How much does a tattoo cost in Australia? A realism artist’s guide
What tattoos cost in Australia, from small pieces to full sleeves and back pieces, how hourly and day rates work, and how to budget for a large realism project.
Cover-up or rework? What realism can and can’t fix
Can an old tattoo be covered with realism? What reworks and cover-ups can do, which subjects hide old ink best, when laser fading helps, and the photos to send with your application.
How to make a realism tattoo last: healing, sun and skin
Aftercare for realism tattoos: the first weeks of healing, why sun is the biggest cause of fading, the skin habits that keep detail sharp, and when a touch-up is worth asking about.
Why realism is tattooed in full-day sessions (and what a day looks like)
Why Dylan books realism by the full day at $2,000 a day, what happens from arrival to finish, how many days large pieces take, and how to prepare so a long session goes well.
Fresh vs healed: what a realism tattoo really looks like
Fresh tattoo photos are shiny and red; healed photos show what you’ll live with. How realism changes over the first eight weeks and why healed work is the real test of an artist.
Planning a realism sleeve: subject, flow, references and days
How to plan a realism sleeve: choose one main subject, design for the arm’s flow, bring real references, pick black and grey or colour, and budget the full-day sessions at $2,000 a day.