Black and grey Medusa portrait realism — Healed Black & Grey Tattoos, Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas

Healed (3+ months)

Artist: Joshua Cole
Placement: Outer thigh
Sessions: Two sessions, ~12 hours total
Touch-up: None at time of healed photos
Aftercare notes: Second-skin wrap, gentle wash, fragrance-free lotion in low humidity; client avoided direct sun on the piece during peeling.

Healing timeline

Fresh (day 0) — Wrapped with second skin; deep blacks set, highlights left open.
4 weeks — Peeling finished; mid-tones read cleanly in daylight.
3+ months — Blacks stayed saturated; no muddy wash in the thigh bend.

Skull & hourglass forearm — 3+ months healed

Fine grey transitions around the hourglass glass — the kind of piece that fails if values are too soft on day one. Healed work keeps linework and grey steps separated.

Healed (3+ months — documented in-studio) skull and hourglass forearm tattoo by Joshua Cole, forearm — Work of Art Las Vegas — Healed (3+ months — documented in-studio)

Artist: Joshua Cole
Placement: Forearm
Sessions: Single long session
Touch-up: Touch-up consult only — no saturation pass required
Aftercare notes: Standard desert aftercare; client kept lotion light so grey transitions did not scab thick.

Healing timeline

Fresh (day 0) — Documented at bandage-off; glass highlights from negative space.
4 weeks — Linework and grey steps still separated — no blowout.
3+ months — Readable from arm's length.

Steampunk clock & rose forearm — 6+ months healed

Gear teeth and rose petals rely on controlled grey steps. Healed photos show soft shading and contrast after everyday wear — no touch-up at the time these were taken.

Healed (6+ months) steampunk clock and rose forearm tattoo by Joshua Cole, forearm — Work of Art Las Vegas — Healed (6+ months)

Artist: Joshua Cole
Placement: Forearm
Sessions: Single session
Touch-up: None
Aftercare notes: SPF on forearm after healing; client works outdoors — taught re-application during Vegas summer.

More healed collections

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Skull & hourglass forearm — 3+ months healed

Steampunk clock & rose forearm — 6+ months healed

More healed collections

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