A sleeve is a long-term project — usually 30 to 80 hours of work across many sessions. At Bewitched we approach sleeves the way an architect approaches a building: from the macro composition down to the individual elements. The goal is a finished sleeve that reads as one cohesive piece, not a collection of tattoos.
A half sleeve covers either the upper arm (shoulder to elbow) or the forearm (elbow to wrist). A full sleeve covers both. Most clients begin with a half and expand if and when they're ready. There's no rule that says you have to commit to a full sleeve up front.
The hardest part of a sleeve is the macro design — how the elements flow around the arm, where the negative space sits, how the piece reads from a distance versus up close. We spend significant time on this before we ever start tattooing.
Most of our sleeve work is black & grey, but we do strong color sleeves as well — typically neo-traditional or illustrative. The choice usually comes down to longevity tolerance and aesthetic preference. We'll talk through both at your consultation.
A typical half sleeve runs 3–5 sessions over 3–6 months. A full sleeve runs 6–10 sessions over 6–18 months. We recommend pacing sessions at least 3–4 weeks apart for proper healing between visits.
We've completed sleeves for clients across Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Milton, Georgetown, Bethany Beach, and well beyond Delaware. If you're serious about a long-form project, we're built for it.
Related Styles
Custom Sleeves
Currently booking 2–3 months out