I am. said:
honestly no...most artists are not this good. the majority of my work has been done by award winning artists. the guy who did my owl is internationally known and loved. you should definitely do some research into artists.
a good tattoo isn't cheap and a cheap tattoo isn't good (one of those common saying in the industry). i live in atlanta, ga...there are a couple of shops around here with ricockulously talented artists. but depending upon your location, there may not be a decent artist anywhere around. if you happen to live in the US and feel like sharing whereabouts you live (on here or PM, if you feel so inclined), i can see if i can find any really talented artists around you. if you live outside of the states, tell me the closest big city you live in and i might could find you a good shop.
artists don't always gravitate towards big metro areas, either. some of the best artists around work in small cities. it definitely pays to do some research. i typically befriend artists before i ever even let them touch me. i am very picky about artists. i am picky about not only their skills but also their energy as a hole. i've met some bad ass artists that i wouldn't let touch me with a 10 foot pole. luckily i've been able to make friends with some really amazing artists who are also awesome people outside of the shop. i really only use a couple of artists now. once you find one (or a couple or a shop) you like, it pays to develop a relationship with them.