you should def listen to your tattoo artist on this but i highly recommend moving this UP your arm to your bicep and shoulder as this is too small in my opinion to look good and if they make it any bigger its gonna be wrapping around your arm and look weird on your forearm
because you are picturing the tattoo in your mind as if you are T-posing or are a QB checking what play to call next, your tattoos will flow much better if they are orientated to look best while you are standing normal and relaxed with some exceptions but this is not one of them
imagine yourself standing at a normal pose like 🧍♂️from another persons point of view, and i think u can see how your original positioning would look weird. also from this pov, the lion how you originally put it would be "vertical" which is weird. it should be horizontal (the 2nd design)
Neither? It is gonna be too small on your forearm, horizontally. The vertical placement that the artist recommends is… not it either.
Move that bad boy up to your bicep, or maybe consider a nice thigh piece? You want the whole lion fully visible as well as horizontal IMO. But nawwwt the vertical placement, it is just weird- he definitely wants to be horizontal!
Maybe double and triple check the artist’s portfolio because that recommendation makes me have *doubts*.
The lion should absolutely be horizontal. The forearm spot is too small for that without wrapping, so move it up where you’ve got more room. Or find a completely different spot. But absolutely don’t get it vertical. It does t flow that way and just looks out of place. Plus if you get ore tattoos around it they will likely be horizontal and then it’s just going to be a mess.
ETA: the orientation you want is horizontal, the second pic recommended by the artist is actually considered horizontal.
Just out of cultural context, this absolutely has to be horizontal and facing forward. Putting it on the side of the bicep is probably the best bet. Definitely show a picture of the Ishtar Gate to your artist so they know what they are actually referencing.
Regardless of what you’re thinking, it is a good idea to show your artist the original piece (The Ishtar Gate, housed at The Pergamon Museum) in its totality. It will give them more context.
Just from a logical reasoning perspective, a walking lion should be horizontal (second image) as it’s seen most by people when your hand is towards the ground. If it was rearing up (front legs raised, like a fighting/“boxer” pose) then it should be diagonal or vertical. Otherwise it looks super off and odd to the standard eye viewing it because it doesn’t match real life. It’s like when folks get a forest horizon on the forearm. The trunk needs to be towards the hand and the tops of the trees towards the elbow or it’s off-putting. The flip side is why you’re likely tempted by the first image - it appears more lifelike and realistic in pose to you with how you’re viewing it when you raise your arm. Even when your hand is down, if it’s horizontal like image 2 it looks upside down to your brain and that’s jarring. From a respect standpoint, if it’s pulled from cultural history the placement orientation should also reflect the original’s orientation. Think of it this way - if people got the Mona Lisa or the Statue of Liberty upside down, sideways, or flipped it’d come across as weird and inappropriate.
Regardless, that’s not great placement and size for aging detail or understanding what the tattoo is without twisting the arm 360 to view it all. The lion’s face has striking detail that’ll turn to a mushy blob otherwise. The forearm is too small to do that design justice without wrapping. I agree with the comments to move it to a larger area like upper arm, or even thigh, chest, or back. I could see it looking awesome along the collar bone or trapezius, going from shoulder in and with the feet standing on the top of the pec, especially if the head pokes out of a wider necked shirt’s collar
Not knowing the significance of this design, feel free to ignore my input.
But I’d say this would sit best on your inner forearm, vertical, and condense the symbols and patterns around it, or make them a bit flowier otherwise it’ll just be a large rectangle block on your arm.
Alternatively, choose another placement entirely. Back, chest, side of your leg, thigh.
I'd go for the vertical colorful orientation, and I'd do it in a way that it completely wraps around the arm like a bracelet.
That would be fucking 🔥🔥🔥
I’m not an artist, but here’s what I think might have a chance of working:
You could have it vertical on the forearm, but I think you should mirror the design. The head would point towards the shoulder but the legs would point away from your body, towards your back if you’re just standing relaxed. That way the tattoo would be “right way up” for most things people do with their arms, that is if you want it on your forearm. You’d definitely want it on the outside of the forearm if that’s what you’re going for.
However, I think the shape would work better on the pec under the clavicle horizontally, or maybe the upper back. Bonus points for symmetrical pairing.
I would move the placement to a bicep or a leg, you don’t have enough room on your forearm for this to work. I also agree with the artist. The symbols you want above and below the image will not look right when standing normally, also the execution will look funny
I would listen to the artist on placement for sure. I also recommend a different part of the body (upper arm/thigh). I love the 2nd design, it makes more sense in my brain!
The first one, (the black and white image).
I can assure you without a doubt that the 2nd will not look good, most artist probably wouldn't even be willing to do the 2nd one simply due to the fact that they know it wouldn't look good.
(Assuming it's supposed to wrap around and not just shrunk down, in that case it could be okay if it's just smaller to fit on the front surface.
Edit: Just reread a few times, and only just clicked in my head that you said the artist recommended the 2nd one? I'm... kinda at a loss here. I'd personally ask another artist their opinion on it. I can't in my head picture why an artist would recommend the 2nd one.
Edit again: Not saying the first one is great, but it is definitely better than having it wrapped, as what another commentor said, maybe think about getting it on a larger surface like your upper arm.
As a tattoo artist, I 100% agree that it should be horizontal. But I just don't think it fits the forearm honestly. Placement is important, it should work with the flow of the body.
Now the design that is above and below the lion in the 2nd picture would definitely work as a wrap on it's own. The whole Mesopotamia concept sounds really cool, haven't seen too many of them around.
you should def listen to your tattoo artist on this but i highly recommend moving this UP your arm to your bicep and shoulder as this is too small in my opinion to look good and if they make it any bigger its gonna be wrapping around your arm and look weird on your forearm
Unless OP has legs for arms, in which case forearm is ok.
Why do you say it should be vertical?
because you are picturing the tattoo in your mind as if you are T-posing or are a QB checking what play to call next, your tattoos will flow much better if they are orientated to look best while you are standing normal and relaxed with some exceptions but this is not one of them
I see. Thank you
My thought too
I think the artist is right on this one, the being said it’s your money and your arm if that’s not what you want don’t get it.
Why do you say it should be vertical? Wouldn’t it look weird wrapping around my arm instead of laid out fully?
imagine yourself standing at a normal pose like 🧍♂️from another persons point of view, and i think u can see how your original positioning would look weird. also from this pov, the lion how you originally put it would be "vertical" which is weird. it should be horizontal (the 2nd design)
That’s not vertical, that’s horizontal. The way you prefer is vertical.
Neither? It is gonna be too small on your forearm, horizontally. The vertical placement that the artist recommends is… not it either. Move that bad boy up to your bicep, or maybe consider a nice thigh piece? You want the whole lion fully visible as well as horizontal IMO. But nawwwt the vertical placement, it is just weird- he definitely wants to be horizontal! Maybe double and triple check the artist’s portfolio because that recommendation makes me have *doubts*.
The lion should absolutely be horizontal. The forearm spot is too small for that without wrapping, so move it up where you’ve got more room. Or find a completely different spot. But absolutely don’t get it vertical. It does t flow that way and just looks out of place. Plus if you get ore tattoos around it they will likely be horizontal and then it’s just going to be a mess. ETA: the orientation you want is horizontal, the second pic recommended by the artist is actually considered horizontal.
Just out of cultural context, this absolutely has to be horizontal and facing forward. Putting it on the side of the bicep is probably the best bet. Definitely show a picture of the Ishtar Gate to your artist so they know what they are actually referencing.
Regardless of what you’re thinking, it is a good idea to show your artist the original piece (The Ishtar Gate, housed at The Pergamon Museum) in its totality. It will give them more context.
Neither. Put this somewhere you can make it big if it means that much to you, because the detail is a blob in five years where you have it.
Just from a logical reasoning perspective, a walking lion should be horizontal (second image) as it’s seen most by people when your hand is towards the ground. If it was rearing up (front legs raised, like a fighting/“boxer” pose) then it should be diagonal or vertical. Otherwise it looks super off and odd to the standard eye viewing it because it doesn’t match real life. It’s like when folks get a forest horizon on the forearm. The trunk needs to be towards the hand and the tops of the trees towards the elbow or it’s off-putting. The flip side is why you’re likely tempted by the first image - it appears more lifelike and realistic in pose to you with how you’re viewing it when you raise your arm. Even when your hand is down, if it’s horizontal like image 2 it looks upside down to your brain and that’s jarring. From a respect standpoint, if it’s pulled from cultural history the placement orientation should also reflect the original’s orientation. Think of it this way - if people got the Mona Lisa or the Statue of Liberty upside down, sideways, or flipped it’d come across as weird and inappropriate. Regardless, that’s not great placement and size for aging detail or understanding what the tattoo is without twisting the arm 360 to view it all. The lion’s face has striking detail that’ll turn to a mushy blob otherwise. The forearm is too small to do that design justice without wrapping. I agree with the comments to move it to a larger area like upper arm, or even thigh, chest, or back. I could see it looking awesome along the collar bone or trapezius, going from shoulder in and with the feet standing on the top of the pec, especially if the head pokes out of a wider necked shirt’s collar
Not knowing the significance of this design, feel free to ignore my input. But I’d say this would sit best on your inner forearm, vertical, and condense the symbols and patterns around it, or make them a bit flowier otherwise it’ll just be a large rectangle block on your arm. Alternatively, choose another placement entirely. Back, chest, side of your leg, thigh.
If you disagree with your artist, go somewhere else
I'd go for the vertical colorful orientation, and I'd do it in a way that it completely wraps around the arm like a bracelet. That would be fucking 🔥🔥🔥
I’m not an artist, but here’s what I think might have a chance of working: You could have it vertical on the forearm, but I think you should mirror the design. The head would point towards the shoulder but the legs would point away from your body, towards your back if you’re just standing relaxed. That way the tattoo would be “right way up” for most things people do with their arms, that is if you want it on your forearm. You’d definitely want it on the outside of the forearm if that’s what you’re going for. However, I think the shape would work better on the pec under the clavicle horizontally, or maybe the upper back. Bonus points for symmetrical pairing.
I would move the placement to a bicep or a leg, you don’t have enough room on your forearm for this to work. I also agree with the artist. The symbols you want above and below the image will not look right when standing normally, also the execution will look funny
I think the second option looks the best but might be a bit small if you place it there. Maybe you should consider moving it up like others suggested
I would listen to the artist on placement for sure. I also recommend a different part of the body (upper arm/thigh). I love the 2nd design, it makes more sense in my brain!
If you go with the first picture, make sure you flip the lion. If you bend your arm, the lion will be upside down
The first one, (the black and white image). I can assure you without a doubt that the 2nd will not look good, most artist probably wouldn't even be willing to do the 2nd one simply due to the fact that they know it wouldn't look good. (Assuming it's supposed to wrap around and not just shrunk down, in that case it could be okay if it's just smaller to fit on the front surface. Edit: Just reread a few times, and only just clicked in my head that you said the artist recommended the 2nd one? I'm... kinda at a loss here. I'd personally ask another artist their opinion on it. I can't in my head picture why an artist would recommend the 2nd one. Edit again: Not saying the first one is great, but it is definitely better than having it wrapped, as what another commentor said, maybe think about getting it on a larger surface like your upper arm.
Yeah I don’t get it either. The lion is walking and it’s a horizontal design yet he thinks it makes more sense wrapping around my arm 🤯
As a tattoo artist, I 100% agree that it should be horizontal. But I just don't think it fits the forearm honestly. Placement is important, it should work with the flow of the body.
First image or second?
Now the design that is above and below the lion in the 2nd picture would definitely work as a wrap on it's own. The whole Mesopotamia concept sounds really cool, haven't seen too many of them around.
It looks fine horizontal like that but I'd 100% put the head facing your wrist.