When does an artist say no to a tattoo?

What are the most unusual requests for tattoos you've ever gotten? How many of them did you refuse for being too over the top, too stupid, too controversial and just plain disgusting or disrespecting of either a racial group or tragedy?

I swear, I have been turning down more tattoos than I've been doing. I just had a guy email me with a request for a white power tattoo, complete with a Hitler portrait. Last week, it was a request for a woman being bound, tortured and stabbed..very gory and misogynistic. Tattoos that, if I had done, would have netted me a nice tidy $500 all together. I need money, but wtf...not this badly.

I think we as artists or budding artists, need to not lose track of our own values and just tattoo for the sake of the money.

I guess you should do what you feel comfortable doing. You could do 1,000,000 Hitler tattoos and you'd still play no part in creating a racist. He/She is already there. You can however double or triple your price and separate a jackass from his money.

I just don't think I could sit and talk to someone like that for the three hours it may take to tattoo him.

Good point, TexasPT. I just was squicked out by the whole thing. But you're right. I should do it and charge him a shiteload.

Personally, and we have had this discussion before, i would have refused to do it as well. And KUDOS to you for doing so!!

Personally, and we have had this discussion before, i would have refused to do it as well. And KUDOS to you for doing so!!

I thought long and hard about this and I decided absolutely NOT. For the same reasons I refuse to do gang tattoos but love to do gang coverups. 1. I don't want to promote anything negative 2. I don't want my name associated with any shit like that and 3. It's against my values.

Thanks. I thought about doing it and sneaking in a Star of David or something of that ilk. But naaaw...not worth it.

Ive done art all my life, painting mostly and have always stuck to what i wanted to do. My mother would always ask me why i dont paint a pretty tree or a flower, or sunset or something!!!! Even when i was selling paintings in galleries (New Orleans), i painted what "I" wanted to paint, no exceptions, if they didnt like it they didnt have to buy it, by the way, I did rather well in selling my stuff. I wish I was a better painter and could devote more time to it, there are so many talented undiscovered artists out there with some of the greatest and strangest ideas i have ever seen that rarely get discovered, its just a shame to say the least. I have no problem what so ever turning down something that i am not comfortable with whether its in my personal belief or not, if its my art work and has my name on it then i will be proud of it....PERIOD>!

Ive done art all my life, painting mostly and have always stuck to what i wanted to do. My mother would always ask me why i dont paint a pretty tree or a flower, or sunset or something!!!! Even when i was selling paintings in galleries (New Orleans), i painted what "I" wanted to paint, no exceptions, if they didnt like it they didnt have to buy it, by the way, I did rather well in selling my stuff. I wish I was a better painter and could devote more time to it, there are so many talented undiscovered artists out there with some of the greatest and strangest ideas i have ever seen that rarely get discovered, its just a shame to say the least. I have no problem what so ever turning down something that i am not comfortable with whether its in my personal belief or not, if its my art work and has my name on it then i will be proud of it....PERIOD>!

Damned right!!