Quotidianlight

I understand the importance of researching an artist, but since I'm completely new to getting tattooed I have no idea how to evaluate whether an artist is quality or not.  For example, there's a woman whose work I really like aesthetically, but I have no idea if she's actually a good artist with technical skill, and if she produces quality work, etc.  I understand that just because something looks pretty, it doesn't mean that it's a quality tattoo, and I don't know how to evaluate technical skill.  What's the best way to research an artist when you don't know what you're looking at?   Thanks!

Oh, I love it! I'm planning a literary theme for my upper arm but wow... that portrait is awesome. I'm sticking with scenes and symbols from my favorite work since I'm a tad scared to do portraiture on my darker skin. I can't wait to see the progression.

I'm 60 and had some major work done this year.. kinda partying like it's 1999... but I'm getting exactly what I want and have had some older work freshened up. I heal tattoos about the same. Other cuts on me, heal a lot faster for some reason.

Get the fuck out of here with that attitude. Maybe tipping isn't expected in Australia, and that's fine if you don't tip there. But don't chalk it up to you making $35/hour and the artist making $180/hour because that's such a naive and bullshit way of viewing how tattoo artists are compensated.
Most artists either have to rent out a spot in a shop or pay a percentage of their earnings to the shop, usually around 30% based on what I've heard. So that $180 is now about $120. I've also heard from artists that just to set up a tattoo costs between $20-40 (which is why shop minimums exist). So now it's down to about $90. Now take into account they only charge for the time they are actually tattooing you, not the time they are setting up, drawing, putting on the stencil, listening to what you want, etc. So a "one hour" tattoo, really probably takes a minimum of 1.5-2 hours. Now that's down to about $45 an hour. Now take into account that most artists don't work 9-5, instead, they might get a couple of tattoos a day, with lots of down time in between. After all of that, that $180/hour doesn't look so glamorous does it? Now take into account that the cost of living in Australia is much higher than in the US, and the fact that your artist only charges $180/hour when many artists in the states charge the same or higher.
I don't mean to say that this means you should tip, but I think it's disingenuous to act like all tattooers are super rich just because they charge $180+ per hour.
- - - Updated - - -
Get the fuck out of here with that attitude. Maybe tipping isn't expected in Australia, and that's fine if you don't tip there. But don't chalk it up to you making $35/hour and the artist making $180/hour because that's such a naive and bullshit way of viewing how tattoo artists are compensated.
Most artists either have to rent out a spot in a shop or pay a percentage of their earnings to the shop, usually around 30% based on what I've heard. So that $180 is now about $120. I've also heard from artists that just to set up a tattoo costs between $20-40 (which is why shop minimums exist). So now it's down to about $90. Now take into account they only charge for the time they are actually tattooing you, not the time they are setting up, drawing, putting on the stencil, listening to what you want, etc. So a "one hour" tattoo, really probably takes a minimum of 1.5-2 hours. Now that's down to about $45 an hour. Now take into account that most artists don't work 9-5, instead, they might get a couple of tattoos a day, with lots of down time in between. After all of that, that $180/hour doesn't look so glamorous does it? Now take into account that the cost of living in Australia is much higher than in the US, and the fact that your artist only charges $180/hour when many artists in the states charge the same or higher.
I don't mean to say that this means you should tip, but I think it's disingenuous to act like all tattooers are super rich just because they charge $180+ per hour.

I love flowers on the hands and I also really like this ...
Jondix

Gerhard Wiesbeck

I've started using tegaderm so no more sticking. It also allows me to be lazy. lol

This was my LIFE when I lived in Japan - I was a teacher and a school administrator and I had a weekly ritual of covering the tattoos on my leg and back. The worst was a very old, small, fuzzy tattoo on my ankle that I had cover up with a large bandaid every week - one of my coworkers just about died when he realized that it wasn't an injury that I had to keep covered for 5 years :).

pfft, 56 isn't old! When I say old... I'm talking about 80 lmao

Thanks everyone for the welcome, I'm leaving the use in a couple months and look forward to meeting artists from other countries. I'm thinking of dedicating an arm or a leg just to travel souvenirs.

After 20 years without a new tattoo due to being a single broke mom, both kids are heading to college and I'm starting permanent travel right as I turn 40. So what's a gal to do? Tattoos of course! So hi, I've always loved tattoo's and planned to get a full back and sleeves once I could devote the finances to it. I had my sleeve started on Friday. I was going to just do the forearm and have other artists do it in pieces, but omg, I love it too much! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and add to my list of artists to visit as I travel.

Thanks everyone for the welcome, I'm leaving the use in a couple months and look forward to meeting artists from other countries. I'm thinking of dedicating an arm or a leg just to travel souvenirs.

After 20 years without a new tattoo due to being a single broke mom, both kids are heading to college and I'm starting permanent travel right as I turn 40. So what's a gal to do? Tattoos of course! So hi, I've always loved tattoo's and planned to get a full back and sleeves once I could devote the finances to it. I had my sleeve started on Friday. I was going to just do the forearm and have other artists do it in pieces, but omg, I love it too much! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and add to my list of artists to visit as I travel.

You could talk to her ahead of time about how it's going to be GIANT!! a HUGE tattoo that covers most of your whole arm. And then when she sees that it's really only a 1/4 page size she'll be super relieved.

Remember that pictures must be provided or it didn't happen! We look forward to tracking your travel progress by your posts!

Thanks everyone for the welcome, I'm leaving the use in a couple months and look forward to meeting artists from other countries. I'm thinking of dedicating an arm or a leg just to travel souvenirs.

After 20 years without a new tattoo due to being a single broke mom, both kids are heading to college and I'm starting permanent travel right as I turn 40. So what's a gal to do? Tattoos of course! So hi, I've always loved tattoo's and planned to get a full back and sleeves once I could devote the finances to it. I had my sleeve started on Friday. I was going to just do the forearm and have other artists do it in pieces, but omg, I love it too much! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and add to my list of artists to visit as I travel.