moominmuppet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
moominmuppet) wrote2009-06-22 03:56 am
moominmuppet) wrote2009-06-22 03:56 am
Entry tags:
A reply to a comment (tattoo), plus a bit of additional...
On finding a tattoo artist, my personal opinions:
It's really worth looking around for a good artist that you can work well with... It matters a lot that I trust Chris's artistic sense, and understanding of what I'm going for. Look for artists that do exclusively custom work, generally, and whose shops aren't covered in flash. Most artists purchase flash, they don't draw their own, so flash generally tells you nothing at all about their level of skill. Look at their individual portfolios, both for their artistic sense, and their execution (lines that are smooth where they should be smooth, colors that are even where they should be, lack of raised scarring in a healed tattoo from working an area too hard). Although there are great new artists out there, finding someone who's been working for a long time will generally be to your advantage -- the more experience, the faster and gentler they tend to work, and the easier time they have dealing with all the little quirks of tattooing on individual bodies.
I'd also say it's a good idea to consider carefully that various artists specialize in different styles -- the right artist for one piece may not be the right artist for another. Ask them about their specialities and preferred styles. Look at how they use color, whether they they tend toward a specific style, etc. Consider whether it's a style that's compatible with your planned piece. Tattooing books and magazines can be handy for getting a basic concept of this; there are often mentions of award winners in various styles that can give you some of the lingua franca of the tattoo world (black and grey, traditional, etc).
Also, when you're coming up with your image, it can be handy to also accumulate resources that are in the artistic style you want, even if it's a totally different piece. Then you can come in and say "I'd like this piece done in the same style as this other piece I found here".
And, of course, make sure they are properly licensed, have autoclave testing notices posted, etc.
It's really worth looking around for a good artist that you can work well with... It matters a lot that I trust Chris's artistic sense, and understanding of what I'm going for. Look for artists that do exclusively custom work, generally, and whose shops aren't covered in flash. Most artists purchase flash, they don't draw their own, so flash generally tells you nothing at all about their level of skill. Look at their individual portfolios, both for their artistic sense, and their execution (lines that are smooth where they should be smooth, colors that are even where they should be, lack of raised scarring in a healed tattoo from working an area too hard). Although there are great new artists out there, finding someone who's been working for a long time will generally be to your advantage -- the more experience, the faster and gentler they tend to work, and the easier time they have dealing with all the little quirks of tattooing on individual bodies.
I'd also say it's a good idea to consider carefully that various artists specialize in different styles -- the right artist for one piece may not be the right artist for another. Ask them about their specialities and preferred styles. Look at how they use color, whether they they tend toward a specific style, etc. Consider whether it's a style that's compatible with your planned piece. Tattooing books and magazines can be handy for getting a basic concept of this; there are often mentions of award winners in various styles that can give you some of the lingua franca of the tattoo world (black and grey, traditional, etc).
Also, when you're coming up with your image, it can be handy to also accumulate resources that are in the artistic style you want, even if it's a totally different piece. Then you can come in and say "I'd like this piece done in the same style as this other piece I found here".
And, of course, make sure they are properly licensed, have autoclave testing notices posted, etc.