Departures

Sooo I've been tattooing for just over a year now. I feel like my progress is slow, but no one else agrees. I have my own little apartment, Al and I just celebrated our first anniversary and all my friends are bikers. I've carved a nice, content little life for myself where I am in control of my own destiny. I couldn't ask for better friends, our studio is like a little family. I consider myself to be lucky and happy.

I've taken down most of my gallery - I've had my artwork reused, reworked and outright stolen on too many occasions. That never used to bother me too much in the past, but it does now because I have a reputation to build as a tattooist and I don't need to give others a free ride along the way.

I'll only upload a small amount of tattoo related work from now on. I probably won't be taking on any commissions either. Not only because I generally have time, but there's a really good reason you shouldn't have a separate artist design your tattoo. I'm frustrated with the amount of people who approach me to design a tattoo for them, here's a list of reasons for why you shouldn't ask me or anyone else outside of a tattoo studio:

-Your tattooist should design it. If they design it, they will have knowledge of the design inside and out and it will be in a style they understand and are familiar with. If your tattooist won't draw up what you want, find a tattooist that will. If they tell you your idea won't work as a tattoo, it won't, so give up.

- Paying a commission artist will only cost you extra money. If that artist isn't an experienced tattoo artist, how on earth can you expect them to understand the process of tattooing and what's possible? If you need something custom, your tattooist will draw it up at no extra cost, you'll only pay for the tattoo. Why would you pay extra for someone else to get involved? That's stupid.

- Large scale tattoos are tailored to fit your body. Someone from the internet can't make something fit you. Go see a tattooist.

- Commissioning tattoo designs from DA is stupid, don't bother. Just find the right tattoo artist and let them do their thing: They tattoo and draw every day, so they're kinda good at that sort of thing.