Cover-ups · Flowers · Watercolour

From a small design to an anchor full of colour.

This is Bárbara's anchor, and it wasn't simply a change of design: it was a tribute tattoo. We started with a small grey motif on her abdomen. I turned it into a larger composition with pink flowers and watercolour. If you're wondering whether a small tattoo can become something completely different, here's a real example. But there was meaning behind the before and after, too.

Starting point: A small grey tattoo on the abdomen.
New design: An anchor with rope, pink flowers and watercolour.
Change in scale: The composition extends upwards and out to the sides.
Images: Before and after, not a healed follow-up.

In this story01 · The starting point is part of the design too.02 · An anchor, flowers and room for colour.

Small grey tattoo on the lower abdomen before the floral anchor cover-up — Before: the small design on the abdomen.

01 / Cover-ups · Flowers · Watercolour

The starting point is part of the design too.

We weren't starting from scratch. Bárbara already had a small, low-contrast design on her lower abdomen. That was my starting point for the new tattoo: an anchor with flowers that was both a cover-up and a tribute.

I'm showing you this photo alongside the result so you can see the transformation. This isn't the same design touched up, or a little flower added beside it. The subject, colours and area covered by the composition all change.

Abdominal cover-up by Laura Caselles: an anchor with rope, pink flowers and blue, green and violet watercolour — After: an anchor and flowers in a larger composition.

02 / Cover-ups · Flowers · Watercolour

An anchor, flowers and room for colour.

In the finished piece, the anchor sits at the bottom and the rope winds through the flowers. Pink blossoms rise along the side of the abdomen, with green leaves and washes of blue, turquoise and violet. Defined lines shape the subject, with more open areas of colour around it.

Notice how much larger the whole piece is than the original. That difference is part of this cover-up too. If you're thinking of changing yours, you don't have to want an anchor: show me what you have, tell me what you'd like instead and how much space you'd like to give it. Then I can assess your own starting point.

Afterwards, Bárbara wrote: “No pude salir más contenta con la maravilla que me hiciste”. In English: “I couldn’t have left happier with the wonderful piece you created for me.” Her comment is part of this story too. You can read her full testimonial and find it on the original video.

Thinking about your own change

Can I change the subject of a small tattoo?

This piece shows a complete change of subject, not just a touch-up. To assess another tattoo, I need a clear photo, its size and placement, and the available space. This result doesn't mean any design can cover any tattoo.

Does the new tattoo need to be larger?

In this case it is: the anchor and flowers form a larger composition than the original design. Your own design and starting point would need to be assessed; I can't work out its final size from this comparison alone.

Is the tattoo healed in these photos?

These images show the result presented in the video, not a healed follow-up. To see that stage, take a look at the pieces specifically labelled as healed.

The before and after images belong to the same project. Watch the transformation in the original video.

Thinking of changing your tattoo?

Take a look at other cover-ups with different starting points. If it's the colour that caught your eye, you can explore my watercolour work too.

More cover-up examples · Watercolour tattoos · See healed tattoos

Information & prices