OT: Tattoo artist recommendations?
Looking for recommendations for a tattoo artist. Prefer SE Michigan - but will travel to much of the LP/Toledo area also.
Tattoo design will be custom, watercolor/watercolor-ish, with a good bit of color.
Desired outcome is like graphic below, but different glyphs and with a background.
Get the guy who did this...
There are a ton of great artists around. I'm working with a guy in Flint that has completed most of my sleeve and he is crazy talented, but booked through October. Most good artists will be at least 2-3 months out, so don't expect something quick.
I generally assume that most anyone worth working with will be at least a month or two out...
The guy I work with, and who I highly recommend Justin B at the Electric Chair in Flint. His instagram shows his work -
https://www.instagram.com/tattoozbyjustin/
Also, I highly recommend Hush. It's a gel you can apply prior to your tattoo that will completely numb everything. Will feel like a pencil drawing on you for roughly 2 hours. Does not interfere with coloring / healing. HIGHLY recommend.
I'm also happy to share what he has done on my arm, if you need more information.
Ewww ... someone got the Cannibal Holocaust impaled woman as a tattoo?
Stay classy....
Raven over in Otsego (bit north of Kalamazoo) does amazing work. She’s been in some tattoo magazines
Raven is real good, she’s booked for awhile tho, she did do walk ins on saturdays I believe but idk how that is with the whole COVID situation
Yea she’s always booked out a couple months ... great artist and worth it. Expensive too.
Cool design.
The picture shown is the Mayan Long Count Date 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Kumku - the beginning date for creation ( August 11, 3114 BC).
I'm going for my wedding date - 12.19.7.9.0 2 Ahau 3 Mol, and replacing the "Lord of the Night" last glyph with the glyph for nupaj (to marry).
They were only off by about 13.8 billion years, so I can see why you would want to do this.
They weren't off by anything really.
The Mayan creation story involves things more like a singularity than an actual creation. The August 3114 BC date is the date of the beginning of the third creation.
Don't be a follower, be a rebel and don't get a tattoo.
Eh - I spent 45 years not getting a tattoo, even though I've always liked well done ones.
Now I actually decided on something I want permanently inked.
I'm going to have to ask you to get off my lawn sir.
I laughed : )
when everyone has a tattoo, nobody has a tattoo.
When everyone has a tattoo, not having one becomes distinctive.
Nobody "sees" tattoos any more, except other people with tattoos. Nobody notices your dumb "sleeves," because too many people who look exactly like you have the same stupid meaningless shit on their arms.
There are many cultures where tattoos are a right of passage into maturity, or marital status, or rank, or whatever, where the tattoo is expected and therefore invisible, really. And that's what tattoos are in our society, except there is no underlying meaning. You're just another dumb person trying to stand out by doing something ten million other simpletons have done to try to stand out. And if it involves Chinese characters, then chances are you fucked up and it's *really* dumb.
BIG exception: face tattoos. If you have a face tattoo, then you in fact *have* a fucking tattoo.
Bob Tyrrell
Tyrell does amazing portrait/blackwork - but he doesn't really do watercolor type stuff.
My bad. Dude from work always touts him. I don’t know shit about tats.
He IS crazy good - just not the style I'm looking for.
I went to high school with this guy:
I have not gotten a tattoo from him, but his reviews sound really good. His shop is in St. Johns.
I like a lot of the work that Ryan Methric has done:
https://www.instagram.com/rm.ink/?hl=en
I think he is still at North Main Tattoo in Plymouth.
Yes! That's my buddy and he puts out amazing work. He actually just moved to Dark Sky in Ferndale. Check out his Instagram.
Tattoo artists are similar to plastic surgeons ... if you find one that doesn't have a long wait, they're probably not the right one for the job. In both situations the intentions are permanent so it's usually worth the wait.
Plastic surgeons make the world a better place though. Important distinction.
Top 5 I've looked at so far (to give folks an idea what I'm looking for):
Aura Dalian @ North Main Plymouth
https://www.instagram.com/auradalian/?hl=en
Sarah Giacolone @ Electric Chair Flint
https://www.instagram.com/zombies8myshoe/?hl=en
Jonathan Pinfield-Wells @ Black Ball Midland
https://www.instagram.com/jonathanpinfieldwells/
Jordan Taylor @ Black Ball Midland
https://www.instagram.com/slightlybitterginger/
Btw, if you're looking for a barber too...
Bro - Andrea Berg at Iconic in Detroit. She is a freaking master. I would not go to anyone else.
https://www.instagram.com/burg_tattoos/
Here is the tattoo she did for me:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Btj2HAPgZkG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
I designed it, she made it better and did her magic.
My wife goes to Premiere Tattoo Company in Livonia, roughly Middlebelt / Six Mile area. It's cash-only, but she really enjoys their work and it is pretty good, I must say.
Mister Cartoon
This guy is Wonderful.
I'm kinda glad I never got a Bo Schembechler tattoo.
I know right, I'm a little weary of this blowing up like the JoPa thing with my big block M tattoo.