COMPETITION CATEGORIES 2024
1. Old school/Traditional – Freshly Done
2. Old school/Traditional – Healed
3. Neotraditional – Freshly Done
4. Neotraditional – Healed
5. Newschool – Freshly Done
6. Newschool – Healed
7. Ethnic Tattoo (tribal, blackwork, geometry, classic Japanese tattoo) – Freshly Done
8. Ethnic Tattoo (tribal, blackwork, geometry, classic Japanese tattoo) – Healed
9. Black and grey Sur/Realistic Tattoo – Freshly Done
10. Black and grey Sur/Realistic Tattoo – Healed
11. Colored Sur/Realistic Tattoo – Freshly Done
12. Colored Sur/Realistic Tattoo – Healed
13. Graphic Tattoo (etchings, fineline, trash polka, watercolor) – Freshly Done Large (above A5 format)
14. Graphic Tattoo (etchings, fineline, trash polka, watercolor) – Freshly Done Small (maximum A5 format)
15. Graphic Tattoo (etchings, fineline, trash polka, watercolor) – Healed
16. 90s Tattoo
17. Two-day Tattoo
18. Cooperation
19. Best of Show
COMPETITION RULES 2024
Terms of Submitting Tattoos:
1. Tattoos submitted to categories marked as “freshly done” must be done exclusively during the festival and on its premises. Tattoos started earlier or refreshed will not be accepted. They must be tattoos done within one day, regardless of whether it’s Saturday or Sunday.
2. Tattoos submitted to categories marked as “healed” must be fully healed.
3. Categories 16 and 17 (“Two-day Tattoo” and “Cooperation”) will be held on Sunday at the end of the day exclusively for tattoos freshly done during the festival.
4. Each tattoo can only be submitted to one category.
5. Tattoos done by multiple people during the event can only be submitted in the “Cooperation” category.
6. Tattoos in the “Cooperation” category can be done over one or two days.
7. In the “Best of Show” category, a tattoo will be chosen from all first-place winners in categories marked as “freshly done” from Saturday and Sunday.
Registration and Verification:
1. Registration for the contest for a given day starts daily at 10:30 a.m.
2. Entries for a specific category are accepted no later than 15 minutes before the start of that category.
3. At the time of registration, the tattoo or its photo must be shown for preliminary verification. The organizer has the right to refuse the submission of a tattoo that does not meet the criteria of the category or presents a too low level.
Box Requirements:
1. There is no requirement to have a booth to submit a healed tattoo.
2. To submit a freshly done tattoo, it is a necessary condition to have a purchased booth.
Prizes:
1. Announcement of results in all categories and distribution of prizes for the day will take place at 8:15 p.m.
2. An additional prize for the tattoo distinguished as “Best of Show” is a two-person box at the Brussell Tattoo Convention 2024.
Final Provisions:
1. The person submitting a tattoo to the contest declares that they have familiarized themselves with the contest rules and the specific category.
2. In case of flagrant violation of the rules by a participant, disqualification and revocation of the prize decision may be imposed. In such a situation, the organizer will inform about the situation through all their broadcasting channels (Facebook, Instagram, newsletter) and select a new winner.
3. The organizer has the final decision-making authority on contentious issues and the interpretation of the regulations.
4. Contest participants, understood as creators and models, consent to the publication of their works for promotional purposes.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
Technical Aspects:
– Outlines: Evaluation of precision, cleanliness, and consistency of lines throughout the entire work.
– Shading: How evenly and accurately colored areas or shadows (including peppershading) are filled.
– Color Scheme: Assessment of color harmony, saturation, and blends/tonal transitions.
Composition:
– Anatomy: How well the tattoo fits the anatomical shapes of the body.
– Proportions and Perspective: Evaluation of how well the work reflects the anatomical proportions of the body and how faithfully it portrays depth and perspective in the design. *if applicable
– Details: Assessment of fine details and elements in the tattoo. *if applicable
– Flow and Movement in the Tattoo: Dynamics of the pattern and flow. *if applicable
Design:
– Originality: Uniqueness and creativity of the design, ingenuity in interpreting the theme or style, artistic merits of the work.
DESCRIPTION OF CATEGORIES
Tattooing is a field that combines craftsmanship and artistry. With the dynamic development of the industry, many new styles have emerged, extending beyond the traditional ones. Therefore, we treat each tattoo individually. Our experts and judges place great emphasis on compliance with the chosen category, as well as on the execution technique, such as lines and fillings, proper adaptation to the body’s anatomy, and the originality of the design. One of the competencies of the tattooist, subject to evaluation, is proper preparation for the competition: adjusting the size of the tattoo both to the place of execution and to the time constraints during the event.
After the initial verification of the work – the level of execution and compliance with the category, during the registration process, information such as: the author of the tattoo, the studio and the city, the name of the model or models, is required. This information is not made public before or during the competition until the results of the category are announced. The model receives a number for the category. Before the start of the category, you should stand on the left side of the stage and wait for the number to be called. In the case of a large number of participants in the category, it is permissible to bring a larger group of models onto the stage or call out numbers out of order. You should reserve time for the entire category according to the schedule. From all presented tattoos, a group of up to 10 best ones is selected, which are presented again to the judges at the end of the category. You should wait at the stage for any re-calls. The works from the TOP 10 group are also photographed in the studio near the stage. The announcement of the results in all categories for the day takes place at the end of the day.
Competition times may change in the event of a very large number of entries. In such a situation, there is a possibility that the start of a given category will be delayed. However, competitions will never be accelerated relative to the time indicated in the program.
Everything good must come to an end. Our convention lasts only two days, and therefore we have limited time for all planned activities. We could multiply the competition categories indefinitely, but time constraints will not allow us to do so.
In the categories prepared by us for the competition, we tried to distinguish the basic styles of tattooing. Anime is not a tattoo style, but a theme that can be interpreted in many different ways. We can observe tattoos with an anime theme made in various styles, such as linear, neo-traditional, traditional, dotwork, or minimalist. Evaluating a compilation of anime-themed tattoos in different styles in the same category would be difficult. Additionally, creating a separate category for anime could lead to discussions about the need to create additional categories, such as movie, portrait, floral, or animal tattoos. We mainly focus on styles and execution techniques, rather than on themes, so we encourage you to look at the described styles to properly classify a given work.
During Tattoofest, we offer the opportunity to participate in the competition in many categories. The first division concerns fresh and healed tattoos. Healed tattoos are those that have been made and fully healed before the convention. The tattoo should be submitted in the category, in the style in which it was made, regardless of its size.
The second part concerns fresh tattoos. In these categories, you can submit a tattoo made during the convention. The tattooist can present a tattoo that started and finished on the same day. If the work is continued the next day, it can only be exhibited as a two-day tattoo.
Tattoos submitted for competitions undergo initial verification at the registration point. A tattoo selector appointed by the organizer, in addition to verification, will also provide instructions in case of doubts, help to indicate the appropriate category.
In the case of a fresh tattoo, it should be submitted in the “Cooperation” category. In this category, works from one day and two days can participate.
In the case of healed works, collaborative tattoos can be submitted according to the dominant style of work.
Unfortunately, in such a situation, there is a risk of disqualification. Such conduct would be unfair to other competition participants and treated as cheating. However, if such a situation occurs and the tattoo exceeds the time allotted for the one-day competition, the prize will be revoked, and a new winner will be chosen in advance from the Top 10. Additionally, information about the incident and the steps taken will be communicated through our communication channels.
To register for the competition, you should go to the information point. You must show the tattoo being submitted to the competition or at least its photo. Tattoos will be preliminarily verified for compliance with the category and the level of execution.
Yes, if, in the opinion of the person supervising the competition registrations on behalf of the organizer, the tattoo does not fit the chosen category, the registration may be rejected, or another category may be suggested. If the tattoo is of poor quality, a decision may also be made not to accept the work for the competition.
No, each tattoo can only be submitted to one competition category.
No, only tattoos made during the convention, appropriate to the given day in which the category is held, are considered fresh tattoos.
Yes and no. If you want to submit a fresh tattoo to the competition, you need to have a booth. If you are submitting a healed tattoo, there is no need to purchase a booth.
Yes, absolutely, but only a fresh tattoo made during the convention and only in that one category.
No. We assess fresh tattoos, made during the convention or fully executed and healed before the convention and submitted in the appropriate categories.
No. You should consider in which category you want to exhibit your work during registration.
No, the tattoos submitted must have been fully executed during the convention or fully executed and healed before the convention and submitted in the appropriate categories.
Yes, the tattoo must be completed by the time the works in that category are judged.
Yes, you must be present in person.
Yes, you can submit more than one tattoo to the competition, but each tattoo can only be submitted once.
Your comments can be reported at the registration point during the event or via email: festiwal@tattoofest.pl
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