Sketch — The Foundation of Foundations
Art immortalized on skin
You can take a picture from the internet and use it as a tattoo pattern. No one will forbid you that. Well, unless copyright law, but hardly anyone will check that.
'What if I don't like it?'
Why are we against using ready-made pictures? First, we care about individuality. Second, we are against plagiarism. One could write a hundred paragraphs about how repeating tattoo designs is nothing cool. But every day someone finds a ready sketch on the internet and every day someone else gets it done. And nothing will change that :)
However, if you want to be original and aspire to real art, let's talk about individual sketches that the tattoo artist creates specifically for each client. You have an idea but no sketch? No panic, after all, that's why you found a tattoo artist, so they can take care of it.
What do you need to do?
Describe as accurately as possible how you imagine your future tattoo
Even if you don't have an exact image in your head yet, every, even the smallest hint will be significant.
Bring everything that might help
If you have any photos, sketches, or graphics that can help you and the artist better understand your ideas — bring them to the consultation. They'll definitely come in handy.
Be prepared that the artist's vision might differ from yours
And that's normal. Everything can be discussed and changed. That's what consultations are for — to work together on the sketch and get closer to the ideal.
Besides, you must remember that skin is not a sheet of paper - it's in constant motion, ages, and is subjected to many external factors every day. Therefore, not everything that can be drawn on paper can be faithfully transferred to skin, and moreover, expect that the tattoo will look identical after several years as on the day it was made.
You're in the hands of a professional, and your tattoo will stay with you forever, so it's good to sometimes consider other possibilities as well.
Be ready for adjustments in the sketch
This is also normal. Sometimes it's difficult to understand each other right away. Don't be afraid to say if you don't like something in the project. It's your tattoo — it should fully satisfy you. In 95% of cases, sketches are approved on the first try, with minor corrections. This happens because all your expectations are discussed in detail during consultations.
However, if you completely dislike the project, it's a sign that it's worth talking about it again. Most important — decide what you really want. Changing the idea while the tattoo artist is already drawing the sketch is a bad idea.
Imagine that you approved a house project, construction started, and suddenly you decide that the project doesn't suit you after all. Many people think that the sketch creation process begins when the artist takes a pencil in hand and starts drawing. Sometimes it is like that. But more often, the whole process starts with collecting materials. Sometimes the tattoo artist needs to read a book or watch a movie to understand exactly what they need to draw.
Gathering inspiration, planning ideas and composition — this is where work on the sketch begins.