The hands doing the work.

How to pick an artist

Look at healed work, not fresh photos. A fresh tattoo always looks sharp — every line is crisp, every gradient is smooth, and none of it tells you a thing about technique. Ask any artist, anywhere, to show you something they did five years ago in the style you want. The good ones are proud to.

Then check that their portfolio matches your idea specifically. An artist who is world-class at traditional may not be the right hand for a photorealistic portrait, and vice versa. Range is what a studio provides; specialization is what an artist provides.

Tell us what you're after when you call and we'll put you with the right person. If nobody here is the right fit, we'll say so — that happens a few times a year and nobody has ever regretted hearing it.

Booking with a specific artist

• Call (586) 949-6200 and say who and what — we'll tell you the real current wait
• Consultations are free, in person or by phone, with no deposit
• A deposit is taken to hold a booked session and comes off the final cost
• Large projects book as standing sessions every three to five weeks
• Stay with one artist across a sleeve — style consistency is nearly impossible to fake between two hands

What to expect at your first visit →