Much like many of my artist friends who do not tattoo, before I started tattooing, I was asked regularly to design tattoos for friends or even people willing to pay. I now have a very specific policy on this, and it's a policy shared by many tattoo artists, and this is how it was explained to me before I was a tattoo artist. I have a firm belief that if your tattoo artist cannot draw you the design that you want, you need to find a different tattoo artist. So, heres 3 reasons why it makes no sense to pay or request someone else draw the design and then take it to a tattoo artist:
• First, a tattoo artist is taught from the beginning to draw in a way that is tattooable. If the drawing is not tattooable, they will have to redraw it anyways. Sometimes, (shocker!!) the artwork you want is not as good as you think it is. I have seen many drawings come in where the artist did not take the time to make sure every line was perfect or even, or symmetrical if need be. It's great that you enjoy your friend's artwork, but these things are all very important! Or its a beautiful drawing that simply doesn't translate well to the tattooing process whether it be too small and detailed, or laking the lines and contrast necessary for an well-aging tattoo.
• Second, tattoo artists general specialize in one or more styles that they are comfortable with or knowledgeable about. Their strengths are usually fairly clear in their portfolio or reputation. Taking them a design drawn by someone else doesn't make a lot of sense because it is often something that is not within their realm of style, and if it is, they can just draw it for you in the first place. Instead focus on finding a tattoo artist whose work you like, and works comfortably in the style you want, instead of trying to force a round peg into a square hole.
• Third, your tattoo artist is a professional artist (another shocker, right??). Part of the cost of a tattoo is the drawing and expertise. If you are paying for a drawing from someone else, you are paying extra. Most of the time people are erroneously thinking they are saving money by doing it that way, or making it easier on your tattoo artist. But most of the time, they are taking that tattoo design to someone who has either less experience or expertise in that area (or is just cheaper), and they often do a horrible job at reproducing it.
This goes for both the non-tattoo artist who is constantly asked to design tattoos for people, as well as the people who request them. So if you are an artist, it's not that I don't think you should draw tattoo designs if they are requested of you, we all have to make a living here. However, you may be doing a disservice to your clients when they find out it needs to be redrawn anyways. It's more that people should just spend the time to look for a tattoo artist who can do it instead, cause that's quite literally their job. Sometimes, you even need to travel or wait for the right one.*Another important note, finding a random artwork on the internet can sometimes be even worse. That goes for everything above, plus the original artist needs to give their permission before using it, because if you don't, that is stealing! If you admire a particular artists work, sometimes it can be worked out, and sometimes, you'll just have to buy a print and frame it instead.
It's kind of like going to a restaurant and bringing your own recipe and insisting they cook it that way. If you bring a filet mignon recipe to McDonald's, they won't be able to make it, and if you want a burger (or even a flavorful Indian curry) at a fancy French restaurant, they'll be offended that you don't want to choose from their array of fancy menu items. But either way they're going to look at you sideways and wonder why you're wasting your time paying someone to compile you a recipe when they already have a menu made by paid chefs. Ya know?
