I'm a Tattoo Artist - Ask me anything

[stilldontgiveaf]

Ask me anything 🤷‍♀️

[stilldontgiveaf]

Loving this thread! Beautiful work...
I'm a late starter, 48 now and started having a few tattoos done about 3 years ago, is there such a thing as 'too old'? I know older skin is difficult to work on, what's the oldest first time client you've had?

@ImTheDamnFoolThatShotHim A client who I made friends with asked me to tattoo her mum. She was almost 80. Her first tattoo was a butterfly on her hand. She later came in and had her husbands name on her arm who had recently died. She was the best client I've ever had. She was so intolerant of shit it was hilarious.

I also had another client a few times who was probably about 90. He used to come in with his carer. He struggled with his speech and he would come in with designs he wanted. He was so lovely. He had a huge star on his hand and was so happy when it was done.

Older skin can be tough, you're right. Can be very stretchy and tough. That being said, I've come across some very difficult types on skin on much younger clients. People who sunbed a lot or are heavily naturally tanned are the hardest. Toughest skin ever and their tattoos never heal bright and nice. :(

[stilldontgiveaf]

I quite like the look of a watercolour style one. Do they last well? Also, whats the best couples tattoo you have seen ( or are they all just naff)?

@Pringlemunchers If done correctly, then yeah they last well. Providing the tattoos are looked after. This includes years down the line. There are now products that people can buy to keep their tattoos looking bright over years.

I haven't yet come across a couples tattoo that I'm like "yeah, that's awesome." So far they are all very repetitive and samey. A lot also end in regret and being covered...

[OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny]

What is the (not sure what word to use here) "worst/ugliest/most unaesthetic" tattoo that you've ever had to do for someone?

By that I mean where someone has come in with a design that you've had to do or has asked you to design something to their specifications but you've personally thought to yourself "WTF that's hideous"

[stilldontgiveaf]

What is the (not sure what word to use here) "worst/ugliest/most unaesthetic" tattoo that you've ever had to do for someone?

By that I mean where someone has come in with a design that you've had to do or has asked you to design something to their specifications but you've personally thought to yourself "WTF that's hideous"

@OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny I've had this a lot. People come in with a drawing that their friends have done or something, and from an artistic perspective they aren't great. It takes a lot of convincing to allow me to re-draw it (while remaining diplomatic and polite). I often use the excuse of "as a drawing that's great, however it won't look good on the skin as a tattoo. So how about I redraw it to make it more of a suitable tattoo?" They always go for it eventually when they see my version. I couldn't tell you a specific one though because it happens so frequently.

Style wise, I don't really like doing plain solid black tribal. It doesn't look nice and I feel it's a waste of tattoo. Polynesian tribal however is slightly different (as in what The Rock has). They are full of different patterns and designs and if done properly, all have individual meanings.

Black tribal though... no.

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

Oooh good thread

How long is your wait list and do you ever do walk ins?

Do you feel there are "trends" in tattooing and if so how do you feel people will feel about them later on? For example, lots of women my age have small bottom of back tattoos (suns and ying yangs ) and the men have Celtic arm bands lots of people have mandalas and watercolour seems to be popular. (No offence meant to anyone who has these as I have seem some lovely ones) I'm interested in how these tattoo trends become "popular" as certainly people my age who had them young were before social media...

Do you ever watch shows like Inkmaster?

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

Also, if you do watch Inkmaster, how much do you like Oliver Peck, on a scale of 1-10? Correct answer is 11

[stilldontgiveaf]

Oooh good thread 

How long is your wait list and do you ever do walk ins?

Do you feel there are "trends" in tattooing and if so how do you feel people will feel about them later on? For example, lots of women my age have small bottom of back tattoos (suns and ying yangs ) and the men have Celtic arm bands  lots of people have mandalas and watercolour seems to be popular. (No offence meant to anyone who has these as I have seem some lovely ones) I'm interested in how these tattoo trends become "popular" as certainly people my age who had them young were before social media...

Do you ever watch shows like Inkmaster?

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles I actually quit for two years and only in the last two months have I decided to start again. So at the moment, no waiting list as I'm needing to rebuild my client base... slow process :( I also have the battle of working in an area full of tattooists. Where I live, we have the biggest amount of tattooists (good and bad) in a very small place. I also do walk ins.

So back when people were having the tattoos you've described who are your age, a lot of those were called "flash tattoos". That means that they would all be pre-drawn, put on a sheet full of others and have a set price. They all get repeated. People would come in a pick them off a sheet there and then and have them done. Bottom of back tattoos these days are called "tramp stamps" 😂. Very offensive I know, but I can safely say I don't use that term.

Mandalas are increasingly popular. I couldn't tell you how that started. Watercolour tattoos went out of fashion pretty quick actually. That phase didn't last long at all.

I avoid TV shows about tattoos at all costs. As much as I like my job, I don't fancy watching things about it in my spare time. That being said, my ex boss was a judge on one of those programmes. She is a very very good artist.

[stilldontgiveaf]

Also, if you do watch Inkmaster, how much do you like Oliver Peck, on a scale of 1-10? Correct answer is 11

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles I'll be honest with you, I didn't know who he was 😂 just had to google him. I live a very secluded life hahaha. Just looked at his work, it's very solid. However I have seen plenty of artists who's work I much prefer.

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

I'm not a huge fan of American traditional style either, I just like Oliver Peck He was married to Kat Von D. Lucky her

Which tattoo artists do you admire? Would you prefer to just stick to black and grey? I know a few artists who just do this and won't do colour at all. My DH's tattoos are all black and grey and thinks this is the only "proper" tattoo style I think he secretly judges coloured ones like mine

[stilldontgiveaf]

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles I wouldn't say I admire any particular artists by name. But those who excel in portraits are the ones I like to follow the most.

If I had to choose one style as my favourite, it would be black and grey realism hands down. I do enjoy doing colour, but not as much. The only thing I can't do in colour at the moment is colour realism. That is another level to me. I'd love to be able to do well in colour portraits. I practice occasionally by doing colour portraits using oil paints on canvas. But I just can't see colour in ways that other artists can. I was doing a commissioned oil piece once and my friend came over. She can see colours in things that I simply can't. Some people can see in rainbows, it's amazing. They see purples and pinks and reds in things that I wouldn't usually see and it's so fascinating. Particularly in skin tones.

[stilldontgiveaf]

Also, I have a lot of colour tattoos. If I could honestly go back in time and start again, I'd have black and grey realism sleeves instead. It's all personal preference though.

[SomeonesRealName]

Ive heard that tattooists don't like covering up or adding to other artists work. There's a little bit on my tattoo that the artist missed and as she's abroad it would cost a fortune to fly out and get it filled in by her so I have wondered if another artist would do it for me. What would your own attitude be to this?

[stilldontgiveaf]

@SomeonesRealName I'd personally have no problem doing that in your situation.

[SomeonesRealName]

I suppose it's worth asking, it really bugs me that there's that bit of unfinished detail!

[stilldontgiveaf]

@SomeonesRealName it would bug me too, so I'd have to qualms with doing it for someone.

[RushianDisney]

Can any artist use UV inks or is that a special skill? I've seen some UV tattoos I love and have some ideas for my own, but I can't find anyone who advertises that they work with UV inks.

[stilldontgiveaf]

@RushianDisney I've personally never used them or know much about them. But I'm assuming it's a similar process to usual ink, but you'd need a UV light to be able to see what you're doing.

[PeriComoToes]

I've been looking at a lot of before and after weight loss pictures recently. I'm always astonished that (large) tattoos look exactly the same on the after pictures despite the person having lost a considerable amount of weight and with much smaller limbs. How is this possible??!!

[stilldontgiveaf]

@PeriComoToes I suppose it would depend on the area they had tattooed. You'd probably see more of a difference if the person was to dramatically put weight on. That causes the skin to stretch rather than the other way around. For instance, I've seen stomach tattoos on ladies who have gotten pregnant later, and even then they don't look too bad after losing their bump and the skin goes back to normal.