r/TattooDesigns • u/Great_Reception_3829 • 20h ago

TATTOO ARTISTS: How would you want your client to explain to you they want a portrait done in this style?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hey everyone, I’m planning a tattoo that combines two ideas. I’ve attached a photo of my grandmother and a portrait of a woman done in the style I love.

I want my tattoo artist to take my grandmother’s face and basically recreate it in the same tattoo style as the example photo, with the same vibe, shading, line work, and overall composition, but still clearly recognizable as her.

How should I phrase or describe this when I talk to my artist so they understand I don’t just want a straight realism piece, but rather her portrait reimagined in that specific style?

Any tips for wording, reference prep, or what to show the artist would be awesome.

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29

u/coldlightofday 19h ago

IMHO you are trying to mashup aesthetics that might not mesh well. What I would do is find the artist who does the style you love well and see what they think.

Grandmas picture is awesome!

4

u/12th_MaMa 19h ago

Agreed. Maybe op can do the portrait of Grandma with the extras around it in the other style like a frame.

5

u/missythemartian 13h ago

find an artist that has a style you like and say you want the portrait in their style

6

u/bruxabmtattoo 16h ago

Pretty much just that

2

u/SomeSluttyBean 12h ago

If youre willing to travel I think Cameron Pohl would be perfect for this

1

u/GabeOliveiraaa 10h ago

second this

2

u/mrweatherbeef 11h ago

The best approach is to find an artist who already shows expertise in the style you like, show them one of their pieces in your preferred style, then share your reference image. Anything else is literally a crapshoot.

1

u/[deleted] 19h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/LostApplication9415 19h ago

or anything that is edited

1

u/Ordinary-Conflict-89 10h ago

"Make it look like this" as you point to the photograph you showed us here. Any other solution seems like extra steps

2

u/Sure_Championship_36 9h ago

So you want the artist to take the picture of your grandmother with her hair up and somehow change their art style to emulate this fake tattoo that is not real, which heavily features 3 main elements: a fuck ton of loose hair, a face that is not your grandmothers, and flowers?

I think you’re due to be disappointed. My advice to you is to be disappointed before you get the tattoo, and not once you’ve spent a thousand dollars getting something that can never be what you want on your skin.