Angel

[Sekt]

100% dude

I just threw out a few stupid ideas, cause there is not much leeway to work with here. I'm saying same thing as Ozzy but you should go back to client, and refuse to do the tattoo. Tell them (even if it is your friend) you don't want your reputation associated with a tattoo which you KNOW will give a poor result. Client will respect you, or they will bad mouth you, which is the same as advertising. But even if they go with someone else, they will respect your wisdom in this maybe 5 10 years from now.

[Invertedpixel]

It's only BS tiny lettering and inspirational quotes and bible verses that get me this pissed...

Yeah but it puts food on the table...and pays for the supplies we use on the really cool stuff, which we know we never charge enough for :P

[Invertedpixel]

100% dude

I just threw out a few stupid ideas, cause there is not much leeway to work with here. I'm saying same thing as Ozzy but you should go back to client, and refuse to do the tattoo. Tell them (even if it is your friend) you don't want your reputation associated with a tattoo which you KNOW will give a poor result. Client will respect you, or they will bad mouth you, which is the same as advertising. But even if they go with someone else, they will respect your wisdom in this maybe 5 10 years from now.

OWWWww are we that well off that we can just turn away work like that? We're not fixing a god awful mess...

Lettering can be tedious, but typography can be beautiful as long as you give it life with your hand and not type up lifeless computer letters. Turning away lettering should be a no-no unless you are that booked up that you don't need the money.

Instead of looking at it as another piece of bullshit lettering, why not take an oppurtunity to experience some artistic growth and try to make a really wonderful typography design? You indicated that the names were the main point of the tattoo for the customer, so just draw the names as best you can...BJ Betts lettering guides are great examples of how gorgeous typography can be...

Now if you are just sweating doing script letters on someone's ribs from an execution standpoint then it's up to you to realize that a customer shouldn't have to suffer with a tattoo they didn't really want because of your personal insecurity with your ability ( not that I'm saying that's the case ) Then you should pass the tattoo on to someone who does feel comfortable doing what the customer asks, because I really don't think what the customer wants is unreasonable

[artoftatt2]

Tell bj betts that lettering is shit. I don't know but lettering is a craft in it's own sense.


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[Sage Oz]

Yeah but it puts food on the table...and pays for the supplies we use on the really cool stuff, which we know we never charge enough for :P

It keeps me from doing beautiful artwork that still puts food on the table. And nearly every lettering tattoo I do takes way more consult and drawing time and prep time for what's being charged. 20minutes of needle time and 3hours of stupid people and controlling and nitpicking and yapping about they're teeny tiny inspiration quote and how beautiful it is. Im learning to say no more often and it makes me happier

[Sage Oz]

I try to add flair but every itty bitty change from the simplest plain boring letters that they bring in on the damn phone screen to copy are already too wild and risqué. It's like they're trying to make it as nonexistent as possible. Sure I like doing beautiful artistic lettering done to a decent scale and flow with the anatomy. I'm talking about the people that want an entire book printed in microfiche straight across the wrists...

[Sekt]

OWWWww are we that well off that we can just turn away work like that? We're not fixing a god awful mess...

Lettering can be tedious, but typography can be beautiful as long as you give it life with your hand and not type up lifeless computer letters. Turning away lettering should be a no-no unless you are that booked up that you don't need the money.

Instead of looking at it as another piece of bullshit lettering, why not take an oppurtunity to experience some artistic growth and try to make a really wonderful typography design? You indicated that the names were the main point of the tattoo for the customer, so just draw the names as best you can...BJ Betts lettering guides are great examples of how gorgeous typography can be...

Now if you are just sweating doing script letters on someone's ribs from an execution standpoint then it's up to you to realize that a customer shouldn't have to suffer with a tattoo they didn't really want because of your personal insecurity with your ability ( not that I'm saying that's the case ) Then you should pass the tattoo on to someone who does feel comfortable doing what the customer asks, because I really don't think what the customer wants is unreasonable

Sorry invertedpixel, its not about the money, its about integrity. its not about getting paid, but about something I believe in. Its not about a stoopid drawing but about someones skin they'll have for the rest of their lives. And when we'er long gone, and made our cash, and that person 40 years from now will curse they day they allowed a professional, who is supposed to have artistic merit, and integrity, placed a tattoo on us which makes us look like a walking obituary.
I'm 46, and i know how we change over time. Some things that seemed a good idea at the time, loose their appeal. Do I care about that? yep, i do. Maybe thats not cool.. but as I said -
its not about the money invertedpixel. Maybe you don't give a flying F, but i do.