Artist recommendation(s)?

I've been giving considerable thought recently to getting my first tattoo, and I've been checking out this site for a couple days, so I thought this would be the place for me to ask some questions I have. The type of design I have in mind will probably be a custom piece: a phoenix clutching one of the spheres in a ying-yang symbol. I've looked around online, and now I've got an idea about the type of style I want. I like the more ornate and elaborate depictions of the phoenix, and I would also want it to have a masculine feel to it. I'm not looking to get a large tattoo --- something probably somewhere in the middle range. I'm giving most thought to having it be placed on my right upper arm. 1. First and foremost, where can I find a very reputable and highly skilled artist, in the Columbus, Ohio area, that I could approach about having a design created for me? 2. And how much might this cost me, between the design creation and the actual work? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Thanks for visiting our site! We are lucky to work with many very talented artists. I wish I had done as much research as you for my first tattoo! Yes, it sounds like you will want to find a good custom tattoo artist. Your very lucky, there will be a fantastic tattoo convention there in june with some of the best artists in the country attending. Check out the portfolios of our artsts attending the Hell City Tattoo Convention at our tattoo conventions page. All of the artists attending are fantastic. shoot them an email to see if they are interested in the work and if they are booked already. As far as size goes you mentioned you wanted lots of detail but not so big. Thats a common request, but you will need to know its difficult to get detail in small tattoos, skin is like that. My advice is if your taking the plunge, listen to your artist and get the tattoo sized as large as it needs to be. they know what to size the tattoo to the detail your looking for. How much will it cost? It near impossible to price a tattoo over the phone or email. for a "medium sized tattoo" I would suggest saving up $400-$500 and talking to the artist who will be doing the work. It could be more or less, though, its impossible to estimate. Luckily there are a few months to save up and find reference material! good luck and lemme know how it goes!

Hey there, my advice if your in the Columbus area is see Durb, or any of his guys at Stained Skin. They'll make it worth the trip. JOE

Since the last time I've posted here, I've been going through a very challenging time. I've made the decision that I need to begin a new life for myself in California. And even though getting a tattoo has not the most prevalent thing on my mind as of late, this new beginning I'll have in CA only strengthens my desire to get the tattoo I mentioned in my first post. So, the question I have now is this: Can anyone recommend a tattoo parlor to me that's in the Southern California area? Instead of getting the work done in Columbus, and then having to get future touchups elsewhere, I'd like to wait until after I move, so I can go to one individual throughout the entire process. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

There are some fantastic artists in southern california. Its a big place, though, where abouts are you looking to move?

Although it's relatively early in the process, I've been giving consideration, tenatively, to moving to the San Diego area. The reason I'd like to ask about parlors in this area now is because I'd like to approach someone about having some designs created for me. This way, I can work with the artist, up to the time I move, and then have the final design chosen and tattooed soon afterwards. Thanks.

Any recommendations on a SoCal/San Diego artist? Thanks.