When I Hit Pause on a Design (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

When I hit pause on a design, it isn’t about indecision or ego. Sometimes it’s temporary. Sometimes it’s a full stop. Tattooing is a collaboration, not a transaction. It’s built on anatomy, healing, and trust. The goal isn’t to make something that just looks good on day one, but something that stays good… something that lasts because it was done with care, experience, and my expertise in tattoo longevity.

Art That Lasts

I’ll hit pause when a design won’t heal well, fit your anatomy, or hold up over time. Some ideas look beautiful in theory but fall apart once they meet real skin, movement, and time. My job is to know the difference. When I suggest a change, it isn’t to limit creativity. It’s to make sure your tattoo still looks intentional and strong years from now.

Alignment Matters

If a concept doesn’t match my artistic style or values, I’ll be upfront about it. You want good art, and I want to stand behind my work.

Sometimes that means saying no to photorealism, hyper-minimalist Pinterest tattoos, or AI-generated designs that ignore anatomy and pull from real artists without consent. What looks good on a glowing screen rarely translates to real skin.

Before I turn a project down, I’ll always explain why and offer adjustments to make it possible. That might mean changing the style, composition, or approach to fit my skill, training, and physical limits. I’m adaptable, but I’m not perfect at everything. I do what I know will work, hold up, and heal well. I’m even happy to recommend other artists whose approach or energy might fit better. Everyone wins when the right artist and the right idea find each other.

Collaboration, Not Control

I used to work in graphic design. Back then, I was paid to make things that looked perfect but meant nothing but dollars to a corporate machine. Tattooing isn’t that.

I burned out after allowing my craft to become a punching bag for corporate nitpicking. I don’t want to burn out on tattooing. My best work happens when clients trust my process, my eye, and my experience.

That trust also protects my body. Tattooing through chronic pain takes precision and focus. Every extra revision or change pulls energy from the control I need to tattoo safely and beautifully, even in the idea and drawing stages. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to tattoo through the pain my shoulder gives me with every movement. Someday I'll pull my last line and I want every line to matter. I want them to last and leave a beautiful impact.

Emotional and Physical Readiness

Sometimes I hit pause because the timing isn’t right, or because a client’s body isn’t in the right space for a big session. And honestly, sometimes I hit pause because mine isn’t. Tattooing takes strength, focus, and the right kind of energy between artist and client. It takes those things and it still takes a lot out of me. I only tattoo once a day and guard my rest days carefully because my body demands it. Pain management isn’t optional for me. It’s survival, and it directly affects how steady my hand is and how well your tattoo heals.

I don’t like pushing through pain. That isn’t fair to you or to the art we’re creating. Waiting for the right moment, when your body and mine are both ready, means better healing, clearer focus, and a tattoo that is precise and beautiful. Something we can both be proud of.

Protecting the Space

Reclamation Tattoo is built around respect, consent, and calm. I want every session to feel like a collaboration grounded in safety, not tension. When clients meet me in that calm, trusting space, everything flows more easily.

I move forward when the space feels balanced, when communication is clear, energy is grounded, and both of us are present in the work. The results of this balance speak for themselves.

Moving Forward with Care

Every decision I make in this craft, whether to pause or move forward, comes from the same place: care. I’ve built my studio, my schedule, and my process around creating art that lasts. Saying yes is deliberate, because every tattoo takes a piece of me to make.

If I move forward on your tattoo, it’s because I believe in it. I believe it will heal well, hold meaning, and represent both of us with integrity. That’s the kind of art worth hurting for.