A: pick an artist based on the style of tattoo you want. I get a lot people that will want me to do a tattoo that is not my style. Most of the time I will refer them to another artist, but it leads me to believe that people are picking artists based on reviews or something unrelated to the style or quality of my work.
First off you are getting a piece of art work on your body for the rest of your life, you are not choosing a best friend. If a review says that the artist was late, rude, smelled of alcohol, and played loud music then I would guess that review would sum up 90% of the best tattooers I know. Choose based on their portfolio, and experience doing the style of tattooing that you want. Make sure you look at the tattoos and not just drawings that hey have done(just because they can draw doesn’t mean they can tattoo), the tattoo work should be pretty close to their drawing ability. I would steer clear of someone who’s drawings look much better than their tattoos…but not the other way around(tattoos better than they can draw).
If you cannot get through to the artist your idea, easily, than they probably are not the one to do the tattoo. You have to share a common vision in order to get the best tattoo possible. You should feel comfortable knowing that the artist knows what you want.
If you review an artist, on say Google, base your review on the tattoo you received…not the bad attitude, or the devil music…remember you hired an artist…they let you into their world for a few hours, to help you, so that you could express your vision.
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.
John F. Kennedy
