Most aesthetic armor you've seen

[Klyde Chroma]

So I'm working on a tattoo for a client of mine. He wants body armor tattooed from the waist up.... no joke.

As such I need some inspiration here. What is some of the coolest looking body armor you guys have come across? Any ideas are welcome as I will using multiple references as "jump off" points to draw visual styling from.

EDIT: I should have noted, this armor is going to be medieval and very "byzantine" in style. So ,while all ideas are welcome, anything along those lines would be most helpful!

[Starmongoose]

That sounds like a big job, Klyde. :O

Does this...include the face?

[Hathen]

Dark Souls has a lot in the style you're looking for I think. I've also always liked this one

[Annubis]

So I'm guessing he doesn't want a chainmail bikini and boobs drawn on him... right?

One armor that looks badass... but not really what you're looking for.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c366/ssj4Trunks_best/GundamPaladin.jpg

Only thing Bizantine-ish I can think of is Pantheon from LoL. Can't say I find his armor awesome though =/

[Agent D.]

Dunno if I'd call it Byzantine, but Gut's armor in Berserk is pretty badass.

[Annubis]

More Guts

[Yoda]

Does he want it to be more historic or more fantasy? Watch LoTR!

[Klyde Chroma]

these suggestions are AWESOME!!

Does he want it to be more historic or more fantasy? Watch LoTR!

I don't think he is really particular. And I didn't even think about LoTR references... Great Suggestion.

Dark Souls has a lot in the style you're looking for I think. I've also always liked this one

That, my friend, is as gold as advice can get. Thank you.

Dunno if I'd call it Byzantine, but Gut's armor in Berserk is pretty badass.

I don't think Gut's chaos armor (forget the name) would quite work. But berserk in of itself is loaded with good material for the project! Unfortunately I think this stuff would be better suited for a personal armor design (as it is very akin to my own taste) but a bit further from what my clients aim is.

Gee golly I love berserk... I stopped reading around volume 35... need to get back to that... Griffith is one of my favorite characters of all time.

So I'm guessing he doesn't want a chainmail bikini and boobs drawn on him... right?

One armor that looks badass... but not really what you're looking for.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c366/ssj4Trunks_best/GundamPaladin.jpg

Only thing Bizantine-ish I can think of is Pantheon from LoL. Can't say I find his armor awesome though =/

I really like how form fitting your example is anubis! that is precisely what I need to achieve to compliment his musculature. I just need to busy it up with some details and make it sectioned off to create elements of depth and whatnot. Something in this "shape"  is definately the direction I need to move though.

[Yoda]

"i don't think he is really particular"

that's a pretty interesting quality to have when the appearance of your body is about to be changed forever.

Klyde, how much you charge for a big job like this?

[Klyde Chroma]

"i don't think he is really particular"

that's a pretty interesting quality to have when the appearance of your body is about to be changed forever.

Klyde, how much you charge for a big job like this?

My typical rate is $100 per hour but when a job is this big I know people can't realistically finance it through to completion so I cut them breaks. Usually the more hours you buy the cheaper I make it (I require all work be prepaid as I was royally screwed waaaay too many time when I first started doing completely custom work) such as 8  or 10 hours for 400. My rates vary drastically project to project.

And on the other point... you'd be surprised how little some people care when it comes to their tattoo. Most of the time it is a real let down for me as I tend to become far more interested and excited about what my clients will be "wearing" then they themselves are.  Thankfully that is not the case with this gentlemen. He has been great to work with thus far and has been keeping the lines of communication up and open since dropping his deposit. He just is more concerned with the aesthetic of the piece more than anything else I believe.

[Sagacious-T]

[Legaia]

.

[Yoda]

http://www.gizmodiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hello-kitty-darth-vader1.jpg

[Klyde Chroma]

http://www.gizmodiva.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hello-kitty-darth-vader1.jpg

Utterly bad-ass!

Thank you again for all the help guys. I got the job. I start ink-suiting my man up this saturday night!!

For anyone wondering what all the fine inspiration you folks provided me yielded....



That is of course just a rough sketch.