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10/11/2016

Choosing Your Tattoo Artist?

candis-wings-upper-back-floral-and-detailed-wing-tattoo-art-joey-pang-tattoo-temple-hong-kong | www.TattooTemple.hk | www.JoeyPang.com | Unique | Living | Art
 
A quick list of some key elements to consider when choosing your tattoo artist from a recent interview Tattoo Temple completed with Localiiz. A more complete listing and walk-through for those wanting an in-depth introduction to the tattoo world is also available here
 
1. Decide if you want a ‘tattoo’ or a piece of ‘body art’
The first category is labelled 'tattoos'. These are typically selected from a range of stock / pre-fabricated pieces or some slightly adjusted variation of existing designs. These are often both quickly selected and applied. 'Body art' is a unique composition that is tailored to your physiology and should represent a unique collaboration between you and your artist. A tattoo is more like a sticker, whereas body art compliments your physique and constitutes a more significant investment of resources. In our experience choosing to proceed with 'body art' is the only way to remain happy with the outcome for the years to come. The choice is down to speed or quality. The latter being far more appealing in consideration of the results being permanent
 
2. Review previous work
Never select an artist who cannot produce some kind of original portfolio. An album of pieces completed on living skin should be provided for your review. An artistic display of stock tattoos on the walls is not enough to tell you that the artist has a good reputation or the skills necessary to create the kind of piece that you are interested in. Make sure you take the time to scrutinize the artists' 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, blurry, or out of proportion? Trust your own aesthetic eye when it comes to this as, despite all of the promises or excuses that attempt to explain inferior work, in the end your tattoo will probably resemble what is in the artists' portfolio
 
3. The artist lives in a disposable universe
If the studio does not look as clean as your dentist’s office then walk out. Bad places to get tattooed are in public spaces or at someone's apartment. This is because sterile conditions cannot be met in certain kinds of environments - for example a lot of foot traffic / people walking in off the street right up to where the tattooing is taking place. Your skin is being perforated with it's protective barrier compromised, this requires a controlled and sterile setting. Additionally, nothing 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 blood plasma. Such thriftiness of re-using materials increases the risk of spreading infections. Ink should always be placed in individual disposable caps, which are tiny cups used to hold just enough color that is needed for tattooing. Inks should never be returned to a bottle or a jar. The studio should also have a medical grade autoclave as well as only using new, sterile needles from hermetically sealed containers for each client
 
4. The artist(s) wear latex gloves and face masks
Fingers spread germs to raw, freshly tattooed skin faster than anything else. For this reason the tattooist should always wear medical (usually latex or nitrile) gloves. The gloves should not have holes or tears in them and they should fit the artist properly. It only takes a pinhole in the latex glove to increase the risk of cross contamination. The same applies to any peripheral spray from tattooing that could enter and be spread through the mouth. A face mask protects the artist from any spray from the tattooing that could spread infections. Furthermore, if the artist isn't wearing gloves or a mask during your session the chances are that they didn't for their last client as well
 
5. You and the artist ‘click’
You must revere and respect the tattoo artist and he or she must do the same to 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/or a reluctance to stick to schedules. A tattoo artist should also not consider him or herself to be too good to conduct themselves in the civil and courteous manner that is usually associated with good business practices
 
6. Be aware of your budget
Cost is a factor. If you can’t afford body art then accept your circumstances. Although a tattoo is priceless, it can also be considered as 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 will most likely come to regret. Think of the huge costs associated with removing, altering or 'covering-up' a bad tattoo - these can far exceed what it took to get the piece in the first place. As with any product the prices vary – popular or award-winning artists will always charge more than inexperienced tattooists. The cheapest kind of tattoo is again a flash or stock tattoo. These are the designs that you find hanging on the walls of the studio or (traditionally) the barber shop. Although price does not always dictate excellence, you are probably best ensured to receive a piece that you are satisfied with by choosing an artist that charges $2,000HKD (approximately $300USD), an hour or more
 
Tattoo Temple - Joey Pang


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