Tattoo experience in Kansas City, KS

[almaty 19]

he was a pompous azz...thought his autistic talents were being questioned...hey, 500 bucks..chopf##k//

=) bad typo

maybe naught

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

My boys initials.

[Ladylethal 12]

Oh yeah, that artist in LA Ink, Hannah, does amazing color work. I love the show.

[L_n_O 3]

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/la-ink/bios/hannah.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I went to this place when we were out on vacation in August.

incognito tattoo

[MissStacey 1]

LA Ink is awesome!!

Me and my mom used to watch Miami Ink just to see Kat. I hated all the guys- they were obnoxious pricks! We were shocked when Kat got let go- but she has done so well for herself opening her own shop in LA.

[Fandango 1,439]

Nessa....find someone else who deserves your trust!!!

(wait, guys don't PMS, nvm ).

Yes they do

Sounds to me like he wasn't confident enough....think you had a lucky escape

I've been meaning to say...I'm sooooo damned happy to see you around, woman! And I totally agree with you...total lucky escape.

At the same time I don't believe he was being completely unreasonable and rude. It's really pretty rare to have that type of correspondence with a tattoo artist in America, he was already going out of his way quite a bit with the e-mail thing. Of course you are going to want to see the exact design beforehand, but to have them color it in, even once, is asking a lot I believe.

For someone to 'wing it' with someone's skin is asking a bit much if the customer has a specific idea in mind....Gone are the days of the sailors gettin the hula girl...and if N wanted specific colors that she's going to wear for the rest of her life, she needs a tatoo artist who appreciates the permanence of that!

Go to LA!

L.A. Ink does pretty good with their colorings, I've noticed!

words right outta my mouth!!! I *heart* Ms Von D!

LA Ink is awesome!!

Me and my mom used to watch Miami Ink just to see Kat. I hated all the guys- they were obnoxious pricks! We were shocked when Kat got let go- but she has done so well for herself opening her own shop in LA.

Same here. Though I had a very strong feeling we'd see her again....she was the soul of Miami Ink

Edited October 21, 2007 by LisaD

[gwenneh 7]

At the same time I don't believe he was being completely unreasonable and rude. It's really pretty rare to have that type of correspondence with a tattoo artist in America, he was already going out of his way quite a bit with the e-mail thing. Of course you are going to want to see the exact design beforehand, but to have them color it in, even once, is asking a lot I believe.

Sorry, this "artist" was definitely being unreasonable and rude. Part of what makes a good tattoo artist is their "bedside manner", as it were - putting the client at ease and helping them realize their vision, doing what it takes (including drawing, re-drawing, and colouring in). They're artists working on a commission, and they do need to work with the client to achieve exactly what the client wants. I'll grant there's a certain leeway in this, in that the client doesn't always know exactly what they want or where some creative input may improve that vision, but then again the ability to do that is what separates the actual artists from the "backyard scratchers" who can only stick to their flash art.

I dated my artist for four years, met my heavily-tattooed husband on a body art site, and moderate a body art forum in my spare time...I've had quite a bit of interaction with tattoo artists, both good and bad (as well as more than twenty hours of ink on my own skin). Nessa, what you experienced isn't the norm for an American tattoo artist and I hope that you find a good one to help you realize your next work of art soon!

Edited October 21, 2007 by Gwen666

[Jasman0717 9]

Its always wise to visit the shop and talk to the artist. Have them show you their work. Discuss with them exactly what you want, either they can do it or will let you know right then that they can't. The person you dealt with seemed rather rude

[eric&gen 0]

Never had interest in tattoos or never will not one drop of ink will not touch my body and body parts.

[Reba 2]

I'd have turned around and found another shop as soon as the guy said its not possible to cover up an existing tattoo! Depending on the size, cover-ups are done all the time, I know lotsa people who have tats on top of tats. My ex covered up a cross with an eagle, my brother in law covered up a chicken hawk with a chinese dragon etc etc etc etc...If the "artist" can't handle a cover up, turn tail and get the hell outta dodge! He probably can't do anything that's not already in his book.

I don't like Kat. She's a whiner IMO. Good artist though. If I were looking to get a portrait tattoo I'd think of her, if I was anywhere near LA (which I'm not). I'm closer to Miami, and wouldn't hesitate to drive down there for one of the guys to ink me. Garver, if he's still working (I haven't watched in a while). Or I'd just go back up home to the shop where I got all my other ones up in TO. Probably can't afford Miami anyhow. The shops around here are iffy at best. And expensive for some strange reason. They charge $100 for some small thing that up home would cost maybe $50!

[Ladylethal 12]

Garver does some awesome work as well. From what I've seen on the show. I enjoyed watching both shows.

[Drew and Tik 0]

I'd have turned around and found another shop as soon as the guy said its not possible to cover up an existing tattoo!

I do agree with this, the guy probably isn't a great tattoo artist if he can't do a cover up.

[Cheryl & Medo 3]

Long story...

I was refered to this place by 2 people, being one of them my co-worker. I waited for her to go with me because she knew the tattoo artist and we went there, I spoke to him, explained to him what I wanted and he told me to exchange e-mails so I wouldn't have to drive there see the tattoo design I asked him to make for me. I also asked if he could change one of my left arm tattoos to something else he said that wasn't possible, he could make it look better but not make it into something else. I was ok with that, I always thought great tattoo artists could do anything, I doubted that back then, but now I think I'm right...

I wanted a dragon on my back, and by e-mail during almost a month, me asking super nice, I got him to draw 3 different ''positions'' of the pretty much same design, after explaining to him exactly what I wanted over and over. I tried to ask him to color the second one he sent me (which was the one I decided to make) so I could see how it would look like colored. He gave me a hard time coloring, but he did, that was the second drawing, and it was very bright and I tried to explain I want those colors but very dark. He bitched about it and said he wouldn't color again he just played with the hue, saturation so I could see it darker... Then the third drawing when I asked him he refused to color and told me to use my imagination. By then he wasn't being rude, just denying in a almost polite way.

Since I have pretty good idea of what I want and I thought maybe I was asking him too much, maybe they work different here in the States, I scheduled to have the tattoo done today. I thought maybe that was an american thing you know? You go there, you explain and you don't have to actually see the drawing in the exact color it'll be on you.

But today when I was there he was putting his gloves on, I said: ''I know we'll be only doing the black ink today, but after this could we look at some pictures so I could give you an idea of the color I want, cuz the one you have printed is not quite it.'' He said: "This is what I have, red ink, green ink, I'll put some red and use some orange... '' and I made a ''no'' sign with my head and he just looked at me, started to take his gloves off and said ''you know, this is getting way too complicated, I don't wanna do this anymore'' and he turned his back and left the room.

I grabbed my purse and left. Obviously I wouldn't try to convince him, who knows how it would turn up if he decided he just hates the world, or himself or is PMSing (wait, guys don't PMS, nvm ). I was really shocked. I have never heard of anything like that. In Brazil all my tattoos experience I'd have the artist constantly talking to me until we would create the final design, and they were always doing their best to help and have the best done.

And then I realized, that can't be an american thing, the guy is plain rude. Period. He passed on a $ 500 job, maybe he has too many jobs schedule and he makes lots of money he can just say no when he doesn't feel like, or maybe he can only tattoo those hillbillies that show up, look at the catalogue and have one of those tattoos everybody else have. Maybe I'm asking too much for having a tattoo artist creating a design just for myself, for something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life, or maybe I was too much of a chalenge for him, he thought he couldn't do it.

Just venting...'I'm really frustrated. I was really upset when I left the tattoo shop. It's a long drive, a waste of time and energy

Im sorry you had a bad experance at the tattoo shop. I'm a tattoo artist and I do alot of cover ups. But it is finding the right design to make the cover up. Just not any thing can cover up a old tattoo. And this artist only had 2 colors? Girl I have a rainbow of colors. And can make that dragon any color you want. You can check out my work. I'm in Illinois www.permanentimagesink.com (I go by the name Charlie) just a nick name from when i was a child. If your ever in my area I would be more then happy to help you out. But I do have to tell you. I have been a tattoo artist for 17 years. And I will draw things up. But I'm way to busy to sit and color pic's for my customers. But with some comunication I think we could come up with the colors you want.

[Nessa 23]

thank you all for your input

I wish I had money and time to travel and be able to choose an outstanding tattoo artist. But I'm stuck in Kansas, it has to be nearby (KC, KS; KC, MO or surrounding cities).

I had a bad feeling about the cover up. I'm really glad I didn't go through with it. I've been postponing having this tattoo done for a few years, back when paychecks were for the bills, there was not enough for another tattto and I'd not have a cheap one done, I'll either pay a good artist, even if expensive or not have it done.

Now back to trying to find another artist and start working on the design all over again. The good thing is now I know exactly what I want, where I want, and I'll first try to find online designs with similar colors to show the artist.