The eternal search and 26 tips on how to find a good tattoo artist

The eternal search and 26 tips on how to find a good tattoo artist:

Nothing really new is happening in the market after writing about amputations and about magnetic implants. The newest thing is called “Brain Piercing”. Unfortunately I cannot write about it at the moment as I am still doing some research on the subject, this way I will be able to write an article worthy of all of you.

But I thought my last experience Tattoo Atelier & Photostudio in Buxtehude was very interesting, not very extreme but the most interesting tattoo I’ve had so far. When I thought about the few rejections I had, I thought that many people might have the same problem. So I decided to make it public.

In the last few years I had this idea for a nice tattoo. It should be a series of mirrored phoenixes starting at my neck and going down my spine to my tailbone.
Easier said than done I guess…

So a few months before my 34th birthday I started looking for an artist who could do the work. As many people know, Brazil is a well-known country in the tattoo industry. We have really great professionals down here.

So here I am with the project, but because I’m very picky about who is going to tattoo my body, I’ve only been able to choose a handful of professionals out of hundreds. From many portfolios I saw I figured only these guys would be able to make a decent job out of my idea full of micro details.

None of these five highly qualified professionals wanted to do the tattoo. Everyone told me it was literally impossible. And the only one who wanted to take up the challenge because I agreed to make the phoenixes a little bigger than I wanted had a family issue.
Time passed, I got older and no tattoo. I certainly don’t need to explain the feeling to my tattoo-addicted friends and readers , but for the people who don’t have the tattoo “bug” I can say it’s really frustrating. It sort of feels like you spent months raising the money for your favorite group gig, and right on the day of the show, the band decided to break up for good.

So here I was with the tick and no show, or rather the drawing and no artist

As I was walking down the street the other day, I saw a small tattoo parlor .

The worst that could happen was that I would meet another wannabe. In fact, the market is full of them. Most tattoo artists aren’t that great. After finishing this story I will add the guide how to find gold between pebbles.

Back to the story, I walked into the studio and there was this one, please let me name the obvious tattooed guy.

Well, if you know a few renowned tattoo artists, you will understand that the pop star idea is really affecting our guys more and more . Boy, most of the time it feels like they’re royalty and doing you the favor of looking you in the face, even if it’s just five minutes of their precious time. Please note that there are a few exceptions, one being the beautiful Pierre Chapelan who I had the pleasure of getting a tattoo of while living in Montreal
many years ago . I saw one by Flávio Vandroiy’s portfolios on paper and then better analyzed his work through his website. The work looked pretty good. Then I saw a picture of a tattoo that was very small and full of detail, I analyzed it for about an hour and looked at every single detail. After that I thought that he would probably do my drawing well. I sent him an email with the picture of my phoenix attached, after a day he sent me an honest reply. He told me the drawing was quite small but he would accept the challenge.

So we got the picture on my back and of course I complained about the position. He patiently erased the drawing and repeated it. Even though I was happy with the position, I thought about complaining just to see his reaction. But it wasn’t necessary; He told me he could change it until I was happy with the placement. So I said nothing. I hate pushing nice willing people. If he was an idiot, I probably would have switched positions a few more times.
He did an amazing job from what many thought was impossible. One of the nicest things about this guy is that he’s humble enough to tell me that after we’ve finished all the phoenixes, we need to go back and touch up the images that he thought could be done better. I agreed with him, some of the bird faces are not identical when looking at a picture taken with a camera’s micrometrics.

I have many tattoos done by many industry hotshots including my very special first tattoo done by Marco Leoni himself. Even if it is an old tattoo; I got it when I was a pre tee and it has suffered quite a bit from the stretch due to my growth and the thousands of times I’ve put it through the monstrous process of leg waxing, it’s still here, not as pompous as it used to be, but every time I look at it I know that old phoenix helped me become who I am.

The truth is I’m in love with this new tattoo; So far it’s really the best little work I’ve seen. When viewed from afar it looks like the finest and most delicate lace money can buy.
Ok, after my narcissistic story, as promised, I’ll add a few tips on how to tell if a tattoo artist is good or if they’re just another self-proclaimed artist title tattoo artist. Note that international awards, even if they are prestigious, are not valued in the artist’s day-to-day work. The prizes are awarded to artists who have created only one work, once during a competition. I thought it was a very small sample, which is worth the price considering many tattoo artists do between three or four tattoos a day in the studio.

• Of course, the studio must be clean, the material properly sterilized, the artist must wear gloves at all times, and the ink should be poured into small containers to avoid contamination of the material.
• Take a very close look at the artist’s portfolio, not just to appreciate it; You will look for very small imperfections.
• The lines on a tattoo must be smooth, jagged lines and shaky lines are a total no- go .
• The way the artist uses and combines colors is also very important. Especially if you are looking for the watercolor effect.
• Large tattoos are easier to master than small tattoos. Even though the sleeves and full back get more attention, small tattoos are a lot more complicated to make. So, when looking at the artist’s portfolio, take a look at his small and more detailed works. A good tip is to look for some bird tattoos and check out the bird’s feathers and face.
• Also pay attention to the work the person is doing when reproducing cartoon characters.
• If price is an issue for the size or type of tattoo you are getting, I suggest you wait and save some more money. It is better to wait and do exactly what you dreamed of than to settle for less.
• You have to get along with the artist and not feel intimidated by him. A good artist will allow you to contribute and will not be offended by a comment or suggestion. Remember it’s your body and you want to enjoy every second of this experience.
• Many people have the notion that the tattoo artist has to be crazy, always high and someone in tune with a dark figure. It’s a myth; Many of these artists are lovable, sometimes married, and often proud parents. If you suspect the artist may be under the influence of drugs or have an addiction, think twice before allowing them to work on you.
• Also respect when the artist expresses their honest opinion. If you don’t agree, just try to find another person to do the tattoo.
• If you are a woman and want to have children, tattooing on your stomach or side of your waist, whether horizontal or vertical, may not be a good idea; It will stretch due to pregnancy and lose some of its beauty.
• Any tattoo looks good fresh. The artist should remind you that what you see is what you get for a while. The ink will fade. Of course, you can delay the process by taking good care of it, but eventually it fades and partially loses some of its beauty.
• The black ink will turn bluish after a few years. There’s no way to avoid it. To correct the color, you need to retouch the tattoo. You can also try to understand that it is a part of your body and how it has the right to age. In my case, I don’t retouch my tattoos.
• It’s a good idea to get a tattoo in winter. In the summer you will have problems with the plastic bandage; It keeps the tattoo constantly moist. The moisture can delay healing and open a window for infection. The healing process will also be very, very itchy.
• If you can’t avoid getting a tattoo in the summer Tattoo Atelier & Photostudio in Buxtehude, be prepared to take antihistamines. They will come in handy.
• If you need to scratch the tattoo, it’s better if you pat yourself. Never use your nails.
• Do not drink or do drugs before getting a tattoo, it will not relieve the pain and alcohol can make you bleed even more.
• Depending on your industry, a visible tattoo can be a problem. Something I hope will someday change but for now if you are one of those pros try to get a tattoo in a spot that is easy to hide while wearing some type of clothing .
• The hardest thing to say is; Never get a tattoo because it’s fashionable or because your idol has one. A tattoo is something personal. It will accompany you every single day of your life. Getting rid of one is a lot harder than getting rid of an ex-spouse.
• When choosing the image for a tattoo, choose something that means something to you. Of course, a butterfly is pretty, so are flowers, a cute star on your wrist is very sexy. But how will you feel about her when you’re sixty?
• And last but not least. Tattoos are something to really think about. If well thought out and chosen, the process of getting a tattoo can take years, but it can definitely change your whole life.