Check social media as well. You can find tons of great ideas on Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram. You can also look through tattoo artists’ portfolios online.
Look at books from different art periods that you’re interested in to find inspiration and themes. Buy or check-out the book if you can. If not and you get permission, take a picture of the images that grab your attention or make a photocopy of the pages they’re on so that you can refer to the images at home.
Other ideas include your favorite flower, animal, or character, something significant to your family of the place you live, or something you don’t want to forget.
This can be super helpful if you want the tattoo artist to design or draw the tattoo for you.
You can draft a rough sketch and bring it to the tattoo artist. The artist can, in turn, refine your vision and bring the design closer to what you had envisioned, as well as advise you on feasibility and cost. If you don’t know how to draw, get a friend or hire a freelancer to draw your vision for you. Or, use a site like Fiverr for help. You can even collaborate with a tattoo artist by explaining to them the design you want and having them advise you on location, coloring, and type of ink. You will have to explain very carefully what you envision and likely go through multiple drafts until the drawing is just right.
Examples of timeless tattoos include tattoos of animals, flowers, skulls, maps, or nautical symbols. [4] X Research source Another way to test timelessness is to tape up the design you have created to a wall and look at it every day for a few months. While that may seem like a long time, if you get tired of looking at the design you will be able to reconsider whether this is really something you want inked on your body permanently.
You can also ask your tattoo artist if they can do a transfer of the design on your skin first. Ask for this during your initial design consultation.
Ensure the artists are licensed. Licensing and certifications vary by state, and you should only choose a tattoo artist who has a practitioner permit. Ask to see the license when you visit the tattoo parlor. [7] X Research source Whittle down the artists by area of expertise. For example, if you know you want to get a portrait tattooed, include in your list only artists who have experience in portraiture.
Some artists may require a deposit for the consultation. The money goes toward the time it takes the artist to create the design as well as the time they spend tattooing you. Ask the tattoo artist any questions you may have, from pain factor to how many sessions your tattoo will require. You want to choose an artist who is willing to patiently answer all of your questions. After the visit, reflect on how comfortable you felt at the parlor as well as on the artist’s attitude. Think about whether the artist was enthusiastic and agreed with your vision for the tattoo, and also consider the cleanliness of the parlor.
Find somebody who understands your vision and is willing to bring it to life. The last thing you want is to be butting heads with an artist who doesn’t share the same vision as you. Ideally, you and the artist should collaborate to come up with a design that you love and they will enjoy creating. If you can’t come to an agreement, find a different artist. You don’t want the artist to be unenthusiastic or hesitant about completing your tattoo.
Pain is subjective. Some claim that the initial outline of the tattoo is more painful, especially if this is your first experience getting inked, and others claim that the shading is more uncomfortable since the artist is going over the same areas over and over, packing color or ink. If you want to avoid shading, however, you should pick a simple, minimalistic tattoo design. [10] X Research source Pain is part of the process, so prepare yourself. Remember that it’s worth it– you’ll end up with a one-of-a-kind tattoo!
Ask your tattoo artist for their recommendation on the type of coloring you should get. You might also want to consider getting a tattoo made out of white ink, depending on the type of design that you want to create and on the visibility you want the tattoo to have. White ink tattoos will often be less visible than monochrome or color ones.
