How quality tattoos are made

YOU DONT NEED TO HAVE ALL YOUR IDEAS AND DETAILS FIGURED OUT FIRST. NOT IF YOU DO SOME PLANNING AND. FIND AN ARTIST THAT DELIVERS THE STYLE AND QUALITY EXPERIENCE YOU LIKE. THEN YOU CAN TRUST THIER EXPERTISE. IN FACT, LEAVING ROOM FOR THEIR INTERPRETATION AND INSIGHT IS ONE OF fTHE BEST WAYS TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU GET REALLY COOL ART.

MAKE A CONNECTION WITH AN ARTIST THAT YOU KNOW WILL TAKE THE TIME TO GET THE LITTLE THINGS RIGHT AND THAT CARES ABOUT MAKING SOMETHING THAT IS GREAT, FOR THE BOTH OF YOU.

YOU MAY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE SCHEDULE REAARANGEMENTS AND SOMETIMES EVEN TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT TO GET THE PIECE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

TOP QUALITY WORK WILL USUALLY REQUIRE REGULAR MULTI-HOUR SESSIONS. POSSIBLY OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR MEDIUM AND LARGE SCALE TOP TIER TATTOOS. HANG IN THERE! GETTING TATTOOED AT THIS PRO LEVEL IS A LEARNED SKILL AND IT DOES NOT COME EASY TO MOST PEOPLE. IT TAKES TIME, FOCUS AND EFFORT FROM BOTH PARTIES TO MAKE IT WORK WELL.

I WILL HELP OUT AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL SPEED THIS ADJUSTMENT PROCESS UP.

THIS IS PRECISELY WHY IT MEANS SO MUCH TO HAVE LARGE SCALE WORK. THIS SKILL AND FOCUS IS SOMETHING THE TATTOOED PERSON TAKES WITH THEM TO EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIFE AFTERWARD.

THE PERSONAL GROWTH FACTOR ENDS UP BEING A MASSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THE TATTOO IS JUST THE PROOF, THE SECONDARY RESULT, THE RECEIPT.

HAVING EVERYTHING READY FOR YOUR SESSION IS A GREAT WAY TO GUARANTEE THE BEST RESULTS. PLAN TO HAVE THE TIME OFF FROM ANY RIGOROUS ACTIVITY LIKE SWIMMING, RUNNING, BEING OUTSIDE IN THE SUN OR VERY PHYSICAL WORK. LEAVE THE TIME TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW TATTOO PROPERLY. PROTECT THE INVESTMENT OF YOUR TIME AND EFFORT!

FOR THE SESSION ITSELF WE WILL DO A LOT TO PROVIDE SMALLER COMFORTS THAT CAN ADD UP TO A LOT DURUNG LONG OR DIFFICULT SITTING. THINGS LIKE SNACKS AND DRINKS, ENTERTAINMENT, BLANKETS, BODY COVERINGS FOR PRIVACY AND DISCRETION AND OFTEN WE CAN EVEN PROVIDE CONTROL ON TEMPERATURE PREFERENCES .

SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD HAVING A BETTER SESSION ARE-

1. — EAT A LARGE MEAL RIGHT BEFORE YOUR SESSION. NERVES CAN MAKE PEOPLE SKIP THIS PART BUT KEEPING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR UP HELPS THE BODY INTERPRET PAIN AND DISCOMFORT LESS INTENSELY. IT IS ALSO COMMON TO HAVE A LONG LEAD UP TIME ON ARTISTIC TATTOOS BEFORE THE ACTUAL TATTOOING PART STARTS.

2. — KEEP YOUR SKIN CLEAN AND WELL LOTIONED AND OUT OF THE SUN FOR THE WEEK BEFORE YOUR SESSION. YES, THIS MAKES A VERY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN SPEED AND PAIN DURING YOUR TATTOO SESSION.

3. — WEAR CLOTHES THAT CAN EASILY LEAVE ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE AREA GETTING TATTOOED AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO BE STAINED WITH INK AND SUCH. WE DONT WANT TO RUIN ANYTHING NICE OF YOURS.

4. — SLEEP MATTERS, STRESS MATTERS, TIME OF THE MONTH CAN MATTER A LOT FOR SOME. ALL THESE FACTORS ARE NOT IN OUR CONTROL BUT DO YOUR BEST, THEY CAN AFFECT COMFORT AND PAIN TOLERANCE MORE THAN YOU THINK.

5. — AVOID NUMBING AGENTS, ALCOHOL OR ANY UNPRESCRIBED DRUGS BEFORE YOUR SESSION. NONE OF THEM WORK AS WELL AS PEOPLE THINK ANHOW. IF YOU ARE FEELING PARTICULARLY NERVOUS BEFORE A SESSION OR JUST HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL THEN PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MENTION THIS TO YOUR ARTIST. ITS VERY NORMAL EVEN FOR THE HEAVILY TATTOOED AND THERE ARE OFTEN WAYS WE CAN HELP.

6. — CONSIDER MAKING A ROUTINE LIKE THIS OVER THE WHOLE TERM OF THE PROJECT. PLAN FOR GREAT ART TO TAKE A LONG TIME AND IT TAKES THE BOTH OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT COME OUT GREAT.

7. — FOR MOST PEOPLE SAVING YOUR MONEY BEFORE STARTING THE TATTOO OR WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOUR ARTIST TO MAKE A GOOD FINANCE SCHEDULE FROM THE STARTING POINT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN MAKING SURE EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER PERFECTLY. GET THAT SICK LOOKING TATTOO LOOKING SO HOT IT KEEPS ALL YOUR FRIENDS ASKING TO SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

8. — MAKE SURE THE TIMING IS CLEAR ALL THE WAY THROUGH YOUR TATTOO PROJECT. STOPPING A LONGER PROJECT SHORT FOR ANY REASON CAN LEAVE THINGS VERY LACKLUSTER. JUST KNOW IT IS THE EXTRA TIME THAT ALLOWS YOUR ARTIST TO ELEVATE YOUR ART FROM JUST GOOD ENOUGH TO SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL

AFTER OFFICIAL THINGS LIKE CONSULTATIONS, PAPERWORK AND SCHEDULING ARE OUT OF THE WAY ANY ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, WE CAN THEN START THE PROCES OF MAKING THE ART ITSELF. THIS ENTIRE PROCESS TAKES ABOUT A WEEK AND IS WHY FINAL DESIGN OR CONCEPT CHANGES FROM CLIENTS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT AFTER THESE STAGES OF FINALIZING THE ARTWORK HAVE BEGUN.

• FIRST OFF I USUALLY SPEND AT LEAST A FEW HOURS RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING A CONCEPT. THIS MEANS CHECKING TO MAKE SURE DETAILS AND STORIES ARE ACCURATE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, CONCEPTUALLY COMPATIBLE AND THE LIKE.

  THEN I SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN TAKE THE IDEA FURTHER WHILE STILL BEING ACCURATE TO WHAT THE CLIENT LIKES

• SECOND - I WILL DO SOME SMALL AND ROUGH THUMBNAIL DRAWINGS AND DRAW OVER CLIENT PHOTOS FOR PLACEMENT AND COVERAGE.

  SKETCHES AT THIS STAGE USUALLY LOOK VERY MESSY AND ARE MOSTLY ROUGH SHAPES. THIS WAY WE CAN SEE WHAT FIT ON THE BODY IS THE MOST COMPLIMENTARY WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO KEEP FROM ALLOWING DETAIULS AND SPECIFICS FROM DISTRACTING US FROM THE LARGER DESIGN WORK NEEDE AT THIS STAGE.

  THIS HELPS TO STAY FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR WHAT THE CLIENTS NEEDS AND ANY CONCERNS FOR THE TATTOO ARE EASLIY ADDRESSED.

• THIRD - ONCE A BASIC SIZE AND LAYOUT IS DETERMINED I START DOING SKETCHES AND DRAFTS OF THE SUBJECT MATTER TO FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES AND SHAPES OF THE “MAP” WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY MADE.

  THIS CAN REQUIRE A LOT OF DELICATE BALANCING AND PROBLEM SOLVING TO MAKE SURE ALL THE MOVING PARTS PLAY WELL TOGETHER BUT IN THE END WE ALMOST ALWAYS END UP WITH SEVERAL OPTIONS THAT CAN FIT ALL OUR DEMANDS.

  FORMATTING AND SPACING THE DETAILS ARE STARTING TO BE PLANNED FOR HERE BUT WILL NEED A SECOND CONSIDERATION LATER.

• FOURTH - ROUGH SKETCHING AND BLOCKING OUT LIGHT AND SHADOWS TO MAKE SURE THE DESIGN READS AND FLOWS WELL FROM ALL 3 DISTANCES THAT A TATTOOS FIRST IMPRESSION ARE MADE FROM (CLOSE/MIDDLE/FAR).

  IF IT LOOKS GOOD FROM LIMITED ANGLES OF WRAPPING AROUND AND CLOTHING PARTIAL CONCEALMENTS I THEN MOVE ON TO GETTING A MORE SOLIDIFIED DRAWING.

• FIFTH - AT THIS STAGE I WILL OFTEN (BUT NOT ALWAYS) CHECK IN WITH THE CLIENT CONCERNING STYLE, LOOK AND FIT AS WELL AS TO SEE IF ADDITIONAL DETAILS OR CONCERNS HAVE COME UP. IF SO, FINAL DESIGN AND OUTLINE MAY NEED TO BE PUSHED BACK A LITTLE TO ALLOW FOR THE ARTWORK TO BE DONE CORRECLTY. RUSHING ART ALWAYS HAS POOR RESULTS.

• SIXTH - WHEN ALL THE FINAL CRITERIA HAVE BEEN MET I START TO FINALIZE A CLEAN OUTLINE DRAFT AND MATCH IT TO ITS FINAL SIZE.

  AT THIS STAGE DETAILS WILL OFTEN HAVE TO CHANGE FOR FORMATTING REASONS.

  FORMATTING DETERMINES THE SPACE BETWEEN NOTICEABLE DETAILS AND CONTRAST CHANGES.

  THE SIZES OF THIS GAP BETWEEN DETAILS ALLOWS SKIN AND BIOLOGY TO DO WHAT IT NATURALLY DOES. EDGES SPREAD AND COLOR CRUMBLES WITH AGE.

  THE SIZE OF THE GAP INVOLVED DETERMINES HOW LONG THE DETAIL WILL REMAIN VISIBLE AND CLEAR. THIS IS WHY TRADITIONAL TRIBAL AND JAPANESE WORK HAVE THE BOLD LINES AND SPACING THAT THEY COMMONLY DO.

  MODERN ART STYLES NEED TO HAVE THIS NOTION FORMATTED INTO IT BEFORE BEING APPLIED SO IT CAN ALSO ENJOY A LONG LIFE SPAN. SOME LAYERING WILL ENSURE THAT LINE CONTRAST AND CRUMBLING COLOR REMAIN BRIGHT LONG TERM TOO.

  MODERN TECHNIQUES FOR AGE OLD PROBLEMS.

• SEVENTH - THIS STEP IS MOST OFTEN DONE AT THE FIRST OUTLINE SESSION OUT OF NECESSITY.

  ONCE THE ART IS MADE TO SIZE WE HAVE TO COPY AND PANEL IT TOGETHER AND CHECK IT AGAINST THE BODY PART ITSELF.

  ONCE THE EXACT PROPORTIONS ARE DETERMINED THE DESIGN WILL THEN HAVE TO BE BROKEN DOWN INTO PAGE SIZED PIECES AGAIN FOR THE STENCIL MACHINE.

  RUNNING THE STENCILS AND PIECING THEM BACK TOGETHER CAN OFTEN TAKE A FEW HOURS. IT IS ALSO COMMON ON LARGER TATTOOS THAT SOME THINGS DISTORT AROUND ROUNDED BODY PARTS OR DIPS THAT NEED ADDITIONAL CORRECTIVE DRAWING AND APPLYING AT A LATER DATE.

AFTER GETTING APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WE START THE TATTOO PROCESS ITSELF. SETTLE IN AND GET COMFORTABLE AT THE STUDIO. WE WILL PUT ON YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC, TV SHOWS OR MOVIES AND GET YOU COZY AND READY WHILE WE PREPARE AND FINISH SETTING UP.

• WE WILL BE SET UP AND READY TO GO WHEN YOU COM IN FOR YOUR TATTOO BUT THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE CLIENT THERE TO DETERMINE SPECIFICS FOR EACH SESSION.

  WHEN YOU ARRIVE WE WILL MAKE A PLAN FOR THE PARTICULARS OF YOUR TATTOO, DRAW ON THE SKIN, MAKE COLOR AND SHADING COMPARISONS TO ENSURE THE BEST RESULTS AND MAKE CHECKLISTS TO SEE THAT NOTHING GETS LETF OUT AS WELL AS MIXING COLOR, AND PREPARING NEEDLES ETC.

  WE LEAVE CLEAN AND STERILE EQUIPMENT UNTOUCHED UNTIL THE CLIENT ARRIVES SO THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE KNOWING EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING USED ON THIER TATTOO IS NEW.

• DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND PLACEMENT THE STENCILING PROCESS OR APPLYING THE ART TO THE BODY CAN TAKE QUITE A WHILE AND OFTEN WILL INVOLVE DRAWING ON THE SKIN IN COMBINATION WITH PRINTED STENCILS.

  WE TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE MEASUREMENT LINES AND CHECK THAT THINGS ARE IN THE BEST POSITION POSSIBLE FROM NOT ONLY EVERY ANGLE BUT ALSO FROM EVERY POSITION THE BODY MAY MOVE OR STRETCH THE DESIGN SO WE CAN MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL UNFORSEEN FITMENT ISSUES.

  ISSUES LIKE HAVING IT FOLD IN AN UNCOMPLIMENTARY WAY OR IF IT CONTORTS THE DESIGN POORLY, SHOWS A LITTLE WEIRD IN CERTAIN POSITIONS OR MAYBE IF CERTAIN OUTFITS YOU LIKE TO WEAR MAKE A BAD IMPRESSION WHEN IT ONLY PARTIALLY SHOWS ETC.

  THE BIGGEST ISSUE BEING IF IT OVERALL COMPLIMENTS THE BODYS SHAPE AND MUSCULATURE SO IT IS ATTRACTIVE FROM NOT ONLY UP CLOSE BUT FROM ACROSS THE ROOM AND EVEN ACROSS THE STREET.

  THATS WHEN WE HAVE A WINNER. A DESIGN THAT MEETS ALL THESE CRITERIA IS READY TO BECOME A TRULY GREAT TATTOO.

NOW AS WE START I WILL BE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN A PLAN FOR YOUR TATTOO. AT THIS POINT I MAN GET A BETTER IDEA OF HOW MANY STAGES AND SESSIONS TO EXPECT TO FINSH THE PROJECT WITHOUT LEAVING IT LACKING. I HAVE A TIMELINE WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR APROXIMATE PROGRESS AS WE GO. I WILL ALSO EXPLAIN AND SHOW YOU HOW WE TRACK THE TIME FOR EACH SESSION SO YOU CAN ALWAYS KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH TIME, MONEY AND PAIN TO EXPECT. NO SURPRISES HERE IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US. NO MORE HAVING TO WONDER IF YOU ARE PAYING FOR AN ARTIST TO HAVE SMAKE BREAKS OR TALK/TEXT TO THIER FRIENDS. ITS ALL OUT IN THE OPEN HERE.

MOST TATTOOS ARE DONE IN THESE MAIN STAGES B UT THESE STAGES WILL TAKE DIFFERENT AM,OUNT S OF TIME AND SESSIONS DEPENDING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PIECES NEEDS.

-OUTLINE

-SHADING

-FOUNDATION

-DETAIL AND EFFECTS

-CONTRAST AND QUALITY

ONCE A TATTOO IS FINISHED I WILL WANT TO GIVE IT ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR TO HEAL AND SETTLE IN ALL THE WAY BEFORE WE GET FINAL PHOTOS FOR THE PORTFOLIO. THIS GUARANTEES THE BEST AND MOST HONEST SHOWING OF WHAT REAL TATTOOING LOOKS LIKE AND IS HOW ANY GOOD HIGH QUALITY ARTIST CHOOSES TO DISPLAY THEIR WORK. THIS WAY WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOUR TATTOOS THEY GET TO SEE WHAT THEY REALLY LOOK LIKE IN PERSON WITHOUT FILTERS AND SMALL SCREENS THAT MAKE MOST MODERN TATTOOERS WORK APPEAR MUCH BETTER THAN IT IS IN REAL LIFE. THIS IS HOW YOU SHOW PEOPLE WHAT RAL QUALITY LOOKS LIKE

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD! SHOW IT OFF, GO TO CONVENTIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN CONTESTS. YOU WILL MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH A LOT OF OTHER GREAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SHARE THAT SPECIAL EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.

AFTER YOUR TATTOO WE WOULD LOVE TO GET HEALED PHOTOS FORM YOU. NOT IN THE MIRROR BUT IN THE WILD! VACATION PHOTOS, OUTINGS WITH FRIENDS AND THAT SORT OF THING. SEEING PEOPLE LIVING THEIR LIFE WITH THESE IS THE BEST

WE WILL ALSO CONTACT YOU FOR HEALED PHOTOS OCCASIONALLY SOME YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. SEEING THIS HELPS US TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS AND THAT EVERYTHING IS AGING WELL. IT ALSO LETS US TRACK OUR PROCESS, INK, AND TECHNIQUES OVER TYHE LONG TERM TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. MOST LIKELY PHOTOS AND VIDEOS WILL HELP US TO SHOW HOW TATTOOS AGE IN OUR PORTFOLIOS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF TATTOOERS. THESE ARE SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES WE LOOK TO KEEP IMPROVING AND PASSIUNG DOWN TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.