Next step was to start freehanding in the basic pattern with the flesh tone, it took a few coats to cover the grey but this is the only way I can freehand this style of pattern.

Next I colored in those black areas with the flesh but wanted some of the grey to show through

Then fill those areas with patterns and lines and tidy up some of the other lines and this is what I have. I'm sure there is probably an easier way to do it but as I said I can only do that pattern from my head this way. Hope that explains how I did it.
In these last pics I still have to do the skin tone washes, which will help tone it all down a bit.

Very nice work Andrew and, slaves from all over the empire were made to fight in the arenas, so who's to say or not, that some didn't have tats eh ! Works for me.

Regards

Ron

Thanks guys, glad you like it.
Here is the piece at the end of the day. I'd would appreciate what you think of the face, I'm thinking it's just about there but I've been staring at it all day.
Thanks,
Andrew.

Bloody hell that's good.

Thanx for sharing the tattoo technique Andrew , looks a great way to go about it. The face looks good the skin tones could be from several areas so wouldn't
worry to much as long as you don't get the dead coal miner effect that
megroot hates so much:lol:

I'm liking this andrew,great work on the tattoo and the flesh work.

Brian

Man, that is just great work. Great imagination and great execution!!

Stunning work.
Like the SBS of the Tattoo.
Face looks now great to me.

Marc

I love the tats and the face looks very good. This is really outstanding work. In 1990 I got drunk with some Maori's in a New Zealand bar and judging from that expierience you wouldn't want to mess with this gladiator. Maybe turn him into a Moahunter?

Thanks guys I appreciate the input. Now that I have the face tones I can move on to the rest.

definitely getting there mate. Will this be the 14th subject you've managed to finish in 3 days? Amazing work rate. Almost as fast as Carl.

No Grant this one got done about a month ago. Carl is still way ahead he can manage vignettes of five figures at a time