Chinese Phoenix Tattoo

Chinese Phoenix Tattoo Full Back Body

Asian Flower Tattoo

tattoo artist

So, you have made the big decision. You are going to take the leap and get a tattoo. You have thought carefully about the design you want to get, and have set aside enough money to get the job done right.

Now, it's time to choose the artist who will do your tattoo.

Taking the time to choose the right tattoo artist is an important step. It might seem like more trouble and bother than you want to deal with. But it won't matter how great the design you chose is if the artist doesn't do a good job creating a tattoo of that design. And, if the tattoo artist doesn't do it right, there's really no going back to fix it.

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a tattoo artist.

Experience Counts

How long have the tattoo parlors in your area been in business? And how long have the tattoo artists in those parlors been doing tattoos?

It might be worth your while to visit some local tattoo shops. While there, feel free to ask how long the artists have been doing tattoos. You can also ask what kind of experience and training they have. Most will be more than happy to answer your questions.

You should also take a look around the tattoo parlor. The condition of a shop can tell you a lot about the competence and professionalism of the people working there. If a parlor is a total mess, and things seem hectic and chaotic, this might not be where you want to get your tattoo done.
Let Past Customers Be Your Guide
Do you have friends or acquaintances that have gotten tattoos and were happy with the results? If so, ask them where they got them done.
Many tattoo studios keep portfolios of the work they've done on past clients. So, ask to look at it, and study the quality of the work yourself.
During your visit to a tattoo parlor, you might even find some former clients in the shop, who are back to get another tattoo done. Don't hesitate to ask to take a closer look at their tattoos. And the fact that the shop has repeat customers can be taken as a good sign.
Professional Organizations
While there aren't as many regulations governing the tattoo industry as people would like, there are professional organizations that tattoo artists can belong too. These organizations take the principles of quality, safety, and professionalism seriously. And tattoo artists that belong to such organization probably feel just as strongly about the same principles.
Many of these organizations also require their members to meet certain training and experience requirements, which should help put you at ease.
Consider calling one of these organizations, and asking about members who work in your area. You can also ask for recommendations on which local parlors and artists they consider the best.
Hit the Road
Sometimes, you might not be able to find a tattoo artist you feel comfortable using nearby. In fact, the best tattoo shop you might have heard about might be a one or two hour drive away.
If that is the case, don't hesitate to make that trip. A one or two hour drive is worth it if it means getting the best tattoo possible.
Remember, choosing a good tattoo artist isn't like choosing a good hairstylist. If you get a bad hair cut, or a bad coloring job, you know your hair will grow out and it will be like the mistake never happened. But, if you get a bad tattoo, it will take a lot of pain, time and money to fix.
It is worth your while to take your time when choosing the tattoo artist who will do your tattoo. The good results will be well worth the effort.

Sun Tattoo

Wrist Tattoo

How To Find the Perfect Tattoo Design For You

Temporary Tattoo

Why They Became Popular

Temporary tattoos or fake tattoos are gaining more preference nowadays. Before, making temporary tattoos was unheard of. There was simply no market for it because wearing one would make you a "poser". If you wanted to get "inked", your only option was a permanent tattoo.

But not a lot of us can handle the pain. Tattoos were usually equated to toughness because let's face it. You need to be really tough in order to handle the pain. There's also the question of choosing tattoo designs. Being permanent, you really have to choose the design wisely. A wrong choice can lead to a lifetime of regret or an expensive tattoo cover up.

It's a different story nowadays. Wearing temporary tattoos is becoming an option for everyone. It's a good way to express yourself, minus the pain and the hassle of getting a permanent one. You don't need to be tough in order to get one. Even kids can have them. Not to mention the fact that it's way cheaper than permanent ones.

Besides, kids were the first market for it. There's nothing like colorful temporary tattoos to liven up the kids and the party. It's a great source of entertainment. You just need to give them away during a party and the kids will surely have a blast. It's also a great gift for kids.

Adults then joined the fun. Adults realized that it's a good alternative to permanent tattoos. But before, you had to be content with the available designs. Yes, you can easily get them from tattoo parlors but the tattoo designs back then were limited. If you wanted one, your choice would be among roses, butterflies or angels.

Thankfully, a lot of people recognized the potential of making temporary tattoos. It opened a gateway for more custom temporary tattoo designs. If you have a custom design in mind that you want to wear on your body, you don't have to go to a tattoo artist and get a permanent tattoo. You can easily have your design made into a temporary tattoo. You don't even have to go out of your house, you can easily order it online.

Tattoo Lettering

Sleeves Tattoo

Learn Music Tattoo

Music Tattoo
A lot of people wish that they can have a tattoo to match their lifestyle but a lot of people are left with no clue when they are looking for what they want. However, going to the tattoo parlor and telling the person there that you want to get your body printed with something that can boost your look is not the right thing to do since you will end up having something that you will just regret in the end. As a rule, tattoo should always be personal since this is going to be imprinted on your body for the rest of your life. With this, your choice of tattoo should be something that you really like and will not grew tired from having it around. It is only sensible to really think about something that you like.

If you are into the music world, it would best to opt for a music tattoo design that will give you the sense of creativity and uniqueness while you are up on the stage performing. Most artists would like something that provides a very deep meaning; as much as possible they try to shun away from ordinary designs such a rose or a guitar for example, they will rather opt for something that will give hundreds or thousands of meanings like a rose being encircled by a patterns of letters.

Because people in the music scene are famous for their artistry, some of their works are originally created by their own. If not, they asked the tattoo artists to design something that will personally be their property.

In general, personality together with lifestyle is the factors that dictate the kind of music tattoo designs that a person wishes to get. Depending upon one's personality, one would like to opt for images of rough men, booze, loose women, and smoky bars to heart, a mother, a rose encircled by thorns, etc. Those people in the heavy-metal crowd tend to choose their design with a little roughness on it while people who are more into sentimental music would normally like to have love as the subject.

The present trend in the music tattoo designs is people opting for tribal designs that had managed to stir the emotions of people coming from all segments of the population. Tribal designs would normally comprise of curved lines, dots, points, and different kinds of geometrically aligned elements. In general, tribal design would normally hold an important meaning for an individual irregardless if it falls under religious or social context. Most of the time, people like it to do their tribal tattoos in all black tint although this is not always the case. However, even though colors are incorporated, black would normally dominate.

Body Tattoo

Body Art Tattoo - The Good and the Bad

Having a body art tattoo is pleasing to look at and can be a source of attention for the one who is sporting it. This is especially true that's why it is often availed to by people who want to gain attention like thespians, athletes and musicians. However, attention can be either positive or negative and in the case of tattoos, mostly negative. This is why having tattoos are discouraged by many people even though the idea of it is fast becoming more and more popular.

The negative attention behind having tattoos was greatly influenced by the fact that it mostly associated with criminality and bad behavior. It is a common practice for gangs to sport a specific type of body art tattoo as a symbol of membership and identification. It is a common sight in prisons where jailed criminals get tattoos to signify the criminal acts that they have done. This is why persons with many tattoos are easily associated with serious criminals who have lived a life that is full of crime and misdeeds.

Aside from these, tattoos are also link with people who spends most of their lives at sea. Remember "Popeye the sailor man" with his famous anchor tattoo? Being a sailor is just one of the many professions that regard tattoo as a common practice and tradition. Others include soldiers and circus workers. This is why parents who don't want their children to be associated with these professions often smirk at the sight of even the simplest and most innocent - looking tattoo.

No matter what the reasons behind having a body art tattoo are, the important thing is that it is used as a medium of self - expression. Hopefully, as time goes by it will be accepted ultimately by everyone in the world.

Tattoo Picks

Celtic Tattoo

Celtic Tattoo

Celtic tattoos are all the rage right now, and for good reason - these highly-detailed images look good and carry a highly symbolic weight. The following are some of the most popular Celtic tattoo designs.

Celtic Knot - The Celtic knot is a series of interwoven lines that interact together like a puzzle to form a pleasing design or zoomorphic form. Although their origin is still debated and may include a Norse influence, the key feature of the design is that none of the lines in the knot ever end - they all continue on to connect with one another throughout the design. This is said to represent continuity in life, the cycle of the seasons and the vast complexity of nature.

Celtic Cross - Celtic cross tattoos carry the same weaving line structure as the Celtic knot, but instead of forming a simple pattern, the strands of the design come together to outline the shape of a Christian cross. This design is highly religious in nature, and is often used by different groups of Celtic people to proclaim their ethnicity as well.

Claddagh - The Claddagh is a recognizable symbol of Celtic and Irish origins. The design traditionally features two hands clasping a heart that is covered by a crown. Although this design is most widely seen in the form of a ring that's given to symbolize the intent to wed, it's also popular as a tattoo for its graphic representation of everlasting love, loyalty and fidelity.

Celtic Tree of Life - The Celtic tree of life tattoo is fairly self-explanatory. In the same style as the Celtic knot and the Celtic cross, the Celtic tree of life tattoo is composed of interweaving lines that form branches around a central tree trunk. Again, no ends of the lines are exposed, so the design takes on a feeling of continuity and permanence. In addition, the Celtic tree of life tattoo is said to represent the beginning and end of life, as well as the eternal nature of the world.