I went back and forth on writing this entry. I don't ever want to make someone feel judged for what they get tattooed on their body. On the other hand, I get inquiries all the time for styles I just don't do, so I made up this list. If you are looking for a particular style maybe it will help you find some keywords for your search!
Tribal
I am a white lady from the suburbs of California. There really shouldn't be much more that needs to be said. A lot of the time Tribal Tattoos have very specific meaning and design "rules". I am versed in neither. Aside from this, I just don't find bold, angular linework or blackwork enjoyable to tattoo and a lot of tribal tattoo art calls for these elements.
Fineline Tattoos / Single Needle Tattoos
When I first started tattooing I thought my focus would be fine line pieces. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had far more interest in other techniques and styles.
Though a lot of the line-work in my tattoos is quite thin, I pretty rarely want it to be the focus. Making perfect lines just doesn't excite me the way a soft gray wash or packed color does.
Script
If a larger project has a small amount of writing in it and it really adds to the design, I am open to it (though I generally find that to pretty rare). I'm usually not hot on tattoos where words or dates are the main focus. I may break out of this on occasion if the writing is some badass sorcery or something but generally the aesthetics of the written word just doesn't interest me in tattoos.
Names
In the past I have tattooed names on people and I have come to find that I have a personal aversion to it (unless it's your own last name or maybe your child's or grandparent's). Tattooing a name on your skin can imply ownership. If a partner ever insists on you getting their name or nickname tattooed on your body I would consider this a major red flag. On the flip side, if you have a name you would like covered, you can always hit me up. I will always be here to help with that or at least give advice.
Couples Tattoos / Best Friends Tattoos / Small Tattoos
If you guys both want dope sleeves that are unique but complimentary, I'm here for it. I do not do small, matching tattoos for many of the same reasons that I don't do names.
Racist Symbols
It should really go without saying, but I will never tattoo a symbol or image that is racist.
Violent or Misogynistic Subject Matter
Generally you don't need to look very hard to find art that depicts violence toward women, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a male counterpart to it. I realize this type of subject matter could also be kink-related but for me, it's a 'no'.
This being said, I don't necessarily have a problem with all violent subject matter in tattoos; depictions of epic / historical battles or betrayals are awesome. But if it feels rape-y, hateful, too topical, or misogynistic, I am not your artist.
Genital Tattoos
If a hip piece naturally flows near the pubic bone: it's all good. But I don't tattoo genital areas specifically. Alternatively, I don't have an interest in tattoos of genitals either.
Other People's Art
I've waffled on this in the past as some people actually take the time to get permission from the original artist to get a tattoo if it. At the end of the day, I'm just not very interested in tattooing something I didn't design myself. The exception to this is usually when the original artist is long dead. I am somewhat more open to doing my own version/ style of someone's piece if they are a contemporary artist.
In the End...
...there are so many techniques, styles, and subject matters and everything kind of flows into each other on a large spectrum. It can sometimes be hard to characterize and label certain things. Research is absolutely key when trying to put words to the tattoo you are going for.
If an artist turns your project down, it might be because the images you supplied are styles that the artist just does not do. It's important to to educate yourself as much as possible in different tattoo styles so you can have an informed conversation about what you like and find the right artist for it.
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