Tattoo artists fall into two different categories: those who have had
formal training or an apprenticeship and "scratchers.'
The scratcher is an untrained tattooist who may be artistically
gifted but rarely bothers sterilizing his instruments. The scratcher may work
out of a studio, but often works from his home, a basement or the back room of a
bar. They may describe themselves as freelancer. A scratcher often purchases
equipment through the Internet or email. The worst thing about a scratcher is
their tendency to reuse needles which of course can lead to fatal diseases such
as hepatitis or AIDS.
In a category somewhere between the shoddy practices of the scratcher
and the brightly lit sanitary studio of professional tattoo artists are the
artists that just don’t have any artistic talent. Their tattoos are badly
executed, the outlines uneven, the colors unattractive and their drawing
perspective is out of proportion. If a tattoo artist’s works
seems ill thought out
or lacks a pleasant composition then trust your instincts and stay
away.
Unfortunately we live
in a day and age where tattooing could literally be the death of a customer if
proper procedures are not strictly carried out. Needles and equipment must be
properly sterilized, cross-contamination and strict sterilization techniques
must be adhered to, or disease can spread as quickly. Blood-born pathogens do
kill tattoo clients. If you think all that you need to get a tattoo is a needle
and some ink...think again!
Before you choose the
tattoo artist, you need to make an inner decision that you are not going to
settle for banal, boring or sloppy work. There is too much talent on the market
for you to walk away with a badly drawn or splotchy looking tattoo.
It is your ultimate responsibility to choose an artist who has the
cleanliness of a surgeon and the talent of a drawing master. Sometimes this
means investing some money and sometimes it means travelling to another city to
get the tattoo that you want. You need to tell yourself that this expense of
time and energy is worth it, as it is an investment in what is ultimately a
permanent work of art.
The only way to properly assess a tattoo artist is to see examples of
his or her work. They should have a portfolio that is signed or watermarked in
some way. The portfolio should consist of photographs of work that they have
done. You can also visit the shop or studio and ask if you can watch the artist
in action. One good reason to do this is to establish the verity of the artist’s
portfolio. Unfortunately anyone can put up examples of tattoos on their walls
and then claim authorship of the work.
Another way to find a good tattoo artist is to walk up to someone,
whose tattoo you admire, and ask him or her who did the work. They will be the
first to recommend the artist if the tattooist is good. Make sure you question
these individuals to find out the cost of the tattoo as well as the hygienic
conditions of the shop. In this case, strangers are likely to give you better
advice than your friends. The problem with a friend is that they may be a
"friend of a friend" of the tattooist and not be familiar with the tattooist’s
artistic or business reputation at all.
Industry and cultural magazines are also a good source of information
about tattoos. The intent of most of these magazines is to weed out the
scratchers from the fine artists and showcase the best of tattoo
artists.
Don't Expect the Moon and the Stars
Like most artists,
tattoo artists have their own specific styles that they excel at and styles that
they are not so good at. For example, if you want a realistic portrait of
Marilyn Monroe on your arm, don’t seek out an artist that specializes in
reproducing lurid cartoons.
Ultimately when it
comes to tattooing, you are the art director and you are selecting the talent to
realize your dream. Some tattoo artists are better at fine line tattoos than
others, others have a knack for the rhythms and designs associated with
primitive work and some are better at flowers than flaming skulls. Usually you
can tell by looking at the artist’s in-shop photo-album whether or not they
excel at colorful traditional work or the fine shadings that create
photo-realism.
Most tattooists have a great deal of enthusiasm for their work and
are willing to "get into the spirit" with you when it comes to arriving at the
style and size of tattoo that is best for you. If the artist has suggestions
about size and color, listen to the voice of experience. They may simply know
what looks best or they may be trying to subtly tell you something about the
limitations of their own talent.
Once you are in the chair, treat your tattoo artist with respect. Don’t try to be a "back seat" artist and annoy him or her with impulsive creative suggestions. Of course, this is not going to happen if you and the artist have mutually agreed on an appropriate design in the first place
If you can’t afford a tattoo, than accept your circumstances.
Although a tattoo is priceless, it can also be considered to be a form of
"beauty treatment." You wouldn’t allow a bad hairdresser to butcher your hair,
so don’t let an affordable tattoo artist brand you for life with a marking that
you might dislike.
As with any product, the cost of a tattoo varies from artist to
artist. Popular or award winning artists will always charge more than
inexperienced artists.
The cheapest tattoo is
a flash or stock tattoo. These are the designs that you find hanging on the
walls of the studio, parlor or (traditionally) the barber shop wall. Artists
usually charge a flat rate for their flash designs, but this, of course is
dependent on the size of the design and the amount of color that is used to
saturate it. In general you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 U.S. for a
tattoo that is about two by two square inches.
For custom work, most artists usually charge by the hour. It is
highly recommended that you bring your template or design with you so that the
artist can give you an accurate estimation of how long the work will take. Rates
for custom tattoos go anywhere from $50 and $300 U.S. an hour. Although price
doesn’t always dictate the excellence of the artist, you are probably best
ensured to receive a tattoo that you are satisfied with by choosing an artist
that charges $150 an hour or more.
Applying a tattoo involves a lot more than just creating a pretty
picture. A professional artist is an artist, a technician and a craftsperson.
Selecting the artist who is going to apply your tattoo is the most important
decision that you will have to make, so make sure the artist is part-doctor,
part artist.
Make sure you take the time to scrutinize the artist’s work? Do the
lines of the tattoos look shaky or feathery? Do the circles look like circles
and squares like squares? What about the coloring? Are the colors blended well
to create even forms of shading, dimension, and depth? Do any of the tattoos
look swollen, faded, bleary or out of proportion. Trust your own artistic eye
when it comes to this, as despite all of the promises or excuses that explain
inferior work, your tattoo will probably resemble what is in the artist’s
portfolio in the end.
Tattooing can be considered to be a form of invasive surgery because
it involves bonding color through to base layer of your skin. The more
translucent outer layer of the skin grows over this layer, once the tattoo has
healed.
When a tattoo "fails" it is usually because the ink was placed too
deeply into the skin where bodily fluids can cause the tattoo to spread and lose
definition. If the tattoo is not impressed deeply enough into the skin, the
tattoo may fade or completely disappear.
You also might want to find out if the artist is abiding by city or
state laws and what certifications and licenses are required to legally tattoo
in your city and state. If the artist cannot produce this certification than
don’t risk it.
Assessing the Artist's Practice
If the tattoo studio does not look as clean as your doctor or
dentist’s office than walk right out of the door. Bad places to get tattooed are
in someone’s kitchen, a local bar, in the bleachers at a racetrack or at a
county fair. This is because sterile conditions cannot be met in certain
environments.
Watching the artist in action is also highly recommended, as
everything that is used to apply the tattoo should be sterilized or disposable.
For instance, the artist should not be dipping his needle into a large plastic
jug of ink. The ink should be poured into a disposable container that is
intended for use with just one customer.
You might also want to
observe how the tattooist is applying ointments and Vaseline. The tattoo artist
should always use steel or disposable wooden sterile spreader and not a finger
to apply these substances to your skin.
The tattooist should also use disposable sterile latex gloves. If he
or she is using bare fingers then you are vulnerable to infection and disease.
New sterile needles should also be used for every tattoo.
All non-disposable equipment should be sterilized after each use with
an autoclave. Ultra-sonic cleaning does not sterilize equipment. It should only
be used as a method of cleaning the equipment before it’s placed into the
autoclave. Make sure you question the artist to make sure that he or she is in
possession of an FDA regulating auto-clave. Dunking equipment in a tub of
rubbing alcohol is not enough to sterilize tattooing equipment.
Many artists will use roll-on deodorant to create a darker impression
of the transfer copy on your skin before they begin the tattoo. Although this is
a very effective method of transferring a stock tattoo to the skin, keep in mind
that the deodorant may have been used on another client’s skin. The deodorant
should be wiped onto a tissue, and then tissue the tissue should be used to
place the deodorant on your skin.
You also might want to ask the artist if he or she is vaccinated for
Hepatitis B.
Never just take
anyone’s word for it. Do they have proof? Can they show you a doctor’s record
proving they were vaccinated? The hepatitis vaccination is a series of three
shots given over a four-month period of time. It’s not something that’s going to
just slip someone’s mind. Getting a hepatitis shot is "an affair to
remember."
Unfortunately, mandatory testing for hepatitis B is not required
before an artist can pick up a needle. For ultimate safety, make sure that
you are vaccinated before you receive a new tattoo.
Ten Signs You Are in the Right Studio
1. The Tattoo Artist
Provides Samples of Previous Work
Never select an artist
who can not produce some kind of portfolio. A photo album of tattoos done on
living skin should be provided for you to look at in the studio. An artistic
display of stock tattoos on the walls is not enough to tell you that the artist
has a good reputation.
2. The Tattoo Artist
Lives in a Disposable Universe
Nothing that that the tattoo artist uses should ever be placed back
into a container. This includes ointment, ink and water. Usually these
substances have been in contact with your blood plasma. Such thriftiness
increases the risk of the spread of infection to you and others.
Ink should always be
placed in ink caps, which are tiny cups used to hold just enough color that is
needed to tattoo you. This ink should never be returned to a bottle or a
jar.
3. The Tattoo Artist
Possesses an Autoclave Certificate
An autoclave is an electric sterilization unit that resembles a steel
pressure cooker. It is used by doctors to sterilize medical equipment. In order
for equipment to be sterilized it must sit n the autoclave at a temperature of
246 degrees for at least thirty minutes.
Just being in
possession of an autoclave does not guarantee that it is in use. Ask if the
artist possesses a recent autoclave certificate that shows that the unit is
regularly tested and in use by the operators of the business.
If the tattoo artist gives you any "attitude" or is evasive with
regards to the use of the autoclave or tries to pass off an ultra-sonic cleaner
as a sterilization equipment then head for the front door.
4. The Tattoo Artist Uses
New Sterile Needles
New sterile needles
are always removed from a pouch called an autoclave bag. The needles should not
be removed from this pouch until your tattoo work is in progress. Each autoclave
needle bag usually boasts a small label called a "sterile confirmation" label
along with the name of the manufacturer. If you do not see this label on the bag
or if your needles are sitting outside the bag, then the artist may be reusing
materials.
New needles are bright silver in color. If needles appear stained,
brownish or dulled then stop the procedure.
5. The Tattoo Artist
Wears Latex Gloves
Fingers spread germs
to raw, freshly tattooed skin faster than anything else. For this reason the
tattooist should always wear standard medical latex gloves. The gloves should
not have holes or tears in them and fit the artist properly. It only takes a
pinhole in the latex glove to increase the risk of cross
contamination.
6. The Tattoo Artist
Disposes Needles In a Sharps Container
A Sharps container is
a plastic container, usually red, with a biohazard symbol on the outside. You
also see these containers that are labeled "hazardous waste" in dental and
doctor offices.
Used needles, and
anything else contaminated and not scheduled for autoclave sterilization should
be placed in these containers and removed in a timely manner.
7. The Artist Has a
License to Practice
Most states require a
tattoo artist to have some kind of license before they can touch anyone with a
needle. Check the laws in your state to make sure that you are dealing with a
licensed practitioner.
8. The Artist is Trained
and Certified
Unfortunately, there
isn’t any kind of official certification given to tattoo artists that complete
their education. Tattooing is an oral tradition that is usually passed down
through generations through an apprenticeship. However most tattoo artists will
be able
to produce proof that
a well-known tattoo artist has trained them in safe and hygienic
practices.
9. The Tattoo Studio is
Clean and Well Lit
Although most tattoo studios are kind of Goth looking, complete with
black lights and loud stereo music, this doesn’t mean the place is dirty. What
matters most is that the "surgical" area looks spic and span and is well lit
with halogen lights.
10. You and the Tattoo
Artist "Click"
You must revere and respect the tattoo artist and he or she must revere and respect you. You do not have to become best friends, however this is a situation where you should not be subjected to any kind of humiliation, sarcasm or displays of artistic temperament. Behaviors that fall into the category of displays of artistic temperament include anger, giddiness, and a reluctance to stick to schedule and inviting you to get high or drunk. A tattoo artist should also not consider him or herself to be too hip to conduct themselves in the civil and courteous manner that is usually associated with good business practices.
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