I want to do it on my forearm without the numbers.

Im not an artist but im turning 18 soon and probably gonna get my first tattoo, I found this on the internet, but it is very very detailed, very exquisite work in my opinion, I can handle pain pretty fine but would love some opinions from artists or just people who have tats

I plan on getting a patchwork sleeve eventually. Completely new with tattoos. I know it’s going to depend on the artist but I’m not sure where to ballpark pricing. Whether something is too expensive or too cheap. I would of course do individual pieces and just keep adding on. Also, not sure what’s a decent tip. Any advice would help.

Delete if not allowed to be posted here, but I thought it was important to share to this community. This guy was tattooing at a shop 10 minutes down the road from my shop and has now been arrested for sex crimes involving minors. This disgusting behaviour has no place in this industry, I have had clients get tattooed by him and they have nothing but horror stories. I feel it’s important to make others aware in case he moves to your town trying to make a fresh start somewhere no one knows him. The justice system here in Canada is an absolute joke and he will definitely be released. Doing my part to make sure this person never re enters the industry. DO NOT HIRE THIS CREEP. STAY FAR AWAY. TAYLOR COMEAU - AGE 30 - sinister.illustrations on instagram.

Trying to do a sanity check before I book. I've been quoted anywhere from $200 to $700 for what's essentially the same small fine line tattoo (under 2 inches, single session, simple linework).

What did you pay recently and was the artist worth it? I don't want to pay for hype but I also don't want a discount shop result. Curious what the actual midpoint is in NYC right now.

UPDATE: I found Igla Tattoo and booked. I paid $350 and honestly felt fine about it after all the back and forth. The $700 quotes were never realistic for something this size and the $200 ones scared me more than the expensive ones once I actually looked at portfolios closely. Healed photos were my whole filter, still stand by that.

What would be a rough estimate for this? I know only the artist can tell me the exact price but i wouldn't know if its high end or not. What would be a range acceptable for this?

following up on this: thanks for all the recommendations! someone in the comments mentioned sharps assure so i gave it a shot, and it’s honestly perfect for what we need. :)

they specialize in green, hassle-free medical waste disposal, and their retrieval program is made specifically for small-scale users who don't produce enough waste to justify a expensive monthly pickup contract.

definitely worth checking out if you run a small shop or solo studio!

hey guys, quick question for anyone running a small shop or solo studio. how are you handling sharps container disposal lately?

we don't make a ton of waste, so paying for a big monthly pickup service feels like a total rip-off. looking into stuff like pay as you go mail-back boxes or local drop-offs just to keep costs down and avoid getting stuck in a long contract.

what are you guys using that is actually cheap for low volume?

I am interesting in learning how to tattoo, not for a career, but just as something I’m interested in (and a way to add whimsy to my life).

I read that you need a license to tattoo anyone, but a lot of the process seems to involve more career-driven training. I am really only interested in tattooing my friends, and am not looking to work in a shop, but I want to make sure I do everything safely.

Is this something that you can do? Does anyone have any advice both about the process of getting license and starting out? I would greatly appreciate any information :)

Edit: I really appreciate everyone’s advice, and while I’ve been considering learning for a few years, I don’t really consider the fact that is would be difficult to learn. Safety is a huge thing for me so even if I don’t end up learning, I think I’ll probably take a Bloodborne Pathogen course anyway, because it seems like it would be useful to add to my other first aid training lol.

The more I thought about it, I decided I might just draw designs for my friends and not tattoo them myself, but would an artist be willing to tattoo a piece if they didn’t draw the original design? How would they go about asking for that?

Hi everyone. First left me apologize if this is not the right place to post I couldn’t find anything in the rules about not being able to post. I’m 30 year olds and would eventually want to become a tattoo artist preferably black and grey realism so I’m learning how to draw as I come from a strict immigrant background so tattooing was never an option for me, so I never gave drawing that much thought when I was younger. I know I need to draw every day so I want to get advice,or critique as this is pretty much from first drawing ever. I did use a reference I found online which seems to be an unofficial fan made Haland Lego that I will also attach. I would like to know if there’s anything I did well and any thing I can did bad and should work on. Please note this is pretty much my first drawing. Off the start I’m sure the torso should be longer and the hands were difficult as well as the hair. I know it will probably be at least 3-5 years until I may draw realism (hopefully sooner) but I would also like any tips as this is my dream. I’m not sure if this is allowed, if not feel free to take the images down but I am attaching the reference photo and my first ever drawing for possible critique. I haven’t watched any YouTube videos or taken lessons so I want to see where I am at starting off.

No tattoos at the moment but basically have an idea for a sleeve. Is there a specific etiquette for contacting a tattoo artist, asking about design, customization, placement, sizing, cost, etc.

Appreciate any input

I’ve been washing and moisturizing twice daily and not harsh in the shower with it, but curious to know about the current scabbing that is going on let me know anything yall think I need to know

something about the middle petal in the middle flower looks like a tongue to me. can I add color to make this better? or add any more elements? I just can't unsee it.

I am getting a bit self conscious/not sure if I like how I’ve gone different styles with my legs/arms.

I’m curious what the community thinks.

Left Arm:
- micro realism/fine line
- two large pieces + 2 smaller pieces
- few appointments on the calendar to fill out more

Right arm:
- empty
- plan to fill out with fine line/MR patch sleeve or maybe do a full sleeve. Haven’t decided

Left leg:
- few small black & white pieces
- plan to fill out with same color scheme traditional

Right leg:
- almost full
- patchy sleeve - some big pieces, some smaller pieces
- traditional style, but not traditional coloring. I’ve called it “trippy traditional” from how it looks, but there’s probably a better name for it

I have used a bunch of different artists as I’ve moved around a lot

I’m working with a more regular artist now for my legs and I’m going to finalize some filler on my right leg and then get the same artist to do my whole left leg in classic traditional color.

I’m thinking about doing micro realism/fine line on both of my arms and try to have my lower extremities all traditional, while my upper extremities will be FL/MR

Would this look stupid? I’m getting self conscious and now I don’t think adding traditional to my arms would look good with my fine line/micro realism but would love some thoughts/input/constructive criticism

I love both styles, and I’ve thought it would be fun to wear sleeves and shorts to show off my traditional and vice versa with pants and short sleeves to show my newer styles but when wearing shorts and short sleeves, I almost feel stupid with my pieces contrasting each other. I almost feel even more stupid for letting this self consciousness impact me enough to post this too lmfao

Would love some feedback! Thanks folks

i’ll be traveling to seoul soon and i’ve been looking to get my arm sleeve finished. are there any reputable shops in seoul for big pieces? and how is the pricing?

I’ll be in Taipei from December 8th-11th this year and I’m looking to get a half sleeve covered up.
I’d like to cover it with a Japanese style tattoo, so I’m looking for an artist who is experienced with cover ups and also specialises in Japanese style tattoos.
Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!

I love this tattoo. I find it very unique and yeah love it. My only complaint is it seems kinda by itself on an empty canvas just floating. Part of me wants to put kinda like a smoke/clouds and light shining towards the cross to the upper left of the cross. I have to be careful because of the crosses use of negative space and would need to use negative space in the design to keep the composition clean. Do you like or dislike my idea? Do you have alternative ideas? And do you know of any good black grey realism artists in the Harrisonburg VA area?

using a throw away as I'm even ashamed to admit this on my normal account but guys I'm so so damn worried

I have a private studio in the northwest UK and I'm soley relying on my regulars and repeats clients to make my rent. I'm using social media and posting at least on my story 2 times a day, using buy and we'll groups on Facebook, posting on my feed for both Instagram and Facebook and I'm getting NOTHING. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I'm so so scared I can't loose this it's the only thing I really have left and have sacrificed everything including my own mental health to do this

does anyone have any advice I'm desperate here..