Lettering Tattoos in Tbilisi — Script, Typography and Words by Ivan Tahine

Lettering tattoos look simple. They're not.
A single curved letter done slightly off, a word that sits at a two-degree angle, kerning that's uneven by a millimetre — all of it shows. I've seen beautifully executed realism portraits on the same person as lettering work that's unreadable because the artist didn't understand typography. Words deserve as much attention as any other subject.
I work with both Latin and Cyrillic script, and I've been doing lettering for over ten years. Here's how I approach it.

Cursive / handwriting script — The most popular. Flowing, connected letterforms that feel personal and elegant. The challenge is consistency — every loop and connection has to feel like the same hand. I design all cursive lettering digitally before cutting a stencil, so I can proof the consistency before anything touches your skin.
Serif and sans-serif typography — Cleaner, more architectural letterforms. Often chosen for quotes where clarity matters more than flourish. Works beautifully as a standalone piece or integrated with an illustration.
Blackletter / Gothic — Bold, angular, historical. Popular for meaningful words or names where the weight of the font reinforces the meaning.
Cyrillic script — I work with Russian lettering regularly — both cursive and print. This is one of the things that sets my studio apart from many in Tbilisi, where artists may not have the same familiarity with the Cyrillic alphabet.
Hebrew lettering — I have experience with Hebrew script. If you're looking for Hebrew lettering in Tbilisi, I can discuss your project and give you an honest assessment of whether I'm the right fit.
Minimalist single-needle lettering — Very thin, delicate letterforms. These suit clients who want something subtle and refined. Note that ultra-fine lettering has a shorter lifespan than bolder work — the lines eventually spread slightly with age.

Before designing your lettering tattoo, I need:

• The exact text — Proofread it. Then proofread it again. Once it's tattooed, a typo is permanent.
• Language — So I can work in the right alphabet and check the text makes sense
• Font direction — Cursive, print, gothic, minimal? Do you have examples you like?
• Placement and size — A forearm piece has different constraints than a collarbone piece
• Any integration — Is the lettering standalone or combined with other imagery?

If you're tattooing in a language that isn't your first — a Hebrew quote, a Russian phrase — please have a native speaker verify the text before we start. I'll flag anything that looks off, but you're responsible for the final text.

Forearm — The most common. Good length for longer phrases, easy to show or hide.
Inner arm — More private placement. Suits short phrases or single words.
Collarbone — Elegant and feminine. Limited length unless the text wraps, which requires careful layout planning.
Ribs — Popular for longer quotes. More painful than most placements; the skin moves constantly here, which requires experience to manage.
Spine — Works beautifully for a vertical single word or short phrase.
Behind the ear — Fine for very short text (1–3 letters, a date). Limited to small, simple letterforms at this size.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can you replicate my own handwriting? Sometimes. I need a high-resolution scan of the handwriting, and the letterforms need to be clean enough to translate to skin. I'll tell you upfront if it's workable.
How long will lettering last? Bold lettering holds up very well for many years. Ultra-fine single-needle lettering is more susceptible to spreading over time. I'll recommend a weight appropriate for the longevity you want.
Can I add an illustration around existing lettering? Yes. This is a common request and one I enjoy — integrating existing text into a larger composition. Send me a photo of what you have and what direction you're thinking.