Friday Categories – 7:30PM until close:

Best Asian Art (3 Points, 2 Points if the Tattoo is Healed)
Best Polynesian (3 Points)
Best Traditional (3 Points)
Best Lettering/Script (3 Points)
Small Colour (<30cm) (3 Points)
Small Black & Grey (<30cm) (3 Points)
Best Fine Line (3 Points)
Tattoo of the Day Friday (5 Points)
Runner Up Tattoo of the Day (3 Points)

Saturday Categories – 7:30PM until close:

Best Blackwork (3 Points)
Best Geometric (3 Points)
Best Neo-Traditional (3 Points)
Large Colour (>30cm) (3 Points, 2 Points if the Tattoo is Healed)
Large Black & Grey (3 Points, 2 Points if the Tattoo is Healed) (3 Points)
Best Freehand (3 Points)
Best Photo Realism (Photo Ref.) (3 Points)
Tattoo of the Day Saturday (5 Points)
Runner Up Tattoo of the Day (3 Points)

Sunday Categories – 3:00PM until close:

Best Booth (No Points)
Best Pop Culture / Anime (3 Points)
Best Realism (3 Points)
Best Collaboration Tattoo (5 Points)
Runner Up Best Collaboration (3 Points)
Tattoo of the Day Sunday (5 Points)
Runner Up Tattoo of the Day (3 Points)
Best Multi-Day Tattoo (2+ days) (5 Points)
Runner Up Best Multi-Day (2 Points)
Tattoo of the Show (2 Points)

NEW RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE 2023 AUSTRALIAN TATTOO SERIES:

Please take a moment to read through the new rules and requirements for the 2023 Australian Tattoo Series Competitions. If you are unsure of how these changes effect you or you would like more clarification, please email brock@australianexhibitions.com.au

Limited Entries and Category Capacity:

– Solo Artists are only allowed to enter ONE niche category and Tattoo of the Day each day of the event.
For example: On Friday, You may enter Best Traditional and Tattoo of the Day Friday, but not Best Traditional, Best Polynesian and Tattoo of the Day.

– There is a cap of 1 entry per artist per category, IE you can only enter 1 piece into Neo-Traditional.

– Entries per category have now been capped at 30 Entries, once the category is full there will be no more entries accepted.

Solo Artist Niche Categories:

The Solo Artist Niche categories for the Australian Tattoo Series are:
Best Asian Art, Best Polynesian, Best Traditional, Best Lettering/Script, Best Small Colour, Best Small Black & Grey, Best Geometric, Best Blackwork, Best Fine Line, Best Neo-Traditional, Best Large Colour, Best Large Black & Grey, Best Freehand, Best Pop Culture/Anime and Best Photo Realism.

Solo Artist Major Award Categories:

The Solo Artist Major Award Categories for the Australian Tattoo Series are: Tattoo of the Day Friday, Tattoo of the Day Saturday, Tattoo of the Day Sunday, Best Multi-Day and Tattoo of the Show.

What Categories can you enter Healed or Partially Healed Tattoos?

– An exhibiting Artist can enter Healed or Partially Healed tattoos into the Best Asian Art, Large Black and Grey and Large Colour categories.

– If a healed tattoo wins one of these 3 categories, they will win 2 points instead of the standard 3 points for a Niche category.

What happens if a Healed Tattoo wins Best Asian Art, Large Colour or Large Black and Grey?

– Any healed or partially healed tattoos that win one of the applicable categories can no longer enter that tattoo at a future round of The CTAA Australian Tattoo Series. IE: Your Best Asian Art tattoo on your client “Paul”, if this tattoo wins, Paul’s tattoo can not be entered at the next or any future rounds.

– Exhibiting Artists can enter another or a different Healed/Partially Healed tattoo at future rounds.

– All Category Winning Healed or Partially Healed Tattoos will be documented and photographed, if you attempt to re-enter a winning piece your tattoo will be removed from the competition.

Only Exhibiting Artists can enter the Competitions:

– Only Artists exhibiting at the event can enter their work into the Australian Tattoo Series.

Tattoo of the Day Eligibility Requirements:

– Tattoo of the Day entries MUST be started and finished on the day of that category, no exceptions.

– Collaborations can not be entered into Tattoo of the Day.

– Tattoos entered into Tattoo of the Day can not be continued to enter into Best Multi-Day.

– Healed work can not be entered into Tattoo of the Day.

– Tattoos done over more than one day can not be entered into Tattoo of the Day.

– A Tattoo Official will be on-site to monitor all TOTD Entries.

Best Multi-Day Eligibility Requirements:

– Best Multi Day entries MUST be completed over 2 or more days at the event.

– Best Multi Day entries MUST be started and finished at the event, no exceptions.

– Tattoos entered into Tattoo of the Day can not be continued and entered into Best Multi-Day.

– Collaborations can not be entered into Best Multi-Day.

– Healed work can not be entered into Best Multi-Day.

– Tattoos completed in one day can not be entered into Best Multi-Day.

– A Tattoo Official will be on-site to confirm the tattoos duration.

Tattoo of the Show Elegibility Requirements:

– Tattoo of the Show is an automatic entry category for the winners of Tattoo of the Day Friday, Tattoo of the Day Saturday, Tattoo of the Day Sunday and Best Multi-Day. The CTAA Approved judging panel will decide which major award winning tattoo will be crowned as the Tattoo of the Show once all other award winners have been announced.

Best Collaboration Details and Eligibility Requirements:

– Best Collaboration is now in it’s own competition with a cash prize of $20,000.

– Artists enter as Teams to accumulate points in the Australian Tattoo Series.

– Collaboration tattoos can only enter the Collaboration Competition and are not eligible to enter Tattoo of the Day, Best Multi Day or Tattoo of the Show.

– Artists enter as a Team and can give their Team a Name.

– Minimum of 2 artists per Team.

– Maximum of 6 artists per Team.

– If a collaboration team wants to add, remove or replace a Team Member they must register as a new Team and no accumulated points will be brought across.

– The Team with the most points after 7 rounds of the Australian Tattoo Series will win the cash prize, this earning will be divided equally by the Team Members.

– A maximum of 2 Collaboration Trophies will be awarded per round, additional trophies for winning Teams can be purchased at an additional cost.

– Entered Collaboration Tattoos must have equal contribution (or close to) from each individual Team Member.

– For participating Entries to accumulate 1 point, the tattoo must be finished and displayed on-stage during the award show. Any Entries that are not completed will not accumulate points.

– Participation points in best Collaboration can not be accumulated if your entry is the winner or the runner up in the competition.

Blackwork Definition:

Tattoos entered into the Blackwork Category must only contain Black Ink, no greywash and no colours.

Small/Large Colour or Black & Grey Measurements:

– All entries in Small Colour and Small Black and Grey will now be measured by a 30cm X 30cm Template that the tattoo must fit within. If it does not fit it will be moved to the Large alternative category.

Best Photo Realism Eligibility Requirements:

– A photo reference must be supplied on-stage for Best Photo Realism.

– No manipulated images or photoshopped designs are eligible in this category, they will be eligible in Best Realism.

Best Freehand Eligibility Requirements:

– A photo of the empty canvas must be taken and time-stamped prior to commencing the Freehand Tattoo.

– No pre-existing line work or stencils can be used.

Disqualifications & Refunds:

– Any Artist or Team found not to be following the rules will be disqualified at the line by a Tattoo Official or Official Judge on-stage.

– If a tattoo is disqualified there is no refund of the entry costs.