DrawWithMike.net

Good morning
I’d like to share my first tattoo made in my house two days ago.
This is something I was avoiding to get happened since I’ve started my tattoo journey last year.
It’s just not professional, I’m not 100% if it’s legal as well.
I was told it’s sort of GREY ZONE, and I can keep doing it with silly excuse that’s only a HOBBY, and I’m not getting paid for it, but every customer can *tip me if they like to, because everybody understand that inks and everything is not coming free…
One of the artist was tattooing from home for around 4 years, before he managed to open proper tattoo studio.
I’m planning apply for licence too, to have certificate in hand.
The *home practice is meant to let me keep practicing and improving my skills, build up my portfolio as well - while awaiting opportunity to join reputable tattoo studio…

- My friend wanted his first tattoo, so he’s found design he’s interested with, and we were working on from that point.
He’s got two older boys, and two girls then.

I’ve let him choose the font, and with the font I’ve made the names.

Interesting is, that somebody has spotted that the top name is starting with lower case letter A?

When he mentioned to me about it the next day, I said you’ve had agreed to written names before we’ve started tattoo, and you didn’t mind it, but now it too late to do anything …

He said it’s not he doesn’t like it, it’s just that somebody has pointed it out to him…

I’ve took a screen shot then - to show him it’s not mistake, it is the FONT design that’s having some of upper case letters looking like lower case…
Then I said look at the S from your daughter Sienna …
It is lower case looking S - isn’t it?

He has agreed.
So I said it’s not any mistake, it’s FONT style you’ve chosen…

If I’m not boring you, it’s been followed by another interesting story!
- His first two boys are with his ex-wife, and he always wanted have a daughter…
His marriage broke down, then he was lucky have two daughters now with his new partner…

Guess what is the lucky coincidence now!

His first son Aeron, and his first daughter Sienna - starting with lower case letter

It’s making the tattoo even more interesting and unique

- The last step will be to do the family figurines at very bottom of his hand, just below these names.
Again, I was playing to make up that picture (PROCREATE) where boys have to be taller, and girls smaller
Laurene is an expert if it comes to Procreate, I hope I’ve done decent job matching my friends will

In few weeks time he’ll come back visit me again to finish the whole concept, where I will try add additional shading around the very top of the design, just final touches, and to place nicely the family picture at the bottom…

There’s another story regarding the names I’ve forgotten to mention.
Some of our friends has commented on my Facebook post, that the name Keiron is spelt wrong, he has shared a screenshot taken off the Polish website search - showing the fault and pointing it supposed to be K i e r o n…
I felt it’s rude, cause he pointed on his post that even in Polish website the name is properly spelled…

The above made angry not only me myself, but my friend too!
He replied before me - saying that he’s son is 10 years old now, and how come in 10 years time he couldn’t learn how to spell his own son name?!
Then he has added - it’s my good will and right to name my children the way I’d like!

I’ve replied with the screenshot - taken off the Google search.
It’s showing KEIRON name described as it origin from Ireland - not from Poland!
Then I said below, why you touching my Polish background in this case?!

Soon after our *friend (we all bus drivers) has had removed his comment…

I bet he thought he’s found my spelling mistake, and wanted to question it on my post…
Maybe he didn’t want to upset me, but the way he mentioned about Polish spelling etc…
You know I mean…

Yeah.
One tattoo - but it’s happening a lot
I’m sorry for too long post, but to share the full story I’ve had to

I like your desgin Art! Simple and elegant.
Regarding the type font, that is just a ridiculous comment by your friend. That font has been around for decades, I have used it myself and the capital 'a' has always looked this way and was designed by the typographer to match line weights and forms. It is not even unusual.
Just a thought, you might need to get your clients to 'sign off' on the designs officially. This would protect you legally if there is any dispute after the fact. You could get their signature and date on the pencil sketch, or print out from the computer design and get them sign that. If you want to get even more pedantic you could photocopy their signed sketch and give them a copy.
We had to do this with all our designs as a graphic designer. There are even ink stamps you can have made or purchase to make it look more 'official'. Like I say, it can be legal protection for you, as well as making the customer think before they just go ahead with ink.

Hi Artur. Just a couple of comments from me.

Firstly, I really like your design. It’s classic and timeless. The owner of the tattoo won’t tire of it over the years.

Secondly, I grew up in Quebec, Canada, and attended French school before later transferring to English school. We were taught by the Grey nuns, a very strict traditional order. The capital A and capital S in your font are exactly as we were taught in school. No one here would ever question that this was incorrect!

Thirdly, I’ve had the spelling of my name questioned all of my life. I still remember coming home in tears in first grade because my teacher corrected the spelling of my name in front of the whole class!! This went on for years. I would stubbornly continue to spell my name without French accents, and with the “e” at the end (Laurene, not Lauren) in English school. Enough is enough. If it was good enough for my parents, it’s good enough for me! Ignore them Artur. You’re doing just fine!

LindasPencils wrote: Sat Aug 23, 2025 10:40 pm I like your desgin Art! Simple and elegant.
Regarding the type font, that is just a ridiculous comment by your friend. That font has been around for decades, I have used it myself and the capital 'a' has always looked this way and was designed by the typographer to match line weights and forms. It is not even unusual.
Just a thought, you might need to get your clients to 'sign off' on the designs officially. This would protect you legally if there is any dispute after the fact. You could get their signature and date on the pencil sketch, or print out from the computer design and get them sign that. If you want to get even more pedantic you could photocopy their signed sketch and give them a copy.
We had to do this with all our designs as a graphic designer. There are even ink stamps you can have made or purchase to make it look more 'official'. Like I say, it can be legal protection for you, as well as making the customer think before they just go ahead with ink.
IMG-20230627-WA0016.jpg

Thank you so much
I haven’t think of protecting myself this way, thank you for pointing it out!

My friend wasn’t complaining against the font at all.
It’s just someone who looked at his tattoo did mention the letter A to him, that’s all.
Then I’ve shared the font style, and that it’s not only A but the letter S is made this way as well.
It’s all good.

The problem was only while the other friend has posted on my Facebook page the suggestion of spelling wrong the Keiron…
Then he has removed his post after complaint of my client and I…

Thank you so much for wise support Linda

Laurene wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 3:59 pm Hi Artur. Just a couple of comments from me.

Firstly, I really like your design. It’s classic and timeless. The owner of the tattoo won’t tire of it over the years.

Secondly, I grew up in Quebec, Canada, and attended French school before later transferring to English school. We were taught by the Grey nuns, a very strict traditional order. The capital A and capital S in your font are exactly as we were taught in school. No one here would ever question that this was incorrect!

Thirdly, I’ve had the spelling of my name questioned all of my life. I still remember coming home in tears in first grade because my teacher corrected the spelling of my name in front of the whole class!! This went on for years. I would stubbornly continue to spell my name without French accents, and with the “e” at the end (Laurene, not Lauren) in English school. Enough is enough. If it was good enough for my parents, it’s good enough for me! Ignore them Artur. You’re doing just fine!

Thank you for sharing your story Laurene!
What a STORY to be honest…
One name, but so much is going on

This KEIRON is taught me something too - to be more cautious in regards of spelling!

People might make keyboard tapping error easily, and it’s so easy to miss the error!
From now on I will make fewer checks with the client to nail the spelling check before even considering inking him

After all only one thing has upset me in my story tale…
That friend, bus driver too, who published the comment suggesting spelling mistake, and touching my Polish origins…
Whether he didn’t mean it, or he did it deliberately - it’s annoying thing having such stupid comment below the post you like to spread out…

Thank you Laurene