Service
Sleeves & Large-Scale Tattoos in Whitby
Sleeves, back-pieces, full leg pieces and other large-scale work are multi-session projects. At HeadRush Whitby, large-scale work is taken by Ross, Max and Maks.
What large-scale tattoo work involves
- •Multiple sessions, spaced 4–6 weeks apart for healing.
- •Composition planning matters more than any single session — the whole piece has to flow together.
- •Most sleeves stay in one style (realism sleeves, traditional sleeves, Japanese sleeves) — mixing styles in one sleeve usually weakens the result.
- •Half sleeve typically takes 3–4 sessions. Full sleeve typically takes 8–12 sessions. Back-pieces 10+.
What we plan at the consultation
- •The full layout — main subjects, supporting elements, transitions, negative space.
- •The session schedule — you book one session at a time, but we plan the order so the design grows in coherent passes.
- •Style consistency across sessions — same artist throughout the project where possible.
What makes a sleeve work
- •A clear central concept. Sleeves built around one strong idea read better than sleeves built from scattered ideas added over time.
- •Style commitment. Don't half-design a realism sleeve if you also want traditional in there — pick a direction at the start.
- •Patience. The design grows over months. Healing time matters as much as session time.
Who does large-scale at HeadRush
Ross — black & grey realism sleeves, portrait sleeves, large memorial pieces.
Max — traditional, neo-traditional and Japanese-style sleeves and back-pieces.
Maks — black & grey realism and colour realism sleeves.
Pricing
- •Studio minimum: $135 (HST included).
- •Hourly rate: $180–$250 depending on artist.
- •Half sleeve: $2,500–$5,500 (3–4 sessions).
- •Full sleeve: $6,000–$15,000 (8–12 sessions).
- •Back-piece: starts around $8,000 (10+ sessions).
- •iFinance: monthly payment plans available for projects of this size.
Final price is always confirmed at your free 30-minute consultation, before any deposit changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions for a half sleeve?+
Typically 3–4 sessions of 4–6 hours each. Spacing them 4–6 weeks apart, a half sleeve usually takes 4–6 months from first session to final touch-up.
Can I split sessions between artists?+
We strongly recommend keeping one artist throughout a sleeve. Different artists draw differently — even within the same style — and switching mid-project usually shows in the final piece.
Why one style throughout the whole sleeve?+
A sleeve is a composition, not a collage of separate tattoos. Realism, traditional and neo-traditional all use different visual rules — mixing them in one piece almost always reads as patchwork rather than design.
How long do I need to wait between sessions?+
Usually 4–6 weeks. The skin needs to heal, and your artist needs to see how the previous session settled before placing the next pass. Don't rush this — sessions stacked too close show in the final piece.
Do you offer payment plans?+
Yes — we partner with iFinance for monthly payment plans on larger projects. We will share the application link at the consultation.
Ready to start?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. Bring references, talk through size and placement, leave with an honest quote — no deposit until you book the session.
Book a Free Consultation