July 27, 2026
7 min
Why Does a Custom Tattoo Cost What It Costs?
"It's expensive," - I hear this sometimes. Usually it means one of a few things. Here's what I'd say in response, honestly
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Smile · Thigh Piece
2026
A large-scale thigh piece — my own concept, mixing hyper-realistic portrait work with street art aesthetics. Everything you see here came from my head, not a reference sheet
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My own concept — no client brief, no reference. I wanted to combine hyper-realistic portrait work with raw street art energy in one large-scale piece.
A large tattoo is a commitment — not just to the design, but to the process. A full back piece, a sleeve, a chest project: these take multiple sessions, each running 5–6 hours or longer. How you show up matters. Not just for your comfort, but for the quality of the result. Here's what I tell every client before a big session.
Getting a tattoo is the easy part. What happens after — that's where most people make mistakes. After 19 years of tattooing, I've seen beautiful work ruined by poor aftercare. Not because people didn't care, but because they had the wrong information. Here's everything you need to know.
