I know exactly what you mean; context is, undoubtedly, one of the most insurmontable factors that force many tattooists to continue using flash. I do agree that the business side of it sometimes requires such compromises, but I have a hard time agreeing with the “absolutely inexorable situation” point of view.

To tell you the truth, I was forced to use flash — for about three years — back in Romania. It had less to do with the clientele and a lot to do with my “teacher” who, up until the point I started to push for custom, original work, had only used flash designs for his tattoos (he couldn’t draw really well so I guess there was no other way).

Then, when I moved to Tokyo and had my new shop (half-owned, but mine nevertheless), the “no flash tattoos, only custom designs” became the strongest point of sale, together with the unique direction we decided to take.

It wasn’t difficult, because I could draw really well — fast too — and my clientele at the time, was more than happy to find a fresh approach (compared to the existent “market”). So, basically, all I had to do was advertise myself as a “no flash tattoos, only custom designs” tattooist and stick with it through it all.

So, I don’t know, maybe the situation is way different and am not in a position to give really useful advices, but I think you should also advertise yourself as an artist who doesn’t do flash, stick with it through any requests you get from new clients and be patient until your name builds up and gets known for what you want it to be known.

It might affect your business in the begining, but — if it is what you really want — it will bring satisfaction (to you and your clients) in the long run. Clients who leave because they can’t find anything they want on the wall will leave anyway, no matter how much effort you put in creating something for them. There’s nothing you can do about it and, let’s be honest, it is something that is part of the business flow. You can’t satisfy everybody and, although it sometimes makes you feel discouraged, it shouldn’t break your optimism and will to create.
Clients who pick something from the wall are there because you have something on the wall for them. Get rid of the artwork on the wall and most of them will ask you to draw something for them, I’m sure.

Nowadays, with all the means of advertisment at your disposal — internet, printed magazines, not mentioning word of mouth — it shouldn’t take too long to reach the point where you can afford to refuse to work replicas and impersonal designs.

Now, I do understand that, additional to the clientele, you are also forced to do it because your teacher has made up his mind. There is nothing to do about this I guess, until — as you say — you will reach a point where you can make these decisions on your own and have your own clientele.
In the meantime, you still can practice a lot on paper, your calves and your friends, become better at it and, in the same time, show your boss that custom, original work looks a lot better and has more meaning than whatever he insists in selling off the walls.

My apprenticeship was done in Romania, before I came to Japan.
I do know the ways of the Japanese teacher–apprentice approach, but I was fortunate enough to not be forced to go through it :)
It wasn’t much of an apprenticeship, not in the “usual” way. When my teacher saw what I can do without using flash, he had no problem in letting me do it my way. No pressure was put upon me at anytime; I guess that makes me one of the lucky ones, because I had the oportunity to develope my style free of any obstacles.

There’s a lot to talk about this and it is really hard to avoid giving advice out of context, but I definitely can tell you that, if you keep trying and are consistent in your work, one day you will be able to do it the way you want.
And from then on, several thousand people will be happier than the several tens of thousands that end up with flash tattoos…

> > I always make it a point to change SOMETHING about it if it’s flash just so there’s something unique about the piece, and I ‘clean up’ any drawing I didn’t do myself that comes my way
It is a start and there’s nothing wrong with it. I used to do it myself for a few years. I happen to do it now, when people bring in designs they spent several nights/weeks/months to draw by themselves.
It is natural and, as long as you are successful in modifying the designs and make them unique and personalized for the respective client, it is a step outside the flash zone.
It’s a good thing and you should keep doing it, and keep explaining to them why it is a must.
No effort is too big when it comes to truly satisfying your clients and creating a life-lasting piece of art.

P.S.: Satan Est Nomen Fortitudinis In Corde Ignavi is the Latin translation for what would sound like “Satan is the name of courage in the heart of the coward” in English ;) A rough paraphrase to Brandon Lee’s “God is the name of mother in the mouths of all children” (“The Crow”).

Thanks again for dropping by, Eliaz!
And apologies for the delay; the current schedule is mad and I simply haven’t been able to reply until now ;)

And one last thing… I’m curious. What does ‘Satan Est Nomen Fortitudinis In Corde Ignavi’ mean?

Thank you for you time.
I easily spent hours this afternoon (on my day off) looking through your site and really respect your work. You are at a point I myself wish to attain.

It might be your fault, partially, for choosing a design off the wall but hey! you were only 18… I bet there wasn’t much you knew about tattoos at that time and I bet you didn’t even care about, even if someone had told you flash was bad :)

It is definitely the tattooist’s fault, entirely. Both for having flash catalogs on the wall in the first place and for selling that tattoo to you without even attepting to modify the original in such a way to make it unique.

Because that’s my point, actually: less blame on the clients and tons of heavy blame on the tattooists who do it.
In this, it can never be “caveat emptor”, it can only be “caveat venditor”, because art is only art as long as it’s unique.
When it is replicated, it becomes a product… and they never let you see it coming, because all that some of them think about is how much you got in your pocket and how fast they can grab it :(

Thanks a lot for sharing, Dinkwizard.
Although a negative example, maybe it’ll help someone else avoid this kind of… mistake.

And you did a very good thing by taking the time to (thoroughly) search for an artist whose skills come close to your ideal.
Only if everyone would be like this, oh! what a great thing this’d be..!

Sad thing is, many people don’t look further than the first shop they find — either on the web or in a tattoo magazine — and end up with flash work. That is, they end up with bad tattoos simply out of… err… how should I put it? Laziness?

Hmm…

Even sadder is that there are artists out there literally selling flash work with an “original, custom designs” label on it. No kidding!!!
If you ask me, they oughta be put out of business, before they can do more damage… but maybe I’m a little too radical :)

Anyway, I’m glad you put effort into getting some good work. You’re definitely not going to be one of those who regret their choice after a couple of months.

Thanks a lot for replying!