Getting A Tattoo: What, Where, Pain, Cost & More
When people meet me, they often ask about my ink. I totally welcome this because knowing someone with tattoos is a good way to gain information you might not otherwise learn. When talking tattoos, I tend to hear common statements and questions, like:
- "I really want to get a tattoo, but I'm not sure what to get. How do you decide what to get?”
- “Where should I go to get the tattoo? How much will it cost?"
- “Where should I put it?”
- “Does it hurt? How much does it hurt?
Because acquiring body art is a truly personal experience, there really are no steadfast rules when it comes to figuring it out, but I thought I would share what I have learned over the years that I have been "going under the needle."
First and foremost, remember that the ink you collect is permanent. You are going to look at it and live with it for the rest of your life, so it's not the most opportune time to rush out on a whim and grab the first piece of flash in sight, unless you really don't mind living with the repercussions.
Choosing Your Piece
Though some might advise against relying on tattoo flash, utilizing the concept of flash art can oftentimes be a good option to begin with. There are a lot of excellent flash choices out there, and a lot of lousy ones too. You will probably find that out quickly when you are flipping through flash stands or books at a tattoo shop. My very first tattoo was a flash piece; a cute little pair of cherries that I chose to add to my ankle. The cherries have since been covered up, but I loved them (and still do, it's just that now they sit underneath Shea's portrait).
You might have an idea of what design you want, but the flash option you find isn't quite "you." Discuss it with your artist and tell her/him what components you dig, what you want to change, the colors you want instead, etc. Any good artist that really cares about the end result of a tattoo (which includes both excellent art work and that the collector is pleased) should be down with accommodating your request.
Custom drawings are definitely a great way to accomplish a unique result. Once again, bring your ideas to the table. Do research yourself before approaching an artist and learn about the different types and styles available. I don't know of any tattoo artist who ever wants to be asked, "What should I get?" because they aren't there to transform your skin into their idea of beauty. The theme and idea of your piece really has to be something that you dig, have thought out, and are ready to commit to. If you have examples that embody your vision, bring them with you; but don't expect to duplicate another custom piece, as that is considered disrespectful to the collector wearing it and the artist who inked it. However, using examples for establishing a context and throwing unique elements into the idea can be helpful in getting the ball rolling.
If you are interested in doing a portrait of a loved one, remember that size, clarity and resolution is key when gathering together your reference photos. Sometimes, this might not be possible if the portrait subject is deceased; and in that situation, you will need to discuss the options with your artist. However, if it is at all possible to photograph the subject yourself, take clear, large format photos in a variety of poses and positions so that your artist has ample images to work with when deciding on the perfect reference image. If you are interested in doing a movie character, singer, or well-known subject, scour the internet, books, magazines, etc., for high-resolution shots; again with the widest variety of poses and settings possible.
If you don't have any idea of what you want to get, but you know that you want a tattoo, my best advice is to wait. Don't force it. Like I said before, this is a lifelong commitment here. Don't just get a tattoo for the sake of getting one. Wait until an idea or concept hits you, you love it, and you just can't wait to add it to your skin. I was in this boat once. I knew as a teenager that I wanted a tattoo, after I spied a Cheshire Cat tattoo on a girl's back at Disneyland and thought it was the dreamiest thing I had ever seen. Yes, I knew right then and there that someday I wanted one (ummm... some), but it wasn't until after my 30th birthday that I actually headed into a tattoo shop. It wasn't that the cherries were an extraordinarily significant symbol, but I was into them at the time and thought that the size and design was just right.
Speaking of significance, this is also an area that is very personal. No one can tell you what is best for you or wrong for you when it comes to significance. Some collectors want their tattoo to be meaningful in every aspect of the design and have ties of symbolism from top to bottom. That's totally cool for that collector and definitely a good reason to permanently place that representation onto their skin. Some of my tattoos have very personal and symbolic significance, but some of them don't have a deep meaning at all. Simply put, some of them are just things that I like. They might be words, images, colors, or something that is just a great way to remind me of that time in my life. If you are into tattooing profound art - so be it. If you chose something that you consider eye candy and just something you dig - so be it. There really are no rules. It's YOUR skin. Add what YOU like.
Once you have your tattoo proposal in mind, there are a few other things that are good to keep in mind.
Finding a Good Artist
This may seem like a given, but having been through all sorts of learning experiences when it comes to the quality of work in the tattoo industry, I can tell you that it really is worth investing time, patience and thought into who you want to transform your skin.
I often have people ask me where they can get a good deal on ink work. Frustrating as my answer always is, I truly admonish them to realize that in this genre of the art world, it's often true that you get what you pay for. Meaning, you might be able to find a "bargain" out there, but you also might end up with results that reflect the price. Tattoo work is not the time to search for a deal. This is something permanent that you are doing to alter your body and if it means that you might have to save up a few extra months to have enough bucks in the tattoo jar, DO IT! It's not to say that there are some exorbitant rates out there, where you might be paying too much for what you get; but taking the time to research the artists you are considering is always worth it in the end.
Look carefully through their online galleries and portfolio books. Be sure that they really grasp your art concepts and seem receptive to bringing those ideas to life. Be sure that you mesh well with them and like their personality. I know that isn't always essential and that everyone won't become best friends with their artist, but just from my own experience, I know that getting a tattoo isn't just sitting down for the art and looking in the mirror at the end of the process. My memories of the day, the things I talked about with the artist and the other patrons in the shop, the way I felt about the overall experience, these aspects all have a huge impact on the way I feel about the tattoo from there on out. It's an entire experience to get tattooed (or ideally, it should be) and that's why finding a compatible artist has always been very important to me.
I have many different types of tattoo work on my skin: realism, portraiture, animals, cartoon art, text, Japanese, traditional flash, organic art...all sorts of genres. Each of these requires seeking out a different artist who is skilled in that particular area. While I have close to 200 hours of realistic work from Mike DeVries, he isn't the man I see for my text/font work, because my friend Nate McManus is the right choice for those pieces. When I wanted a cupcake with organic elements, I knew that encompassing that idea required the skills of Carson Hill. My point with these examples is to say that it's very important to keep the style of the piece you want in mind when you look for the perfect person to administer ink. Just because you see amazing work in magazines or online, ask yourself if that particular artist is skilled in the area that your design is calling for.
Take the time to examine all sorts of elements when finding your artist. Read, search, and educate yourself. The tattoo industry is brimming with talent and finding the perfect match for your perfect tattoo is essential and always worth the work invested.
Placement
When I first started collecting ink, I was certainly not as mindful of the important concept of placement as I am now. It's fun to want instant full sleeves or to cover that ritualistic "tramp stamp" spot, but are those areas REALLY suited for the shape, size and overall design of that area of your body?
Understanding placement is almost a science in the world of tattoo art. Making a tattoo appear its most beautiful means utilizing the contour and shape of each part of your body in the correct way. Just because you want a portrait of your grandma on your forearm, doesn't necessarily mean that the reference fits the spot. It might, but it might not. Which way is the image facing? Will it be distorted if you arm is turned a certain way? Will the area of skin surrounded by existing tattoo work distract from the effect you are after? It may all sound trivial, but placement is very important and something to talk carefully with your artist about. I know this from experience, after using up many key places on my own skin with pieces that were not best suited where they were put. So my advice to those of you who still have spots open: plan carefully, chose spots wisely and learn about the art of anthropometry (the study of the measurement and proportions of the human body) and the contour of anatomic body shapes.
Pain
Along with the "What should I get?" question, I can easily say that the "Did that hurt?" inquiry is asked just as frequently. Now I know that you will hear all variations of this answer from all varieties of tattoo collectors and that truly, no two people perceive pain the same (and how would that be measured anyway, right?), but when I reply to this all-important query, I always say, "To be honest, they all hurt."
Certainly, some areas hurt more than others. The location of the piece, the artist tattooing you, your physical health and stamina at the time, the length of the tattoo session; these all factor significantly into the level of pain that you experience. But come on, even in the "easiest" of spots (if there is one), they at least sting, and even stinging equates pain of some sort.
The short answer is that until you experience it and learn your threshold for pain, it's hard to describe to anyone just how tough (or easy) it will be. Don't psych yourself out though. Don't panic. Don't think that you can't handle it. Just look around and you will notice that a huge portion of the population now wears at least one tattoo. Each of them made it through their sitting, so there is a really great chance that you will breeze by as well. Think positively and believe in the control that you have over your mind and body.
I know it might sound lame, but I always mentally prepare for my tattoo days, which I lovingly refer to as my Rex Manning Days (check out Empire Records if you don't get that reference). For days and weeks ahead of time, I visualize and gear up in advance so that when the day comes, I'm ready to go and excited to add to my art collection. When I get tattooed by DeVries, I frequently sit for seven to eight hour sessions and I have found that preparing mentally beforehand really does help me to manage the pain throughout. I silently send myself positive reinforcement reminders as I'm sitting for these length of time and it helps, it really does.
I also always seem to get "in a zone." I'm not sure how to explain that except that if it's really painful, I just let my mind wander off and try to remove the focus from what hurts and onto other things. As my artists can all attest, I talk A LOT during tattoos and while it's true that I just have a big mouth and am quite the rambler, I think hidden behind that is the basis that talking to other people gets my mind OFF of the pain and into another world for as long as I can occupy it.
The main thing with the pain thing is to know that your body is capable of great feats. Going into the sitting with a positive mind set will result in a positive experience. Even if it hurts, remember how awesome the end result is when you walk out the door with a beautiful new piece. Knowing that somehow always makes it worth the ride.
To sum it all up, take the acquisition of tattoo art seriously, but also be sure that you are having fun and that the entire process is a positive experience. It should be if you do it right. Take the time to educate yourself. Be confident in the choices you make and be prepared to permanently wear your ink proudly. Prepare mentally and also be conscientious in the aftercare phase when you are healing the tattoo (watch for another blog regarding this).
Welcome to the tattoo collectors club; or kudos for adding to your existing collection. We all make the world a more vibrant and beautiful place. Yay us!
*To learn more, ask questions and spread tattoo love, please visit the new Tattoo Corner page on my site.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 9:22AM
Reader Comments (14)
You know what? I think you should put this in book or pamphlet form and sell it. It's an excellent article, and I think it would sell well either online or at tattoo conventions or in shops or wherever. Just a suggestion, but I think it could bring in extra money for you and could help people make decisions concerning what they want to do. There are lots of people out there who need the information that you have just written here. You could do colored pictures and all. I sound like a manager, don't I? You need to think about it, though!
I totally agree, if I were you I would invest some time into writing a book, if not a biography, then definitely something that has to do with philosophy. You are such a beautiful woman as well as interesting..and for that I will always appreciate you. :]
I agree with Diane. You could sell it or give it out to tattoo parlors, then people who are new to tattoo's could come in and pick one up. Then they could get a lot of the info straight from you, instead of pestering the artist while he is busy. Then their decision would be better informed.
Awesome post Jinxi....great idea Diane!
Very well written! I couldn't agree more, especially about "you get what you pay for". I'm always excited to spend $300 on a very beautiful piece. It's worth it in the end.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom on getting tattoos and I hope people take it to heart.
This is definitely a great blog! I don't have too many tattoos, but my large side piece has prompted a lot of people (mostly teenage girls) to ask me the same questions, and if I'm an artist myself. I'm not an artist, but most of them say 'I know a guy who will do it for free, and his stuff is really good. He does them out of his house and doesn't care that I'm underage'. I pretty much give them the same advice you have given here. I BEG them to reconsider and do some research before getting anything they'll most likely regret, just because it was free. I try to educate them on the risks of infection and that an 'at home' tattoo is not sanitary. I'm not sure if it works, but I do what I can. Great job on the article. I hope it'll get people to think about what they're doing before they decide to go under the needle.
I am still trying to come up with a tattoo representing my fight and triumph over Cancer (Lymphoma) . This information was very helpful. I have three tatts, but I want my next one to be well thought out.
jinxi my love, i know i always tell you what an inspiration you are...and how you change people's perceptions and realities - but i must let you know that my mom now has TWO tattoos that she has gotten in the past year, and i am sure NO DOUBT that you being someone i always refer to when i soapbox about living life the way you want to in order to ... Read Morebe happy, and you being such an amazing spokesperson(woman) for and bridge to various subcultures that society at large would probably never think twice to ask someone about has alot to do with it. you are so approachable and open to talk about your life and your world and i KNOW that it prompts people to want to learn more - THE WORLD OF "FRINGE-LIVING" IN ALL IT'S FORMS COULD NOT ASK FOR A MORE PERFECT HUMAN BEING TO REPRESENT THE FACT THAT WE CAN NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.
love you!
(that was totally a non-gramatically corret post).
That was the best guide I have ever read for someone thinking of getting ink. You should submit it to the tattoo mags! It was simple and straight to the point. Good food for thought. I too try to be patient when people ask me the usual questions..but the..."Does it hurt?" one really raises my hackles as I have heard it so much..lol. Your blog has given me a new perspective to think about at those times.... thanks! namaste T
I <3 you. That is all.
Good information for the newbie looking to get some ink.
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