28/07/2026
How long does a detailed, bespoke tattoo take to do? Using my most recent tattoo as an example.
(These times vary from one tattoo to the next).
The enquiery and booking process, including chatting about ideas:
1 hour total
The design process, including sketching ideas, drawing and finalising the design:
11 hours.
The brief was the element of Air, with a design that the more Tom looked at it, the more details he saw.
(Absolutely zero Ai used ever!)
Drawing up the stencil and doing different plan versions to make sure the shading and detail is readable:
2 hours
Client arriving, showing the design and chatting through the piece, getting the stencil printed and on the body in the right location:
1 hour 20 minutes
The actually tattoo itself, including some small breaks and 20 minutes for lunch:
5 hours 15 minutes
Allowing the tattoo to settle, taking pictures, wrapping the tattoo and refreshing aftercare information (this is only Tom’s second tattoo and he did amazingly on the first one so I didn’t need to go through much!):
45 minutes
Choosing the best photos and posting on social media:
50 minutes
Total time:
22 hours and 10 minutes
Tattoos are much more than just the time you are sat in the chair being tattooed… and I’m grateful for every minute of it!
Thank you, Tom Wise for getting this piece and allowing me so much artistic freedom with this project!
Done at Studio&i tattoo & retail - York in York
