Is "tattoo concept artist" a real job?

Rebecca Lo

Okay, so I read a lot of fanfiction (don't judge too harshly, I read a lot of books too) and I was reading one where a man offered a girl a job as a tattoo designer. She drew out different designs and then he would do the actual tattooing. That got me wondering if that was something that could be pursued as an actual career (I mean how cool would it be to have someone love something you designed so much that they get it permanetly copied onto their skin?). Also, if it is something that could be pursued as a career, is there any extra information you can give me (like tips, links, helpful college courses, or anything smilar)?

Answer
Well, currently, I'm a tattoo designer. People contact me, I draw up a design and then they pay me for it. The difference is that I work for myself, not a tattoo artist. Eventually I plan to be a tattoo artist, but it's all baby steps.
The job your referring to does exist, in fact my last tattooist did commissions for an older tattoo artist when he was younger (before his apprenticeship).
Have you thought about becoming an actual tattoo artist? Your profits will be a lot better than just a tattoo designer. End of the day, most tattoo artists can draw themselves (ones that can't shouldn't be in the industry) and are unlikely to pay a middle-man to do the design when they can do it themselves.
The career you're thinking of would be difficult to find, and would take a hell of a lot of luck.
My advice for you is start charging for tattoo commissions now, for your self rather than for a tattooist. Then see where it takes you. If you want to do this you'll have to work hard to get yourself noticed in an already highly-saturated industry. You'll have to sell yourself. Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and Deviantart to get your work noticed. Try and get featured on tattoo blogs and websites, and make sure all internet traffic goes back to you. It's hard. You'll have to shift through all the crappy designs to get that occasional amazing client who asks you to do something you actually enjoy. But it's the right way to go about it. When you've built up a portfolio take it around tattoo studios (or email them) and see if they're up for taking on a tattoo designer. Or at least try and sell them some flash. Ask them some advice on what direction you should head. You might even end up grabbing your self an apprenticeship, if that's what you decide you want to do.
In regards to college courses, the tattoo industry is a beaut, because it doesn't rely too much on qualifications. Essentially the only things you need are skill, patience and a hard working ethic. Obviously, if you can study art, this will help vastly. But a degree is not necessary.
There are also websites that pay you for collections of flash, which are downloadable for users.

Which tattoo do you like the most?

Taylor Has

Well ever since i was about 8 or 9 i have wanted to get a tattoo. Now i am only 15 and my parents don't me getting a tattoo and i completely respect that. I'm not going to be stupid and run off and get it done in a shady shop without permission. It's something i really want so i can wait. But anyway, i was wondering what you guys think of these tattoos/designs. I've always wanted a black rose but recently i came across a few designs that i fell in love with. Please keep in mind that i want the tattoo on either my mid-to-lower back(No not a tramp stamp, think about where a girl who has decent length hair, about where the hair would fall on her back.), on my side between the the ribs and hipbone, or on my hip. I choose these places because the career i want to have requires you to be professional and i still want to be able to show them if i choose but still easily cover them up. So what tattoo do you like best and which placement do you think would be best for it? Sorry for all my babbling haha, here are the pictures:
http://tattoosnob.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/TonyMancia.jpg
http://www.tattoos99.com/wp-content/uploads//2460/Rose.jpg
http://www.ratemyink.com/images/ul/104/black-n-grey-rose-tattoo-104200.jpeg
http://data.whicdn.com/images/5103355/tumblr_lcbihxLJe41qctazvo1_400_thumb.jpg
http://media.onsugar.com/files/2010/10/39/5/1129/11299226/22/feather_tattoo_designs_back_upper_sexy_girls.jpg
NOTE: Please ignore the placement and size of the tattoo in the picture. And no "Don't do that to your body!" I have wanted this for a long time and will get one. :]
Also! If you know of any cool piercings feel free to share them. But nothing too extreme, ie. A corset piercing, i think they a pretty but they look very painful and never in my life would i think about getting one haha. And i put the question in this category instead of "Tattoos" because i want to get a wide range of views

Answer
I think you should design one yourself. If I'd gotten a tattoo done for a symbolic, sentimental reason I wouldn't want some young girl copying it because she thought it was "cool".
Get one which has a meaning and that you won't regret having when you're older.

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Tattoo Ideas? 21yr old girl?

Rosella M

I'm very picky . I want my tattoo to actually mean something so I won't regret it when I'm older (y)

I lost a lot of family members due to death .

The locations I was thinking of was behind my neck or on the inside of my wrist.
I was also thinking of putting my dogs name with a paw print on the inside of my right wrist because he loves to put his arm there. And I raised him on my own since he was 6 weeks old
I was also thinking of putting my mom's first letter of her name with wings behind my neck because she's my backbone and my angel

I don't I been thinking of tattoo for the longest time but I always had a million thoughts of what to get .

Answer
I am sorry for the losses that you have experienced.

You a couple of ideas that could be worked out, but need to be thought out a bit more.
First, here's a good article on how to get a tattoo without regret:
http://galadarling.com/article/how-to-get-a-great-tattoo-and-never-regret-it
As to your ideas:
The one for your dog on your wrist - you are young and will have many animal friends in your life, and your dog now is very important to you, but you will have others too that will be important to you. If you do this idea, then it will probably represent your dog now, and the future pets that you will have.
The paw print on your wrist, however, could look too dark and heavy, and you may be surprised at that because the concept is a good one. The way to check this out is to get a Sharpie marker and draw it on your wrist and wear it around for a while. Also, you may be thinking smaller than is needed to hold up well over time. The letters need to be no smaller than 1/2" tall or they will blur. You should also consider asking for a 'fine line' needle if you do writing.
Here's some examples of this idea:
http://creativefan.com/important/cf/2012/02/wrist-tattoos-for-women/paw-wrist-tattoos.jpg
http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/021/6/e/paw_print_tattoo_by_oomizuao-d4n3nxz.jpg
http://www.tattooimages.us/paw-print-tattoo-a-tattoo-is-innocent-as-a-tattoo-paw-print.html
As to your idea of your mother's initial with wings, you need to realize that some people will interpret this that she has died. But I like the idea. There are many different ways to do wings, and many ways to do letters. Take your time, and don't use images for reference that are 'tattoo' pictures. Instead find beautiful wings in photos and artwork.
Another idea that would be very pretty and feminine, would be to just have one feather:
http://www.scientificillustrator.com/art/bird/feather.jpg
http://www.scientificillustrator.com/art/bird/feather-small.jpg
with a beautiful font... Here's a font generator to help work that out:
http://tattoolettering.net/
This idea would look very nice on your shoulder blade.

Take your time, test out your ideas before you make them permanent, and think outside of your idea. ( I had this great wrist idea, but didn't realize that it would look like a watch from a distance until after I got the tattoo. I then added to my original design and turned it into a wrist bracelet, and it turned out great - but after much reworking of my idea).

luck~

First tattoo ideas for girls?

Lara

I've always wanted a small, discreet tattoo that has a great meaning behind it. I've been thinking of a rabbit tattoo, because my family calls me a rabbit, its our personal nickname for me. I'm 18 so I don't want to rush into it, I'll probably consider it for a couple more years. What are some cool, edgy tattoos? I want some really edgy ideas with a touch of feminity... and something I can easily hide. Can people suggest me good placements to get a tattoo, or cool designs or symbols with meaning behind it? I don't want fairies, stars, hearts, butterflies.. I want some original ideas that I can get inspiration from. Thanks! Oh and no disney or cartoon characters please.
I don't see anything wrong with tattoos with meanings behind them. Some people want to express something of symbolic importance that way and I personally think it's nice. So no rushed judgements or hasty words yeah? Thats fine if you don't like them, but if you don't like my question, why answer?

Answer
Ummmm...yeah.

First, you might consider that what you find cool or edgy now (at 18, in the year 2012) may be pretty foolish/silly/etc. just a few years down the road...let alone when you are 28, 38, 48, 58...etc.
Edgy or cool...these categories tend to be moving targets...or else it wouldn't BE "edgy", right? ;-)

The other thing you need to consider is not only placement in terms of "can I hide it"--you seem to be thinking enough about how you present yourself in the professional world, where tattoos tend to not be acceptable in terms of arm tattoos like Craig Ferguson, etc., so you are thinking well--but also in terms of HOW IS THE SKIN IN THIS AREA GOING TO CHANGE...? (Think: with age, with pregnancy, etc.)

A lot of "gosh, what a cute little tattoo"-type things along a bikini line might have turned into "OMG WTF _IS_ THAT?!" as someone has the skin stretch during pregnancy.

And your thinking about it is good--and while you are, please look at some old women with tattoos and realize that a clear, vibrant tattoo you get at 18, or 20/21 is probably going to fade, blur, etc. So simple and recognizable even with some blurring/fading might be smarter than some intricate thing which requires clarity and brightness in order to not look like a birth mark or a melanoma.

;-)

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