Getting a Custom Tattoo Design in Melbourne and How OUR Process Works

Thinking about a custom tattoo but not sure where to start? At Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio in Oakleigh, we make the process simple, clear and tailored to you.

We are a custom tattoo studio in Oakleigh, South East Melbourne, just 5-minutes from Chadstone Shopping Centre. Our artists create original tattoos based on your ideas, references and personal style. Whether you want fine line, black and grey realism, bold colour, anime, traditional, ornamental or horror inspired work, we help match your vision with the right artist.

So... How Does It Work?

Step 1: Send Us Your Tattoo Idea

The first step is simple. Send us a brief description of what you are after. You can include things like:

Your tattoo idea
Placement on the body
Approximate size
Style you like
Any reference images
Whether you want colour or black and grey
Any meaning or details you want included

Your brief does not need to be perfect. You might have a clear vision, or you might only have a rough idea and a few inspiration images. Either is fine. We will help guide the process from there.

Step 2: We Match You With the Right Artist

Once we understand your idea, we match you with the artist best suited to your tattoo style.

This is important because every artist has different strengths and specialities. Chris Sinclair is best for black and grey realism, portraits, and large-scale detailed work. Hayley is ideal for fine line, dot work, geometric and ornamental tattoos. Toni creates soft, delicate fine line and illustrative pieces. Nado specialises in bold colour and Neo-traditional, Japanese & Blackwork tattooing. Luke is our junior artist now taking on larger pieces and pushing into realism and many other styles. Jamie is our junior artist Anime specialist and is great with bold colour. Cristian, our apprentice, is suited small to medium scal projects and is currently taking on majority of styles.

Matching the right idea with the right artist gives you a better tattoo from the start.

Custom botancial chest piece by Toni

Step 3: Some Projects May Require a Free Consultation

For simple tattoos, we can often quote and book through messages.

For more complex projects, we may ask you to come in for a no-obligation free consultation. This is especially helpful for large pieces, cover-ups, sleeves or designs with a lot of detail- or simply when you find it easier to discuss your ideas in person. We know getting tattooed can feel like a big decision, especially if it is your first tattoo, so we are happy to talk it through properly.

Step 4: Book Your Appointment and Pay Your Deposit

Once the idea, artist, size, placement and quote are confirmed, we can book your appointment.

A deposit is required at the time of booking and range from $50 - $300 depending on the tattoo. Deposists come off the total amount quoted and can be paid either in-store (we have eftpos and cash available) or via bank transfer. This secures your appointment and allows the artist to begin preparing your custom design.

Our pricing includes the deposit, the custom design, the tattoo appointment and a free touch-up session if required.

Once your appointment is booked and your deposit is paid, you can relax. From there, the artist does the design work.

Step 5: Your Design Is Created Custom for You

At Eleven Pillars, we only do custom work.

You are welcome to send reference images, including other tattoos, artworks, Pinterest images or AI-generated ideas, but we use these as inspiration only. We do not copy another person’s tattoo or copy AI generated iamges straight to skin.

Your artist will take the vibe, style and details you like, then redesign everything so it is custom to you. This means the tattoo is created for your body, your placement and your chosen style.

A good tattoo design needs to do more than look nice on a screen. It needs to work on skin, heal well and age properly.

Tattoo by Hayley

Step 6: We Send the Design One Day Before Your Appointment

Our policy is to send your design one day prior to your appointment.

This gives you time to review the design and request a reasonable amount of changes before you come in. We want the design locked in before your appointment so the day itself feels smooth and organised.

Small changes are completely normal. Major changes to the whole idea, style or subject may need more time, so it is best to be clear with your brief from the beginning.

Tattoo by Jamie

Ready to Start Your Custom Tattoo?

If you are looking for custom tattoo design in Melbourne, Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio in Oakleigh is here to help bring your idea to life.

We are close to Chadstone, Carnegie, Bentleigh, Malvern East, Clayton and Oakleigh South, with 2-hour street parking in Oakleigh, free parking at Oakleigh train station just a 1-minute walk away and paid all-day parking at Oakleigh Central.

You can request a quote here. Send through a brief description of what you are after, along with any inspiration images, and we can take it from there!