Fur, gaze and snout just as you know them. Send us two or three photos, and in a free consultation we suggest the Artists who tattoo dog portraits.
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A good photo is sharp, shows both eyes and was taken in daylight without flash. The snout should not be too close to the camera, otherwise it looks distorted and the proportions no longer work on the skin. Filters, heavy editing and images from chats that have been compressed several times take away the details that bring a portrait to life: individual hairs, reflections in the eye, the wet nose. Send us three to five photos rather than one. Your Artist chooses the main reference and takes fur texture or ear position from the others. That way you get a portrait that shows your dog, not just a photo of him.
As a guideline, from about hand size. A dog’s head lives from fur, eyes and the transitions between light and dark. Below this size, details have to be merged, and those very details make the difference between “a dog” and “my dog”. The longer the breed’s coat, the more space the fur needs so that it still has texture after years and does not turn into a grey area. The forearm, upper arm, thigh and calf are well suited. For a portrait with body or background, the outer thigh is a very good fit. In the consultation your Artist shows you the size on the body, and with the stencil you see it before the first line.
Realistic in Black & Grey is the classic for dog portraits, because fur and eyes look very natural in shades of grey and age well. Colour realism is worth it when the coat colour defines the dog, for example with a russet Vizsla or a merle Australian Shepherd. Fineline suits a silhouette, a reduced outline or a small head, not a detailed portrait, because fine lines soften over the years. Sketch gives the dog something lively and unfinished, like a sketch from a drawing pad, and allows a free composition with a paw print or name. We look at your photos together and tell you which style works for this particular dog.
Often, yes. An experienced Artist combines several photos into one reference: head position from one, eyes from another, coat colour from a third. If something is missing entirely, they can draw on breed references and draw your dog as he looked. What does not work: inventing a sharp portrait from a single shaky image without it becoming a different dog. In that case we suggest an approach that needs little reference, such as a silhouette, the paw print or a portrait in Sketch style. Send us what you have. We will tell you honestly what is possible with it.
For a dog portrait, the price depends mainly on size and level of detail. A head in Black & Grey takes less time than a colour portrait with body and background. Long, textured fur takes more session time than short fur. The placement plays a part too, because some areas of the body are tattooed more slowly. Your Artist sets the price after the free consultation.
More in the price guide: How much does a tattoo cost?
15 minutes from Cologne. Tattoo and piercing under one roof.
This is where it all began. The first Atelier, right in the centre of Euskirchen.
Mario's Atelier, just behind the market square in Lechenich.
Fineline“I'm so thrilled with the result. The service and the effort you put in is really awesome. This was definitely not my last tattoo from you. Thank you. (Translated from German)”
“He really took time over the design to get it the way I had imagined it. […] When I had questions before my appointment, I could easily get in touch on WhatsApp and didn't have to wait long for an answer. (Translated from German)”
“From the first consultation to the last needle stroke, it was simply perfect. The team is so warm, and visiting the studio now feels like coming home for me. (Translated from German)”
The forearm, upper arm and thigh are considered comparatively calm and offer enough space for a portrait. Ribs and hand are more sensitive and less suited to detail. You will find guidelines for each placement on our body placement pages.
Yes, ideally directly via the form or WhatsApp. Then we can check before the consultation which Artists suit your dog, and you already get concrete suggestions on style and size at the appointment.
A hand-sized head in Black & Grey is usually done in one session. Larger portraits, colour or a background need two or more appointments. Your Artist plans this with you in the consultation.
Yes. You show us your photos and the placement on camera, we discuss style and size and introduce you to the right Artists. The tattoo appointment itself then takes place in the Atelier.
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