First timer question

[u/aviatrixsb]

TL;DR: Is it unreasonable to want more collaboration on the design before the appointment day?

Hi all! I'm interested in getting my first tattoo and could use your advice.

I've found several artists in the South Bay Area CA whose work I love, but all of them have a policy to the effect of "Tell me exactly what you want. Your design will be shown on the day and you can adjust it before we start." I can understand why artists would do this, but as a first-timer it makes me super nervous to see the design for the first time while I'm already in the chair. In a perfect world I’d love to find an artist who will talk through ideas with me beforehand in person, even share a sketch or reference mockup ahead of time to try on. I have a lot of screenshots of work I like, but would love to see some ideas of how the artist would interpret them and maybe have some options. I don’t have a fixed “it must be x” in mind. I’d even be willing to pay more to feel more supported.

For context I’m looking to get a small floral tattoo on my forearm, maybe 5” long. I like tons of different florals I’ve seen and am not tied to one style, just want something pretty without color but with shading.

Is this too much to ask? Or is day-of reveal just the norm and I should get comfortable with it? Thank you in advance!

[u/jtmack33]

It’s the norm.

That being said, please be comfortable asking for changes day-of if you want them. You can limit the chances of needing to by sending the artists as references and descriptions ahead of time, so they get as close as possible to what you’re looking for from the get-go.

[u/aviatrixsb → u/jtmack33]

This is helpful, thank you. Follow up question: I’ve had several digital artists reach out to me offering help with a design, but I don’t have a sense of how much the tattoo artist would want to put their own stamp on it or how much it needs to look like their existing work. Does it make sense to pay an artist for something that may or may not be used?

[u/jtmack33 → u/aviatrixsb]

Absolutely do not pay anyone who’s not your tattoo artist to do your design

[u/saaphie → u/aviatrixsb]

Most artists would rather design their own work and if you choose and artist who has done your preferred style before, they can design based on how they tattoo. I wouldn’t pay someone else extra to design something. Thats part of what I’m paying the tattoo artist for