When you do look in their portfolio, there are a few things to keep in
mind. Do you see any photos of pieces that you recognize in the flash
(on the wall, or in a flash book)? If so, how is it rendered in tattoo
format? Before anything else, check to see that the lines are clean. Are
they well-defined? Straight where they should be; not shaky or blurry?
Are the borders all uniform in width? Do the colors seem true? Are they
bright? Proportionately correct?
Look at the people in the book. This can be an indicator of the
clientele in the shop (besides looking at the ambiance of the shop). Is
there a fair mix of women and men in the book? Are they all sporting
"biker" tats, or any one particular genre/style?
Again, keep in mind that anyone can stencil an outline of an
illustration onto your skin. The skill in the artistry comes in the
shading, use of colors and other subtle things that set an artist apart
from a simple tattooist.
Do you see anything in the portfolio that is not in the flash? These are
the custom pieces that the artists have done, and they should be their
crowning glory. How do they look? Do you like what you see? If there is
more than one artist working in the shop, and you see some photos you
like, make sure to find out which artist did the work.
WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS TO ASK
Whenever you ask to see their collection of photos, the person in the
shop will hopefully immediately recognize you as someone who knows a
little more about tattoos--at least enough not to be satisfied by
looking at just the flash. If the shop is not too busy or if the artist
is not in the middle of working, they might stand on the other side of
the counter to have a conversation with you. This is a wonderful
opportunity to ask questions of the artist.
Some reasonable questions to ask in your conversation that shouldn't
take too much time for the artist to answer:
What is their favorite style?
If what *you* are looking to get done happens to be their specialty you
are in luck; be it tribal, wildlife or whatever.
Is there any one particular subject they like to do?
One artist, without hesitation, told me his favorite was skulls. I
would've jumped for joy had that been what I wanted.
How long has the shop been here?
This may be an indicator of the stability of their business. The tat
industry in itself fluctuates, but continuity implies business acumen,
responsible practices and that they are not a fly-by-night operation.
How long have they been at the shop?
The shop may have been there for 20 years, but the artist may only have
been there for a couple of months. If they have been there for what you
consider a short period, ask them where they were before.
How long have they been tattooing?
It might not matter so much that the artist has only been there for a
short while, if they've been tattooing for several years. They might
come from various backgrounds--anywhere from working on friends to
having a fine arts degree. This type of information will give you more
insight into the artist's attitude as well as aptitude.
Do they get to do much custom work?
This may depend on where the shop is located, but it also depends on
how good of an artist they are, and whether they have their own style
for which they are known for.
Do they use apprentices at the shop?
It is often difficult for new artists to break into the business, and
an apprenticeship is often a very good way to learn not only about
tattooing itself, but also about the day-to-day operation of a small
business. For artists to take apprenticeships means they're interested
in expanding the artform, in giving a new person a break (so to speak)
and feeling confident enough about their own skills that they feel they
can offer some insight and experience for the new person. This again
goes back to the attitude of the artist and the shop.
Don't let the looks of the artist intimidate you. Tattoo artists usually
have a lot of tattoos themselves. In fact, I would be somewhat leery of
an artist who has *NO* tattoos at all. The main thing is that you need
to talk with them and get a feel for what they are like. As you talk
with the artist and build a rapport, if you feel comfortable you may
want to broach the subject of what you're interested in getting done.
Bounce your idea off with the artist and see what they are willing to
help you with.
Remember however, that the artist is running a professional business! Be
polite--don't linger and overspend your welcome if you don't plan on
getting any work done at all.
[Note: Don't base your decision according to
what tattoos you see on the
artist--they were not done by that person!]
"Vick"
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