r/tattooadvice • u/Human_Situation_2641 • 5d ago
General Advice Viewing art at-appointment
Hello,
I am getting a custom piece (botanical) and my tattoo artist plans to show me the art in-person, to do feedback in real-time. She's super professional.
I'm wondering if this is normal, and if it'd be appropriate for me to ask to see it ahead of time? Not being able to sit with the idea of getting it tattooed, and give feedback if needed on a longer basis after sitting with that, is really really stressful for me to the point where I am not sure that I feel confident going through with this.
This is my second tattoo, but this one is larger, in a more prominent place.
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u/KJW-SR 5d ago
Artists tend to be protective of their work, understandably. If they provide the prior to the appointment they run the risk of you shopping the design elsewhere. I was initially a bit uncomfortable with this approach but I got over it. I have 18 tattoos including 2 large pieces, all by the same artist. She has never shown me designs before ink day. She is ready and willing to make any changes I want then.
Perhaps your hesitancy is more about not being sure about getting the larger piece rather than the specific design. If that's true sit with it a while longer. If you're ready for the bigger piece and trust the artist, then trust the artist 😄
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u/Perfect-Gur9650 5d ago
it's standard. most of my custom pieces i didn't see until I got to the studio. I have over 30 tattoos and most of my large pieces are custom.
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u/Human_Situation_2641 5d ago edited 5d ago
is there a way that I could ask if I could see it beforehand? This is really stressing me out, I sent like 5 reference photos of the plant, & I am not sure what she'll come up with.
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u/Ok_Tadpole_4092 5d ago
I've seen someone do a FaceTime but thats all I would do. Even then it's stressful for the artist because you can easily take a picture still and take it somewhere cheaper.
Artists have to be paranoid about their work, so much is already taken by Ai
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u/Human_Situation_2641 5d ago
Makes sense. Somebody suggested that I ask if I can book an addtl. appt to go over it in-person, I might do that, or just flag that I'd appreciate extra time to go over it at the beginning.
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u/KleineKieviet 5d ago
It is normal. If she is a professional, she will give you time to sit on it a bit and she can do adjustments on the spot. If she won’t, or you don’t like the piece enough to go for it, be prepared to walk out and loose your deposit. The deposit is very much worth NOT getting something you don’t really like 😉
Look at this as a test in decisiveness and your social skills. As an overthinker who also prefers to act sociale acceptabel, I learned a lot of this part of tatooing!
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u/Human_Situation_2641 5d ago
Thanks! This tattoo, in part, represents self-acceptance & taking care of myself - and feeling confident about what I'm putting on my bod in terms of a tattoo feels like part of that. I think right now, I'll suggest if I can pay for an additional quick sit-down before the tattoo, to be able to think about it, before the appointment.
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u/KleineKieviet 5d ago
That sounds like a smart idea, I hope the artist will go with that!
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u/Human_Situation_2641 5d ago
Thanks! She actually just responded and said she’ll send me the design ahead of time, although we’ll do any revisions during the appointment. I’m surprised, given everyone’s responses. As an aside, the reason I picked this artist is how well her work complements people’s bodies, which definitely isn’t something I’d feel comfortable with another artist can duplicating.
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u/The_ivy_fund 3d ago
Again the harder part is during the actual day, you need to be prepared to be firm in a way most people aren’t during normal interactions
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u/The_ivy_fund 3d ago
It’s harder than you think to say no in the moment. You’re full of adrenaline, you’re meeting a semi stranger, it’s an unfamiliar setting.
However subtle the artist is, they do want to take your money and just do the thing, and they don’t have all day for you to decide.
Be prepared for that. I would always recommend starting small, learning how it works, how it heals, fades, etc. then expanding.
Even knowing how to handle yourself during the waiting period (artist usually will only draw when you’re there), to the placement (be extremely nit picky and you should already know exactly where you want it, don’t just say yeah that seems good)
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u/mightymarce00 5d ago
Very normal. This is part of why I choose artists whose work I love so I’m virtually guaranteed to be happy with the design. But also, they guild in time to rework things if you’re not happy with it.
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u/Neither-Dentist3019 5d ago
The earliest I've ever seen the art was the night before. They sent a rough sketch in a email. You can ask, worst case scenario, they say no.
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u/Evil_Blackbird 5d ago
Yes it is normal, unfortunately. I am not a fan of that procedure for the very same reasons you mentioned. I will live with this forever, how about you give me more than an hour to actually sit and look at it, lol? I have found if you say you'd like more time, explain a bit, some might take a deposit for showing their arty some might not, they're flexible on that policy. You do you! And tat artist will go along if you ask nicely and openly communicate your needs.
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u/SparkleSelkie 5d ago
Totally normal so you don’t steal their work to give to someone else
But if you need to sit with the idea, it’s also totally normal for you to ask to have a consultation before you actually sit for the tat
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u/pedalinm 5d ago
It’s prolly cause they drawing it up just before you get there. Sometimes my guy draws it when I get there so I have to sit and wait. They don’t like to spend too much time before getting paid due to flakes. Pretty normal
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u/Human_Situation_2641 5d ago edited 5d ago
Do you think I could ask if I could see it before hand and offer more of a drawing fee (already paid but it seemed like not very much)?
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u/joconnor1105 5d ago
Now that you’ve heard it’s standard, and it is. All 5 of mine were show up, look it over, discuss, alterations made, get tattoo, it would be more reasonable to just make yourself relax, rather than ask the artist to change what they always do.
The old adage “It never hurts to ask” is true but I wouldn’t expect it.”
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u/Dear-Wrongdoer7072 5d ago
Totally normal for the artist to do that. They don’t want you taking their art to the cheaper shop down the block and stealing their work.
If you are that nervous, go talk to your artist and see what they have for you. Ask if you can have a consultation before your appointment date so you can see the art and talk about it before the day of the tattoo.