Rinat Mingazdinov
Geography of work
Tattoo artist / Los Angeles
USA & EU
experience
24+
Customers
5000+
Career start
2002
Why does location
make all the difference?
make all the difference?
Introduction by the artist
I have seen hundreds of excellent designs that lost their impact due to poor placement. A tattoo is not a sticker. It is living art that should move with your body.
Let your body guide the design, not the other way around. Customization always beats copying.
In this article, you will learn:
“
01
The best place for elongated vertical compositions that follow the curve of the torso.
A flatter canvas, ideal for lettering (script), geometry, and fine lines.
Ideal for organic subjects: flowers, waves, realism. The natural curves of the muscles give the drawing volume.
Your body is not a flat sheet of paper. Muscles move, skin stretches, and bones create complex contours. The correct placement of a tattoo should emphasize these natural lines, not contradict them.
Anatomy and “flow” of design
Don't copy sketches from Pinterest exactly. What looks perfect on someone else's biceps may not work on your forearm. We always adapt the design to your anatomy.
Selection factor
“
02
Hands, fingers, neck, behind the ear. These are “zones of commitment” - tattoos here will become part of your identity for everyone around you.
Forearm, ankle. You can hide them with long sleeves or pants, but in hot weather or on casual Fridays, they will be visible.
Upper arm, shoulder blade, back, thigh, chest. These areas are easily concealed under standard office attire or a T-shirt.
Ask yourself honestly: are you prepared for daily comments about your tattoo? And are there any strict restrictions at your workplace? Los Angeles is tattoo-friendly, but not every office shares this approach.
Visibility and lifestyle
Plan your career one step ahead. If you think there's even a small chance that a tattoo in a visible spot could mess things up for you in the future, don't get it there.
Selection factor
“
03
If you are nervous about the pain, start with the outside of your arm. This will allow you to understand the process without unnecessary stress.
Risk areas: stomach, chest, inner arms. Stable areas: shoulders, shoulder blades, calves. Fine details in “risk” areas lose clarity more quickly.
Shoulder, thigh, back, Calves, forearm,
Ribs, armpits, knees, feet
Ribs, armpits, knees, feet
Everyone's pain threshold is different, but anatomy dictates general rules. It is also important to remember that the body changes: weight fluctuations and age affect how a tattoo will look in 10 years.
Pain and skin aging
Delicate designs on the lower abdomen can become distorted during pregnancy. I often transfer such delicate designs to the upper thigh, where they remain stable and beautiful for years.
Selection factor
“
Best places by design type
Not every tattoo sketch looks good on every part of the body. This is how style dictates the ideal placement.
Realism
and Portraits
and Portraits
Best areas:
Outer shoulder, forearm, shoulder blade, calf
Why:
A flat surface without significant distortion during movement is required to maintain facial proportions.
Outer shoulder, forearm, shoulder blade, calf
Why:
A flat surface without significant distortion during movement is required to maintain facial proportions.
organic tattoo
and biomechanics
and biomechanics
Best areas:
Shoulders, hips, back, sides of the body
Why:
Organic shapes naturally “flow” around muscles. Ideal for areas with pronounced curves.
Shoulders, hips, back, sides of the body
Why:
Organic shapes naturally “flow” around muscles. Ideal for areas with pronounced curves.
Miniatures
and inscriptions
and inscriptions
Best areas:
Inner forearm, ribs, collarbone, chest
Why:
You need flat surfaces for the text to be legible. Curved areas (ribs) are good for long phrases that emphasize the shape.
Inner forearm, ribs, collarbone, chest
Why:
You need flat surfaces for the text to be legible. Curved areas (ribs) are good for long phrases that emphasize the shape.
Geometry tattoo
and Thin Lines
and Thin Lines
Best areas:
Forearm, shin, center of back
Why:
Straight lines require stable skin. Avoid areas with severe stretching or loose skin.
Forearm, shin, center of back
Why:
Straight lines require stable skin. Avoid areas with severe stretching or loose skin.
Cover up
Strategy:
Depends on the condition of the old tattoo; the lighter it is, the better.
Tip:
Regardless of where the old tattoo is located and how big it is, the new tattoo that we will use to cover it will be larger and will extend to new areas of the body.
Depends on the condition of the old tattoo; the lighter it is, the better.
Tip:
Regardless of where the old tattoo is located and how big it is, the new tattoo that we will use to cover it will be larger and will extend to new areas of the body.
The main rule
of a good tattoo
of a good tattoo
Size matters. Don't make the details too small, as they will blur over time. The tattoo should be easily readable by the viewer from a distance of several meters, and for this you need a good scale.
3
2
1
Your shoulder blade seems to be a hidden spot until you put on a summer tank top or a dress with an open back. How “hidden” it is depends on your wardrobe.
Solution: Test the placement with real clothes that you are used to wearing.
Solution: Test the placement with real clothes that you are used to wearing.
Instagram dictates the trend for micro-tattoos in awkward places, but your body has its own lines. The angle chosen for the photo may look good in an Instagram post, but often not in real life.
Solution: Prioritize how the sketch fits your anatomy, rather than how it looks in someone else's photo.
Solution: Prioritize how the sketch fits your anatomy, rather than how it looks in someone else's photo.
The illusion of the “hidden zone”
“I'll never get a sleeve” is a classic phrase before someone comes back for a sleeve a year later. A single tattoo in the middle of the shoulder blocks the composition.
Solution: Leave room for maneuver and scaling.
Solution: Leave room for maneuver and scaling.
Ignoring the future
Instagram tattoos
Common tattoo mistakes and how to avoid them
Don't be afraid to scale up!
The most common mistake made by beginners is wanting to get their first tattoo “small, so it won't be noticeable.”
Over time, the lines will blur slightly. Details that are too small will turn into a blurry spot in 5-7 years.
Over time, the lines will blur slightly. Details that are too small will turn into a blurry spot in 5-7 years.
My process of choosing
the perfect place
the perfect place
A conversation
about lifestyle
about lifestyle
We discuss your work, wardrobe,
and plans for the future (sports,
weight change) to ensure that your tattoo remains appropriate at all times.
and plans for the future (sports,
weight change) to ensure that your tattoo remains appropriate at all times.
Trying
on a tattoo flow
on a tattoo flow
I apply the stencil to different
areas to find the lines that
anatomically emphasize
your muscles.
areas to find the lines that
anatomically emphasize
your muscles.
Honestly
about pain
about pain
If this is your first tattoo, we choose
an area where you will feel comfortable so that the
experience remains positive.
an area where you will feel comfortable so that the
experience remains positive.
Long-term
strategy
strategy
We assess how the design will age in this particular spot and whether it will interfere with future tattoos.
The placement of a tattoo is as important a part of the art as the design itself. Take a look at my work before booking a free consultation.
“
Want to have the best tattoo experience in Los Angeles? Fill out the free booking form.
If you want to get a tattoo in Los Angeles,
you can find me at Inkology Tattoo Art Gallery, a first-class creative space in the heart of West Hollywood, easily accessible to clients
from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and all of Los Angeles.
I work by appointment only to ensure each project receives
my full creative attention.
you can find me at Inkology Tattoo Art Gallery, a first-class creative space in the heart of West Hollywood, easily accessible to clients
from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and all of Los Angeles.
I work by appointment only to ensure each project receives
my full creative attention.
Fill out the booking form or write to me
on WhatsApp to start an online consultation.
Inkology Tattoo Art Gallery
WA +1 323 351 9888
303 S Crescent Heights Blvd,
West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90048
on WhatsApp to start an online consultation.
Inkology Tattoo Art Gallery
WA +1 323 351 9888
303 S Crescent Heights Blvd,
West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Write me
Just write whatever you think