How to choose your tattoo design
How to Research Tattoos
A very important part of getting the perfect tattoo is being patient. Mistakes can be avoided by studying this amazing art form before taking action. Doing the necessary research can take some time. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
• Visit tattoo conventions and studios in your area
• Surf tattoo websites for hours
• Email and talk with tattooed people you know*
• Read tattoo magazines and books
• Learn about art, not just tattooing
*When talking with heavily tattooed people about tattoos, approach the subject politely. Many heavily tattooed people put up with minor public hassles like staring, whispers and comments. Tattooed women in particular, complain of strangers touching their tattooed skin. Remember to make sure someone is willing to talk about his or her tattoos before engaging them. They’ll usually appreciate your tattoo etiquette and be more willing to show off their tattoos.
The Perfect Artist
Finding the perfect tattoo artist is more important than finding the right design, though many clients don’t realize this. After all, if you find the right tattoo artist they will make sure you get the perfect design, whether you have it in your hand to begin with or not. If you only have a vague idea, a capable tattoo artist will be able to work with you to make that idea a reality. On the other hand, you could have a perfect tattoo design executed poorly by an incapable artist! To avoid this, here are some qualities to look for in a tattoo artist:
• Clean and sanitary
• Technical ability to apply good tattoos
• Artistic talent
• A professional demeanor
• A good reputation
Finding a good tattoo artist will take time and effort. Although you trust your friends, their opinion alone may not be adequate. Get as many good references about a tattooer as you can. It’s worth repeating that every phase of the tattoo process involves being patient.
Artistic Talent
Often tattoo clients don’t realize that tattoo artists vary drastically in artistic ability. Some specialize in creating complex and unique works of art on skin, while others prefer merely to copy simple pre-made designs. Each approach has its merits, and can be appropriate for different situations. Having some entry-level art knowledge will help you recognize the artistic talent level of the tattooer you’re approaching. Are they the right person for the job?
Selecting a tattoo artist can be compared to shopping for a car. With a bit of background knowledge, you can easily recognize the difference between an old, beat up Chevy and a fancy new Mercedes.
A very important part of getting the perfect tattoo is being patient. Mistakes can be avoided by studying this amazing art form before taking action. Doing the necessary research can take some time. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
• Visit tattoo conventions and studios in your area
• Surf tattoo websites for hours
• Email and talk with tattooed people you know*
• Read tattoo magazines and books
• Learn about art, not just tattooing
*When talking with heavily tattooed people about tattoos, approach the subject politely. Many heavily tattooed people put up with minor public hassles like staring, whispers and comments. Tattooed women in particular, complain of strangers touching their tattooed skin. Remember to make sure someone is willing to talk about his or her tattoos before engaging them. They’ll usually appreciate your tattoo etiquette and be more willing to show off their tattoos.
The Perfect Artist
Finding the perfect tattoo artist is more important than finding the right design, though many clients don’t realize this. After all, if you find the right tattoo artist they will make sure you get the perfect design, whether you have it in your hand to begin with or not. If you only have a vague idea, a capable tattoo artist will be able to work with you to make that idea a reality. On the other hand, you could have a perfect tattoo design executed poorly by an incapable artist! To avoid this, here are some qualities to look for in a tattoo artist:
• Clean and sanitary
• Technical ability to apply good tattoos
• Artistic talent
• A professional demeanor
• A good reputation
Finding a good tattoo artist will take time and effort. Although you trust your friends, their opinion alone may not be adequate. Get as many good references about a tattooer as you can. It’s worth repeating that every phase of the tattoo process involves being patient.
Artistic Talent
Often tattoo clients don’t realize that tattoo artists vary drastically in artistic ability. Some specialize in creating complex and unique works of art on skin, while others prefer merely to copy simple pre-made designs. Each approach has its merits, and can be appropriate for different situations. Having some entry-level art knowledge will help you recognize the artistic talent level of the tattooer you’re approaching. Are they the right person for the job?
Selecting a tattoo artist can be compared to shopping for a car. With a bit of background knowledge, you can easily recognize the difference between an old, beat up Chevy and a fancy new Mercedes.
Technical Ability
Artistic talent alone does not make a good tattoo. Tattoo artists need to combine their visual talents with precise technical ability. These are two distinct areas of expertise. Here are some ways to gauge the technical ability of a tattoo artist when viewing their portfolio:
• Crisp, consistent outlines
• Evenly saturated color
• Smooth blending and shading
WARNING SIGNS OF POOR TATTOOING ABILITY:
• Blurry, inconsistent outlines
• Faded, patchy colors
• Choppy, irregular blending and shading
• Obvious scarring
Honesty, Courtesy,and Ethics
Tattoo artists come in all temperaments. We recommend finding an artist who is honest, courteous, and behaves professionally. A quality tattoo artist should be honored that you want their artwork on your body for the rest of your life. You are giving them the ultimate compliment by requesting their artwork and letting them use your skin as a canvas. If an artist doesn’t treat you well, luckily nowadays you have many choices. Of course, you also owe it to your tattoo artist to be honest about your expectations. For example, it’s a matter of courtesy not to make an artist draw for hours, then skip your appointments, or to make one artist draw something and take it to another tattooer. A healthy tattoo relationship is one based on trust, respect, and commitment that goes both ways.
Artist Loyalty vs. Collection
It’s common for tattoo artists and clients to form a bond. After all, you’re spending time in their chair, talking, and having them change your skin forever. Despite this, you should never feel like you owe your skin to a tattoo artist. Any decision you make about your own body is completely your own to make, including mistakes. Many people like to have a diverse collection of body art. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to one tattoo artist if you’re happy with their work and the bond you form with them is just right.
Despite the connection that many tattooers form with their clients, a tattoo artist has no ‘right’ to your skin. If you choose to work with another tattooist, make sure they meet the same or higher standards as your original choice. Many people end up with tattoos that are being finished or reworked by a different artist than the one who started them. The reworking and covering up of older tattoos is a large aspect of the tattooing art-form, so there’s no need to feel ashamed or angry if you end up in that situation yourself. Just be sure to go about it in a polite and respectful way.
The Perfect Design
Only you can know what the perfect design is for you, and it’s an extremely important decision to make about your tattoo. Most tattoo artists will put whatever you want on your skin to the best of their ability, because it’s their job. Of course, many artists are so sought after that they can pick which client requests they choose to work on. These artists may pass on doing tattoos they know will come out poorly. Often it’s necessary to find a compromise between your idea and your chosen artist’s vision. Be prepared for a little give and take during the consultation process. It’s often helpful to state your goals, thoughts and concerns about the tattoo, and then let the artist take it from there.
Artistic talent alone does not make a good tattoo. Tattoo artists need to combine their visual talents with precise technical ability. These are two distinct areas of expertise. Here are some ways to gauge the technical ability of a tattoo artist when viewing their portfolio:
• Crisp, consistent outlines
• Evenly saturated color
• Smooth blending and shading
WARNING SIGNS OF POOR TATTOOING ABILITY:
• Blurry, inconsistent outlines
• Faded, patchy colors
• Choppy, irregular blending and shading
• Obvious scarring
Honesty, Courtesy,and Ethics
Tattoo artists come in all temperaments. We recommend finding an artist who is honest, courteous, and behaves professionally. A quality tattoo artist should be honored that you want their artwork on your body for the rest of your life. You are giving them the ultimate compliment by requesting their artwork and letting them use your skin as a canvas. If an artist doesn’t treat you well, luckily nowadays you have many choices. Of course, you also owe it to your tattoo artist to be honest about your expectations. For example, it’s a matter of courtesy not to make an artist draw for hours, then skip your appointments, or to make one artist draw something and take it to another tattooer. A healthy tattoo relationship is one based on trust, respect, and commitment that goes both ways.
Artist Loyalty vs. Collection
It’s common for tattoo artists and clients to form a bond. After all, you’re spending time in their chair, talking, and having them change your skin forever. Despite this, you should never feel like you owe your skin to a tattoo artist. Any decision you make about your own body is completely your own to make, including mistakes. Many people like to have a diverse collection of body art. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to one tattoo artist if you’re happy with their work and the bond you form with them is just right.
Despite the connection that many tattooers form with their clients, a tattoo artist has no ‘right’ to your skin. If you choose to work with another tattooist, make sure they meet the same or higher standards as your original choice. Many people end up with tattoos that are being finished or reworked by a different artist than the one who started them. The reworking and covering up of older tattoos is a large aspect of the tattooing art-form, so there’s no need to feel ashamed or angry if you end up in that situation yourself. Just be sure to go about it in a polite and respectful way.
The Perfect Design
Only you can know what the perfect design is for you, and it’s an extremely important decision to make about your tattoo. Most tattoo artists will put whatever you want on your skin to the best of their ability, because it’s their job. Of course, many artists are so sought after that they can pick which client requests they choose to work on. These artists may pass on doing tattoos they know will come out poorly. Often it’s necessary to find a compromise between your idea and your chosen artist’s vision. Be prepared for a little give and take during the consultation process. It’s often helpful to state your goals, thoughts and concerns about the tattoo, and then let the artist take it from there.
Good Tattoo Artists Know Better
While you know what you want to see on your body, tattoo artists have expertise about how tattoos look on the human body. There is a “ flow” to the body based on its shapes, proportions and anatomy, which can determine how successfully certain designs work with various body parts. An expert tattoo artist knows best how to size and shape your tattoo, the best placement for it, what colors will work best, and how it will age.
One common issue between a tattoo artist and a first-time tattoo client is the size of their tattoo. Often people will make the decision to get a very small tattoo in order to test the waters. However, small tattoos usually can’t hold much detail and stand a greater chance of deteriorating over time, due to the aging of the skin. Trust your tattoo artist’s advice when it comes to small tattoo designs.
Reference Material
To get the best tattoo, you may need to find and bring some reference material to the tattoo artist. He or she can look at your reference in order to incorporate the images into their own drawing style. The more choices you give the artist as reference, the more likely they are to design the perfect tattoo for you.
You can use a variety of reference materials to communicate your idea. These may include:
• Tattoo flash (pre-drawn and mass-produced designs, meant to be copied and tattooed)
• Photographs
• Original artwork
• Movie stills
• Sculptures
• Your own sketches or written descriptions
Distance, Patience and Commitment
If you’re considering a larger tattoo, be prepared for a longer process involving multiple sessions over a span of weeks, months, or even years. You may also find that your preferred tattoo artist is not located very close to you. You may have to make arrangements to travel to your artist once it’s time for your appointment. Travel is a relatively small inconvenience to endure considering the permanent nature of a tattoo. Dedicated tattoo collectors and enthusiasts often fly or drive long distances to get their perfect tattoo.
Pain Management
Yes, getting tattooed hurts. People are affected in different ways, based on their individual anatomy, placement of the tattoo, techniques of the artist, and most importantly, their attitude. Relaxation and meditation techniques, such as controlled deep breathing, can help you endure the discomfort. If all else fails, remember that the art is permanent, and the pain is temporary.
While you know what you want to see on your body, tattoo artists have expertise about how tattoos look on the human body. There is a “ flow” to the body based on its shapes, proportions and anatomy, which can determine how successfully certain designs work with various body parts. An expert tattoo artist knows best how to size and shape your tattoo, the best placement for it, what colors will work best, and how it will age.
One common issue between a tattoo artist and a first-time tattoo client is the size of their tattoo. Often people will make the decision to get a very small tattoo in order to test the waters. However, small tattoos usually can’t hold much detail and stand a greater chance of deteriorating over time, due to the aging of the skin. Trust your tattoo artist’s advice when it comes to small tattoo designs.
Reference Material
To get the best tattoo, you may need to find and bring some reference material to the tattoo artist. He or she can look at your reference in order to incorporate the images into their own drawing style. The more choices you give the artist as reference, the more likely they are to design the perfect tattoo for you.
You can use a variety of reference materials to communicate your idea. These may include:
• Tattoo flash (pre-drawn and mass-produced designs, meant to be copied and tattooed)
• Photographs
• Original artwork
• Movie stills
• Sculptures
• Your own sketches or written descriptions
Distance, Patience and Commitment
If you’re considering a larger tattoo, be prepared for a longer process involving multiple sessions over a span of weeks, months, or even years. You may also find that your preferred tattoo artist is not located very close to you. You may have to make arrangements to travel to your artist once it’s time for your appointment. Travel is a relatively small inconvenience to endure considering the permanent nature of a tattoo. Dedicated tattoo collectors and enthusiasts often fly or drive long distances to get their perfect tattoo.
Pain Management
Yes, getting tattooed hurts. People are affected in different ways, based on their individual anatomy, placement of the tattoo, techniques of the artist, and most importantly, their attitude. Relaxation and meditation techniques, such as controlled deep breathing, can help you endure the discomfort. If all else fails, remember that the art is permanent, and the pain is temporary.
Blackwork, Black and Grey, and Color Tattoos
Perhaps the three most general classifications of tattoos are blackwork, black and grey, and color. Every tattoo that exists fits into one of these categories.
• Blackwork tattoos consist of solid shapes or designs made only with black ink. These originate from Indigenous cultures all over the world. There are modern variations as well, which in America, tend to fall under the category of “tribal.”
• Black and gray tattoos consist of pure black tattoo ink which is diluted with water in varying amounts to produce a gray value scale. This type of tattooing compares very closely to graphite pencil shading on paper.
• Color tattoos combine black and white tattoo ink with various colored pigments to form a full-spectrum of possible colors, tints, shades, and hues. This type of tattooing compares most closely to acrylic or oil painting.
Custom Tattoos
Custom tattoos are designed and tattooed upon a specific request from one client. These designs are usually never tattooed more than one time, on one person. You’ll get the best tattoo when your chosen artist feels inspired by the art they’re creating for you. Custom tattoos don’t have to be huge, intricate, or expensive. They only require a capable tattoo artist, an open-minded client, and a trusting relationship between the two.
Realistic Tattoos
These tattoos are usually exact reproductions of photographs or still video images, including portraits. However, anything can be made to look realistic in a tattoo, even imaginary subjects. Often multiple tattoo sessions and layers of pigment are required to create the most impressive realistic tattoos. However, the primary concern with incredibly subtle, finely detailed tattoos is how well they hold up in the skin over time.
Traditional Tattoos
These tattoos are bold, simple designs consisting of thick black outlines and a limited color palette. Most traditional tattoo subject matter is derived from nautical, military, and motorcycle themes of the 1900s. This style has remained popular throughout the years due to its classic simplicity and historical significance.
Neo-Traditional Tattoos
As its name suggests, this genre combines many attributes of the traditional style with modern influences and techniques to form a more varied hybrid. For example, a neo-traditional design might contain the bold black outlines and simplified shapes of a traditional piece, while incorporating a broad color palette and very modern or unusual subject matter. This style of tattooing can be a great compromise for the collector who appreciates both
Asian Tattoos
Like the traditional American style, traditional Asian tattoos follow a very specific and distinct set of visual traits. All of the classic Asian tattoo subject matter such as dragons, geisha, koi fish, waves, and dark backgrounds contain rich cultural symbolism. It takes a certain level of dedication and appreciation for both the client and the tattoo artist to learn this meaning and method of stylization.
Ethnic Tattoos
Other ethnic tattoo styles are Polynesian, Tibetan, Celtic, South American, Indian, and tattoos originating from any specific religion. All have rich historical backgrounds and come with their own meanings and methods of stylization. Once again, it takes a certain level of dedication and appreciation in both the client and the tattoo artist pursuing these styles.
Perhaps the three most general classifications of tattoos are blackwork, black and grey, and color. Every tattoo that exists fits into one of these categories.
• Blackwork tattoos consist of solid shapes or designs made only with black ink. These originate from Indigenous cultures all over the world. There are modern variations as well, which in America, tend to fall under the category of “tribal.”
• Black and gray tattoos consist of pure black tattoo ink which is diluted with water in varying amounts to produce a gray value scale. This type of tattooing compares very closely to graphite pencil shading on paper.
• Color tattoos combine black and white tattoo ink with various colored pigments to form a full-spectrum of possible colors, tints, shades, and hues. This type of tattooing compares most closely to acrylic or oil painting.
Custom Tattoos
Custom tattoos are designed and tattooed upon a specific request from one client. These designs are usually never tattooed more than one time, on one person. You’ll get the best tattoo when your chosen artist feels inspired by the art they’re creating for you. Custom tattoos don’t have to be huge, intricate, or expensive. They only require a capable tattoo artist, an open-minded client, and a trusting relationship between the two.
Realistic Tattoos
These tattoos are usually exact reproductions of photographs or still video images, including portraits. However, anything can be made to look realistic in a tattoo, even imaginary subjects. Often multiple tattoo sessions and layers of pigment are required to create the most impressive realistic tattoos. However, the primary concern with incredibly subtle, finely detailed tattoos is how well they hold up in the skin over time.
Traditional Tattoos
These tattoos are bold, simple designs consisting of thick black outlines and a limited color palette. Most traditional tattoo subject matter is derived from nautical, military, and motorcycle themes of the 1900s. This style has remained popular throughout the years due to its classic simplicity and historical significance.
Neo-Traditional Tattoos
As its name suggests, this genre combines many attributes of the traditional style with modern influences and techniques to form a more varied hybrid. For example, a neo-traditional design might contain the bold black outlines and simplified shapes of a traditional piece, while incorporating a broad color palette and very modern or unusual subject matter. This style of tattooing can be a great compromise for the collector who appreciates both
Asian Tattoos
Like the traditional American style, traditional Asian tattoos follow a very specific and distinct set of visual traits. All of the classic Asian tattoo subject matter such as dragons, geisha, koi fish, waves, and dark backgrounds contain rich cultural symbolism. It takes a certain level of dedication and appreciation for both the client and the tattoo artist to learn this meaning and method of stylization.
Ethnic Tattoos
Other ethnic tattoo styles are Polynesian, Tibetan, Celtic, South American, Indian, and tattoos originating from any specific religion. All have rich historical backgrounds and come with their own meanings and methods of stylization. Once again, it takes a certain level of dedication and appreciation in both the client and the tattoo artist pursuing these styles.
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