Tattoo artists have reveled their qeirdest requests, the most graphic commissions and the 'art' they've just had to 'no' to. A survey of 500 tattoo artists by Barber DTS, supplier of tattoo equipment and ink supplies, also asked about the most common requests artists have seen in the last 12 months - with lion sketches currently the number one choice from customers, making up a quarter of requests.
This was followed by roses (15 percent) with mandalas (7 percent) and pocket watches (5 percent) also in the top five most popular designs.
Unfprtunately, big cats made the top three designs least favoured by artists, behind tribal sketches and pocket watches. Roses are the most favoured design, followed closely by skulls, and black and grey designs.
More than two thirds of customers choose their arms and forearms to display their body art, followed by legs, thighs and hands.
Grace Phillips, tattoo artist at Etto Ink, said: “Floral designs are really popular, and I’ve also recently designed a lot of snakes, ornamental and dotwork designs. At the moment I’m receiving the most requests for designs incorporating butterflies. I have also noticed an increase in people requesting spiritual and witchcraft based designs, such as tarot cards, crystals and moon designs.
“I think clients are more interested in designs which really show who they are and what their passions are, as opposed to something which just looks pretty, but has no real meaning to them.”
54% of tattoo artists have seen a surge in demand from people requesting tattoos since the pandemic, including for the first time. Grace said: “Since the pandemic, I have noticed an increased demand for more visible tattoos - on hands, forearms, neck and even face. I think there’s been a shift since more people are now working from home, perhaps because they’re not tied to office dress codes and I also think many workplaces are more accepting of tattoos nowadays.
But not all requests get the go ahead, the BTS research uncovered a haul of customer queries that raise more questions than answers. They include someone who wanted their nostrils tattooed black, a bald man who wanted an entire head of hair tattoo and people asking for tattoos on their tongue or the soles of their feet.
One tattoo artist said: "A customer requested a fishnet stocking pattern, waist down and covering every inch of the body."
One couple asked if they could be tattooed while having sex, while another customer wanted a tattoo of TV host Trisha on their bum.
One artist said: "A customer requested a sex toy design with wings and their best friend’s name underneath…which was strange."
Another added: "I was once asked to script graphic sex noises from a client’s girlfriend," and one said: "One customer wanted a drawing of a stickman pushing a lawnmower around their pubic area."
Another artist said they were asked to create 'Disney porn'.
Asked for their most bizarre requests the artists replied...
"A customer asked for a digestive biscuit with angel wings and the Primark logo."
"I was asked to design a neck tattoo for a man of a rainbow unicorn pushing a wheelie bin with stars and rainbows coming out the bin."
"Being asked to create a ‘gone to market’ sign next to someone’s missing toe is up there with the most unusual requests I’ve received."
"Last year a customer asked me to draw a chicken wearing a mask with Covid symbols, holding a toilet roll."
"Someone wanted a tattoo of fish on their fingers, and a camel on their toe."
"I once sketched a giant trout wearing a cowboy hat on someone’s arm."
Artists were also asked to list the requests they had to say no to...
"A mother brought her 14 year old daughter along and asked me to tattoo her neck, as though it was the most normal thing in the world."
"A lady asked me to colour her entire body in a couple shades darker so she didn’t have to tan."
"I was asked to tattoo a red glowing lightsaber on a male’s genitals - my response was no."
"A customer wanted to be tattooed whilst completely naked."
"I once refused to ink swear words on someone’s inner lips."
"One customer wanted to have his bottom tattooed whilst he was naked, crouched on all fours."
