Tiger by TomTom

A big Japanese tiger by TomTom, covering the whole thigh, teeth bared mid-turn, bamboo and maple leaves worked in around it to fill out the panel.

Tigers have long stood for courage and protection in Japanese tattooing, traditionally worn as a guard against bad luck and evil spirits. It's a subject with real weight behind it, which makes it a natural fit for a piece built to take up serious space.

Going big doesn't have to mean a full leg. The thigh alone gives plenty of room to work with, enough for real scale, detail, and background without locking into a hip-to-ankle commitment straight away. This piece was planned with that in mind too, so if Bernie wants to extend further down the leg down the track, the composition's set up to carry on naturally rather than needing to be reworked around.

Tattooed over two back-to-back days, it's got the density and boldness that Japanese-style work is built on, solid black, strong colour, and a layout that fills the space without overcrowding it.

Thinking about a large piece but not ready to go full sleeve or leg? Come in and talk to us, we can design something that looks complete now and leaves room to build on later.