How to go about getting a Tattoo?

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Anyway, I was looking for a different tattoo thread but can't find it. I was going to be asking about the process involved in getting a tattoo, how to go about the design, consultation, choosing the right artist, "building" a larger design over time - I can see my search for such answers has no place here!

 

[windym]

One of the magazines I worked for as a photographer was Total Tattoo magazine, saw some amazing pieces as well as a lot of not so good and some down right WTF is that meant to be. Personally I do not understand why anyone would want someones/anyones name tattoo'd on them, taking this to an extreme twenty years ago before revelations in the press having Jimmy Saville or Gary Glitter,s names/faces inked in all their former glory on some part of your body would now have been an embarrasing mistake.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I can see my search for such answers has no place here!

There are a lot of tattooed CC'ers on here, so I'm sure you could find the answer and/or guidance to any tattoo related matter your heart desires.

If you are serious about getting inked then I would advise you visit as many local tattooists as you can. Speak to them and see their work. This will help you get a feel for them and help you build rapport, (kind of like you would with an LBS I suppose).

Also ask about in your social circle, you may have friends who have tatts and you had no idea, (nothing's as personal as a persons ink after all), yet they may be able to recommend an artist for you.

Google is also an excellent resource for researching designs as well.

I'm just starting the process of designing my next one. It will be a remembrance tatt for my Great Grandad and the Great War and is going to incorporate a poppy, his army number and a reference to the Lancashire Fusiliers, which will probably just be the letters LF I think at this stage.

The problem I have is I am in no way artistic, so I find designs I like and take them to the tattooist I've used for years and he'll come up with a design. It might be OK as it is or we might tweak it until I'm happy, but either way I like this process and have used it many times already.

All I'd say is if in doubt leave it out. You need to be committed to your design and your artist to ensure a happy outcome. Failure of one or the other can lead to a bad tatt, an unhappy you and possibly even expensive cover ups! Just DAHIKT

 

[Panter]

Anyway, I was looking for a different tattoo thread but can't find it. I was going to be asking about the process involved in getting a tattoo, how to go about the design, consultation, choosing the right artist, "building" a larger design over time - I can see my search for such answers has no place here!

There's a list of some of the best artists Worldwide here.
Find someone that specialises in the style you're after, then make an appointment to visit them and discuss what you're after.
A good forum here for further help

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Thanks for the replies.

I used the map linked by Panter and found an artist I really liked who looked like he was only an hour from where I live, but I think it was only a guest appearance; I'll give them a call to find out more.

I have been considering one for years, almost 25 years to be exact...I thought like most of my ideas that I'd grow out of it. But I'm now sure about it.

I have an idea for a design, I have reference material and an idea of how I would like to develop the finished design over time (although as I don't know anything about the time taken to undertake the work then it might not take as long as I'm thinking). There would be colours involved, so not sure if that adds to the time/costs. Cost is not a factor tho.

I'm also not sure where to locate it. The design could fit in numerous location; calf/lower leg, or upper arm/shoulder seem the obvious choices, but I'm not sure how much difference the site of the tattoo makes re what is possible, or if artists can work with any location and incorporate the basics of my idea to fit different locations.

 

[Sods_Laur]

Recommendations are the way to go I think. There's a world-renowed tattooist in my city but her waiting list is 9 months long and you pay an awful lot of money, £150 an hour.

On the other hand, my husband had a tattoo done by someone recommended to him locally, he went to see him, decided he was a good sort that understood what he was after and he came out with one of the best tats I've ever seen and it cost him £80. You'll often find people trying to build a rep are better value, because once your name is out there you can basically charge what you want and people will pay it because they want a tat done by someone famous.

 

[davdandy]

Research research research,do not jump in head first,do your homework.

Check out you local artists and make sure you see their work.The best artists do not come cheap so bear that in mind.Art is not cheap and a tattoo is art.

Some tattoo artists have long waiting list due to their high demand so it may be worth booking one now and use the time waiting by finalising your design.

Avoid names,apart from loved ones that is,it can get embarrassing if they do something bad,think Lance Armstrong and the peodo celebs of late,you wouldn't want their names on you would you?

Lastly,as i started,research research research.

 

[Piemaster]

'cost is not a factor' and it shouldn't be. I've only got one small tattoo and admittedly the guy who did it was the only one I actually visited, but I did look at several local ones portfolios on Facebook first - quite a few seem to use it to show off their work. Even then there were a couple of 'is that actually the best example you could find to show to the world?' moments. You will have to wait a bit for an appointment, especially with the more popular better artists.
I hadn't realised what I wanted, a bike just above the ankle, was actually fairly tricky for him. Circles and straight lines on a fairly curved bit of skin.

 

[John the Monkey]

I think you just walk in, say "A pouncing gerbil, the size of a volleyball, between my shoulder blades please, my good fellow."

(If they tell you to get out, because you are in a Haberdashers, simply go to the next shop).

 

[ayceejay]

How to go about getting a Tattoo?
first get your head examined

 

[Retribution03]

Look online at designs you may be interested in then go visit a few tattoo studios to see the quality of the work done there and how hygienic the place is it should be very very clean or walk away.once you have decided what you want and who you want to do it sit down and think really hard if a tattoo is what you really want and what that tattoo will look like in 10+ years as what is fashionable now will probably look pants in years to come.dont get me wrong a lot of tattoos are brilliant and will always look good but I had one of mine done when I was 19 and soon started to dislike it.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

you want to do it sit down and think really hard if a tattoo is what you really want and what that tattoo will look like in 10+ years as what is fashionable now will probably look pants in years to come.dont get me wrong a lot of tattoos are brilliant and will always look good but I had one of mine done when I was 19 and soon started to dislike it.

That's why it has taken me all this time to decide; years of thinking "will it still mean something to me when I am 30?" Yes, then "will it still mean something to me when I am 40?" Yes, then "oh bollócks it, I'm too fecking old to worry now..."

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Will it be something as good as this?

GC

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Will it be something as good as this?

Unlikely.
It will involve flags and music. Nowhere near as good as a monkey's hoop.

 

[ufkacbln]

The Royal Navy used to have duty free cigarettes

To stop them being sold on the open market they were produced with two blue lines and teh words "HM Ships only" printed along the length of the cigarette

This was not a rare tattoo and I will let you guess where it was tattooed!