Author: louis santos

Brazilian Tattoo Artist with 20 years experience. Realism and Mythology Specialist.

Ultimate Guide on how to get tattooed

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Tattoo Guide

For a lot of tattoo fans, getting tattooed can be a mix of intense excitement and total anxiety, specially when first timers do not know what to expect.

A guide on how to get tattooed, is an exiting topic for me to talk about, however, is a topic that would need a few different posts in order to cover it to the fullest. So keep an eye on this website for more guide on how to get tattooed, sit back and enjoy my guidance of 20 years in the business, I hope you guys enjoy the journey.

This Blog is going to be in two sections

– Tattoo Green flags vs Red flags

– What I wish I knew

Tattoo Green flags vs Red flags- What to look out for when trying to find a Tattoo Artist online, or even when you walk in to a Tattoo studio. Keep an eye on how Tattoo Artists advertise themselves. Keep an eye on how Tattoo Artists work, and how they present themselves.

What I wish I knew- What I wish I knew, it will be a personal one for me, as I’m going to guide you through the lessons I had in the past about getting tattooed, which it will help you not tom make the mistakes that us getting tattooed in the early 2000’s did, so you will be learning from somebody else’s mistakes, including mine, and mistakes I have seen others doing, which I would not recommend.

Tattoo Green Flags vs Red Flags

You can tell a lot about a Tattoo Artist, just by looking at how they present and advertise themselves. Tattoo Artists who rate them to be the best, its because they are desperate for business, a Tattoo Artist who’s confident and believes in his or her skill, will not feel the need to state they are the best, the best artist’s their work do the talking. Artists who do not have many clients, usually when they make a post online, they will rate their own tattoo, saying, look at this amazing tattoo that we’ve done, almost trying to take away your own right to accept how good a tattoo is or not.

Another red flag to watch out for, are Tattoo Artists who make deals for cheap tattoos online, a good Tattoo Artist will have a good flow of clients coming in and wanting to get tattooed by them, cheap deals online, will only make the Tattoo Artist work half hearted because they are getting paid less, so the one who will walk away with the worst deal is you, as you are carrying the Tattoo for the rest of your life. Paying full price for your Tattoo, is a swap of energy, the Tattoo Artist gives you his energy and all the skills and lessons he had over the years, and you swap that with your money which you have worked hard for, when you earn money because of your hard work, your money has your energy, so paying good money for a good quality tattoo, is a swap of energy. When the value of a tattoo is lower, so will be the tattoo artist effort.

Green flags when approaching a Tattoo Artist, is of course having a consultation with them and checking the studio is nice and clean, a Tattoo Artist who cares about their studio will care about your tattoo. A green flag to notice about a Tattoo Artist is how do not pressure you to get tattooed by them. A good Tattoo artist are confident in their work and skill, and they do not feel the need to convince you to get tattooed by them. That is a great green flag when approaching a good Tattoo Artist, they do not feel the need to convince you to get tattooed by them, they know you will make an appointment because you love their work.

A green flag when approaching a Tattoo Artist, is when your energy match with theirs, you are investing time and money in to your body, and the Tattoo Artist’s energy is also going to be a part in this investment, so you as a tattoo collector, have to make sure that you feel comfortable with your Tattoo Artist’s energy and vibes.

Another green flag when approaching a Tattoo Artist, is when they listen to you well and want to collaborate with your request, they feel like you also have to participate, and its team work. It is important to have faith in your Tattoo Artist capability, however, a good Tattoo Artist will want you to participate in the process of the design, or planning of the tattoo.

In the next post “What I wish I knew”

To be continued..

Colour Realism Tattoo
Black and Grey Tattoo
Black and Grey Realism

Fine Line Tattoos in Bury

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Fine Line Tattoos in Bury

Fine line is a style that has been chosen by a lot of Tattoo Collectors lately, however, fine line with me there is a limit with how thin the line will be, as I try to make it fine but with the intent of longevity. Longevity is important in Tattooing, so we approach fine line tattoos with a solid fine line, which it will stay in the skin forever.

My advice on getting fine tattoos, would be, do not follow what you see online, specially on TikTok trends. A lot of tattoos look really nice and cute online, however, they are tattooed for Instagram and TikTok, and not tattooed for the client. Tattoos that are made for social media are temporary tattoos, they look good when first done, then they fade quickly, but without the healed image being displayed on Instagram or TikTok.

Tattooists who tattoo for Instagram, only care for when the tattoo is fresh, so as soon as it looks good on screen, they see it as a successful Tattoo. A successful Tattoo is the one that you look at it, 5 years 10 years late, and it is still clear and solid, and that is a hard lesson that all Tattoo Artist’s had to learn, including me. I really learned to tattoo, after I saw my Tattoos aged after 10 years, however, you need 10 years experience to be able to see that.

So fine line Tattoos, can be fine, but with the balance, that is going to have some sort of thickness to it, in order to achieve longevity.

An important advice on fine line Tattoos, would be, never get a fine line tattoo with a single needle, single needles are just too thin, and it will not hold up over time. The thinnest needle I use, it’s a 3 liner, and I would not go lower than that, with a 3 liner, I can build a thin line that is going to be solid, and it will stay with the skin over time.

I did those 2 Tattoos on Georgia today, it was her first Tattoo in the UK. She was easy going, relaxed, so that made me feel at ease. Georgia was only young, but she knew what she wanted, sometimes we get clients like that, who are so young but have their heads in the right place, and know what they want, and makes the day flow a lot more enjoyable.

Thank you Georgia, and thank you guys for visiting my website.

Single line Tattoos

Fine Line Flower Tattoo

Fine Line Tattoo Artist
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Slipknot Tattoo

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Black and Grey Tattoos

Slipknot Tattoo

Realism Black and Grey Tattoo

I was very fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunity to work in such an iconic album cover, of one of the most important Heavy Metal album cover of Slipknot. I believe this album cover was of their second album “Lowa” released in 2001, produced by Ross Robinson. Ross Robinson was the producer of my favourite album, Sepultura “Roots”. 

My client Mark, he’s a big Heavy Metal fan, and a big fan of realism black and grey tattoos. Most Marks tattoos are in black and grey and he does like a bit of a darkness to his tattoos, he’s really in to Bio-mech too, which I’m looking forward to free-hand some tattoos for him. 

As soon as Mark gave me the idea for his Tattoo, I loved it as I saw Slipknot live in their first tour at Ozzfest 2001, and Slipknot we’re touring for their first album previously to “Lowa”

The image Mark gave me, I felt like it was quite dated, so I asked him to re-design it for him, and he was happy to give me artistic freedom. When you know what style you want, and find the tattoo artist you want, it’s natural for you to give your artist a bit of artistic freedom. 

I will try to find the original image that Mark sent me vs the image I created for him. As an artist I have to be honest with myself and think is that design good enough? The easiest option is to just do what the client brings, but sometimes the easiest option is not the best option, and with a cool and understanding client like Mark, it was easy for us to agree in making a new design for him. 

When approaching a black and grey realism tattoo, I’m inspired by Victor Portugal, his black and grey realism is second to none, I would love if he could come to Manchester one day, but it seems like I will have to travel to Poland to get tattooed by him, my favourite Tattoo Artist by far. 

I’m loving doing black and grey Tattoos in Manchester, I just love how they heal on the skin, they can look quiet angry and red when first done but when the realism black and grey tattoo heals, it looks so subtle, calm and beautiful. 

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Black and Grey Tattoos

Realism Tattoo in Greater Manchester

Tattoo Shop in Bury
Realism Tattoos
Black and Grey Tattoos

Colour Realism Tattoos

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Colour Realism Tattoos

In this post I would like to focus on colour realism Tattoos, so I’m not going to focus on just one tattoo, instead, I’m going to explore colour realism tattoos I have been doing in Manchester lately, and showing some past work as well, and bringing back some old memories.

My passion for colour realism started in the beginning of my career, meeting Mike de Vries, at Tattoo Jam 2009, I’m sharing the picture I took with Mike de Vries at Tattoo Jam, on that day I bought his book,” lets be  realistic” I still have his book signed by him.

I will never forget the moment I opened Total Tattoo magazine around 2007-2008 and saw Mike de Vries work, he was the first Tattoo Artist to transform hyper realistic images into Tattoos,  and one of the reasons why I went to Tattoo Jam 2009 was because I wanted to meet and watch Mike de Vries Tattooing.

When you are the first artist to create a new way of art or tattooing, is very impactful and you end up being a catalyst to a certain tattoo style or art style. Myke de Vries is definitely the catalyst of Realism in Tattooing. Realism is a style where you have to make an image believable to the eye to be realistic, and also consider longevity. Considering longevity is adding contrast to the image, however, when approaching a realistic tattoo, the realism part of it is very subtle, so even in the subtle areas, the Tattoo Artist has to find a way to contrast the subtle areas in order to achieve longevity.

In this post I’m sharing an important moment when I met Mike de Vries, and I’m also sharing videos of realistic tattoos I have been doing lately. One of the realistic colour tattoos I have been doing in Manchester, has been a cover-up tattoo.

When approaching a realistic tattoo in a cover-up, planning is really important, the planning is imperative in order to make sure the darks and lights are balanced equally. Having a equal quantity of darks and lights in a tattoo, 50 per cent light and 50 per cent dark, is a beautiful balance, and a rule that works in every tattoo, even when is not a cover-up tattoo.

Planning a tattoo darks and light can take a bit of the Tattoo Artist’s time, but it makes a difference in the outcome of the tattoo, as when a Tattoo Artist is in the middle of a Tattoo, doing more darks than lights, or less darks than lights is very easy to not get the balance right, or close to what it should be.

To do Colour Realism in Tattooing, I use Dermaglo Tattoo Colours. Its an amazing Tattoo pigment, and the best Tattoo colours I have ever came across. I will do a separated post about Dermaglo Tattoo colours.

 

Realistic Tattoos Manchester

Persian Black and Grey Tattoo

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Persian Soldier Tattoo

Black and Grey Tattoo

Directly inspired by the Persian Immortals, the 10,000- strong elite warrior guard of the Achaemenid Empire. Their number never dipped below 10,000. If any of them were killed they were immediately replaced by a trained prepared soldier from the reserve unit.

I always enjoy tattooing Gary, he’s half Iranian, that’s where the idea of a Persian soldier comes from. He initially came in for a consultation explaining everything how he wanted, our consultation is always enjoyable, we talk not only about tattoos, but we also have the same interests in Sports, he’s a big Bury FC fan, so we always end up talking about football.

The space Gary showed me on his arm was a Rectangle, so I had the idea of finding a Persian soldier stood up holding a spear. As soon as he saw the image he was so happy, and willing to go ahead with it.

Gary has all his tattoos in black and grey, black and grey is a style love doing, and I try to add realism to the black and grey tattoo I’m working on. Gary has multiple tattoos on his arm, but now he’s looking to join them all in, I’m glad he can see that, he’s willing to work on it, and I’m more than happy to help, as I do like working with Gary. He has overall a very positive attitude, and that really makes a difference, and it adds positivity to the Tattoo session.

Researching for the Tattoo Artist you want to collect their style on your body for life, it really adds positive energy when you are sure about who you want to get tattooed by, and it gives confidence to the tattoo artist. Not being sure if a Tattoo Artist can do a good tattoo or not, only adds confusion, therefore, your tattoo will be affected. So a lot of faith in your Tattoo Artist’s work, it really helps.

This black and grey tattoo took 2 sessions, of 3 hour each. Gary prefers to do 3 hour sessions, he’s not the guy to do full days, and I’m totally cool with that, our sessions are enough but it doesn’t drag along all day. I think the best way is to work around your clients situation, and work around their needs.

Thank you Gary

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Tattoo Shop in Bury

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Hi Everyone, Thanks for making the time to visit my website. I remember almost 5 years ago, when Covid kicked in, and I was in lockdown in my flat in Leeds, that was the first time I had time to stop, and think about my life long term, and the more I thought of it, the more I realised, I wanted to move back to Manchester, for long term, my Mum was here, its here where everything started. The more I wanted to move back, the more I used to think, how I’m I going to do it? I was tattooing in Leeds for 13 years, and I had built my life and business around all that time. Things kept happening to me in Leeds, things I will never mention online, but everything had to happen in order to open the doors for me to come back to Manchester. So here I’m, after 5 years, of taking risks, leaving everything behind, to start again from scratch. I remember, being sat with my Mum, outside The Village Hotel in Manchester, letting her know for the first time that I wanted to move back to Manchester, and she looked at me with a surprising and happy eyes, but I remember thinking, how is it going to happen? It seemed something so difficult to do, but I did it. Sometimes I look back at when I wanted to move back, and I look at where I’m now, its almost surreal that I managed to do it. I would like to thank everyone who motivated me to move back to Leeds, including people I have worked with, thank you so much. I have transformed every experience I had in Leeds in to something positive which it was, moving back to Manchester.

In 2006, I had started tattooing in Bury Greater Manchester, and it was in Bury College where I learned English, so Bury has a special place for me, as its where I started my life in the UK, and where I had my first experiences living in the UK.

So in this blog I would like to talk about the beginning of tattoo shops in Bury, and how its nowadays. I can talk about it, because even knowing I started in 2006, I have worked with Tattoo Artists who have been tattooing in  Bury for so long.

 Tattoo Shops in Bury

The first Tattooist in Bury his name is Dave Heap. Dave is now retired, and still lives in Lancashire. Dave’s tattoo style is very traditional, and I think that’s great. A lot of young Tattooists do traditional Tattoos, but Dave is from the times where the traditional tattoos were made. I have Dave on my Facebook, and sometimes we speak on messenger, and one of the things Dave mentioned, that stood out to me the most, was when he said “ I had Bury to myself for almost 30 years” That shows you how long he had been tattooing. I’m sure Dave has some amazing stories to tell about tattooing from back in the day in Lancashire Bury, which now is classed as greater Manchester.

After Bury’s first Tattoo Studio opened with Dave, the next tattoo shop in Bury that open it’s doors in the  90’s was Mad House Tattoo on the Rock. I believe that Tattoo studio was also opened by someone called Dave, who later started working with other artist’s in the tattoo shop in Bury.

Sween, who now owns Odin’s Eye Tattoo, used to get tattooed at Mad House, back in the 90’s.

The Tattooists who used to work at mad house, end up going to work at Rochdale Road, then for years, until the early 2000’s, there was only 2 Tattoo shops in Bury. I believe, mad house was closed down for a bit, and re-opened by a Tattoo Artist called Shaun. I remember Shan, as he was on the rock when I started my apprenticeship in Bury.

When I left Bury in 2009, there was only 2 Tattoo Studio in Bury. Coming back after nearly 13 years, the number of Tattoo shops have doubled. Theres a lot of more Tattoo shops in Bury nowadays, a lot of better work is being done from when I used to tattoo in Bury.

If I was not a Tattoo Artist, or even if I was still Tattooing in Leeds, and if someone asked me for recommendation to where to get tattooed in the best tattoo shop in Bury, I would recommend Odin’s Eye Tattoo Collective, even if I was not working there.

The reason why is because Sween, Left Hand Tony and Louis Santos all specialise in different styles, and the clients are the ones who win at the end. As the clients are waling out with the best work possible. They have the best variety in tattoo style any Tattoo shop in Bury can offer. Its quiet rare to see that in a tattoo studio.They make the dream team, which is hard to form and build. I have worked with many artist’s in the past and never before I felt like something has clicked so well as a team, and I believe, that clients can feel the love energy when the enter the studio, as its important for the client to feel a good vibe when coming in the tattoo shop in Bury.

Thank you for reading

Tattoo Studio in Bury

Louis Santos Tattoo

Mythology & Fantasy Tattoos

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Goat Tattoo

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Thank you for reading my blog, i have been back in Manchester for 2 years now, and im so happy to have come back, and i feel like im starting to get settled. Im forever grateful for my new clients in Mancheter and some of my Leeds clients who still come to see me. I have been meeting some really interesting people, and when i get to meet interesting clients, and they pick a good design, i think its time to write a blog on my websitre.

Realistic Goat Tattoo

I have previously tattooed Josh, so I was really happy to see him back in the studio. I had previously tattooed a philosopher with a philosophy message on Josh’s arm, his tattoo was previously posted on this website.

First time meeting a client, there’s a lot of explaining to be made about how I work and how I prefer to approach their tattoo. Josh was very understanding and easy going, which if put me at ease and it contributed to a better tattoo outcome.

So when he messaged me again, I was happy to have him back as not only the first tattoo had gone well, but he has a really positive energy about him, I feed off his good vibe and that contributes to the positive tattoo outcome.

Having a consultation with Josh, he requested a small black and grey goat tattoo, I love tattooing and drawing goats, as they are spiritual animals, and they have a spiritual positive meaning. They represent wealth and prosperity. Josh mentioned he wanted a graphic flower bellow the goat, so I had the idea to line it. Lining something next to a realistic image it looks really nice. 

I give a lot of attention to small realistic black and grey tattoos. Of course the smaller the tattoo the bigger the challenge. Specially if you are trying to do realism. However, the more you draw as an artist, the better you can deal with smaller black and grey realism tattoos. 

I booked Josh in for a Sunday in our Bury Tattoo Studio, and we had a nice and relaxing day, the tattoo studi in Bury is closed on Sundays, so it was really quiet. Of course I do love when the studio is open and the socialising part of it, we love the interaction with the clients in the studio, as it’s a busy studio. However, having a day where it’s just you and the client is quite different, and I think I picked the right person to spend the Sunday with. 

Tattoo Shops in Bury

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Louis Santos Tattoo
Tattoo Studio in Greater Manchester
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Goat Tattoo
Small Black and Grey Goat Tattoo
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Realism Portrait Tattoo Artist

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I have been working on this Realism portrait painting for a while, I had this idea to incorporate Pep Guardiola’s master mind in football to this painting.

First I found an image that would fit and feel right about the idea I had, of incorporating the football inside his brain.

Pep Guardiola’s ability to read the game and adapt to it, it’s an ability and intelligence that many other football managers try to copy and learn from, I could almost say that the Premier league is based on his ideas, his perception, he moves the game as everyone is watching what he’s doing. 

Pep Guardiola has changed football, by the way he sees the games, and guides his players to behave on the pitch. A lot of people say the game changed because of him, and it still does. 

After the Manchester City team enters the stadium he stays inside thinking about his tactics, being a football manager is almost like being a chess player and that’s what Pep Guardiola is, he’s a master of chess. 

Talking about chess, I’m thinking I could added some chess pieces to this painting, it would really gone well with Pep Guardiola’s philosophy. But that ideas has to happen next time I do a portrait of him.

When approaching a large Realism Colour Portrait, i learn a lot about how to use my colours and enhance my understanding of how to use colours as a shadow and highlights, this learning process is really important when dealing with a realistic portrait tattoo. Painting a realistic portrait  in my free time, it can only benefit my next opportunity I will have to tattoo a realistic portrait tattoo, and I do that with a lot of pleasure, as I love painting realism images, which I can have fun with, and it gives me the opportunity to practise in order to deliver a better looking tattoo as possible. 

Thanks for reading my tattoo blog, I have been working on other drawings, painting and tattoos, and I will keep you guys posted, thank you. 

Realism Portrait Tattoo Artist

Tattoo Studio in Bury

Bury Tattoo Studio

Manchester City

Realistic Rose Tattoo Manchester

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Realistic Cover-up Tattoo

In this blog I would like to talk about one of the last projects I have been working on. I had previously tattooed Amanda, if you have been following my previous work, I have done a full sleeve of butterflies with cherry blossoms, if you remember that tattoo, that was Amanda’s arm, so we had previously worked together, and because she had been through the previous process, as she understood the process, and that when we have faith, we always get there. 

This cover-up realistic rose tattoo took around 2 sessions, by the end of the first session, we had a taste of what was going to look like, however, when clients understood the tattoo process it really helps, they understand that cover-up realistic tattoos sometimes it can take multiple sessions. And every session your tattoo will transform, so having faith in the process is very important. 

When I get requested a cover-up tattoo, I have to see if it’s worth taking on the job, as cover-ups can be difficult depending how dark the tattoo is, and what the client chooses as a design  to work as a cover up. 

Images with textures, it really helps with cover-ups, like leaves, scales, dragon scales, armour, nature. Anything with texture is a really good way to achieve a successful realistic cover-up tattoo. 

So in the second session I had the opportunity to have another pass in the healed tattoo. Working with a healed tattoo is like working with a dry paint, you get the opportunity not only to add layers, but to work in a different perception of the tattoo, working with a fresh mind, it can really make the tattoo look better, than if you only spend one day looking at it. 

One of the best feelings you can have as an artist, is when someone understands what you do, chooses you as an artist, you give the best you can, and they understand how you work a bit more, and after their first experience the trusts increases, and that has a huge difference in an artists mind set, to work with a peace of mind, which it will contribute to the artist doing a better piece of art. 

Doing good art, it requires inner peace, so try to give that to your artist when you get tattooed, and I guarantee you will collect a better tattoo from the artist of your choice. 

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Realistic Rose Tattoo

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Mythology Tattoos in Manchester

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This is another mythology drawing I have worked on a while ago. The video will be in the bottom of this article, so if you want to give it a check before reading the post you welcome. It’s worth still going back to it, as I did spend quite a bit of time on it, with pleasure. However it’s  a drawing where I can show  the mythology style I’m enjoying working on at the moment. 

In this drawing I had the idea of mixing Egyptian mythology with Buddhism. I do love Egyptian mythology and Buddhism religion. In the middle of the drawing I went with an Egyptian god, as it’s like he was inwards and the other 2 Buddhas emerging on the outside. 

I love tattooing acient Egypt Mythology and Buddha Tattoos.

I love how Buddhism is about the now, live in the now, and find peace in the now, the now is all we have. And ancient Egyptian mythology was about spirituality, Egyptians I believe were probably the most spiritual civilisation ever lived before. They understood and worshiped the afterlife, they understood that the after life, and our reality, is not as separated as we perceive. Egyptians used to mummify the dead bodies in order to give the souls the opportunity to go back to their body and almost be in touch with the physical world. 

Doing this drawing for me also was about learning textures. It’s important to draw an idea, and practise in a paper before attempting the skin, there are certain things that you can only learn if you draw. So drawing for me is a study, I would never attempt to draw anything unless I’m learning from the drawing I’m doing, so everything I do is with purpose and direction, with the intention to learn to better the outcome of my tattoos. 

Thanks for reading 

Manchestertattooartist.com

Medusa Mythology Manchester

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