Only at first. Once shock sets in you get kinda numb to it. When I get my chest piece done it's gonna hurt like hell. Anything close to the bone is painful. Thank God I've got some left over vicodin from the dentist. It'll still probably take at least two sittings. One for the outline and then the color. It's gonna wait till fall though since you can't go in the water for at least two weeks on a big piece or if there's lots of detail. Simple line art I stay out about a week or dive dry.