Tattoo Artist

Tattoo Artist

Tatted Mom

Tucson, AZ

Female, 32

I'm a tattoo artist who underwent a standard apprenticeship under a certified tattoo artist. I am an artist first, tattooer second, which means I put creativity and art into my tattoos, not just the 'you pick it, we stick it' type of tattooer. Apprenticeships for tattooing vary by state, according to the laws. I'm also a trained body piercer, as well. Any questions about the job or apprenticing, I'd be happy to help!

PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT price tattoos. Seek a shop for that.

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Last Answer on May 23, 2014

Best Rated

I got a tattoo recently and discussed the coloring with the artist before doing the tattoo. A significant portion needed to be "white", he went with gray. Can it be fixed?

Asked by bob almost 11 years ago

Maybe. You have to understand that white is just an accent color, best used in small areas to highlight something, and only stands out when directly next to a dark, contrasting area. If there was a big space of the tattoo that should have been white, the artist may have opted to go with a light gray wash to add dimension to the piece, without wasting white ink on a large area. In larger areas, white ink tends to just fade right into the skin, or even worse, turn yellow over time.

It might be possible to add white highlights here and there to trick the eye into perceiving the whole area as white. Without seeing the tattoo, it's hard to advise you.

How much would it cost to get a name done? Because I want to get my grandpas name and date of birth and death on me

Asked by Tabatha almost 11 years ago

Check with your local tattoo shop. Pricing is different everywhere, and without being the one doing your tattoo, it wouldn't be right for me to give you an idea that's completely different than you local market. And, like I answered above, don't call a tattoo shop for a price quote. Go in and speak with them in person so they have a better idea of what you want. Calling shows the shop that you probably aren't serious about the tattoo and are price shopping, which also isn't something you want to do with a permanent piece of art on your body.

I have a butterfly tattooed on my lower back. It was done by an amateur. How hard would it be to fix it, or would I have to cover it up?

Asked by Shauna about 11 years ago

It all depends on the tattoo. Some can be fixed, others have to be covered up, some only have the option of being removed. The darker the tattoo, the more difficult it is to cover up, but it's not impossible.

What is the life expectancy for a tattoo? Obviously, I know its permanent. But, how long until it turns into an indecipherable blur like many old people I see?

Asked by bobby j almost 11 years ago

It depends on how well the tattoo was done, the ink used, etc. If there's a lot of detail in a very small area, the tattoo will blur more than ones with lots of open area or clearly defined spaces. A lot of the older people out there with the blurry tattoos are just a victim of a bad quality of ink. 

can you sue a tattooists if hes under the influence of alcohol and marijuana? and if he didnt read your rights and explain the step by step procedure??

Asked by ray about 11 years ago

Honestly, I'm not sure. If you signed the paperwork, which has the procedure written on it, then I'd say no, but you'd have to take that up with someone in your local area to see what the laws there are.

I know for a fact of a tattoo shop that is under the influence all the time....what is the legality on all of it.

Asked by Jamie almost 11 years ago

I'm going to be brutally honest on this one, and leak out a trade secret that not a lot of people know.

Being under the influence of anything- drugs, alcohol, even prescription meds, and working, no matter what the job, is not advisable. With that said, many tattoo artists out there smoke weed. With many, it goes hand in hand with the whole 'artist' thing, and many of them will get high before doing a tattoo because it "helps the creative process," and I've seen some gorgeous tattoos come from people who just smoked up. So, if the shop in question is under the influence of weed, watch and see if they mess anything up or can't control themselves, but I'd let that one go, personally. If it's alcohol, harsh illegal drugs or prescription meds used in an illegal manner, that could result in harming a customer (even by just not doing the tattoos correctly), so I'd report them to whatever regulation board covers tattoo shops (sometimes it's the cosmetology board, sometimes it's the health board, sometimes environmental control board).

And for the record, I was not one of those artists who used any drug to help me create. 

 

Can you sue a tattoo artist for a mis-spelling??

Asked by lily123 almost 11 years ago

I have no idea. The paperwork you sign before your tattoo (if done correctly) will release the tattoo artist of all liabilities involving that tattoo. I'd seek a lawyer, and definitely find a new tattoo artist that knows how to spell.