I had the honor of doing my first guest spot in San Diego at Full Circle Tattoo, where I worked on a special tattoo for Amanda who wanted to cover a dagger in the center of her chest. Although I don't specialize in cover-ups, I offered to do a blast over to conceal the piece without sacrificing the flow of the ornamental project we had in mind.

I created two design proposals using her current tattoo as a base, and she chose one of them on the day of the appointment. In the video below, you can see the creative process behind these designs.

Shop: Full Circle Tattoo

The weekend I spent at the shop was short, but enough to get a feel for the great atmosphere. I didn’t have much time to hang out since I was focused on a pretty demanding project, but I did get to chat with almost everyone, and they were all super friendly. The area is really nice, I stayed nearby, and the walk to the shop was actually pretty pleasant. The space itself is big, nice and well-equipped. The staff and the whole setup look very professional to me. The best part is definitely the tattoo artists. super skilled, experienced, and just solid tattooers all around, which is always something I appreciate. I really liked it there, and I’m hoping to come back soon for a longer stay.

Creative Process

The design I proposed featured an intricate, ornamental pattern that would flow over the existing dagger tattoo. I wanted to create something that would not only cover the unwanted piece but also enhance the overall aesthetic of her chest piece.

During the consultation, we discussed the style, the placement, and the overall vision for the tattoo. She was excited about the design and trusted me to bring her vision to life.

Tattoo Session

The session took a day and a half due to the sensitivity of the area. The chest can be quite painful, but she handled it incredibly well! I worked diligently, ensuring that every line and detail was executed with precision and care.

I worked to ensure the pattern covered the dagger in the best way possible. Personally, I was satisfied with the result.

Final Result

I want to take a moment to thank Amanda for trusting me with this project and for her strength in finishing the piece during my express trip to San Diego. The ornamental pattern flowed effortlessly over the chest, and I’m really happy with how the project turned out. It felt cohesive and fluid, with very little trace of the previous tattoo. It was an amazing experience working on this piece!

A big thank you to everyone at the studio for their kindness, and to Bill Canales for welcoming me into his amazing space. I can't wait to be back in San Diego – it's such a beautiful city!