Black Orchid Custom Tattoo Studio

I have gone to Black Orchid several times over the past three years.  Brian Warnekros is my artist and I'm very appreciative of his skill.  I get complimented all the time on my half sleeve.

I love the feel of the shop - it's always clean, very stylish and respectful to the structure of the building.  You can't beat a beautifully converted old Southern home.  The artists' non-tattoo artwork typically graces the walls and occasionally they have special themes up (like skate decks, for example).  I think it's a great method for sending home the concept that the tattooers are actual artists and deserve that respect.

Here's my normal process for a small piece:  I call the shop with a general idea in mind and an approximation of when I'd like to have it done.  Sometimes this requires a little bit of flexibility with my appointment times, because it's a busy shop.  I wouldn't want to go somewhere that wasn't consistently busy.  In making the appointment, I pay my $50 deposit for the time slot.  This deposit is later credited to my balance.  I go to the appointment time with a general idea of what I want.  I normally hand Brian a few print outs and point out what I like from each print and then he comes up with something custom that incorporates the parts that I like.  I sit, he tats, I gush.

For bigger pieces, I generally have a consult and give him the opportunity to sketch in advance.  Expect a bigger deposit for a bigger tattoo.  

I told him once that I was interested in a white ink tattoo - something that could be a tiny bit more subtle.  He explained to me that, for most people, the white doesn't stay a true white and instead turns yellow or eggplant.  Because he wouldn't want to give me a tattoo that would later be fugly, we tested an inconspicuous spot to see how I held the color.  I appreciated that he took the time to do that (fyi, I'm a yellow).  All of my other tattoos have held up beautifully and, as I said before, I get tons of compliments.

Amazing artists good vibes and super clean cool building!

Out of the 3 tattoo shops I have been to, I won't be returning to this one. I went to this place while it was still across from York Hall when I was attending SCAD due to very good recommendations from a lot of people that I know. I'm not sure who the tattoo "artist" was but he spent about a half hour on my tattoo, missed a few spots, and rushed when his lunch arrived. Spent money on a shit tattoo and I won't even come back to get it touched up I was so dissatisfied. I'll probably wait until I visit my hometown and go to one of our good shops there to do it for me. I do not recommend this establishment.