Tattoos for Noobs

**As always my blogs are cross posted from my personal blog and not written for any specific community. Read more of my blogs at: http://harleys-financial-domination.blogspot.com/**

As someone heavily tattooed, I often get asked where the best place to get tattooed at is, what I look for in an artist, and what the most painful part of the body is. Someone recently picked my brain about how to get started when you want a good piece of work, so I thought I'd share my response. A few of my slaves have inquired about getting my logo tattooed on them so I thought this could also serve as a helpful guide.



Oh, and just FYI: the top of the foot or ribcage hurts the most.

I would say that my process begins when I'm struck with an idea, be it an image, or a concept that I think would translate into an awesome piece of art. Then I go do some research by going to local shops, looking on the Internet at online portfolios, and asking friends that I think have good work for recommendations. In looking for an artist you want to look for several traits: someone who has recognizable technical skill in both their tattoo work (check for clean, smooth, even lines. Look for consistency in the coloration, attention to detail, color blending, shading, light, and overall aesthetic), as well as someone with an artistic style that you like and matches the feel of what you're looking for. I picked the artist who did my sleeve and back because her artistic style was more like a watercolor artist, her style is light and almost whimsical. I chose my next artist because I liked the level of detail and the way he paid attention to light and shadow. Stylistic appeal is subjective, technical skill is not.
So great! You have an idea or concept, and you have an artist.

Now, with any custom piece, the control freak inside you is going to have to let go at some point. It's really going to be up to the artist to do the best job of rendering out the ideas and images you give him or her as they can. You can work with them, do a couple iterations of the design you want, but the odds are you are never going to get exactly your vision of the piece you want, unless you're getting a piece of flash. It's ok to bring in some pictures for subject material, to show an angle, or lighting that you like, but know you're not going to get exactly that image. Make sure all the important elements that are symbolic to you are there, be willing to give a little in terms of placement/ size/ background. Most of the people I know who "want a tattoo, but haven't gotten one yet," never get one because they just can't find the exact thing they want.

Oh, my only exception to these rules are text. Really all you need for text is EXACTLY what you want written (spell check it, print it out, and bring it with you, preferably in the font you like, if not there will be examples of fonts at the shop), and find an artist with good line work (clean, even, steady, straight) and you'll pretty much be ok at most shops. For bigger more artistic work you need to be much more discriminating.
Oh, and depending on the size and detail of the piece you want, be prepared to spend a small fortune. It's worth it.