Back tattoos are a significant commitment, a sprawling canvas for intricate art that can tell a personal story across the broadest expanse of skin. But what happens when that story is left unfinished? Perhaps circumstances change, relationships with artists falter, or the initial vision loses its luster. Is it ever acceptable to seek out a new tattoo artist to complete a Complete Back Tattoo that was started by someone else? This question delves into the nuanced world of tattoo ethics, personal experiences, and ultimately, your right to feel confident and happy in your own skin.
ALICE BACK BEFORE
For Alice Snape, like many others, the journey of a back tattoo became fraught with complications and regrets. Gazing at her reflection, the large tattoo cascading down her back, a piece intended to be a source of pride, instead became a symbol of a past she wished to erase. The butterfly lady design, once envisioned as empowering, now felt mocking, inextricably linked to a tattoo artist and an experience she’d rather forget. Alice’s story, shared originally in Total Tattoo magazine, highlights a common dilemma: what to do when a significant tattoo project stalls, leaving you with an incomplete back tattoo and lingering dissatisfaction.
Alice, despite her extensive knowledge and experience within the tattoo industry – having presented documentaries and edited tattoo magazines – found herself in a predicament many face. She acknowledges the back as “prime real estate” for a custom tattoo, a space deserving of artwork by an artist you admire. Yet, a rushed decision led her to embark on a large backpiece with an artist in Berlin. An initial eight-hour session of linework left her physically and emotionally drained, a subtle unease settling in. Ignoring her instincts, she continued, but each subsequent message about appointments filled her with dread. The artist’s inappropriate comments about other women’s bodies during her sessions left her feeling vulnerable and objectified, eroding her comfort and trust.
The situation deteriorated to a point of no contact, leaving Alice with three sessions completed, the linework mostly finished but the shading barely begun. Years passed, and the unfinished back tattoo became a haunting presence. Sometimes forgotten, it would reappear in her awareness – a glimpse in the gym mirror, a reflection after showering – a constant reminder of a project gone awry. The tattoo meant to be cherished became a source of mockery in her own mind.
At times I could forget it was there. But then I’d catch a glimpse while at the gym or naked as I stepped out of the shower. The tattoo I was supposed to love the most was mocking me.
Seeking solutions, Alice turned to the internet, querying “getting a tattoo finished by another artist.” Her search led her into online forums and discussions about tattoo artist ethics. She encountered viewpoints emphasizing a “tattooist’s moral code,” exemplified by tattooist Jess Yen who stated, “For me, it’s disrespectful to the artist… Out of respect, I don’t like to finish someone’s work.” Phil Garcia echoed this sentiment, stressing the heart and soul artists invest in their work and the perceived disrespect of another artist completing it without permission.
Initially, these perspectives amplified Alice’s apprehension. The tattoo industry’s internal codes can feel intimidating to clients. However, a year after starting her backpiece, another artist offered to help. A couple of sessions brought minor fixes and some color, but Alice’s heart wasn’t truly in it. This experience sparked deeper reflection: who truly owns the tattoo? And is it ethically sound to have someone else finalize another artist’s creation?
A reassuring conversation with another tattoo artist shifted Alice’s perspective. “If you feel uncomfortable with your artist, don’t feel like you need to carry on getting tattooed by them. It’s your tattoo and your body,” she was advised. This artist shared their own experience with an uncomfortable backpiece situation, ultimately leading to regret and thoughts of a complete cover-up. This highlighted the significant role an artist plays in the overall tattoo experience, extending far beyond the ink itself. It underscored the importance of client comfort and a positive artist-client relationship.
Alice found further solidarity in the story of tattoo artist Myra Brodksy, who also began a backpiece with the same Berlin-based artist in 2015. After ten sessions, Myra’s tattoo was only halfway done when the artist relocated, making completion impossible. Myra recounted a shift in the artist’s demeanor, from pleasant to difficult, adding to her reasons for not pursuing completion with him. Despite liking the design and placement, Myra, like Alice, was left with an unfinished back tattoo and the desire to find a new artist to finalize it.
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Dolly, a tattoo artist at No Friends Tattoo Club in Brighton, shared a more disturbing reason for halting a backpiece after just two sessions. During the second session, she experienced harassment and assault from the artist. This traumatic experience left her with an incomplete back tattoo tainted by anger and violation. Fortunately, as an industry professional, Dolly had access to supportive artist friends willing to help her reclaim her tattoo. Dolly strongly advises anyone in a similar situation to seek a new artist, regardless of how close to completion the original tattoo was. “If I am taking on someone’s work, I always ask why,” Dolly explains. She emphasizes the transformative power of working with a new artist to “reclaim” a tattoo associated with negative experiences. Dolly believes the client should never feel privileged to be tattooed by someone, highlighting the importance of respect and agency in the tattoo process.
Dolly’s insights resonated deeply with Alice. The industry often projects an image of the tattoo artist’s vision as sacrosanct, discouraging clients from seeking outside assistance. However, Dolly’s perspective brought the focus back to body autonomy. It is, after all, your body, bearing a tattoo you paid for. Guen Douglas of Taiko Gallery in Berlin, initially trained in a traditional apprenticeship that discouraged working on others’ tattoos, also came to embrace this view. “But the more I thought about body autonomy, I realised that no one owns the tattoo on the body of the client but the client.” Guen uses the analogy of a vase: while an artist might be saddened by the alteration or destruction of their artwork, the purchased object ultimately belongs to the owner to do with as they please. She even recounts her initial hurt when a client blacked out a small tattoo of hers, eventually realizing the client’s evolving self-expression was paramount.
Fueled by these empowering perspectives, Alice felt ready to revisit her unfinished back tattoo. She sought out Tracy D at Modern Classic in London, an artist whose gentle approach and admired style had already led to three successful smaller tattoos. Tracy’s view on completing others’ work was pragmatic and client-centered: “I try not to get involved in politics… at the end of the day, it’s unfortunate that there is an unfinished piece.” Understanding the discomfort of living with an incomplete tattoo, Tracy agreed to take on the project, to “bring my butterfly lady back to life.”
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With one session completed, Tracy D has already made significant progress, reworking the face of the central figure. The plan is to add more butterflies and color in the coming months, breathing new life into the complete back tattoo. Alice’s excitement has returned, motivated by a shared vision and a trusting artist-client relationship. Her experience and the stories of others highlight a crucial message: you are not alone if you are facing an incomplete back tattoo and feeling lost. You have the right to seek completion, to reclaim your body art, and to choose an artist who makes you feel comfortable and respected. Never feel obligated to continue with an artist who makes you unhappy. Your body, your tattoo, your choice.
END NOTE: Alice contacted her original artist to inform him of this article. He expressed no negativity and wished her well in completing her tattoo journey.
