You sir, are correct. Any average artist can knock this out of the park. Just make sure the final drawing is exactly what you want. Make sure you look for smooth, even lines in their portfolio.

I’m a tattoo artist. I do love tips, but they aren’t mandatory. I would be more than happy with 20%. It doesn’t matter if it is at the end of each session or at the finish of the tattoo. I generally tip around 25% to other artists.

Here is an actual sheet of flash I just finished. I usually just do one image on a page. Laying out and painting the pattern in the background was a huge pain, but i think it was worth it. I’m tattooing at the Niagara Tattoo Expo and I thought I would paint up some designs that I would like to tattoo on people. Here they are.

jerryatrophy;115278 wrote:
Well, now I have to pay for my tattoos and my wife’s tattoos. But it works both ways. July 7th we both have an appt and I’m going to steal hers to get a good 5-6 hours in on my wip.

I would check with your artist before you steal your wife’s appointment. I absolutely hate it when my clients switch things up at the…[Read more]

I have a leg for “whim” tattoos. I ruined it years ago with a poorly done tribal dragon. Now I have a “mom” heart on the top of my thigh that I did myself, a Foo dog on the inside of my calf that was done by a Japanese Tebori artist. I also have an anvil on the front of my ankle that says “black metal” with an upside down cross for the “t” in…[Read more]

GrayCatLove;114969 wrote:
The rest of that quote is, “… to the man who cannot read.” 😉

I do love how most of the world forgets this. It does help me sell people on getting larger graphic tattoos rather than simple text though. I’m guilty of misusing it almost daily.

I do agree that text can be done well. I also agree that text is fast becoming the new tribal (which can also be done well).

That being said, when it comes to text, less is more. Don’t tattoo too many words. Text really only looks good on flat surfaces where you can read the entire thing all at once. Typography is meant for printing on even,…[Read more]

I sure hope not. I’m so lucky just to be doing what I do. I’m just flattered when people look at my portfolio and pick me.

That’s what you get when customers insist. I’m in a position where I can’t turn too many people away. I’ve got too many open spots in my schedule and I have to pay my bills. I just try to execute their tattoos to the best of my ability.

Women’s chests are incredibly hard to tattoo. One of my least favorite places to tattoo. Right up there with the spot just under the rib cage and the stomach. It takes a lot of effort getting lines in. Chest pieces look amazing though.

Bobbeebo;114256 wrote:
jeromey tilt mccullock

or

jr tubbs

JR Tubbs isn’t all that hard to get an appointment with. He runs with that whole OATTAN crowd with Krooked Ken and Erich Foster. All three tattoo at the Roc City Tattoo Expo every year in Rochester, New York. All those traditional style guys bang out little tattoos all day long.

Hopefully someday I’ll be on someone’s list.

Either Shige or Jeff Gogue. Full back. Shoulders to knees. I’ve been saving the area for someone special. Maybe someday it will be one of these two.

More work on this.

I just bought some oil paints. Here’s my first try so far. First one is just blocking in the main parts. Second one is the finished underpainting. After that dries I’ll start putting the details in. This is the owner of the tattoo shop where I work. The third picture is my reference photo.

Big dudes with hammers to break their hands would be a great fix.

I just finished my apprenticeship. I went about it the right way. You’re going about it the right way. This stuff totally infuriates me. The fact is that it happens all too often and the people doing it will use any excuse to make it right in their heads. You’ll see it more and more because you’re in the industry now. The only things you can do…[Read more]

Rachi Brains has some really cool dark traditional stuff.

People coming in to the shop all the time asking about prices seem shocked. As of late I’ve been charging $70 an hour because I’m relatively new as a tattoo artist and a bit slower than the other guys in the shop.

I would say that one of the other big issues is that generally, people don’t want to wait. They want a tattoo and they want it NOW. If…[Read more]

My mentor thinks that making people pay is a rip off. He says that if the right person with the right portfolio comes along at the right time, they shouldn’t have to pay. He thinks it’s enough that you provide at least a year of unpaid labor (before you actually begin to tattoo) and agree to stay at his shop for five years. You more than make it…[Read more]