• Tattooing is NOT and Art, tattooing is a craft.  The CRAFT of tattooing produces art.

• Just because someone can draw with a pen or pencil, does NOT mean that person can draw on YOUR skin.

• The tattoo MACHINE (it is NOT a gun) separates the craftsman from the guy that just draws well.

• History and experience has proven that REGARDLESS of one's ability to draw, it takes 6 to 8 YEARS of working in a commercial tattoo studio (prison time tattooing doesn't count) to become a tattooist (NOT artist) who can produce consistent quality tattoos.

• The last 15 years have produced a multitude of artists that draw well, but are poor craftsmen at best.  Those that manage to work commercially long enough to reach that 6 to 8 years of experience, and are lucky enough to align themselves with a good craftsman for a mentor, go on to become some of our great tattoo artists.  That number is very low.

• Regardless of how tattooists start out in this business, fledgling tattooists leave trails of bad ink behind them (this artist is included).  With this fact in mind, my advice to you as you seek the right artist to work on your body, look for experienced tattooists, preferably one with over 10 years of experience.  Consider who you are talking to-  if the tattooist is 20 or 25 years old, chance are that person does NOT have the experience level.  Don't pay some rookie tattooist to be their practice pad.  YOU don't want to be the one wearing the bad ink that all tattooists leave behind at the beginning of their careers.

Here are some basic rules that will help you insure you get a quality tattoo from a quality studio:

• The general appearance of the studio is a good start when you walk in.  Does the studio have a clean and comfortable atmosphere?

• Is the staff dressed neatly, and are they friendly and willing to answer all you questions?

• Asking a lot of questions will help you get a feel for the knowledge level of the person you are talking to.

• Experienced artists ALWAYS have extensive portfolios of their work.  That portfolio should show a variety of styles of work.  If there are several tattooists in a studio, each should have their own portfolio on display.  ALWAYS be sure that the portfolio you are looking at belongs to the person who is going to do your tattoo.

• Trust your gut feelings (Obi- Wan was right about this...).  If you don't feel good about the studio or the personnel in it, WALK AWAY.  If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

Getting a tattoo is not a purchase like buying a pair of shoes that will wear out in six months.  A tattoo is an investment in your body, one that you will wear for the rest of your life.  There is no such thing as a "pretty good" tattoo-  QUALITY IS EVERYTHING.  Find the right person to accomplish this for you, IT'S IMPORTANT.

I hope my thoughts and advice will be helpful in you quest for a lasting piece of unique art.

Remember that you have an open invitation to visit Phantasy Tattoos any time.

Snapper

Master Tattooist