04/23/2026
💎A Carbon Ink PSA💎
I'm sure you've heard the phrase "Don't just go to anyone, you need to find the right artist for the project" which is very true! However, it can be difficult to know what that means unless an artist has done your EXACT design before. So ,what are some things you can look for and what are some things to keep in mind while looking?
First, try to find a photo reference, whether that's on Google Images, Pinterest, Instagram, or something you've drawn yourself having a photo reference will take you far! Tattooers are visual learners!
Next, With that reference in mind, what is it about the reference that you like? Is it the lighting? The color? The design layout?
Learning some tattooer/art lingo such as "NeoTrad", "Japanese Traditional", "realism", "American Traditional", etc can drastically help you find the right artist for the job!
Think about where on your body you plan to put the design, round designs do better on round body parts and long designs on long body parts. Keep in mind also how your body moves a dagger going down your forearm will twist when you move your wrist but wont twist nearly as much on your shin. If the dagger not always being straight is important to you consider location.
Now that you've figured out your design concept and location how do you find the right artist for the job?
There are a few options and of course walking into a shop works but can be very labor intensive. Check out some of the shops near you and look at their instagram, do you see any art you like? You might've found the right artist but let's not jump the gun! Just because an artist can tattoo a beautiful realism rose doesn't necessarily mean they'll be available or able to take on a traditional rose. Try to find someone that tattoos similarly to the work you're looking to get done, often times individual artists are tagged in instagram posts and you can even see everyone who works at the shop in the shop's bio at the top of the instagram page.
Still not sure? Many shops now-a-days have shop managers that can help put you in contact with the right person for the job! Consider DMing the shop and seeing if anyone can help you with your specific project!
We here at Carbon Ink have a shop manager who is willing to find the right person for the job so take some time perusing our shop's instagram and if you ever need any help don't hesitate to Call/Text/DM us!
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