Free Hand vs. Stencil?

Question

I love looking through people's tattoos and on websites, and often it will say if a particular design was done by a freehand tattooist, but sometimes I've seen a few people be really smug about the fact that their tattoo was done by a freehander as opposed to 'just some stencil artist'. I have two tattoos, both large custom designs and very intricate and I'm extremely happy with them, and these were done with the use of a stencil/transfer thing... why is it that some people consider themselves better for having freehand tattoos? I can see why the artist might boast as of course it's an exceptional talent to be able to produce work like that freehand, but why the customer? I have no problem with admitting mine was done with a transfer on first... unless I knew I was going to one of the best in the country then tbh I'd probably prefer it that way, gives me more peace of mind that it won't go wrong! So where does people's smugness come from? I don't get it!

Answer 1

Its because they think they got a beter artist than you. In reality most if not all artists will weigh up what is best in any given situation. Using a stencil is good practice at the end of the day.

Answer 2

I know exactly what you're talking about - I've come across this several times before as well. I think maybe some people might be confusing freehand for custom and are using the terms as the same word. A tattoo can be custom but still be put on as a stencil on the skin. I agree it is awesome when an artist can completely freehand the drawing with only a few marker lines to follow the outline of the tattoo - the one on my foot was done like that, but I don't get to be cool by association just because my tattoo artist was able to do that! :) The others I have are all custom but of course were stencilled on. I think either way, as long as it's custom and not flash we all get to gloat a little! :)

Answer 3

Sure I think someone that can freehand a tattoo is really talented but I think it's also kind of risky. Using the transfer method the customer can kind of see where the tattoo is going to be and get an inkling of what the tattoo is going to look like. I just think there is less of a chance that something is going to get screwed up if the transfer is used.



I've seen people who have gotten words tattooed on them and the artist freehanded them who are not very happy with the final product. I'm not saying free hand is bad....I just think it is very risky.

Answer 4

I have a side piece that was completely free handed. It doesn't mean that he took the needles straight to my side, he drew it with marker first. I don't think that it means that my tattoo is better than anyone who had one via the transfer method, I just think that it means I have a really talented artist versus a straight tattooist. A lot of people can trace something, granted it takes a little more talent to trace it on skin. Also when something is free handed it is 100% original. You know your artist can't go put the stencil on someone else and duplicate it (most won't, but you never know). I am totally and completely happy with my free hand work, but I'm also happy with my stencil work because I like my artist. Usually an artist won't free hand just anyone though, and I'm proud to display all the kick a** artwork I have stencil or not! That's my opinion though.

Answer 5

I think people like to be the best at something - even if it is transferable credit i.e. my tattoo is the best because I had a natural artist do mine. It's a status thing - don't be bothered by it. I'd be embarassed to brag I had the best of something when I wasn't the one who created it. My tattoo was also done by the transfer system and believe me, if I'm sporting something on my forearm, it better not have some blatant error in it - I'd rather be certain through a transfer than take the chance of an artist using artistic license and putting a unicorn horn on a bird or something. No thanks - I like to see what I'm getting before I get it.

Answer 6

Right switch switch prefer left right shoulder across to left side switch My results might be slightly screwed. Both my parents are left, so I learned certain things left then picked them up right. I can't throw a ball left handed anymore but I've been using a computer mouse left handed (right hand mouse set up, center finger on primary button) since that's how it was when we got our first pc when I was 6. Actually I recommend people learn to use a computer with their non-dominant hand. It's convenient being able to write notes and browse a website at the same time. The only reason why I picked up right hand mouse was because I kept driving my boss at work nuts until she finally told me to keep my mouse on the right side since others used the computer.

Answer 7

"Freehand" isn't always freehand. One of my tattoos was freehand and it was actually drawn on with a marker first. Because it wasn't traced from another picture it's considered "freehand"