Think before you Ink: Paul Booth
When a client gets tattooed, it is not only that person’s responsibility, but also the artist’s. It is our job to guide them and let them know that it is permanent
Paul Booth, tattoo artist
Once considered a taboo by many, tattooing has now evolved into being accepted as an art form and is quite the rage among youngsters these days. “But they should know that this artform is permanent and is in many ways a reflection of one’s personality,” said Paul Booth, the US-based tattoo legend who was recently in town for the city’s first tattoo festival.
The American tattoo artist, who was in the Capital for the Heartworks tattoo festival, talks about getting inked and the thought that should go behind it. “When a client gets tattooed, it is not only that person’s responsibility but also the artist’s. It is our job to guide them and let them know that this artwork will be permanent and that they shouldn’t get something done that they would regret sooner or later,” he said. “Also, when choosing a tattoo, a person shouldn’t see what’s in trend or what looks good at that moment. They should rather get something that holds a meaning for them and that wouldn’t look odd even after years. They should think before they ink,” added Booth.
“Apart from choosing the design, the client should be aware of the tattoo placement and their pain tolerance. They should know that getting the tattoo done is easy, but it’s the aftercare that really counts, and they should be ready to invest the amount of time required. If a client is well aware and is confident about their tattoo design, even the artist feels the same confidence and can do their job well,” he said.