Tattooing is like any art form. There are days when no matter what you do, after following your training and procedures to the letter, the tattoo comes out perfect, and days when no matter what you do, you will follow your training and procedures to the letter, and the tattoo is not perfect.
Part of getting a tattoo, is understanding that tattoo artists are not machines. That no matter how much training and experience they have, there will be times when the tattoo, although just so, is not what your minds-eye had pictured as the result.
Another part of getting a tattoo, the part that most people don’t even bother doing, is the research part. Would you let a plastic surgeon you didn’t know, and whose work you had never seen or been referred to, cut into your body in any way? For that matter, most people take more time picking out a pair of jeans than deciding which tattoo artist and studio will meet their expectations and needs.
Before you sit down in that chair, make absolutely certain that you have examined the work of the artists; that you have at least ONE dependable reference from someone you personally know, and who has a tattoo that you have seen and admired from the artist; make sure that the artist’s style and technique are a perfect fit for the work you are asking them to do; and don’t bargain shop for your tattoo – pay the right price for the work you want done, and you will be very happy with your results.
Many people, because they are in a hurry, or because they think one tattoo artist is pretty much like any other, will ask an artist to do work that is not their specialty. While it is generally up to each artist to decide and inform their clientele when a piece of artwork is not something they are comfortable getting perfect, the burden for this decision unfortunately still falls squarely on the shoulders of the client.
If you don’t see the kind of work you want done in a particular artist’s portfolio, chances are they are not going to give you the results you want – keep looking, and find a tattoo artist whose skill and expertise are aligned with the artwork you want to put on your body. Don’t be the foolish angry customer who lets anyone give them a tattoo because the price is right and they happen to be the only artist available. Do your research before inking your skin – it’s permanent after all - and you only have yourself to blame if you don’t.
