Ink: How to Choose Your Tattoo Artist

Finding the right tattoo studio is the first step towards getting some body art but then you need to select the right artist. The three things to keep in mind are style, technique and personality.

Style

Like any art form, tattoos come in a vast range of different styles. From tribal or oriental to surrealist and portraiture, each artist has his or her own area of specialisation and has chosen to master that style for a reason. It is better to find an artist who is a master of one, rather than a jack of all trades who is a master of none.

Look for an artist whose flash book contains work similar to the style you are looking to have done. If you need some guidance ask the studio manager as they will know which artist would be able to give you the best quality of work for the style you seek. Having an artist understand your preferred style inside and out is the first step to ensuring you’re getting a tattoo that’s right for you.

They will be more involved, passionate about the process and will work with you to bring your vision to reality. For example, if you are looking for amazing traditional work, Fudoshin Tattoos in South Woodford holds a team of amazing artists who specialise in this area, or visit Love Hate Social Club in Notting Hill – they hold a higher price tag but are very much worth the expense. If you’re not sure which style you’re looking for, and want to know a few of London’s best, check out our previous article Top London Tattoo Artists.

Technique

When it comes to ink, sloppy work does not just mean wobbly lines and uneven colour, it’s also a risk to your health, your skin and your tattoo. While you’re flipping through flash books, have an eye out for how the studio’s tattooists are interacting with their clients, how they set up and how they work through an application.

Before they start their work do they have gloves on? Have they wrapped all their equipment and any area a client will be touching in cling film? Are needles and tips being replaced with new ones coming out of sterile packaging?

A Tattoo Artist who takes care when it comes to clinical grade hygiene cares about their client’s well-being and the end result of their work. You want to leave that studio with a wonderful new piece of art, not a wonderful new disease.

If you’re a bit nervous hovering around a studio to watch them work, visit one of the London Tattoo Conventions. They have the top artists from across the city in one place, and will give you the best insight into which artists really take pride in their work.

Personality

You’re going to spend quite a bit of time with this individual. Aside from getting the right tattoo, you want the right personality to mesh with. Having someone you can get on with improves the experience of the application and makes the overall process easier to discuss.

You want to trust your artist and to know that if you have questions, concerns or amendments to the overall design, you will feel comfortable raising those issues. This may be their artwork but it is your body that will be wearing it for life.

You definitely do not want to feel pressured into getting a certain design in a certain position if you are not 100% happy with it. You’re the one who will have to look at it everyday, not them.

Your comfort is a top priority and don’t settle for anything less.

by Natasha MacKenzie

 

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