I promise this isn’t a “how much does it hurt” thread
After several years of debate I have finally chosen a design for my tattoo . I did a bunch of research and found a guy in my area that seems to do a good job on this type of tattoo and called him up. When I went to my appointment I was really not that impressed with this guy. He wasn’t very personable, almost seemed shy, and didn’t really joke around or laugh with the rest of us. I gave him the original to make his drawing from with the changes I wanted to make, and set the appointment for 3 weeks later, at that time he told me to stop in and see the drawing after about a week or two. My tattoo appointment was set for the day after I got back from a business trip, so it was important to see the drawing before I left. When I stopped in to see the drawing the day before I left for my trip the guy said he had it at home and would have to e-mail it to me. A little frustrating, because I was excited to see it but I figured I would just have to wait a little longer. When I finally got the sketch in my inbox 4 days later, I decided that some of my changes were too much and e-mailed him back to take a few things out.
So the day of my appointment to get the tattoo I still haven’t seen the new changes, but I thought he was holding on to them so I could see them that night. At about 12 on the day of the appointment I get a call from the shop to let me know that they need to cancel my appointment. The tattoo artist was in a car wreck over the weekend and wasn’t up to working. I rescheduled the appointment and waited to get the new version of his drawing by e-mail.
So now I’ve got the newest version and I’m having a hard time deciding if it looks like the original. Maybe it’s just because it’s a line drawing but I don’t think it looks the same, especially in the face.
So Dopers, here are my questions… Do you think liking your tattoo artist is important? Does this seem like to many warning signs to you? Lately do you think the difference between the original and the drawing are only because of it not having color?
Sorry for the long post, and TIA for your thoughts!
You HAVE to like your artist. That’s all there is to that. IMnotsoHO.
Aside from that, that change in the face has taken that girl from pin-up to stripper in a skanky nudie bar. Go find a new artist. Your first tattoo should be an almost zen like experience, and you’re not going to get that if you’re worried about the artist’s personality and skills.
I don’t like his work so far. Not only has he been unprofessional, but I don’t like the way he’s inked the drawing. She looks puffy and skanky. It’s normal for an inked drawing to look weird, but there’s no way she’s going to get smaller on your body. Find a new artist. I know, it’s frustrating, but these things are expensive to get fixed once they’re on.
You know, there are some artists that specialize in pinup drawings. I may be spoiled rotten living near L.A. where many of the good artists are, but there MUST be someone up there in WI. Does the tattoo convention ever pass by you up there? Might be worth waiting for. I need to qualify all of my statements with letting you know that I am not inked, either yet. All of the right circumstances have not presented themselves yet, so I’m waiting. One of those things is the artist. I’m a little picky. I have learned quite a bit from my close friend, though. She’s got ink all over the place.
I vote for the original. I have 6 tattoo’s and want to keep going. Yes you really need to trust/like the tattoo artist. I’d keep looking around. Too bad your not in Colo. The guy who did mine rocks! Sounds like this guy doesn’t give a sh*t to take the time of day to do your tattoo right. It will be on you forever. Do more research in your area and find someone better. You’ll feel better about it and you will know you made the right choice. Look through their books if they have any and ask lots of questions. You want it done right so dump the jerk and look elsewhere.
You need to be comfortable with your artist and your art. If you don’t feel good about either one going into it, don’t do it. Tatoos are permanent and you don’t want to spend the next 30 years with something on your skin that feels wrong to you. That’s bad juju.
I backed out of my first tatoo because I didn’t like the attitude of the artist in the trendy shop I had picked. I wound up getting the work done at a little neighborhood place that had a much better vibe.
I guess the reason I went into so much back detail is because I thought maybe this is just the whole angsty artist thing going on. I procrastinate all the time so I don’t think I’m allowed to get bent out of shape about it. But it just wasn’t jiving with me.
As far as the ink goes I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who thinks he turned a really cool piece of art into a cartoonish stripper.
I actually got inked the same place I get pierced (and have to replace my nose ring whenever it falls out).
The fact that I liked them, that they were cool about answering my questions and taking my view into account is what pushed me over into actually getting the tattoo. For me it wasn’t as much the artistry (as I was going for something simple)…as the hygeine. I’m a total hypo and had to inspect everything like 4 times. I did hold off on demanding to see the autoclave, though.
In my case, I got a simple symbol (okay, I have the om tattooed on me, trite for a Hindu but I’ve wanted one for a long time and it’s pretty meaningful…I’m planning on a dharma chakra at some point) that isn’t very difficult to ink, but they took the time to find a size I like and I had to make sure 18 different times that they had it “flipped” right.
Make sure the drawing is exactly how you want it.I gave my tattooist a picture of what I wanted, he made some minor changes to it which i didn’t see til the day of my appointment , he asked if it was ok,I said it was.Tho the changes were small, to this day I wish it would had been EXACTLY what i submitted.Again, they were very tiny changes but to me it makes a difference and I think eventually I will get it fixed somehow.
I’m not a tattoo person, but I think the design you picked is cute! I would not move ahead with that artist…he has definitely not captured the charm of the illustration at all.
I couldn’t get either of the images to load, but I have to loudly chime in with all the other folks who said that you must like your tattoo artist and appreciate their work. Also to agree with those (including yourself) who mentioned stylistic variations in their design not required by location on the body and so forth.
I have a very elaborate backpiece in progress, and I’ve allowed my artist to make a few adjustments to my original design based on her artistic opinions. The piece is gorgeous, to be sure, but it’s not exactly what I wanted and I will stick to my guns from here on out.
Remember that you are the one carrying this piece around on your hide for the rest of your life and that you need to be happy with it–not accommodate the artist’s desires or lack of skill. Find an artist who’s enthusiastic to work with you and to work on your project, one who’s portfolio you’re amazed by, even if it takes you years to find the right one. You won’t regret it. You will regret a mediocre tattoo.
Add: I did finally get the images to load, and the second isn’t terrible–I imagine he traced it with a light box so the outline is okay. I think the deviation is in the face–it’s not proportioned the same as the original and the expression is off. It’s definitely not as nice as the original art. Find a new artist, especially if you’ve discussed your concerns and he hasn’t been able to accommodate them, and blew off the deadline to boot.
Well the biggest thing was that I didn’t want the holster to be quit so “penis like”. I understand that it’s supposed to be phallic, but that’s not what I want on me. Not that I’m a prude by any means, however I’m sure you could have guessed that since I’m a girl getting a girl tattoo! I also wanted her to have longer hair and wanted the spurs added. However now that I see it I’ve decided that the spurs look out of place.
Barrels, where did you go? I know there are two tattoo places in Platteville, and one of them is kind of skeevy, but the other isn’t. My brother got his at one of them, and I think his girlfriend got hers at the same place. Would you like me to ask him where he went and what he and his girlfriend thought?
It took me ten years to decide on what I wanted for a tattoo. When I finally decided to finally get it done, I went with a highly recommended artist, Fred Giovanitti. He had done extensive and fantastic work on a friend of mine and came higly recommended from others I had spoken with. He was fantastic during my consultation. When I went for the actual appointment, the transfer looked exactly like the original. During the hour and half it took, we had a great time and my tattoo came out exactly as we had discussed. I am currently working up the design for my second tattoo and I am definitly going back to Fred.
I agree with what others have said. I love the graphic you have chosen, but the drawing looks like a cheap Vegas hooker*. Keep looking for a better artist, or come out here and see Fred!
*Her left leg should be thinner, the jawline is all wrong, the lips are too big, the nose is too wide and her left eye shouldn’t look all droopy. The sign of a great artist is one who can capture the shading and texturing of the original picture.
Did you see his portfolio/see actual work before choosing this artist?
