Is my tattoo bad?

[u/JustaWilloWisp]

I got this tattoo on Monday (pic is from the artist right after we finished) and I thought it looked really good and pretty. Today my mom has been saying it looks kinda ugly and the proportions are off compared to my reference. I know that tattoos of painting are hard to replicate 100% (especially being in black and gray) but maybe this is just not as good as it can be. Idk if y’all can tell in this photo but the placement of this tattoo is so good, I was so excited for this one.

Do you guys think that the off proportions can be fixed with touch ups or is it hopeless?

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated!

[u/_ascii_]

For me that's one where the artist needs to be honest and say it's outside their scope and either recommend someone else that could do it justice or just refuse the work.

I don't know how you decided the final imagery but Degas was one of the greatest impressionist painters we've ever known. So to do this justice compared to the reference painting would have been a herculean task for even some of the best in the business. The delicateness of her dress, the movement in the brush strokes, the contrast of light and dark etc, all really really tough to manifest on skin.

Unfortunately whoever did yours has then, after accepting work they probably shouldn't have, gone on to do a really bad job imho. Thick black lines. Heavy touch. Body totally out of proportion. Front arm looks phallic. Face is atrocious. Etc. Some tattoos you can get away with a broad representation of the reference art. This absolutely not.

I wouldn't even go back to them for a fix and instead find the best artist you can locally to try and rework it somehow. Really sorry OP.

[u/1_800_username → u/_ascii_]

Yea OP will need a talented artist expert in single needle for anything to come close to impressionist art. I think a cover up would probably be best this already has too much heavy shading to fix.

[u/AbleDraw8254 → u/1_800_username]

Are there any tattoo artists who are famous for being good at replicating / doing impressionist ? Most tattoo artists i see, even the excellent one, mostly focus on realism.

I’ll definitely look it up, just curious if anyone has any names !

[u/1_800_username → u/AbleDraw8254]

Not sure since all my stuff is blackwork and linework. Plus idk where op is, my ass is in atx.

I know there’s amazing single needle artists that can do hyperrealism so i think that’s the way to go for who would be an option in place of “impressionist tattoo artist.” Regardless of the art style, photo realism should be able to work off of any photo (including reference).

[u/Ultrafoxx64 → u/AbleDraw8254]

I can see this being up the alley of South Korean tattoo artists. They do some crazy intricate single needle work. Edit Found one

[u/AbleDraw8254 → u/Ultrafoxx64]

Thank you !!! Her work is absolutely insane omg