Question 1

How long does a typical palm-sized, single-session tattoo take with you?

Accepted Answer

A typical palm-sized, "one-shot" tattoo usually takes about 3 to 4 hours from start to finish. Because these designs are sized to fit efficiently, we can usually execute the entire piece in a single, focused session. If you are looking for larger-scale custom work, I do those as well, but palm-sized pieces are my core focus.

Question 2

Can I walk into the shop to get tattooed, or do I need to book in advance?

Accepted Answer

Both options work. You can always walk into The Blue Blood Studios to look through my flash sheets and get tattooed on the spot if I have availability, or you can book an appointment in advance to secure a specific date and time.

Question 3

Can I get multiple palm-sized tattoos in a single day?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. Stacking two or three palm-sized flash designs or smaller pieces into a single day is something I am always open to doing. Just let me know when booking so we have enough time on the schedule.

Question 4

How should I physically prepare for a single-session tattoo?

Accepted Answer

The day before: Avoid alcohol, get a good night of sleep, eat a solid meal, and keep your stress low.For women: Keep in mind that being on your period can make you slightly more sensitive to pain, so plan your session timing accordingly if you have a lower pain threshold.

Question 5

How would you describe your signature tattooing style?

Accepted Answer

My style is a broad mix that bridges illustrative surrealism, traditional tattooing, and classic Japanese influences. I like moving between playful, goofy concepts and more serious, structured imagery. I especially love tattooing female faces, full figures, and decorative elements.

Question 6

How do you choose your color palettes and secondary tones?

Accepted Answer

My color palettes are built around primary tones with a heavy emphasis on blue. I use blue as my anchor because I have watched how it ages over the years in human skin; it stays remarkably solid and crisp. I pair blue with bold red as a high-contrast secondary color, and use yellow in smaller accents. When working on traditional Japanese-inspired pieces, I broaden the palette to play with a wider range of tonal variations.

Question 7

How do you approach custom script and lettering tattoos?

Accepted Answer

I prefer when clients bring in their initial idea or reference word, and then I guide them through different font type families to craft a custom design together. I particularly love doing script with Gothic lettering influences and sharp, crisp terminals.

Question 8

What size does a custom script tattoo need to be to avoid blurring over time?

Accepted Answer

For clean, custom script, I recommend staying around 5 to 7 centimeters at minimum depending on the complexity of the lettering. Going slightly larger ensures the ink will not spread into illegibility as it ages over the decades.

Question 9

Do you use vegan tattoo ink, and does it hold up over time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I use a 100% vegan-friendly setup, including vegan inks. Almost all modern, high-quality tattoo inks used in the professional industry today are naturally vegan. They hold saturation, contrast, and longevity identically to non-vegan inks. Beyond the ink itself, I pay close attention to products like stencil products and vaseline, choosing vegan options over traditional ointments that contain sheep lanolin.

Question 10

How do you design a palm-sized tattoo to fit the body's natural shape?

Accepted Answer

If you are local or in the Netherlands: We can do an in-person consultation at the shop to trace the exact area and map out the design directly onto your skin.If you are visiting from abroad: You can send a clear, straight-on photo of the placement area, including any surrounding tattoos, so I can match the flow, sizing, and color tones before you arrive in Amsterdam.

Question 11

Are there any specific body placements you avoid tattooing?

Accepted Answer

I avoid tattooing the face, the inner sides of fingers, and palms. I also do not tattoo the bottoms of the feet or private areas. Beyond those specific spots, I am open to working on most placements across the body.

Question 12

Is it okay if I am nervous about the needles or have low pain tolerance?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. I really enjoy working with nervous or anxious clients because it gives me the opportunity to slow down, explain every step of the process, and ensure you feel completely comfortable. We take breaks, drink tea or water, have some candy, and keep the energy light and relaxed until you are totally at ease.

Question 13

What is the environment like during a tattoo session with you?

Accepted Answer

When you first arrive, we sit down, have a drink, and chat about the design. Once I start doing the linework, I prefer to stay focused and quiet so I can execute clean, precise lines. Once we move into shading and color, the atmosphere becomes very social and conversational. Most sessions end up feeling like hanging out with a new friend.

Question 14

How do high-contrast, bold traditional tattoos age over 10 or 20 years?

Accepted Answer

High-contrast designs with bold black linework and solid color saturation age exceptionally well. The clean line structure locks the design in place, ensuring the piece stays sharp, readable, and long-lasting over decades.

Question 15

Can a palm-sized traditional piece or custom script be used as a cover-up?

Accepted Answer

Bold traditional designs with dark shading and strong color work great for covering or reworking older tattoos. Custom script generally does not work as a cover-up unless the lettering is designed to be exceptionally large and heavy.

Question 16

How do you fit a new tattoo into tight gaps between existing tattoos?

Accepted Answer

Gap-filler tattoos take a bit more technical planning. We start with a consultation to map out the exact contours of the empty space between your existing tattoos. Once we draw a custom fit that we both love, we execute the design so it fits seamless within your collection.

Question 17

What drives your choice to run a fully vegan-friendly setup?

Accepted Answer

For me, running a vegan setup is rooted in compassion, solidarity, and empathy. It creates an immediate connection with clients who share those values. I am also connected with local vegan networks in Amsterdam (like the Heartbeat community). You don't need to get a vegan-themed tattoo to appreciate the setup, it's simply about sharing a grounded, empathetic space where we can talk about food, culture, or politics, and maybe even grab a bite to eat near Kinkerstraat after the session.

Question 18

Where do you find inspiration when drawing new flash sheets?

Accepted Answer

My flash drawings come from two main avenues:Technical inspiration: Studying my coworkers at The Blue Blood Studios and other contemporary tattooers to see how they solve visual problems cleanly and efficiently.Creative inspiration: Architecture from my travels, nature, listening to music, translating specific emotions into imagery, or reflecting on current world events.

Question 19

Who are your biggest influences in the history of tattooing?

Accepted Answer

My work is shaped by a mix of traditional American and Japanese tattooing icons, including Sailor Jerry, Bert Grimm, Ed Hardy, Chris Conn, Ivan Szasi, Junior Goussain, Marco Serio, Alejo Sayo, Johan Svahn, and Chirima.

Question 20

Ready to book a session or pick a piece of flash with Coral?

Accepted Answer

Visit The Blue Blood Studios on the Kinkerstraat in Amsterdam to view Coral's latest flash in person, visit @the_flash_vault on Instagram to see the flash online, or reach out directly through our booking page to schedule your next tattoo or consultation 🖤

Coral - Colorful Traditional Tattoos - The Blue Blood Studios