We get messages all the time. "Can you make me a little drawing to see? Just a sketch, to get an idea."
I get it. Really. You want to know if the style will work for you, if the project holds up. That's fair.
But I'm going to explain why we say no. And why the €50 before a drawing isn't us trying to nickel-and-dime you — it's the only way to stay upright.
The Scene That Keeps Happening
One evening I get an Instagram message. A friend of a friend. He describes his project: a phoenix on the whole forearm, traditional style, bright colors.
I ask a few questions. Size, placement, references. He's motivated. I tell him: OK, let's do a drawing appointment, €50, deducted from the tattoo if you book.
He says he'll think about it.
Two weeks later, a story pops up. The same phoenix. On his arm. Tattooed somewhere else.
He showed my sketch to another studio. They did it for cheaper.
This story isn't rare. It happens all the damn time.
A Drawing Is Work
A sketch doesn't take five minutes. Between looking for references, composition, proportions, adapting to the body part, choosing colors or black and gray…
I can spend 30 minutes or 3 hours on a project.
When you work 6 days a week, have tattoo sessions every day, emails, quotes, follow-ups — time you spend on a free drawing is time you don't spend tattooing. Or sleeping.
Multiply that by 5 requests a week. You lose track fast.
I used to do free sketches for everyone. I was nice. I was young. I was kind of dumb too.
The result: I spent my evenings drawing for people who often took the drawing elsewhere. Or changed their minds. Or just wanted to see what it looked like with no intention of booking.
The Straight-Up Theft
The most infuriating part is the people who take your work and get it done somewhere else.
You give them a unique drawing, made for their body, their area, their idea. And they go to another tattooer who reproduces it — often worse, but cheaper.
That's theft. And it's not rare.
I know colleagues who stopped doing preparatory drawings altogether because of this. They draw directly on skin on the day. Screw preparation.
We'd rather not get to that point. Drawing is an important part of the job. But when 1 client out of 4 bails after receiving their sketch, you start questioning things.
So How Do We Do It?
We set up a simple system. Not perfect, but honest.
€50 before any custom drawing.
That €50 covers:
- booking a slot in the schedule (yes, drawing gets planned too)
- the research and creation time
- making sure you're serious about this
If you book your tattoo session after the drawing, the €50 is deducted from the final price. You don't lose it. It's just a deposit.
If you don't book, the €50 covers the time spent. That's fair.
And if you want to talk first before committing, you can book a Drawing Appointment. Same price: €50. You come to the studio, we talk about the project, I do a quick sketch, you see the result. You go home, think it over, and if you're into it, we book.
The Drawing Appointment Might Be What You Need
I see the difference between a Messenger conversation and an actual face-to-face discussion.
Around a table, I can show you examples, talk about placement, healing, the style that'll work on your skin. You can touch the flash sheets, look through the sketchbooks.
We even have a couch. A real one. With cushions.
That appointment isn't just a drawing. It's the start of the project. You leave with a sketch, clear ideas, and no pressure.
If you want to check our prices, there's a full article on how much a tattoo costs. And if you're wondering how to talk about your project with your tattooer, I wrote a guide on that too.
It Happens at Every Studio
We're not the only ones doing this. Most serious studios work with a deposit or drawing fee system.
Why? Because the job has changed.
With Instagram, anyone can contact 15 studios in 5 minutes. People compare, hop around, bargain. Free drawing became a bargaining chip in a competitive market.
We don't want to play that game.
We'd rather work with clients who understand that drawing is part of the job. That it's not after-sales service. That it's the foundation of the project.
What About Flash?
Flash is different. A flash is a drawing that's already done, already thought out, just waiting for skin. You pick it off the wall or the website, book an appointment, that's it.
No drawing fee on flash. Just the tattoo price.
But a custom project — your vibe, your idea, your story — that takes time. And time is the one resource you can't get back.
It's About Organization
At Studio Pixel, we're several artists. Each with their own style, schedule, way of working.
If I spend my week doing free sketches for people who'll never get tattooed by us, I'm blocking slots for people who actually want a tattoo. That doesn't make sense.
The Drawing Appointment lets everyone get on the same page. You know where you stand. So do I.
It avoids misunderstandings, lost messages on Messenger, the "I didn't get your email," the "I thought you understood what I wanted."
I'm Not Saying It's Perfect
Sometimes I wonder if we're too strict.
I think back to my early days. I drew for free all the time. Out of passion. Out of fear of saying no.
But now, looking back, I can see that the most respectful clients — the ones who become regulars — are the ones who accepted the Drawing Appointment without arguing. The ones who understand that paying for the drawing means paying for the work, not just a piece of paper.
So here it is. If you want a drawing, you know how it works.
€50. Appointment or preparatory sketch. Deductible if you book.
Got questions? Don't hesitate.
Want to talk about it over coffee?
💡 Key Takeaways
- We don't do free drawings (sketches included)
- €50 before any custom drawing — deductible if you book your session
- The Drawing Appointment (€50) lets you come discuss the project face-to-face with a sketch
- Without this, we'd spend our time drawing for people who get tattooed elsewhere
- Flash remains free of drawing fees
