Tattoo Etiquette Lesson 1: Previewing designs UPDATE

I'm not sending any more designs via email unless I'm paid in full as a graphic artist for a one of a kind custom piece.

My thoughts were confirmed today when the person who stole my design and got it tattooed "cheaper" somewhere else emailed me again today. Despite my email telling him that it wasn't cool that he did that because he only left a small deposit that didn't sufficiently pay me for an original design, he asked me to draw him another design for a small and insufficient fee. After reading my response, I now hope he understands what he did was wrong. I can't believe how rude and inconsiderate some people are. This guy has to wear this design the rest of his life perhaps knowing that he ripped someone off?! Someone suggested that I sell the design on a tattoo flash website so that other people can have the same one tattooed on them if they pay the fee. Therefore I'd get paid the full amount for my hard work. I'm sorry he ruined it for everyone else who wouldn't even consider doing this.

Graphic artists charge anywhere from $50 - 150 per hour to do design work for their clients. I'm unsure if they charge for research and consultation work or supplies used to draw the piece. I'm willing to draw designs for people if they pay the proper amount, and they can get it tattooed by someone else if they desire. If they get it tattooed by me, I waive the drawing fee unless I spend more than 4 hours on a design or they change their minds to a totally different design.

The aforementioned person paid me on the lowest pay bracket for 1 hour, yet the design I drew for him took me about 3 hours.

This is my only professional job. I have a family to support. I'm a busy pregnant wife and mother who has tons of housework, errands, and child rearing on top of drawing for people and tattooing them. I don't deserve to be paid for a fraction of what I deserve to do drawings for people.

Please be considerate and don't copy other people's designs. Have your tattoo artist come up with something unique, and be original!!!!!!!

To the rest of my clients:

If you must see the design beforehand, you can make a drawing review appointment with me at your consultation to come to the shop the day before to preview it if I'm working. No pictures can be taken with your phone so bring your loved ones if they are interested in seeing it in advance.

Tattoo Etiquette Lesson 2: Don't touch me

After running into a client/friend of mine today and hearing the following story, I decided to write the second lesson in Tattoo Etiquette. The second lesson is simply, "Don't touch other peoples tattoos unless you have consent from that person." If you have visible tattoos, you've probably been prodded by people touching your tattoos without permission. If not, you're lucky. Personally I've had it with strangers that have the seemingly uncontrollable urge to invade your personal space without asking first.

This is my friends story. While on a whale watch two days after we colored in her medium sized shoulder piece, an unknown woman poked her finger into the fresh tattoo while she had her back turned. Then she made a comment about the piece. My friend turned around and retorted, "Don't touch me! That's still healing!" She was disgusted by being touched on a potentially open wound by a stranger without gloves. It's absurd that this happens way too often.

Throughout my life as a tattooed person, this has happened to me. I've been poked, rubbed, grabbed, and prodded on my tattoos in public areas. Strangers have even tried to reach out and touch my chest because it's tattooed. More often than I'd like to remember, I've had to shoo people away from touching me.

We wonder why people do this, but surely there is no answer. Do people think that they're welcome to touch someone just because they chose to decorate their skin? While we're on this subject of touching, you can stop staring too. There are plenty of pictures of tattooed online or in magazines that your can buy and stare at to your hearts content. Don't let your manners fly out the door when you see a decorated person.