How do we get started drawing a custom tattoo?
To begin work on a custom drawing, I require an in-shop consultation to discuss your design, which you can schedule though an email or by calling the shop at 617-625-8282. Consultations usually take 10-20 minutes but really help me figure out face to face the overall size, design and location of the tattoo that I can't visualize through email or phone alone.

What to Expect at a consultation:
All tattoos are hand drawn by me, so as with any artist they will be drawn in the style that I work, so please keep that in mind and begin with realistic expectations when choosing your tattoo artist. Remember a tattoo artist is an artist. You are commissioning an artist to create a work of art for you that you will be wearing every day for the rest of your life. I'm assuming you've chosen me because after viewing their work you've decided to trust me to create the best tattoo possible. When we meet up I encourage you to bring in a few references of what you'd like encorporated into your tattoo. These can be photos of flowers, animals, really anything, that you would like me to encorporate, or they can be photos of other tattoos that you like the style/layout/placement/size of for me to keep in mind when making your drawing. While I do want you to bring reference pictures as inspiration to point us towards what you'd like, please remember that these are intended for inspiration only and will therefore inspire your tattoo, not be the overpoweing element necessarily. Often times clients will bring in pictures for the artist to "copy"... try to keep in mind that your artist is not a photocopier, we have to work in ink and needles, and come up with a plan to do that in a way that not only pleases you, but actually makes a good tattoo. To ensure you're happy with youre drawing, please be specific and clear if there is any size limits, or very exact specifications you would like me include or exclude. While you're there I will do a very rough sketch on paper (or just sketch it on you with marker) for you to double check the general layout before I start on a finished drawing. To begin work on your drawing the shop requires a $50 deposit, which will be subtracted from the price of your tattoo when you get it. What the deposit does is says you are serious about getting tattooed by me, and that you trust me to come up with a design to your satisfaction with the information you have given me. Of course when your drawing is finished I will be happy to make minor adjustments to tweak it to your liking, but if you decide you do not want the tattoo at all, or do not make an appointment within 3 months, the deposit is kept as a payment for my drawing time, so serious inquiries only please. If after the consultation you are not 100% sure of what you want me to draw, do not put down a deposit until you think about it some more. I am more than happy (I actually prefer!) to give you suggestions and use a bit of my own artistic eye to give you the absolute best tattoo possible, so if you are not comfortable with handing over some trust and control to your tattoo artist, I might not be the best artist for you. Pleasing the customer is our main goal, but the artist's name and reputation leaves the shop with your tattoo, so its up to your artist's discretion as to wether or not an idea is "tattooable", and if it isnt I will help you to come up with alternatives that are. If you are clear to me the general look and mood you're going for, and ask to do my thing and make it look great, you will end up with a much better tattoo than if you give them specific instructions. I only want to make you tattoos that look great, so I will not steer you wrong!

Choose the right artist.
When choosing your tattoo artist, look at their portfolio and see if their tattooing style matches the style you would like to have in your tattoo. Just like you wouldnt hire an abstract painter to paint a realistic postrait of your family, you want to make sure your artist and the tattoo you want "click". If you want a tattoo that looks like it doesnt have the same qualities as any of my other tattoos, just ask and I can reccommend you to one of my coworkers who will do a better job. Which leads me to how you can help me do my job!

HAVE AN OPEN MIND (big mistakes tattoo clients often make!)

Mistake #1- Too Small!
Alot of clients tell me they want their tattoo really tiny so they can hide it. If you are thinking this, you might want to reconsider if you really want a tattoo. I plan on giving you a really awesome tattoo that you will be proud of and want people to see. Your tattoo should be recognizable from at least 10 feet away (how far people are often standing from you while looking at you), with the details large enough to hold up to blurring over time and still stay clear and cohesive. You also need to think of the "big picture", what your body will look like with all your tattoos showing (like when you’re naked!), a scattering of tiny tattoos here and there looks unfinished and poorly planned. Your tattoo artist knows how to design tattoos to flatter your body, which usually incorporates the shape of an entire section of the body (like the organic shape of an entire muscle or limb). If you are ashamed/scared of what people will say, your parents will think, or about getting a job, remember this is the 21st century and tattoos are not just for sailors and prostitutes anymore. Jobs do not discriminate against tattooed people because they are tattooed. They discriminate against tattooed people that look trashy/scary and have shitty ugly tattoos. Your tattoo may turn out bigger than you first expected, but it will not be shitty or ugly. it will be a big, beautiful tattoo. Trust Me.

Mistake #2- Too many Ideas in one tattoo!
Many of us have been charmed by tattoo reality shows into thinking that every inch of a tattoo has to be riddled with meaning and symbolism. While this does make for more interesting t.v., when it comes to a final tattoo in the long run, simpler is more effective. Clients often come in asking if I can "throw in some names" to their existing design, of "hide" writing into a tattoo design so its not seen my most viewers, but the wearer knows its secretly there. This is where we need to step back and look at how the tattoo will be perceived by other viewers. Some clients try to justify impractical or unflattering design by saying "I don’t care if people think it looks good, it has meaning to me". While ideally we'd like this to be true, we are all constantly being judged by our appearances, and a tattoo can make or break our appearances based on whether or not others "get" it's design. One overall visually appealing image, maybe accompanied by a few words is best. You may really want tattoos reflecting your love of music, and religion, and your national heritage, and your favourite cartoon character and your childrens initials and birthstone colours, but it is best to devote a single image to put into one tattoo instead of mashing too many ideas into one small area. You can always use your other ideas in other tattoos and devote to them the time and skin they deserve.

Mistake #3- A Tattoo that wasn't designed for you!
Yes, I know that tattoo shops, including the one I work in, have alot of "flash" designs on the walls (the premade designs in frames to look through). Try to keep in mind these are not a "menu" of available tattoos. They're there to give you ideas, or to express to your artist "I like this type of flower", or "I'd like a pinup in this type of pose", they (and any pictures you bring in yourself) are not the end all and be all of what you can get. Tattooing has changed enormously in the past decades, it really is a fine art now and a properly planned tattoo can be an amazingly beautiful and flattering thing. Or it can be a dreadfully tacky or distracting thing if it doesn't "fit" you... in the way of subject matter, style, size, fit or flow. Try not to sabotage your tattoo before you even begin, by not researching your options properly, not asking your artist for their opinion, or rushing the drawing process. These are the reasons I no longer tattoo without a consultation first. If you "don't have the time" to come in and talk to me, or don't want to hear my thoughts on how your tattoo would look best, I'm not the right artist for you.

A word on memorial tattoos:
Let me start off by saying I do not usually like religious memorial tattoos. Unless religion is a very big part of your life, or was a very big part of the life of the person you are honoring, maybe we can brainstorm of a more meaningful way of remembering them than a cross design or praying hands. While these can be beautiful designs, I feel like they do not always reflect the wearer's true feelings or beliefs, and in a time of shock and grief can simply be chosen as a bland overall "nice memorial piece", without much thought on the actual image you will be wearing every day. How has this person impacted your life? What images come to mind when you think of them? Did they have a favourite flower/animal/season/etc, that makes you think fondly of them when you see it? A memorial doesn’t have to be writing of when this person was born or died, or a cancer ribbon/ aids ribbon/ etc… The point of a memorial tattoo is not to brood over how or when this person died, but to remember how they lived and the impact they had on you. If a cross or rosary beads or wings and a halo work for you we can do that, but I have a feeling we can get to something more unique and personal.

How long till we get started with the tattoo?
Custom drawings take at least 2 weeks for small pieces (less than 6"x6") and 3-4 weeks for larger pieces. I appreciate everyone's patience as I am usually bogged down with a pile of drawings and need to work on them in the order I receive them, as well as fit actual tattooing into my workday. Your drawing will require multiple drafts from sketch to finished design and I prefer to put a lot of time into it! I will let you know when it's finished for you to come check out.

How much will it cost?
I will not know the price of your tattoo until i see you in person with your design on a piece of paper at the size that you want it. I can’t give you a ballpark price, because it’ll probably be wrong, and one of us will be sad about that. For large pieces that will be taking more than two sessions i offer a flat hourly rate, but cannot guarantee an exact number of hours needed to finish it. Let me reiterate that hourly rates are for multi-session pieces only and smaller 1-2 session pieces will be priced individually.

I don’t live near your shop, but I like your work. Will you draw a tattoo design for me to get tattooed somewhere else?
No, unfortunately... I’m so busy with drawings for real life people that I can’t keep up with internet people too. Sorry!

Is there anything you Won’t tattoo?
Yes. Pot leaves, hateful messages, and significant other’s names. I don’t mean to knock you and your boo’s super serious six months of dating, but I make a living covering up exes names. If you really want it tell me it’s your brother or something. Just don’t come back to me to cover it. As far as locations go, I don’t do faces, strongly recommend against hands, and on men I don’t tattoo anywhere boxerbreifs cover. Sorry guys!

How should I prepare?
Be well rested, and eat two to three hours before your appointment. Wear comfortable clothing that you would not mind getting dirty, and will grant access to the area we need to tattoo. If you are unsure of what to wear for your area call and ask before you come. Fell free to bring an ipod or other entertainment (magazines, a laptop with a movie for very long sessions, anything you can enjoy without moving so no gameboys etc.) if you want. I also recommend bringing a small snack and a sugary drink, especially if this is your first tattoo. Being tired, hungover or having low blood sugar can increase the discomfort level, which brings me to my next point:

Can I drink or take pain medication before my tattoo?
No. Alcohol and asprin thin your blood, making you bleed more than normal. This not only makes my job harder and your tattoo take longer, but excessive bleeding can make your tattoo heal improperly causing it to look faded and unattractive. As far as drugs go I am not a pharmacist and there is no way for me to tell the way every drug will affect you being tattooed. Most importantly I want you in a clear state of mind and with the least possible chance of feeling ill during the tattoo. This is an exception of course for perscibed medications, which you should let me know if you are any beforehand. So please come in feeling like yourself, I won’t tattoo you otherwise. And yes (cause everyone asks), after the tattoo you can drink again after the first few hours (after bleeding has stopped), or take tylenol or something gentle to help with swelling or pain.

Will it hurt?
Of course! But seriously folks, the way we experience pain is very different for everyone, and will mostly depend on your own pain tolerance and the area of the tattoo. I’ve never had a client get a dot of ink and say they’re done and cant take it anymore and run out screaming. Thankfully, unlike breaking a bone or skinning your knee, we are very in control of how you feel and when, and can take as many breaks or break your tattoo up into as many sessions as you need. But the majority of clients are seriously dissappointed at the anticlimactic level of discomfort during a tattoo. The most common response I get is like a bad cat scratch.

What will it feel like right after it’s done?
It will feel like a sun burn or brush burn. The area will be red and possibly be swollen for a day or two, and feel sore like a bruise for three or four days.

AFTERCARE, PAY ATTENTION!
After your tattoo is completed, I will cover it with a bandage for your trip home. Leave the bandage on for one to three hours. When you take the bandage off wash it with very warm water (as hot as is comfortable) and Dial anibacterial soap, or whatever mild liquid handsoap you have at home (like softsoap, ivory, dove, just no perfumy or scrubby body washes). Pat it dry gently, and let it air dry the rest of the way (never scrub the tattoo with a towel or sponge). Then you will apply a very small amount of plain, unscented skin lotion (I recommend lubriderm, aveeno, curel, eucerin, or any of their generics) to the tattoo, just enough to sink in and moisturize, do not slather a big, thick coat of lotion over it. I will tell you after the tattoo if yours would benefit from using ointment (aquaphor brand) for the first few days (its not necessary for all tattoos).

Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight. Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
After a few days, the tattoo will form a thin scab over it, and in about a week the scab will begin to flake off in the shower one day. DO NOT pick or scratch at the scab, just keep it clean and moist and the scabs will all fall off by themselves in about two weeks. Picking any of the scabs off will cause faded spots and more damage to the skin.

During healing do NOT:

• Re-bandage the tattoo (wearing clothes over it is fine as long as they are not causing friction. Bandaging will stop air from getting to the tattoo and stunt healing and make gross stuff grow in there)
  
• Submerge the tattoo in water (this means baths, pools and oceans, regular showering is fine)
  
• Expose it to strong sunlight (it will sizzle like bacon!)
  
• Shave (ouch!)

When all the scabs fall off and the skin feels smooth again to the touch, it is all healed and you can shave over it again, and swim and everything else. Sometimes after the scab falls off there is a secondary shiny, raised or waxy coat over the tattoo. This is just another healing layer of skin. It can still get wet and be shaved, but you should still moisturize it and it will smooth out by itself over time. If there are any light spots in the tattoo after it has healed you can come see me at the shop and schedule a touch up appointment at no charge. If you have any questions about your tattoo while its healing please come by the shop and have me check it out.

Can I get a suntan with a tattoo?
You should never expose your tattoo to the sun or tanning beds, very especially during the healing process. Even after healed, the sun will cause your tattoo to fade. When outside always use a sunblock on your tattoos to keep them looking good. Not to mention, you shouldn’t go tanning anyways. It gives you cancer and gross wrinkly cleavage, and it doesn’t make you look thinner it just makes you look like a haggard leather handbag, but you’re a grown up so do what you want. I was just trying to help.