I’ve been talking to an old friend that’s a tattoo artist who’s pretty straight-shooting and no-bullshit in his attitudes about some of the trends we see among top artists these days. The one that I whole-heartedly agree with is this tendency to fill portfolios with pieces that couldn’t possibly heal well, but look great fresh. Tattoos that look incredible the day they’re done — bright color realism with almost no black-shading is a good example of stuff that often turns into a faded out nothing in time — but looks like garbage when it’s healed. I’ll quote some of what he said, keeping things anonymous because I’m not looking to point fingers here.
There is a very ugly tendancy today in tattoo business of taking pictures of fresh tattoos, doing realism that will look like shit in twenty years — or in four months even — and going from convention to convention, making 100% black money, with no touch-ups, no follow-up of clientele. Those are the most famous artists in the world. I have no problem doing tribal [edit: he is referring to an image I posted of a “less than inspired” tattoo that I spoke ill of] for people who ask. If I can’t change their mind, I’ll do it. It allows me to keep cool pricing for everybody, to keep tattoo art something it SHOULD remain, that is, a POPULAR art form.
You can build up a realistic tattoo that is stable — P*** A*** and J*** G*** can do it, so it’s possible, but when you see older tattoos from D*** or S*** [edit: he’s naming top artists here and I don’t need another lawsuit], it’s nowhere that impressive. As a matter of fact, the “convention” tattoo artists don’t give a fuck, at least, a solid majority of them don’t. When you work mostly in your shop, you see people again, and therefore you can’t afford to mess up that bad. I would even say that *** *** Inks, as a whole concept, are just done for that — put in a single-pass easy color that will look cool till you’re paid, took your photo, and took part in the “Best of Day” competition… but it’s just the worst shit I’ve ever used. It’s a whole culture that is taking over, and it’s a shame, because everybody feels forced to adapt to it.
I agree whole-heartedly. Although I can’t say whether “convention artists” doing these pieces that fail once they heal are willfully committing fraud when they fill their portfolio with fresh pieces that look nothing like the healed examples, but that is what it amounts to, intended or not. I want to show the example that my friend shared with me. This is a fresh tattoo on the left from a well-respected artist, and on the right, the same tattoo not long afterwards. And to be honest, this example isn’t even that bad. I’ve seen loads of tattoos that fresh look world-class — I mean, the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen — from “name brand” tattoo masters, that look like scratcher garbage when healed.
If a tattoo artist’s portfolio contains nothing but fresh photos, consider it a warning sign — to say nothing of being paranoid about Photoshopping to pump up saturation and levels. And if your tattoo artist can not show you well-healed examples of their work, they are not someone you should be going to. You do not have the luxury of wearing a photograph of the fresh tattoo. You will be spending your life with the healed version, and if it doesn’t stand up to what you were expecting, it is you that will suffer. Insist on seeing healed photos!
Click to see that picture a little larger of course.
Edit/Update: Because I am sick and tired of people STILL claiming this is deception on my part, here are screencaps from Facebook showing both images in the tattoo artist’s gallery, full unedited versions, including the name of the artist. They may well have pulled the images by now, but these screen caps are accurate. Damn all the haters for dragging the artist’s name into this, because that was never the point of this.
Comments
260 responses to “Fraud in Tattooing”
My big pet-peev is artists that cover dark, and even black tattoos up with light, even white tattoos. These artists must know full well that when healed the old tattoos will show. In essence they just added to the mess, but all they care about is getting paid. You can only go darker, never lighter. Unfortunately too many artists forget or even ignore this rule…..
My big pet-peev is artists that cover dark, and even black tattoos up with light, even white tattoos. These artists must know full well that when healed the old tattoos will show. In essence they just added to the mess, but all they care about is getting paid. You can only go darker, never lighter. Unfortunately too many artists forget or even ignore this rule…..
So I am not convinced that this is one and the same tattoo. I admit loss of white and gray color, from poor care and sun. But black, lines? And why is the section between the right eye and nose “after healing” darker? P. s. Sorry for my “Google” English)
So I am not convinced that this is one and the same tattoo. I admit loss of white and gray color, from poor care and sun. But black, lines? And why is the section between the right eye and nose “after healing” darker? P. s. Sorry for my “Google” English)
So I am not convinced that this is one and the same tattoo. I admit loss of white and gray color, from poor care and sun. But black, lines? And why is the section between the right eye and nose “after healing” darker? P. s. Sorry for my “Google” English)
So I am not convinced that this is one and the same tattoo. I admit loss of white and gray color, from poor care and sun. But black, lines? And why is the section between the right eye and nose “after healing” darker? P. s. Sorry for my “Google” English)
I’ve seen the proof now. Just a weird messaging delay in Facebook.
I’ve seen the proof now. Just a weird messaging delay in Facebook.
I’ve seen the proof now. Just a weird messaging delay in Facebook.
I’ve seen the proof now. Just a weird messaging delay in Facebook.
Rob, was it really necessary to get all uppity on here and make fun of peoples comments, as well as tattooers? Your comments were childish in my opinion.
Oh, and text talk is no different than the short form i used in university for notes. Its a time saver and i enjoy it. Why u hatin’??
Rob, was it really necessary to get all uppity on here and make fun of peoples comments, as well as tattooers? Your comments were childish in my opinion.
Oh, and text talk is no different than the short form i used in university for notes. Its a time saver and i enjoy it. Why u hatin’??
Rob, was it really necessary to get all uppity on here and make fun of peoples comments, as well as tattooers? Your comments were childish in my opinion.
Oh, and text talk is no different than the short form i used in university for notes. Its a time saver and i enjoy it. Why u hatin’??
Rob, was it really necessary to get all uppity on here and make fun of peoples comments, as well as tattooers? Your comments were childish in my opinion.
Oh, and text talk is no different than the short form i used in university for notes. Its a time saver and i enjoy it. Why u hatin’??
The “healed” photo is not the same tattoo as the freshly done. I agree with a lot of what the poster is propagating, however the supposed evidence renders the entire argument invalid.
The “healed” photo is not the same tattoo as the freshly done. I agree with a lot of what the poster is propagating, however the supposed evidence renders the entire argument invalid.
The “healed” photo is not the same tattoo as the freshly done. I agree with a lot of what the poster is propagating, however the supposed evidence renders the entire argument invalid.
The “healed” photo is not the same tattoo as the freshly done. I agree with a lot of what the poster is propagating, however the supposed evidence renders the entire argument invalid.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
A well known and respected tattooer did a pinup on my exwife, years ago. The portfolio pic he took of it was stunning. Crisp, full of color and detail. The healing was atrocious. He overworked the skin so thoroughly that it became a blurry scarred up mess less than six months after it was done. After that experience, we started noticing that all of this guy’s healed work was sort of jacked up.
She went up to another well known well respected tattooer for a piece and by coincidence he used to work with the first artist. He looked at it, half frowned and said “yeah. I’ll fix this for you. I have a lot of experience fixing his stuff”.
Both are still booked up, respected tattooers. Funny how it all plays out sometimes.
Why is there shading from the nose to the left hand side eye 4 months later which wasn’t there on the freshly finished piece? Those 2 pictures aren’t even close to being the same work.
Why is there shading from the nose to the left hand side eye 4 months later which wasn’t there on the freshly finished piece? Those 2 pictures aren’t even close to being the same work.
Why is there shading from the nose to the left hand side eye 4 months later which wasn’t there on the freshly finished piece? Those 2 pictures aren’t even close to being the same work.
Why is there shading from the nose to the left hand side eye 4 months later which wasn’t there on the freshly finished piece? Those 2 pictures aren’t even close to being the same work.
First off it’s really difficult to tell digitally how a tattoo over time changes. Take the above example with the zombie face for instance: one photo is obviously fresh but looks like it was taken inside, vs. the second outside which offers very different styles of light. I have photos of me outside in the sun which make even the hard-outlined tattoos of mine look very faded when in fact they are still very dark and much darker than my much more color-centric and bio organic styled tattoos. Also, you can just snap a quick shot or you can “prepare” for the shot by shaving your arm, putting on moisturizer to make it look much more saturated.
I definitely do think there’s a point where certain tattoo artists get into doing detail and lack of outlines that are pointless once the piece is healed. Even some tattoo artists that do a lot of outlines “going over” black lines over and over again for multiple session pieces sometimes I just want to say – it’s not going to get anymore black! That said I’ve seen great color-only pieces that are fully healed and up to 8 years old look really great, and others loose all their vibrancy. I think it has more to do with the use of darker colors and contrast rather than have particularly sharp or simple outlines. Some people just want something more abstract or detailed, but they have to accept that it will change over time.
Anyways, I guess the moral of this post is to go along with the original article – don’t just go for fresh photos, and consider how much detail is really needed for the piece. To artists: please don’t spend a ton of time working on extremely small details or really subtle shading on darker skin or hairy parts of the body because it’s not going to make a difference once it’s healed.
First off it’s really difficult to tell digitally how a tattoo over time changes. Take the above example with the zombie face for instance: one photo is obviously fresh but looks like it was taken inside, vs. the second outside which offers very different styles of light. I have photos of me outside in the sun which make even the hard-outlined tattoos of mine look very faded when in fact they are still very dark and much darker than my much more color-centric and bio organic styled tattoos. Also, you can just snap a quick shot or you can “prepare” for the shot by shaving your arm, putting on moisturizer to make it look much more saturated.
I definitely do think there’s a point where certain tattoo artists get into doing detail and lack of outlines that are pointless once the piece is healed. Even some tattoo artists that do a lot of outlines “going over” black lines over and over again for multiple session pieces sometimes I just want to say – it’s not going to get anymore black! That said I’ve seen great color-only pieces that are fully healed and up to 8 years old look really great, and others loose all their vibrancy. I think it has more to do with the use of darker colors and contrast rather than have particularly sharp or simple outlines. Some people just want something more abstract or detailed, but they have to accept that it will change over time.
Anyways, I guess the moral of this post is to go along with the original article – don’t just go for fresh photos, and consider how much detail is really needed for the piece. To artists: please don’t spend a ton of time working on extremely small details or really subtle shading on darker skin or hairy parts of the body because it’s not going to make a difference once it’s healed.
First off it’s really difficult to tell digitally how a tattoo over time changes. Take the above example with the zombie face for instance: one photo is obviously fresh but looks like it was taken inside, vs. the second outside which offers very different styles of light. I have photos of me outside in the sun which make even the hard-outlined tattoos of mine look very faded when in fact they are still very dark and much darker than my much more color-centric and bio organic styled tattoos. Also, you can just snap a quick shot or you can “prepare” for the shot by shaving your arm, putting on moisturizer to make it look much more saturated.
I definitely do think there’s a point where certain tattoo artists get into doing detail and lack of outlines that are pointless once the piece is healed. Even some tattoo artists that do a lot of outlines “going over” black lines over and over again for multiple session pieces sometimes I just want to say – it’s not going to get anymore black! That said I’ve seen great color-only pieces that are fully healed and up to 8 years old look really great, and others loose all their vibrancy. I think it has more to do with the use of darker colors and contrast rather than have particularly sharp or simple outlines. Some people just want something more abstract or detailed, but they have to accept that it will change over time.
Anyways, I guess the moral of this post is to go along with the original article – don’t just go for fresh photos, and consider how much detail is really needed for the piece. To artists: please don’t spend a ton of time working on extremely small details or really subtle shading on darker skin or hairy parts of the body because it’s not going to make a difference once it’s healed.
First off it’s really difficult to tell digitally how a tattoo over time changes. Take the above example with the zombie face for instance: one photo is obviously fresh but looks like it was taken inside, vs. the second outside which offers very different styles of light. I have photos of me outside in the sun which make even the hard-outlined tattoos of mine look very faded when in fact they are still very dark and much darker than my much more color-centric and bio organic styled tattoos. Also, you can just snap a quick shot or you can “prepare” for the shot by shaving your arm, putting on moisturizer to make it look much more saturated.
I definitely do think there’s a point where certain tattoo artists get into doing detail and lack of outlines that are pointless once the piece is healed. Even some tattoo artists that do a lot of outlines “going over” black lines over and over again for multiple session pieces sometimes I just want to say – it’s not going to get anymore black! That said I’ve seen great color-only pieces that are fully healed and up to 8 years old look really great, and others loose all their vibrancy. I think it has more to do with the use of darker colors and contrast rather than have particularly sharp or simple outlines. Some people just want something more abstract or detailed, but they have to accept that it will change over time.
Anyways, I guess the moral of this post is to go along with the original article – don’t just go for fresh photos, and consider how much detail is really needed for the piece. To artists: please don’t spend a ton of time working on extremely small details or really subtle shading on darker skin or hairy parts of the body because it’s not going to make a difference once it’s healed.
Its clearly two different tattoos, even with all the “proof” offered its just two different tattoos. Continuing to suggest otherwise is crazy and offensive.
Its clearly two different tattoos, even with all the “proof” offered its just two different tattoos. Continuing to suggest otherwise is crazy and offensive.
Its clearly two different tattoos, even with all the “proof” offered its just two different tattoos. Continuing to suggest otherwise is crazy and offensive.
Its clearly two different tattoos, even with all the “proof” offered its just two different tattoos. Continuing to suggest otherwise is crazy and offensive.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders? That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders? That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders? That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders? That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders?
That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done. People claiming these are different tattoos have absolutely no eye for detail.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders?
That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done. People claiming these are different tattoos have absolutely no eye for detail.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders?
That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done. People claiming these are different tattoos have absolutely no eye for detail.
To anyone thinking these are different tattoos, CHECK OUT THE MOLE TOWARDS THE LEFT OF THE IMAGE IN THE HAIR ON THIS GUY’S SHOULDER. If these are on DIFFERENT people, how’d they both end up having the EXACT SAME MOLE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE on their shoulders?
That’s how shitty the artist was! They must’ve covered mistakes with white that faded to later reveal the shit job they’d done. People claiming these are different tattoos have absolutely no eye for detail.
I can almost believe it’s the same tattoo, except for this part right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/8168619738/
I can almost believe it’s the same tattoo, except for this part right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/8168619738/
I can almost believe it’s the same tattoo, except for this part right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/8168619738/
I can almost believe it’s the same tattoo, except for this part right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/8168619738/