We recently came across this sad story online:

“My son had a tattoo parlour artist do his tattoo, but when it was done healing one of the eyes was not completed and (was) lighter in colour than the rest of the tattoo. My son went back to the parlour, but the artist was no longer there and another artist went over his tattoo, blackening it and leaving it looking demonic (it is a religious tattoo).”

Now, while we’ve already covered the importance of choosing a good tattoo studio, it’s easy to forget that at the end of the day it isn’t the studio that tattoos you … it’s an individual artist. And even the best studios sometimes use guest artists who aren’t particularly great.

For example, even Kat Von D (of LA Ink fame) once made the mistake of allowing a friend to bring in a random artist she met at a bar. For a whole day, this man was doling out awful looking tattoos … but as far as clients were concerned, their tattoos came from the LA Ink studio.

So, finding a good tattoo studio is important; but you’ve also got to be sure about the artist.

That’s why we’ve created the Talisman Test to Rank Your Tattoo Artist.

Try it out on an artist you know, and see how well they fare.

The Talisman Test: Evaluating your artist

There are 3 separate points at which you grade tattoo artists:

I. When looking at their portfolio

Even before you’ve met your artist, you can begin to evaluate his/her work. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best) grade your tattoo artist on each of the following points.

1. How consistent is the artist’s work? When looking through samples of their work, keep an eye out to see if there is some consistency in standard. You don’t want an artist who can give you awesome tattoos on one day but really pathetic ones on another day. Tattoo artists don’t have the luxury of making mistakes so your artist’s portfolio should show quality throughout. Make sure the tattoos are aligned and proportioned well and that they have bold and steady lines.
2. How much attention to detail does the artist show? Badly detailed tattoos can be the result of a lack of skill, or pure sloppiness. But either way, you lose. Your tattoo will be seen as a work of art, and detail is a crucial component.
3. Is there a range in the artist’s portfolio? Although most artists have a particular style they specialize in, it’s best if they are at least capable of variety. This is all the more important when it comes to custom-designed tattoos, where the artist may need to create a ‘look’ that they aren’t used to creating. For example, if your artist specializes in gothic tattoos, and you want a pixie or a butterfly, you’ll need to make sure he/she has the versatility to move between those genres.
4. Has the artist done large and/or complex tattoos? It’s always good to know for certain that the artist can handle your tattoo, especially if it’s a particularly complicated one. That’s not to say that a new artist won’t be able to work on a complex tattoo, but it’s good to have some way of estimating his/her potential.

II. When interacting with the artist

There’s a lot you can learn while talking to the artist … both from what he/she tells you and from what you observe. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best) grade your tattoo artist on each of the following points.

1. Find out how many tattoos he/she has done. Many artists can boast of experience, but the actual number of tattoos they’ve worked on is what counts in the end. The only way an artist can improve is to practise, so while this ‘number’ alone isn’t the greatest indicator, it does play a role. An experienced artist should have completed at least 1000 tattoos.
2. How straightforward is the artist? Will he/she say ‘yes’ to anything?  It’s very important that your artist is honest about things like the detail you can expect to see in your tattoo, the colours that will work for your skin-type, etc. When it comes to permanently marking your skin, it’s worth risking a slightly bruised ego. Better that than being stuck with a horrendous tattoo.
3. Does the artist have a good sense of hygiene? Studios may have strict policies, but it’s important to know that the artist follows them
4. How disciplined is the artist? For example, is there a set process for fixing appointments? Do they explain things to you clearly and methodically? These are all small signs of a strict, professional work ethic, something you definitely want to see.
5. Do you feel a connection with the artist? I.e. when you’re explaining the overall ‘look’ you want for your tattoo, does he/she seem to be following you? Does he/she put you at ease? It’s important to remember that with any art form, the artist is not just a passive observer, but an active participant. If you’re comfortable with the artist, you increase the chances of your tattoo coming out great, and the whole experience becomes that much more pleasant. For more on this, read our post ‘5 signs that your tattoo artist can be trusted.’

III. Once the tattooing has started

Don't be afraid to stop your tattoo artist halfway through your tattoo

Even after the tattooing has started, you can still assess your artist. Because at any point, if you’re not happy with the way things are going, you can always ask him/her to stop. It’s better late than never.

Remember that you can always cover up bad work with another tattoo, and the less damage that’s been done, the easier it is to mask.

So, on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best) grade the experience as it unfolds.

For example, does the artist take time to place the tracing on your skin correctly? Does he/she seem confident and comfortable with the tattoo machine? Do you end up spending hours to get a tiny tattoo done? These are all indicators of your artist’s skill-level.

Even if you haven’t been tattooed before and don’t know what to expect, intuition can play a huge role in helping you sense how things are going.

The Talisman Test: Ranking your artist

Add up the individual scores to find your artist’s total (out of a maximum 50). You can interpret the results using the following scale.

0 – 10: Stay away from the artist at all costs!!!
10 – 20: Are you a gambler? Your tattoo may turn out OK.
20 -30: There’s a good chance you’ll get a decent tattoo.
30-40: You’re in luck … the artist’s got the quality you need.
40-50: Call Discovery Travel and Living at once! Your artist is good enough to star in his/her own reality show!!!