PRICING

• PRICING

• PRICING • PRICING •

Studio ceiling detail
Artwork by Stardog23

There are a number of variables that factor into the pricing of your tattoo so while an exact price is not available, you will find price ranges below to give you an indication of how much your tattoo will cost. Included in your price quote are:

Design and Appointment Deposit

Your deposit is non-refundable and is payment for your design and to secure your appointment. Getting your design right is so important and as such, I will send across digitally whereby you can review it and request changes. I will resend the design up to 3 times based on change requests you have. If after the third design update you are not happy, there will be an additional charge of £200 for further changes. I want that your design inspires and excites you but please do consider that it takes time to create so will form part of your tattoo quote.

Skin care products

Skin moisturizer and cleanser that will be used to prepare your skin for your session and in the aftercare stage when you skin is healing
Aftercare ointment to support optimal healing of your tattoo throughout the day.
Lotion to protect your healed tattoo from the harmful effects of UV radiation and keep it looking bold and sharp.

OVERVIEW

I understand that those who already have tattoos may have an aftercare routine they use but I ask that the guidance I provide be followed as they are specific to my work.

PRICING FACTORS FOR MICRO REALISM

SIZE

Micro Realism tattoos can be deceptively misleading in that they take a lot of time to complete. Smaller doesn’t mean quicker when it comes to Micro Realism as this style requires exacting precision and a keen attention to detail. Overlaying this is the delicateness required to saturate the skin with the thinnest of needle groupings in order to minimize skin damage and allow for multiple passes over the same area.

PLACEMENT

Your skin will vary throughout your body with certain areas taking ink easily and other areas requiring multiple passes to saturate the skin to the equivalent degree. Other factors that impact the saturation process are how fatty or close to bone the dermis is and its elasticity. The more elastic your dermis, the easier it will be to saturate as I am able to increase my hand pressure without impacting saturation quality and skin damage.

COMPLEXITY

Quality realism can be found in the details, soft and hard edges, line-weight variation and light and shadow effects. To achieve these elements, I have found that making multiple passes over the skin to be the best method. To sculpt the lines rather than pull them. By showcasing details in the shadows and lights while employing a degree of separation between the two increased the depth and quality of your tattoo but also increased the time needed to complete your artwork.

DESIGN

Designing your tattoo is vitally important and we’ll work together to ensure it is exactly what you envision. A key tool used in designing is creating multiple different compositions as a brainstorming exercise where comparisons can be made and the best aspects of each composition can be identified. From there a final composition is created. For custom designs, a tattoo fitting appointment will be available where we’ll go over all compositions, implement changes and additions and make a collaborative decision on the final design.

AFTERCARE

Micro-realism tattoos require more attention when it comes to aftercare as poor maintenance will negatively impact your tattoo’s quality. To promote optimal healing you will receive 2 products, a cleanser/moisturizer to be applied in the morning and evening and a daily ointment to be applied periodically throughout the day. As your tattoo is a wound, keeping it moisturized is very important, doubly so at the micro-level.

REVIEW APPOINTMENT

Micro-realism tattoos are different to other styles in that they require more maintenance to support longevity. A key part of this maintenance is having a checkup session post healing and then having a touchup in 2-3 years. And as tattoos naturally lose a small amount of pigment in the healing process when correctly executed, a second session makes sense. Blacks can be enhanced, lines fine tuned and shades of tone given more nuance. Therefore, Stardog23 seeks to work with clients who respect this request for a second session as the quality of your healed tattoo is what matters most.

Micro Realism / Realism

Portraits

REALISM

£900

Size : 6 - 8 inches in length
Time : 8-10 hours depending on placement

MICRO

£500

Size : 2.5 - 3.5 inches in length
Time : 5-7 hours depending on placement

Discreet and elegant, a micro portrait captures the beauty of the person or animal in a delicate manner. It is like a keepsake, a token of remembrance. It is more intimate than a larger portrait which stands out and commands attention. You have to be close the person to have the opportunity of appreciating the tattoo. Make eternal the uniqueness of a loved one, your pet or a known figure who has brought inspiration and positivity to your life!

Bespoke

Tattoos

DESIGN PROCESS

STAND-ALONE

After receiving your enquiry and you have accepted your quote and paid your deposit, the design process will begin! I will create 3 designs based off your design briefing, each with a unique composition. I will send across the designs digitally where you can review them and request any changes you’d like.

LARGE-SCALE

During our initial consultation call/email we’ll discuss your sleeve in depth, noting the major themes and elements you are looking to incorporate in your design. This will be your time to tell your story in full, detailing the main characters, the key emotions and symbols and the overall message and sub plots. You will provide your storyboard of references that resonate with you and I will get to work creating the composition, employing my artistic eye and understanding of design principles. Once your design is created, we will schedule an in-person fitting where your design will be revealed. We’ll also apply all the stencils and make any desired or needed design changes. This can also be done during your first tattoo appointment if you are travelling.

Micro Realism

Stand-Alone

£300-£600

Size : up to 4 inches by 4 inches
Time : 4-8 hours depending on size, complexity and placement

With a stand-alone micro-realism tattoo, your design can be as simple or complex as you desire, from a rose wrapping around a sword to a cherub holding a group of swords enveloped by roses. The image takes center stage where creativity is shown through the unique ways in which the composition is crafted. And the beauty of a stand-alone design is that it can form part of a future sleeve, growing as you grow. Please note that with stand-alone designs, there are no decorative embellishments such as geometry, blackwork motifs or ornamental patterns, elements which are included in the Micro Realism Decorative categories below.

Micro Realism

Decorative

£500-£1,300

Size : Panel (ie full front of forearm/side-leg)
Time : 8-15 hours depending on placement, size & complexity

Decorative stand-alone designs feature the elegance and sophistication of fine lines, the boldness of varying line weights, the enhancements of ornamentation and the complexity of tonal variation. These pieces cover what I like to call a panel (an end to end segment of your body from joint to joint such as your full front forearm from elbow pit to wrist or front-side of the top of the shoulder to the elbow). This space allows for an aesthetic composition to be created that include fine line script and Blackwork symbol motifs. With decorative stand-alone, your tattoo transforms into an artwork where design principles and elements are given serious consideration.

MICRO REALISM

SLEEVES

EXPRESSIVE ARMOUR FOR THE BOLD AND

COURAGEOUS

HALF SLEEVE

£1,500-£2,500

Size : size covers the full circumference of the lower or upper arm/leg)
Time : 6-9 hours per session depending on placement

FULL SLEEVE

£2,500-£6,000

Full Arm Sleeve - £2,500 - £3,000

Full Leg Sleeve - £4,000-£5,000

Full Back or Chest - £5,000 - £6,000

Time : 6-9 hours per session depending on placement

Transform your individuality with a micro-realism sleeve. A pinnacle achievement for a tattoo collector, a sleeve allows for complete creative freedom to tell your story in a compelling way. With a sleeve we enter the realm of flow, where backgrounds serve as the frame to your composition, following the curves of the body to enhance your aesthetics. Whereas an individual piece tells a chapter of your story, a sleeve is your feature film!

It all starts with the description of your story provided in your tattoo enquiry. This is your opportunity to be descriptive and detailed. Please highlight the key elements you want included in your design. What takes prominence? There should be a dominant theme which your design can focus around. If you struggle with describing your vision that is okay. We can build from the core ideas you have with the assistance of my design suggestions and recommendations.
Once I've read your enquiry briefing we'll schedule a phone consultation where I can learn more about your story. This will be my chance to also clarify any points and ask questions (which will be provided before our call). Our call will last 15-20 minutes and if needed, I will showcase some example design styles so I can better understand your taste.
Description text goes here

Realism

£500-£9,000

Size : Please see picture panel below for pricing and size differences.
Time : 8-10 hours per session depending on size, complexity and placement

Traditional Realism stands out and commands attention, designed for impact! With this style, subjects are front and center and envelop a whole section of your body be it the full front of your forearm or the full side of your lower leg. Our aim will be flow, where your realism design adapts to the contours of your body. We will also incorporate frames in which your design will sit. These can include elements like filigree, roses, fire or leaves for example. The main subject can also take the place of the frame or we can fade out the background to seamlessly connect your tattoo to your body.

Blackwork

£300-£2,000

Size : Please see picture panel below for pricing and size differences.
Time : 4-10 hours depending on size, complexity and placement

Linework and texture epitomize the Blackwork style for me and allow for a design to move between delicate and elegant to bold and striking! All Blackwork designs are hand drawn so your tattoo will always be one of a kind. The key subjects I focus on for Blackwork are peonies, snakes and the human figure but I always keep open-minded to allow for inspiration to flow.