11/04/2026
More random thoughts from Cody W 🤟🏻
Something I wish we saw more of in the tattoo industry is a little grace for the human being holding the machine.
People are so quick to find a mistake that sometimes they don’t take the time to understand what they’re looking at.
Recently, someone asked why the feet in a tattoo were facing the same direction. Two left footprints. Two different names. Two different children. There was meaning behind that choice, and taking a moment to look could have provided that context. Questions are fair, but so is giving someone the benefit of the doubt. (Post is in the comments)
Behind every tattoo is a client with a story—and an artist putting hours of concentration, skill, and heart into their work. Artists are human. Talent and experience don’t make anyone perfect. Many of us finish a tattoo our client loves and still go home thinking about something we want to improve.
Quality and accountability matter. Clients deserve safe, thoughtful work and artists who listen and address concerns. Respectful feedback helps us grow. Tearing someone apart publicly doesn’t.
And putting down another artist just to convince someone to go to YOUR artist adds to that problem. You can recommend someone and celebrate their talent without discrediting somebody else. Let their work speak for itself. Cause I can PROMISE you, even the “top artist” have flaws in their work..
One detail doesn’t define an artist’s ability, and personal preference doesn’t automatically make a tattoo wrong. We all have room to grow, including the artists you admire most.
Remember, those comments reach the person wearing that tattoo, too. Someone who was excited to share something meaningful can walk away feeling self-conscious about it instead.
Look closely. Ask respectfully. Help where you can. We can hold this industry to high standards while remembering that nobody has to be perfect to deserve respect. 🖤
