The best way to judge an artist is to see them in action. If they give you some lame excuse for you not to watch, go somewhere else. I once heard a studio tell a prospective client that it was against health board regulations for them to view a work in progress. This is bull, the only reason not to allow someone to watch is if the client being tattooed has an objection. A- This is irrelevant.
Some artists charge by size, others by the hour.
Same goes for someone charging more. It does not mean they are better. A- This depends on who you ask. Naturally, you are going to feel some discomfort, more irritating than painful. Everyone has a different pain tolerance level, as well, the time of day can have different effects on people.