Artwork Takes TIME have patience....

Artwork takes time. It requires reference, thought, sketching, thinking, contemplation, insight and it evolves from the first contact to the time we start inking your skin.

If you expect the process to be quick, simple and involve little thought; choose a piece of flash off the wall, off the internet, out of one of my books. If you want a custom piece it will require patience on your part. Just because we have an appointment scheduled for your tattoo to begin on a certain date does NOT mean it will start at that time. I’ll do everything in my power to make certain we do start as scheduled, but… poop drops… or...in other words, unfortunately... SHIT HAPPENS.

A tattoo artist doing custom work is always looking to make/find time to draw, paint, think, catch a bite to eat, hold the kids and/or a conversation with a friend. If you’ve never tattooed you can’t imagine the amount of time going into all the tattoos an artist does in a week. I literally spend all my waking hours preparing for and researching tattooing.

I have a friend, another tattoo artist, working out of his home who is booked more than a year in advance. He’s lucky; most of his clients simply give him a general idea and he designs what he knows will be a kick-ass tattoo for them. They trust him. You’ll have to trust me if you want a great tattoo. I’m not booked a year in advance… YET, but I will be. Soon. (He charges $400 per hour… I’m still a bargain – now.)

Most tattoo artists are working on designs up until the time the client walks into the shop for the appointment. There is simply NEVER enough time. For this reason it is extremely unrealistic to expect a design to be emailed to you prior to the appointment. Please don’t ask, I won’t email a design under any circumstances.

A large portion of my earnings go to support the process of your tattoo. I’m constantly researching art techniques, tattoo techniques, purchasing equipment including better tattoo machines– (they’re not all created equal!) – and… tubes, grips, ink, needles. Add to that the number of reference books I own, (which are pushing me out of house and home), and continue to acquire and you may begin to get an inkling of how little is left for fun… I am obsessed with art and the art of tattooing – to your benefit! We haven’t even begun to talk about computers and software yet!

Most of the design work viewed at your consult and/or your appointment is unfinished. That is to say ;the design/artwork is an idea, a rough sketch, ready for a stencil, but contains no color, no shading. You’ll need to trust me for shading and/or coloring. I have it in my head. If you want finished artwork to view prior to being tattooed it will cost you dearly. I’ll charge you for design/artwork time at the tattoo rate. I’ll estimate the time for artwork and receive that amount from you before starting the design.

My artwork, especially tattoo design, is becoming more complex, more intricate, requiring much more of my time for drawing. Consequently I have to manufacture time to draw, paint, etc; usually taking time away from tattooing. Needing compensation for my time... I charge for design work. Hourly payment for design equals hourly charges for tattoo time. Also; when the designs are more complex, they require larger scheduling fees.

If I’ve run into something needing to be addressed before we start your tattoo session we may use all or part of your tattoo session for discussion of your design/artwork. A discussion about a major design issue may mean a complete change in the tattoo and will/may require another scheduling fee for additional work. This is fair. It’s unfortunate, but not always possible to tattoo on the day of your tattoo appointment. Please be patient. It means you get a better tattoo in the long run.

I’m expressing these thoughts and business practices here to further insure a fantastic result for you. If you want a shitty tattoo there are plenty of folks who’ll throw one on you. I have deeper integrity. I expect your desire in wanting an extraordinary kick-ass tattoo is a major part of choosing me as your tattoo artist.

Scheduling fees are applied to the finished tattoo only when the drawing is negligible requiring little work to render. That stated… Scheduling Fees are NON-Refundable for ANY reason. EVER. If you’re unsure about your tattoo, me or any aspect of the process, stop, think about this implicitly and deeply and then commit to me as your artist for the duration. This is a collaboration and the money you’re investing is for something you really, really want. Be sure you want it and are committing to the time and patience required to achieve the result.

You agree to the scheduling fee and it either pays for time spent in creating artwork, to insure your showing up for your appointment, or… it is applied to the last session of your tattoo. Once you give me the scheduling fee you have committed to your tattoo. We can/may make changes in the design. Changes MAY incur further charges; they may not. How much you place on a scheduling fee depends on our relationship, how stoked I am about your tattoo, your showing up on time, and especially how much preparation I have to do for your tattoo.

When you get a tattoo from me it may take a year or more to complete, really. Larger takes longer. Greater complexity takes longer. That said… design often takes longer than you may have expected and, the design may require changes. It’s a process you MUST be prepared for. If you’re not getting your tattoo soon enough it’s because I’m making sure you get the best possible tattoo I can give you. Please be patient. Recognize this process of tattooing with anyone is just that, a process. Enjoy it. Relax and expect the best. I do. And… I plan for the best. For you.