Realistic sunflowers with grey shaded stems and leaves tattooed along the side of a torso on the ribs.

Sunflowers and stem on the ribs

Realism · Ribs · Mixed · Photo

Two large sunflowers with dark centres sit on a vertical stem with grey shaded leaves and thin branches running up the side of the torso. The petals are rendered in soft yellow and ochre with smooth gradients, while the stems, leaves and shadows are in black and grey. The composition follows the curve of the ribs, with the flowers lower down and the stem rising toward the shoulder.

Realism Botanical Ribs Sunflower Flower Stem Leaves Branch

Find an artist for this

Take it to an artist as a reference. A good artist will make it yours rather than copy someone else's tattoo.

A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Tom,

Keep reading

The sunflowers came up along the south fence the week after the last of the rain, which Pa says is the first sensible thing the weather has done since Easter. I counted fourteen stalks before I stopped counting, and they are taller than the gate now, leaning over the wire as if they want to see what the road is doing.

Mrs Harlan from down the section came by with a pie and stood staring at them longer than she stared at me. She said her boy had written from the railway camps that the same thing happens out there, that the flowers turn their faces to the sun from morning until dusk and never once complain about the dirt. I told her I did not think sunflowers complained about anything, and she said that was what made them hard to be around.

I have been saving the seed heads for you, wrapped in the feed sack by the back door, because you always said you would plant some in the city if you ever had a yard. Don't let the landlady see them before they dry. The big head at the bottom has the darkest centre, nearly black, and the petals have gone the colour of old brass where the sun hits them hardest.

Come home at harvest if you can. The stalk by the well is nearly over your head now, and I have started tying it to the post so the wind doesn't snap it. Someone should be here to see the last one come out.

Your sister, Ruth