So I'm seriously considering getting a tattoo. One of the main questions I have is whether or not a Tattoo Artist will be alright with me allowing them to have zero artistic freedom regarding it.

I know *exactly* what I want and don't know whether a tattoo artist would be understanding of that or offended that they have no room for their "creative spin" of it.

I went for a consult once, and the artist kept saying, "It'll look something like this". To me, that isn't okay. If it is there forever, I want to know *exactly* how it will look. You see shows like LA Ink and Miami Ink where the customer says, "I'm looking to get a tattoo of these 2 things, however you want to do it is fine." To me, that isn't an option.

So I'm just looking for opinions on how a tattoo artist may feel if I basically just want him/her to transfer a design I created onto my skin exactly as it is.

Thanks!

I think it really depends on the tattoo artist/saloon. I know that some artists would like to work with you with concept/illustrations on a sheet of paper and come up with something you like. I also know that some saloons would prefer if you chose a "generic" tattoo from their "tattoo browser/library" :tongue: I think you just got to ask, and if they are not willing to work out the art with you and you influencing it with your "creative spin", you should just move on to another artist.

There are so many great artists that are capable of visualizing what's going on in your head and draw it on paper, and it's those guys you wanna get (yeah kinda like those on L.A Ink).

There are different kinds of tattoo artists, some will just take your picture and do it, usually they'll be apprentices. More experienced and proficient tattooists will do more of their own work. You don't pay thousands of dollars to get a stencil done by a master tattooist, half of what you're paying for is the art.

So basically go to any tattoo parlor and tell them what you want and they'll do it, but if they had any suggestions about it, I'd listen to them if I were you, images on paper don't look the same as images on skin.