I have been searching around the internet some, but unfortunately the process is very slow for me since I'm in Afghanistan.

I am looking for a well known tattoo shop in the GTA, and am willing to pay more for a good artist. Anyone have any recommendations?

I am looking for something somewhat specific, but would not mind leaving the artist's imagination to come up with something good. I would want a medieval style knight in plate armor, but really battered and bloodied, standing on a battlefield after hard-earned victory. Not celebrating, but exhausted. I expect because I'm looking for a lot of detail as well as some battlefield background, this would probably be a large tattoo on my back or something like that.

Any ideas where I could look over some pictures for something like that? Most artists seem to not want to put their work on the internet (of course they don't want everyone copying it), but that makes it hard for me to get an idea if I like their style and talent. I think this kind of tattoo would look best in black/greyscale. If I could find an artist well known for doing medieval and/or black and greyscale work that would be ideal, though I would like to have some kind of picture(s) to give a general idea, or to refine what I want.

thanks!

I would recommend New Tribe in downtown Toronto... most of the artists there are great!

Posted by vicexsquad I would recommend New Tribe in downtown Toronto... most of the artists there are great!

Heh, I would not recommend this place at all. Yes, it is clean, yes there is some okay artists there BUT,

They are way too mainstream (location) and for that one reason overcharge, and do subpar work. Unless you personally know someone who works there, I would not go there.

(and yes, I did have work done there, and it turned out like shit, the guy spent half the time he should of on it, and they were always busy busy busy with people who just wanted to be "inked" but had no clue what they wanted.

Kinda like McDonalds, okay, but its just fast food that makes you queasy later.


That being said, I'm looking for an artist in Toronto/ York, does anyone have any good suggestions?

Posted by unlisted Heh, I would not recommend this place at all. Yes, it is clean, yes there is some okay artists there BUT, They are way too mainstream (location) and for that one reason overcharge, and do subpar work. Unless you personally know someone who works there, I would not go there. (and yes, I did have work done there, and it turned out like shit, the guy spent half the time he should of on it, and they were always busy busy busy with people who just wanted to be "inked" but had no clue what they wanted.

Oh, well I thought they were good.. never had anything done there yet... except for genital piercings and such

Got my tongue pierced there, no problems in the +7 years I kept it in for. (well except for forward movement, which is normal)

Had my labret pierced there about a year after my tongue, and it got a nasty infection. Yes, I did take proper post care of both.

Both piercings were placed very well, centered and all that jazz. Nothing bad to say about piercing there, other than higher cost than most anywhere else. Tattoo sucked pretty bad, as already stated.

Find what you want first. Look for pics on line or in books but it does not have to be pics of other tatts. Once you get an idea of what you want and the more pics the better, look for an artist. Take them with you. Ask to see their portfolio when you go in. If you like what you see schedule an appointment to have them sit with you and discuss it and draw it up. More often than not with a good artist you will pay for that time. Normally they will take that cost off the tattoo when you have it done.

good point tattoos in Oakville. owned by Cory Ferguson. look him up, im sure some people with tattoos here will know who he is.
i had the creepy tree done there by Aaron. i left in his hands with respect to design and everything. i have a great looking one off with detail.
price ranges from $100 to $200 i believe depending on who you use.
let me know if your interested. i know one guy there quite well

Mata Mata Studios in Hamilton produces some great work. The artist that did my work has moved to New Brunswick however. But Dickie (Rick), who has done a tiny tattoo on me, is also great. The few younger artists there are also fantastic. Just be ready to pay. I paid about 120/hour with 5% in the beginning.

My advice is if other people tell you somebody did their tattoo and the person is great - check out the tattoo and make sure you think it's great too.
A lot of people tell me they have good artists and I hate their work. I thought I had an artist picked out until I saw his portfolio- changed my mind.

i agree with the statement above mine. which is why i suggest checking out the shop itself as theres a couple different people who specialize in different art work