Hey everyone,
I’m planning to get my first tattoo and I want to make sure I do things properly from the start.
I’m going for a Berserk-inspired “Brand of Sacrifice” design (dark / grim style, kind of rough and slightly “bleeding” like the reference image). I’m thinking about placing it on my forearm, inner side (not very visible in a neutral position).
Since it’s my first tattoo, I want to avoid the classic mistakes and choose the right artist.
A few questions:
-What should I look for when selecting a tattoo artist for this kind of style?
-Is it better to go for someone specialized in blackwork / dark / grunge style, or is any good tattooer fine?
-How do you evaluate if an artist is actually good (beyond Instagram highlights)?
-Any red flags to avoid?
-For this placement (inner forearm), anything specific I should know?
-Also, would you recommend going simple for a first tattoo, or is this kind of design totally fine if done right?
Appreciate any advice — I’d rather take my time and get it done properly than regret it later.
Thanks!