Preparing / Applying the Stencils:

Preparing / Applying the Stencils:

It still wasn't exactly clear to Melissa how important stencils were to the tattoo process. So, when Russ went to go prepare the stencils, she asked Mike (Tattoo Artist of 17 years) who was tattooing someone in the chair next to her what stencils were. Mike explained:

Russ applies the tattoo stencil to Melissa's back.

Stencils (also known as "lines," "line drawings," "line art" etc.) are really the BLUEPRINTS for tattoos. They are the basic structure of the tattoo design full of subtle communication (line thickness, shading, spacing, etc.) from the original artist of the design about how the design was meant to be tattooed. The stencil is run through a thermofax machine onto a sheet of carbon paper, and the carbon "stencil" of the tattoo design is then placed on the skin as a guide for the tattoo.

Before long, Russ came back with the stencils, modified and ready for the tattoo. He applied the stencils to Melissa's back left shoulder, and asked her to look in the mirror to make sure the placement was exactly where she wanted it. This was the blueprint for her tattoo . . . so it needed to be perfect. And on the first shot, Russ was spot on. Melissa was now finally ready to get tattooed!