How To Choose A Tattoo Artist In Toronto
Here at Black Line Studio, each of our tattoo artists are well-versed in a unique style. We highly recommend booking a complimentary consultation between you and the artist; during the appointment, you and the artist will fine tune the piece for the size and location that you are after while explaining any flaws in the design and suggesting alternatives. They can tweak the colouring to play better with your skin tone or give you ideas that you may not have thought of on your own. But, having a not-so- great artist can do damage beyond repair. Blurred edges, shoddy line work, and unsaturated coloring can ruin even the most kick-ass of pieces. Finding the artist that suits your needs is vital to having a tattoo you can be proud of. But, what steps should you take in order to find such an artist?
Research Your Toronto Tattoo Artist
This is the first and foremost important step in finding your artist. Ask around. If you see ink you like while you’re at the grocery store, stop and ask the person where they got it and who their artist was. Check online reviews, comb through shop websites. There are plenty of online tattoo forums where you can ask for input from other inked individuals. Here at Black Line Studio, we welcome e-mails or phone calls to help answer all your tattoo questions. When it comes to the tattoo industry, most clients are more than eager to boast about their work and their experience. If the shop is dirty, rude, or spills out shoddy work, you can bet you’ll find it online, too.
Visit Your Tattoo Artist at The Shop
An important aspect of selecting an artist is to do the legwork…meaning, get up and go visit the shop. Checking out shops for yourself is the only way to get a true picture of what you’re dealing with. Sure, you can read the online reviews, but let’s face it…those raving, shining reviews are great, but you don’t know who’s actually reviewing them. Is it a family member, girlfriend, or group of friends? Physically walking into the shops, unannounced, lets you get a glimpse into how their business operates. You can see firsthand if the shop is sterile and clean. Do you see bottles of green soap or sanitizer? Are they using fresh needles for every piece? In addition to the cleanliness, what’s the environment like? It is important to be comfortable there, as you’ll most likely be in an awkward position and quite uncomfortable for some time. If you already feel off, you’re not going to want to be in that situation for an extended amount of time. Even if you like the first tattoo shop you walk into, don’t jump just yet. Check around, visit a few. Check out portfolios and find an artist that you’re comfortable with.
All our artists’ work is featured on our website and on our Instagram account to help with the research. Spend some time getting to know the artist before you decide.You need to be able to trust your tattoo artist and should choose one who has worked heavily in the category of tattoo you’re looking to get. Finding the right artist, one whose personality and tattooing style matches what you’re looking for, is a vitally important part of getting a tattoo. Taking the time to do the research and legwork may seem like a hassle, but trust me, it’s integral in the process of getting a really great tattoo.
