A common tattoo misconception: Smaller = cheaper and faster... but WAIT! That is often not the case!

In fact, smaller tattoos can take longer and cost more than some larger sized tattoos!

There are three main factors that play into this:

REALISM - takes longer as the artists need to apply a layering technique to achieve a realistic look
COLOUR - takes longer
SIZE - a smaller tattoo can take longer as the artist will need to use smaller needles to achieve the desired amount of detail

Examples of realism tattoos done by Diana Lin:

Style comparisons:

Realism vs Neo Traditional done by Ashley Horncastle. This is a perfect example of how different styles can dictate how long the tattoo takes regardless of size.

Realism vs Pepper (dot-work) shading done by Calahan Woodwolf.

So remember, the time that your tattoo takes will vary on what style you are looking for and how big of a canvas you are giving the artist. These are useful facts to keep in mind if you are looking for a beautiful tattoo on a budget!