Non related to this bussiness ~best tattoo artist in USA ?

[Victoriajolie]

I have some lower back arts but would like to put some addition it's not big but has to be done right .. I have images of what I'm looking for
Any recommendations?
Thanks VJ

[Augenblich]

Lance Kellar Designs in Detroit

[rvcruiser910]

End of the trail - Charlie Cartwright, Modesto CA.

[Z23B]

Mind if I ask about the type of design you have in mind?

Since you already have some idea of what you want, it may help to look for tattoo artists that excel in that style. For example, the artists who strive to be well-rounded in virtually every style of tattooing will not necessarily be as good at black-and-gray realism as the artist who has only done b&g realism for their entire career. Sure, well-rounded tattoo artists are certainly out there, but with the massive influx of genuinely high-caliber artists into the industry in the past 20 years, the phrase "the best" is becoming more subjective than ever.

[Victoriajolie]

you are right
i look into someone that can do 3D type of tattoos it would be in my back


that would been with the tattoos i already have and love
Everything done in a tasteful way and bring the story
I know a lot of men dont like artistic work on ladies body i embrace it.
The right person has a story and meaning behind it
Butterflies has one it the continuities to my journey in this world

VJ

[After5Diva]

I got a small tramp stamp I want to add some color added to...but my god they hurt! I was squealing like a pig going to the butcher shop the whole time..lol.

I do like the white ink tat's I've seen.

[Z23B]

Those butterflies are beautiful. It would be best to look for an artist with experience in hyper-realism. If you'd want to stop by some of your local tattoo shops, that's what you'd want to ask for. You're looking for someone who can do photo-quality tattoos but with an emphasis on saturation and vibrant colors. The 3-d look is actually not as challenging as getting the colors themselves to "pop" of of the skin.

I see that you're in Montreal. You may want to check out the work of Lisa Dowling in Ontario. Absolutely amazing. I have no doubt that she could get the effect you're looking for.

If you don't mind travling, I would highly recommend:
Bill Vegas in New York
Nikko Hurtado in Hezperia, California
Mike DeVries in Northridge, California
... and about two dozen more, but if I start rattling off names it would be overkill.

Whatever you do, don't give in to the temptation to think that a tattoo artist must be the best if they have a show on TV. A television show simply means that they are leveraging the media for commercial appeal... being popular doesn't mean you're the best at what you do.

Honestly, you'll be able to find a handful of extremely talented tattoo artists in virtually every major city in the US, Canada, and most countries in Europe. Gone are the days when tattooist were just guys who happened to draw "sort of ok." These days, tattoo artisis are often graduates of art school, or at the very least go through a rigorous apprenticeship where they really have to show exceptional skill to stand out from the crowd. In fact, there are so many great artists out there that it's actually just as important (if not more important) to find one who you can feel comfortable with personality-wise. The artist needs to be able to respect the customer enough to have an in-depth discussion about exactly what you want on your own body. If they treat you like you're just the next one in line and that your artistic wishes aren't that important, do you think you'll be satisfied with the art that will be on your skin for the rest of your life? Sure, some people are OK with half-assed art on their body, but it seems to me that you are looking for something that is tasteful and makes an important statement about your inner self, so look for an artist who agrees with you on that.

Oh, and just to clarify, yes I am a tattoo artist.

[Z23B]

Originally Posted by After5Diva

I got a small tramp stamp I want to add some color added to...but my god they hurt! I was squealing like a pig going to the butcher shop the whole time..lol.

I do like the white ink tat's I've seen.

FYI, with modern advances, artists have no excuse when it comes to client pain. Sure, everyone has a different pain threshold, but there are products on the market that greatly reduce pain levels (usually with some percentage of Lidocaine included, but other topical agents as well). I always recommend that clients take a couple of ibuprofen or acetaminophen beforehand. Thst doesnt completely eliminate the pain, but it works wonders.

I would never condone this, but some clients have taken muscle-relaxers about 30 minutes before a session. Whatever the case may be, DO NOT EVER DRINK before or during a tattoo - alcohol thins the blood, which causes excessive bleeding during the tattoo session. The trouble is that fresh ink seeps back out with the blood, which is why clients who drink always need to return a few weeks later to fill in the areas that "bled out" during or immediately after a session.