So you’re thinking of getting a new tattoo, but don’t know where to start? Here’s a quick guide to help you in your artist search.
Tattoo idea - the first step is always the subject. Do you want an animal tattoo, a movie character, or maybe some simple lettering as a tribute to your favorite book or a loved one? Before anything else, you need to know what “thing” you want on your body.
Tattoo style - Once you have a subject in mind, you need to decide how you want it to look. There are many different genres of tattooing so I’ll list them here. I recommend googling these options to see what you’re inspired by.
(Realism, Traditional, NeoTraditional, New School, Illustrative, Japanese, Geometric, Blackwork)
Finding your artist - Now that you have a style in mind, use that info to search your local area online or through social media platforms. For me personally that would be “Realistic tattoo artist Denver” or on Instagram / TikTok you could search #DenverTattooArtist and see what catches your eye.
Artist portfolio - Nothing is better than finding that artist who seems like a perfect fit, but don’t just go off of one photo. Make sure you give a serious look through their website and social media. If they have 20 plus tattoos that look like the tattoo you want, chances are your tattoo will have the same results. If you want to take this a step further, you can also look through reviews on Google or yelp.
After all that research to find the right artist, you can usually find their contact/ booking info wherever you found their portfolio. Keep in mind that every artist is different, some have detailed contact forms and some just want you to DM. The higher quality of work you’re looking for, the longer you may have to wait. When considering artwork you’ll carry with you for a lifetime though, that wait for the right artist is always worth it.
Have you found any other useful tips in searching for the right tattoo artist? Lets chat about it in the comment section below!
Written by: Danny Elliott - Owner of Rebel Muse Tattoo in Denver, Co.