Tattoo Sourcebook: Pick and Choose from Thousands of the Hottest Tattoo Designs [Paperback]

'A great first step for those considering going under the needle.'
-- Rock Sound

I had been thinking about doing a tattoo book for a while now - actually ever since getting my first tattoo in Vegas about six years ago. At the time, I really wanted one to mark the occasion, and I became so determined that I just chose a random tattoo design off the wall of a local studio, took my shirt off, and about 90 minutes later, bam - I had a little kokopelli marking my right shoulder. Don't get me wrong. I love my tattoo. But at the time, I didn't know that people researched tattoos, had custom tattoos designed to specification, and more. Later, when I tried to find a book on tattoo design, I was surprised by how little there was on the market. There were some lengthy books on tattoo history and there were a few books featuring various photos of people proudly displaying their already-inked appendages. But what I really wanted was a book that showed the designs before they hit the skin. I wanted a book that re-created the experience of being in a tattoo studio but with more design variety and less pressure. I felt there was a gap in the marketplace, and HarperCollins might be able to fill that gap.
After making the decision to create The Tattoo Sourcebook, I immediately began researching studios and websites that had access to different tattoo designs. One of the first websites I came across was TattooFinder.com, and I was hooked. They had thousands upon thousands of designs to browse, the categories were easy to search, and the art was beyond amazing. In the first hour of browsing, I had walked away with at least three tattoo ideas that I wanted to have inked. I continued my search for companies and businesses with access to tattoo designs, but it was fruitless. TattooFinder.com had everything I really wanted for the book. I spoke to owner, Lou Bardach, and he thought the sourcebook was a fantastic idea, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to give an authoritative and informative introduction to tattooing, and he couldn't have been more right. There are definite ways you can find your perfect design and there are strategies for finding the right tattooist. Nearly 2000 designs and 40 different artists later, The Tattoo Sourcebook was born.

- Jeannine Dillon, Senior Editor
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd