Thunder Roads Magazine of Oregon | Page 35

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How to Choose an Artist
for your Custom Tattoo

o you’ve decided that you want to get a tattoo, and furthermore
you’ve decided you want something custom. Maybe you
decided that you didn’t want to pick a design out of a book or
off the wall of a shop for something that you are going to be
wearing for the rest of your life. A custom tattoo is often a much more
meaningful way of expressing yourself through body art – but the key
is finding an artist that can create the masterpiece you’ve envisioned.
Custom tattoos can be anything you want them to be and in any style,
but you have to find a professional that can deliver what you have in
mind for your custom tattoo. Finding the right tattoo artist is crucial to
getting exactly what you want, and it can be a challenge if you’re not
careful. Here are some tips for finding the right tattoo artist for you.

Research Tattoo Parlors in Your Area

When you first start looking for a custom tattoo artist, talk to
people you know about their tattoos. Ask them where they went,
who did the tattoo, and what their impressions of the shop were
like. Don’t be afraid to approach a stranger with a great tattoo to ask
questions. Most people with custom tattoos are extremely proud of
the work they’ve had done and will be happy to tell you all about
it, especially if you tell them why you’re asking. People with tattoos
often feel connected to each other in some sort of strange, shared
experience kind of way.
Just talking to people around town will give you an idea of what
tattoo shops have a reputation for cleanliness and high quality
of work. You may also find yourself told where not to go, so take
these warnings seriously. On a personal note, I know an unfortunate
young man who decided to try a brand new tattoo shop that was
advertising a special. He ended up with a custom tattoo of his guitar
with the name of the guitar spelled wrong. In the custom tattoo
world, reputation is everything.
Tattoo parlors and custom tattoo artists get most of their business
through word of mouth. A great custom tattoo walking around town
is a much better advertisement than a coupon in the phone book as
far as tattoos are concerned. However, professional artists will invest
in their work and promote their business. Thunder Roads Magazine
works with a variety of artists that have proven themselves to be
both skilled and professional in terms of maintaining themselves to
established standards. We showcase custom work every month in
our magazine so that you can see some of the masterpieces created
by artists within our own area and nationally.

Find a Tattoo Artist Who Meets Your Needs

Once you have an idea of where you want to go, the next step is
to make contact and meet the artist. Go to their studio and spend
some time looking at the tattoo artists’ portfolios. A portfolio is
different than the pictures (called flash) hanging on the walls. A
portfolio is an actual book of photographs that a tattoo artist takes
of tattoos she has done. A tattoo artist’s portfolio is a reflection of
what she feels is her best work and reflects the range of her talents,
or showcases her particular expertise.
It’s worth noting that a professional artist should have a
professional looking portfolio showcasing their work. Like any
craftsman, they should take pride in their work and their portfolio
may be their only evidence of the masterpieces that they have
created. If the artist doesn’t have a portfolio or simply as a collection
of cell phone shots – that may be cause for concern.
If you’re especially drawn to a particular portfolio, the next
question to ask yourself is whether or not the tattoo artist is skilled
in the style of tattoo you want. There are many different styles of
tattoos, from tribal, black and gray fineline, to graffiti style, and every
tattoo artist has a specialty.
Once you’ve found a custom tattoo artist whose work appeals
to you and looks like what you want, the next step is to have a
consultation. If the tattoo artist is busy, you may need to make an

appointment to come in and talk. If not, you can usually talk about
the kind of tattoo you want right then. Once you are sure of your
tattoo artist’s abilities, you need to assess whether or not he is
enthusiastic about doing your tattoo and willing to work with you to
make the drawing for it. You can find a great tattoo artist, but finding
one willing to satisfy your needs and is receptive to your ideas is just
as important as having talent.

Meet Your Custom Tattoo Artist Halfway

Finding a custom tattoo artist that you love is great, but getting
the tattoo you want requires more than just tracking down the right
person for the job. Meet your new tattoo artist halfway during the
creative process so that he can more quickly assess what you are
in the market for.
When you talk to your tattoo artist about making your custom
tattoo, it helps to tell her more than just what you want your tattoo
to look like. While your custom tattoo artist will make a drawing of
the tattoo you’ll receive, you need to help her figure out what that
drawing should look like. Take in drawings or pictures of things or
other tattoos that match the style or subject of your tattoo. Explain
the symbolism behind the tattoo. Make a rough sketch of what
you want, even if your drawing abilities are usually limited to stick
figures. The more you give your tattoo artist to go on, the more likely
you are to end up with a good drawing the first time.
When you go back to look at the drawing your tattoo artist
has made of your custom tattoo, feel free to suggest changes or
modifications. If the drawing looks nothing like what you had in
mind, don’t be afraid to say so or look for another tattoo artist. You
have the final say about what goes on your skin, so don’t worry
about offending his artistic sensibilities.
It’s important that you feel comfortable with the artist. You are
entrusting your body – both visually in terms of the work that’s done
and physically in terms of your health and the artist’s adherence to
proper sanitary standards. If the shops a mess and it appears as
though the artist hasn’t bathed in months – how comfortable are
you that he’s following the proper hygiene standard in regards to his
needles and equipment.
The artist should also treat you with respect and be appreciative
of the fact that you are entrusting yourself to their care and artistic
ability. If the artist is rude or condescending towards you or acts as
though you are privileged to warrant their time – chances are you’re
not going to end up getting exactly what you want.
As you’re developing the design never forget that it’s YOUR tattoo.
Never let the artist talk you into something you’re not comfortable
with. Regardless of what they want to create or what they think
looks cool – it’s YOUR tattoo.

Price is NOT the most important factor.

You should get an estimate of how much your custom tattoo will
cost before your tattoo artist starts inking you. Some tattoo artists
charge an hourly rate for custom work, while others charge based
on the size and complexity of the design. Either way, be prepared to
pay more for a custom tattoo than for something you pick off a wall.
Remember that tattoo artists work in the service industry, and
they should be tipped accordingly. For a tattoo artist who is willing
to take the time to talk to you about your tattoo and draw it for you,
be especially generous. While the talking is free, that time they
spent just talking was time they could have spent actually tattooing
someone else for money.
When it comes to custom tattoo work, be willing to shell out some
cash. This is one aspect of your life where being frugal won’t get
you anywhere good. The best custom tattoo artists charge more
than others because the quality of their work is higher and people
are willing to pay for it. In five years, you won’t remember how much
you paid for your tattoo, but you will still have to look at it every day.
Contributed by Thunder Roads Ohio, Iron Cowboy
IRON COWBOY PRODUCTIONS, LLC 2016 ©

Thunder Roads Magazine® Oregon 32