There’s much more to the art of custom tattoo design than drawing elaborate pictures.
Custom tattoo design is really about collaborating with clients to create amazing works of body art that are as individual and unique as the people they’re designed for.
Choose the Right Artist
One of the keys to loving your custom tattoo design is finding an artist whose style speaks to your instincts.
You’re going to want to take a thorough look at their portfolio and see some of the work they’ve already done. Consider whether it appeals to you.
If you’re lucky enough find a tattoo artist whose portfolio you like cover to cover, you’ll know this is the right person to make your design into a reality.
It’s an intuitive decision that happens on an emotional level for many people — but there’s no guarantee that’s the way it will happen.
If you find an artist whose work is great but not exactly what you were looking for, you can probably still get a great tattoo. Just be prepared to spend a little more time explaining and collaborating.
Trust Your Artist With Your Custom Tattoo Design
If you’ve put the substantial effort into locating the right artist, the logical thing to do is give them some artistic freedom to work with your idea.
The best custom tattoos are born from a client’s vision but have a design that’s further developed by the artist. Your artist has been practicing their craft for years, and he or she will know how to customize the piece to fit and flow with your body.
Get Together and Talk It Over
The best way to get your custom tattoo design off to the best start o is to have a face-to-face consult about the design you want.
You’ll be able to talk with your artist and really communicate what you want. Come prepared to:
- Describe what you want in detail
- Share any reference material you have collected
- Show your artist the area they’ll be tattooing
The better you’re able to describe the design you’re imagining, whether through dialogue or by showing reference material, the more successful the process is likely to be.
After a consult like this, most clients feel a lot more comfortable with letting the artist work with the design.
After all, creating is what they do.
Just a Heads Up…
Custom designs of permanent body art necessitate professionalism and integrity — there are times when artists may decline projects.
If this happens to you, don’t take it personally. It has nothing to do with whether your idea is “good enough.” Instead, trust that the artist is acting professionally and keeping your best interests at heart.
Occasionally, artists will turn down work they don’t feel confident they can execute well enough to be truly amazing. In those cases, the artist will likely send you to a fellow artist they know possesses a skill set that better fits your concept.
Keep in mind that the artist’s reputation is based on the work they do. If the artist doesn’t feel comfortable that the custom tattoo design is going to be something you can both be proud of, they may have to professionally decline. It’s part of the job, and it’s in the best interest of both parties.
If we’ve gotten this far, it’s time to agree on a deposit before the actual design gets put together.
Make an Appointment
Custom tattoo designs are different than something you choose off the shop wall or out of the binders in the waiting area. Those can be awesome choices, but they’re a different animal.
Custom tattoos designed just for you are one of a kind, obviously. That means they’re going to require dedicated time that’s best set aside in advance.
If you’ve got serious ideas for a custom tattoo design, and you’re really getting excited about making them a reality, click here to reach out — let’s get the conversation about your custom tattoo design started.