For many, tattoos are deeply personal, embodying everything from cherished memories and artistic passion to spontaneous moments captured on a whim. Yet, in the ever-evolving world of body art, some designs have become so popular that they elicit eye-rolls from the artists tasked with creating them.
A discussion on Reddit has drawn attention to the types of tattoos that many artists are weary of doing repeatedly. A receptionist from a Scottish tattoo studio highlighted the trends that have become overused, singling out “pocket watches, roses, and infinity symbols” as frequent requests. “I always thought I’d stay positive and respect everyone’s choices, and I do,” the receptionist shared. “But it surprised me how many people are content with the same designs and how easily influenced they are by trends. Original ideas are more rare than I expected. I feel for the artists who have to repeat these motifs over and over.”
Echoing this sentiment, a client mentioned their own experience: “My artist excels at line-work flowers, which is exactly why I went to him. However, he told me he wants to branch out and do more creative pieces, but flowers remain ‘his bread and butter.'”
The conversation also touched on specific motifs that tattoo artists find monotonous. One artist expressed a particular dislike for “longitude-latitude coordinates” representing clients’ hometowns, calling the concept overused. Another artist commented on the challenge of making “nautical sleeves” unique, a recurring request in their community. “I’m from an island, so I often work on anchors, compasses, and maps,” they said, noting how difficult it is to innovate with such familiar imagery. “Feathers and pocket watches are a close second.”
An apprentice in the field noted that while certain designs may feel repetitive, they remain reliable sources of income. “Infinity symbols, anchors, birds, and feathers that transform into birds are common requests,” they stated. Their mentor added, “These tattoos are job security. No matter how tired you are of them, people will keep coming back for them, and they’ll keep paying the bills.”
One user shared a lighthearted anecdote from a recent tattoo session: “My artist and I were discussing this, and he pointed to a mug on his desk filled with slips of paper featuring infinity symbols with various words. He keeps them handy to pull out whenever someone requests one. There was even one with an infinity symbol turning into birds.”
Despite the desire for more creative freedom, tattoo artists acknowledge that popular designs are here to stay, serving as steady, if uninspiring, work.
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