Why your artist is every bit as important as your vision.

Your vision is the reason you seek out an artist to tattoo you. You want to wear this image for the rest of your life. You really do not want your tattoo to look like most others, you want it to reflect somehow your individuality, your artistic aesthetic, and the skill of your artist.

 

This is a serious undertaking, but one you should enjoy for a lifetime. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Art is open to interpretation (within some limits of the imagery), but words can be rather absolute to different individuals, so I personally am not a big fan of word tattoos. My exceptions would be memorial or dedication works or names if related by blood or friendship (maybe) but never a boy/girl friend or spouse (bad karma).

 

If the artist you talk to does not get it, simply find another artist. Not everyone will always understand what you want, or feel they can interpret your vision the way you wish. Do not be discouraged. I looked a long, long time before I found the artist with the magic ability to bring my vision to reality beyond what I envisioned.

 

Fortunately today there are literally thousands of artists across the land who are extremely talented and have excellent tattooing skills. Tattooing is a growth industry, and with that growth comes incredible talent that can finally make a living doing art. It also brings opportunists who can barely draw (but can trace anything) out of the dark and into some studios looking to make a big buck out of this supposedly fantastic growth industry. Which one do you want to mark you for life? Choose carefully...

 

Genuine talented Artists are a unique and precious resource. They are just a little different than the rest of us. Although sometimes aggravating (as in moody, passionate, inane, tardy) artists allow us to see (or reveal) what we may try in vain to say or can not say. My dear friend, partner, and tattoo artist says he is a tool waiting to fulfill other peoples visions. My odyssey towards total coverage has prompted people to ask how Joel and I managed the lush, detailed work in two light spectrums. Simply put, what was in my head would not be on my body without a connection between myself and my artist; a collaborative synergy. My quest and journey have taught me much about this thing called Tattoo. If you have high artistic standards and expectations, want to wear incredible art, and are unsure of where to start, I offer this advice:

 

A Licensed Tattoo Artist should be your only consideration.

 

A license means the individual passed a basic competency test by a health department, not an art school, institute, or college. Most exams do not actually include more than setting up, breaking down, and procedural (from a protecting the public health perspective) compliance expertise. They do not know or care if the artist can actually tattoo, or even produce artistic results.

 

Understand that there are people who are licensed to tattoo who are not artists, they are more applicators and reproducers. If you want decorations that may be fine. If you want killer art unique to your vision, what you want is an artist who is licensed to tattoo and has a solid portfolio attesting to the skill level claimed.

 

Be sure your artist is first and foremost a competent artist, and your artist can listen to your vision not their vision of your vision, you know, trust me and it will be fabulous!

 

Be certain your artist can translate skillfully your words to the artistic story they represent.

 

Be willing to be specific about absolutely essential elements where needed for your vision to carry the meaning you are yearning for.

 

Be aware the artist will create from what you tell them and how they see your story, so give solid verbal or artistic references to other incidental elements you might like to see somehow incorporated.

 

Be aware that size and complexity are not equivalent. A large typical flash type design without deep personal meanings is essentially a mechanical process, so a large area can be done in a shorter timeframe than a highly detailed and colored piece which is an artistic process having to deal with the limits of the mechanical process, and takes longer.

 

Artistic style is a whole other element you need to understand. Some artists are comfortable and competent in a variety of styles, others are limited but highly specialized.

 

You should feel positive about the entire experience. If your piece requires a drawing, be respectful of the effort put into it and do not be a pain in the ass, but do not settle for something not consistent with your vision.

 

Use common sense. You need to be comfortable throughout the planning process with the artist you have selected. Ask questions if you have them, the only stupid question is the one not asked. The reality of the thrill of getting the tattoo has to be faced, you will be looking at it until you close your eyes for the last time. Be careful not to get heady and agree to something you are not comfortable with but were caught up in the moment over, especially if a low price has been offered to entice you. Caveat Emptor never had a more palpable meaning!

 

If we were talking, I could go on and on. But I think you get my point. Choose your artist carefully. Think before you ink to avoid regrets. Then, enjoy the results of your efforts forever!

 

George

2008 Prov Phoenix voted Best Place to get a Tattoo

Bambu Tattoo Art Studio, Inc.