FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are you?

I am a tattoo artist that is married to a lovely woman, and we have two awesome little boys (Christian and Casey).

When it comes to tattooing, I prefer to do custom work over flash, but will accomodate every customer. I enjoy what I do, and take it very seriously. I consider this the ultimate art form, and take into consideration every customer's wants when it comes to their own unique piece of skin art.

How risky is getting tattooed?

* Tattooing is perfectly safe when done by a knowledgeable, trained, and professional tattooist. There are a few things you can check to insure that this is the case.

1... Ask to see a portfolio. This is a collection of photographs of finished work. If you choose to bypass this one very major detail, you have no assurance of the skill level of the tattooist, and you deserve what you get. Also, an artist's portfolio presentation speaks volumes about his or her professionalism.

2... Ask to see an autoclave. An autoclave is an instrument that sterilizes instruments by exposing them to steam and pressure for a period of time (generally 250 deg, 15 psi, and 20 minutes at constant temperature and pressue). Instruments should be individually packaged with a new, sterilized set-up being used for every customer.

3... Also check the following; new needles, disposable gloves, barrier films, hard surface disinfectant, handwashing areas with antibacterial soap, and general cleanliness of the studio. Remember it's your tattoo, your health, your life, and therefore YOUR responsibility. Getting tattooed by someone who does not practice safe tattooing methods can get you sick. Hepatitis, TB, staph and fungal infections...,the list goes on,... are all possible risks associated with improper sterlization and cross-contamination prevention.

What can i expect to pay?

* Tattoo pricing has much to do with the type of work your getting. Generally, small tattoos are priced up front, based on the amount of work the design will take to complete. Large-scale custom work is usually between $100 - $150 per hour (most artists are $100 an hour......like my self) for the application of the tattoo. This is a much better way to go, because you get much more for your money this way. First, the design is yours and yours alone, this in itself is priceless. Secondly, you only pay for the time it takes to apply the tattoo. The drawing time (which often takes longer than the tattoo itself) is usually on the artist, but not in all cases. All I require is a $20 - $40 nonrefundable deposit that is applied to the final price of your tattoo, depending on what is involved in the design (this is to weed out people that are not serious about getting tattooed, and keeps the artists from wasting valuable time).

Drugs and Alcohol

* Myself, and most artists, have a hard and fast rule... one that eleviates all need for decision making on our part and has served us well. "If I can smell you, I won't tattoo you. I don't care if you smell like booze or butt :)." People don't make the best decisions when intoxicated (drugs or alcohol), and tattooing drunks sucks...really... they smell bad, they bleed, they won't sit still, they like to vomit. Please do us the favor of being straight, level-headed, and well-fed before coming in. This will make the whole process go more smoothly.

Prescription Medications and Getting Tattooed

First, I recommend speaking to your doctor before getting tattooed if you are taking any medications. Use some common sense here, if you are on blood pressure meds, or are at risk for such things associated with heart problems, talk to your doctor. From my experience, it is also not a good idea to get tattooed while taking oral antibiotics, due to the anti-biotics working overtime trying to expel any foreign bodies that are introduced.

How much does it hurt?

* The answer is different for everyone, but it's never as bad as people expect... not with a good tattooist. The sensation is similar to a cat scratch, and the tattoo feels kinda bruised and burned for a few days afterward. It generally hurts most in the first 15-20 minutes, then you get used to it. Honestly, the more you relax, the easier it is. It's just a tattoo.

Can I bring my own design?

* I can work from any reference you bring me, or that we have on hand at the shop. The internet, library, greeting cards, t-shirts, fabric and wallpaper patterns are all good places to look. Or give me a sketch (no matter how sketchy), talk to me about size, area, style, budget, and turn me loose. If I can't meet your needs stylistically, I'll refer you to another artists who can better serve you. No hard feelings. Good artists put alot of effort into developing their styles and we all prefer to "do our own thing". The most important thing is that you get what you want. You're gonna have to wear it.

How about conventions?

Check the "News" page.

Where are you located?

I am currently in Perry, Florida, with my wife (Koleta) and two boys (Christian and Casey), and my shop info is :

Taylor County Tattoo

201 S. Washington St.

Perry, FL. 32347

* = some info provided by Brother Caine of Bonedeep Ministries, because he explains it better than I could have.