How to Convey Your Tattoo Ideas to Your Tattoo Artist
Whether you’re thinking of adding a tattoo to your collection or getting your first tattoo, it’s crucial to put enough thought into the design and ensure it’s something you won’t regret. While you may have an idea in mind, it can be difficult to translate it onto paper or even describe the vision you have for your tattoo!
Luckily, any competent tattoo artist will work with your ideas and assemble them into a design you’ll love. However, you need to make sure they understand precisely what you want and how to breathe life into it. To help you out, here is our guide for conveying your tattoo idea to your artist:
Figure Out What You Want
Your artist won’t ever dictate what kind of tattoo you should get, although that doesn’t mean you should book your appointment with your ideas set in stone. Your tattoo artist will help you flesh out your vision and guide you towards creating a tattoo you’d be proud to show off. Still, it’s important to come ready by knowing where you want your tattoo, the size, and if you want your tattoo to be black and grey or colored.
Your mind can change after trading ideas with your tattoo artist, especially when introducing a design idea or concept that strikes your fancy. Be sure to reflect on these questions so your artist can have something solid to work with when creating a tattoo design for you.
Bring Visual Aid With You
Describing visuals can be challenging, particularly when you can see it in your mind but can’t find the right words to express your idea. You can circumvent this by bringing a visual aid with you, which doesn’t mean taking a photo off Google of the exact design you want. Instead, bring a collection of pictures that shows the theme you want to include, an object that inspires you, a color scheme you like, and a rough sketch if you’re up to it. Tattoos are works of art, which means they become more developed when they’re made with visual references.
Be Clear About What You Want
It’s also important to be assertive about what you want, so don’t be afraid to say no to ideas you feel strongly against. Your tattoo artist is there to guide you, and while it’s generally recommended to listen to them, it’s alright to nix tattoo ideas that make you feel uncomfortable. After all, a tattoo is permanent, so you’ll want to be entirely sure of your decision.
However, although it is good to keep an open mind, try not to change your mind too often, particularly over minor details. Asking your artist to alter parts of your tattoo constantly will frustrate them and lengthen the process itself. They put a lot of effort into creating a unique tattoo that fits all your preferences, so if you’re too fussy with the small details, you’ll be putting a lot of stress on your artist.
Ask All Your Questions
If it’s your first time getting a tattoo, the experience can be scary. You’ll likely have many different questions flying around your head, like if the colors will match, if it is possible to get a vegan tattoo, or if you’ll need to do a touch-up in a few years. Don’t feel silly for thinking of these questions, as it’s best to get them all out in the open and clarify any doubts you have before committing to the tattoo.
Conclusion
Conveying your tattoo ideas can be tricky if you don’t know where to start. However, by using our guide and bringing some references with you, you’ll have an easier time explaining your ideas to your artist and get closer to designing your dream tattoo.
Certified Tattoo is the best tattoo parlor in Colorado that can bring your ideal tattoo to life. We have over 30 of the best tattoo artists around specializing in just about every tattoo style possible: realism, traditional cover-ups, full color, abstract, and more. Contact us today for a consultation!
