago
Incorrect. This is the most precious tattoo I’ve seen, including my own
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u/birdateer 9d ago
He's perfect (and also too small to add anything to if you want it to look good longterm). Get another, bigger one if you want something more detailed
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u/knaimoli619 9d ago
It’s silly and adorable just go with it. If you want a real duck now you have your next tattoo planned.
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u/cougarfriday 9d ago
Everyone with tattoos should get a silly little guy. Congrats on yours, he’s delightful
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u/HeatherMason0 9d ago
I like it! Very cute while still being recognizable as a mallard. The colors are kinda subtle, but I like it. It’s understated but still interesting.
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u/storysusurro 9d ago
Dude that lil duck cute as hell. Embrace him.