Making the decision to ink a design onto your skin for the rest of your life is a big step. It’s a serious decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. But, just as the decision to get the ink should be a long, thought-out process, so should the choice of artist used in the process. The artist selection should be one of the most scrutinized decisions you make when considering a tattoo. Regardless of how great your design is, if you have a sub-par artist, you’re going to end up with a sub-par tattoo. And if you’re after a custom design, you really want to be sure you pick the right artist as you’ll have to pay a fee for the consultation and the creation of the design before you even get to the tattoo and the last thing you want is to end up with a design that doesn’t live up to your expectations.