Sleeve Tattoos that are trending so hard right now. See why. Top sleeve art, places to get inked, and best tattoo artists working today. Sleeve tattoos have seemingly grown in popularity with the rise of tattoo acceptance in this country. When tattoos were seen more as a symbol of rebellion than a legitimate form of artistic expression, the sleeve would have been looked at quite differently than it is now. Sleeve tattoos allow the owner to really get a lot of art into a fairly limited surface by using every inch of skin for the tattoo.
Sleeves have become so popular that there are infinite variations: one arm, bilateral arms, forearm only, whole arm and some even carry the sleeve throughout the back and onto the other arm as one unified piece. I love sleeve tattoos for their diversity. Some use the arm as a canvas for one big artwork while others take the opportunity to create a smorgasbord of individual tattoos. Sleeves come in color or black and white. They look great on both males and females. One of the best attributes of the sleeve tattoo is that while an intense, large tattoo it is able to be hidden. On the weekend you can wear all your sleeveless or t-shirts to show off and then Monday you can throw on a long sleeve dress shirt and attend that boring meeting with your boss being none the wiser. Let’s take a look at fifty fantastic samples of sleeve tattoos and their diversity.
151 Trending Sleeve Tattoos:
151. War Sleeve
This traditional tribal look instills the feeling that a battle may be about to ensue. Before battle, I’m sure we can expect one of those fancy dances to fire up the crowd.
49. Center of Attention
The rose takes the show on this arm sleeve tattoo.
48. Queen of the Savannah
This lioness wears the crown atop her head as she rests atop this sleeve tattoo. Flowers are thrown in to lighten this one up a bit.
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47. Serenity
This prayer was popularized in the 1940s and has since been an motivational quote of sorts, even finding its way into a variety of art works including sleeve tattoos.
46. Yoga Mat
This is a really cool black and white sleeve tattoo. I love how it continues past the wrist onto the back of the hand with the minute detail.
45. Rose and Dove
The owner here is clearly a fan of flowers, most obviously the rose. The dove in flight is a beautiful addition to this piece.
44. Hard Lines
Sleeve tattoos are know to include multiple different traditional looks. Here we have some feathers thrown into a tribal look.
43. Walk Like an Egyptian
The beauty of sleeve tattoos is the massive space to work with of varying width. It creates a perfect canvas for this pharaoh’s coffin. The gold watch almost makes the piece look golden as well. Nice touch!
42. Armor Plated
A whole new twist on your knight in shining armor.
41. Where & When?
I bet the owner of this sleeve tattoo is never late for a meeting or party. She always knows what time it is and where she is going if the clock and compass is any indication of her personality.
40. Geometrical
Sleeve tattoos can be super realistic art works or something as simple as repetitive shapes.
39. Howl at the Moon
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The wolf is the forests most dangerous predator. Even a big, bad wolf takes a moment to have a good cry now and then.
38. Butterfly Tattoo
When you hear “butterfly tattoo”, you might assume the placement is something other than sleeve tattoos. This colorful piece brings a new twist to that theme.
37. Watching the Clock
Sleeve tattoos in three dimensions are always impressive.
36. Color Fun
This beautiful piece full of colorful flowers is sure to brighten up your day.
35. Twisted
Brighter color in tattoo art has been a great addition to sleeve tattoos.
34. Watching the Clock Part Deux
The large eyes and old time watches theme has become quite popular among owners of sleeve tattoos.
33. Pure Evil
This dark piece has a surprise as the arm turns. Sleeve tattoos that have a variety of angles are really cool.
32. Northern Nights
As night falls on a long day of fishing the urge to stay for one more cast is just too strong to resist.
31. Japanese
Sleeve tattoos were once relegated to bikers or other hard core criminals. They have obviously made their way into the realm of sexy tattoos.
30. Blank Sleeve
This is a great example of how sleeve tattoos do not necessarily have to paint every centimeter of skin space with ink. These watercolor flowers use the entire sleeve area while still being very light and delicate.
29. Skull Hawk
I have seen plenty of skulls and plenty of Mohawks but never the two combined like this sleeve exhibits.
28. Forearm Trees
This forearm sleeve encircles the arm with an entire forest tree line.
27. Snowflake
I certainly wouldn’t call this guy snowflake to his face but it looks like several have made their way into this full arm piece.
26. Highs and Lows
Sleeve tattoos are not always ultra focuses. This example has a variety of scenic elements: flowers, mountains, trees, and waves.
25. Lite Brite
There is no hiding in the dark with a piece of sleeve art this bright!
24. Feathered
Too many more feathers and this will turn into a wings back piece for sure.
23. Blues Traveler
This piece goes back and forth between whimsical and frightening. The pop of color in sleeve tattoos is such an impressive look.
22. Bionic Man
Who needs a cast to fix that broken arm when you can just replace it with a mechanized one?
21. Out for a Walk
Scenic sleeve tattoos are all the rage. This one has started as a shoulder piece but is making its way towards sleeve status.
20. Blue Ink
Sleeve tattoos can be a variety of colors and this blue piece goes well with the blue watch, and blue shirt, and blue jeans.
19. Ship Sleeve
There is something magical about a ship on the water. Maybe it’s the sheer mechanics of something so large floating along.
18. Interstellar
Interplanetary travel has become a very popular topic but I’d certainly prefer not to travel to this black one.
17. Don’t Tell
Sleeve tattoos and old time watches. This one incorporates an interesting girl up to some form of no good.
16. Flower Power
Big, bold, colorful sleeve tattoos have given the term “flower power” a whole new meaning.
15. Time to Eat
These small birds have found their way to a great source of berries.
14. Peek a Boo
Sleeve tattoos seem to provide an opportunity for men to get away from traditional “badass” tattoos and into more artistic pieces.
13. Tick. Tock.
The sands of time cannot be stopped, even on sleeve tattoos.
12. Tribal
This is an example of the classic tribal sleeve tattoos out there.
11. Dragon Fire
This colorful piece brings the classic dragon to the forefront.
10. From All Sides
The color here never ends and this sleeve is colorful from every angle.
9. Masked Warrior
This forearm sleeve features a tribal mask in the center. It looks like just a piece to a much larger puzzle.
8. Biceps Rose
The pink rose steals the show as it is centered right smack dab in the middle of the biceps.
7. Shocker
If you look closely at the tattoo, no, the tattoo I said, you can see the classic anchor with a directive about who the captain of the boat is.
6. Luck Be a Lady
It must be the cherries but this tattoo screams Vegas to me. Vegas seems like the home of sleeve tattoos, doesn’t it?
5. Ready for Combat
This skullbot warrior snake dude is ready for duty, sir. Sleeve tattoos can be so deep that you can stare for a long time and see so many different details.
4. Time Respects No Man
Time ran out on this King as the compass pointed north. All that remains is his crown and compass.
3. Military Machine
Sleeve tattoos are the future! This piece shows what our future battle ready soldiers may look like underneath their fake skin layer.
2. Where From Here?
Exploration seems great until you get lost. Maybe from this higher ground he will find his way home.
1. Beauty Forever
While this one has been laid to rest among the beautiful flowers, sleeve tattoos will go on forever as a part of the ever expanding tattoo culture.
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