Bill Kieffer recently finished an amazing piece on my right arm. I have 2 other pieces done by artists at another local shop and while I love those pieces, when I decided on my recent piece, I searched for a new artist. After looking at the online portfolios of many San Diego tattoo artists and reading countless Yelp reviews, I came across Bill at Eden Tattoo.
I emailed Bill with my tattoo concept (very preliminary at this point) to which he responded that he didn't feel he was the best fit for the piece given the silhouetted/graphic style of my concept and his more realistic/representational style, and recommended I check out the other artists in his shop. He also explained that I should rethink the size and desired location of my piece given its detailed nature. I really appreciated his honesty and artistic integrity. After spending more time figuring out what style I wanted this piece to be, the size, and location, I emailed Bill again and we set up a time to meet.
At our first meeting, we spent almost an hour discussing my concept. He asked questions, listened to me, and explained why some of my ideas wouldn't work well in a tattoo and recommended options. The time he spent with me made me feel that he really wanted to understand what I wanted, which was very important.
After our initial meeting, he emailed me the first sketch. It was beautiful but it wasn't quite what I had envisioned. He made some revisions and emailed me a second sketch. I teared up when I saw it - that was it! I wanted my tattoo to convey a feeling very personal to me, and his drawing captured it.
After four sittings, it was done and amazing! A month later, I emailed Bill a picture of me with my new tattoo on top of a snowy mountain in the Sierras, the place that inspired the concept. He responded that the piece looked great but asked if he could add a bit more detail to make it even better, at no charge. I was once again blown away by his artistic integrity. Â
Not only is Bill a skilled artist, he's very personable and friendly. I enjoyed chatting with him, and Toney, during my sittings. The atmosphere of the shop is very friendly, relaxed, and professional.
Thank you Bill! If another concept starts growing in my mind in the future, I'll be back for sure!
Toney was awesome tattoo artist and canvas artist , very friendly, and outgoing personality . Â He did a great job on my Japanese Kanji I had placed on my inner forearm in honor of my niece. Â He was very accommodating and able to schedule the appointment for me that was convenient. I would recommend Eden Tattoo Gallery and Toney for any ink you are wanting to get done. I will be returning to Toney for future work for sure
Review Source:I found Toney to be off-putting and unaccommodating. He may be an experienced artist but he acted like a diva. I met with him initially but didn't end up getting a tattoo. He didn't put me at ease or seem willing to work with me on my design because it wasn't consistent with his style.
Review Source:I first sought out Bill Keifer at Eden Tattoo in October 2010. Â I knew I wanted work done and needed a serious artist with a lot of talent (as I'm sure anyone would). Â I was researching many artists in the SD area as well as even further... as I said, I was willing to find a GREAT artist. Â It was actually here on Yelp where I found the reviews and website link that would lead me to the roughly 100+ hours of not just superb custom artwork that now decorates my arms and chest, but equally as important, the entire collaboration with an artist that takes your inspiration, emotion, energy and ideas and truly helps you create the art that you genuinely feel defines you and the piece that you couldn't have pictured any better if you tried.
Bill was prompt in returning my e-mail with not only an e-mail, but a phone call as well. Â It was from the call that we set up an initial consultation.... one of the many that we would have as we worked for two years on my pieces. Â Usually, people have a certain drive behind the work they want and I was no exception. Â I still consider myself lucky to have found Bill and his thorough work. Â He is a true professional and artist. Â I mentioned being inked for roughly 100+ hours, but that is not counting the consultations and discussions on any of the upcoming work we had in store. Â As I continued to get my work done with him, and he got to know me better, he seemed to effectively use that to help give him leverage when dealing with me in regards to the future pieces he would help me cultivate. Â I had many ideas and even more inspiration, yet really one or two directions I would want a piece to go and he was very good at helping me filter the expression and translating it into art that he could really unleash his creativity with.
When I first began my appointments, the studio, though in the same location, was not exactly the place that he has worked to make it now. Â Even then, as now, the studio was very clean and decorated with taste - a comfortable haven in which you could feel as though it was made to accommodate your very session. Â It has surely changed - more has been made of the cozy space and two great and unique artists (Rebecca and Toney) have joined the Eden legend - yet it somehow still accomplishes the cool, tasteful styling and intimate environment that it did before. Â As I got to know Bill, I realized that his approach to his work and the tattoo process was not unlike how he put his place together. Â Which I think speaks highly of the artists he works with as well. Â His work speaks for itself (if you haven't seen his portfolio - do it!) and his way of working with you is comfortable, friendly and fun. Â
In this age it seems that tattoos are everywhere and in all fairness, I'm sure almost everyone has some kind of reasoning behind them. Â With all the art Bill helped me realize, it wasn't just the end product - though that alone is more than sufficient - but the entire experience that was profound. Â It was all the different sessions, the friendship and the care that he put into the art I chose to reveal through this amazing, beautiful medium called Tattoo. Â As I told him during our initial meeting: "... its like I want my soul to bleed through my skin." Â With his sincerity, passion for the tattoo process and gifted, earnest method; he helped me do exactly that. Â I am forever grateful.
Toney is an awesome artist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Â I Â came in with a tattoo that seriously needed to be touched up on parts and added onto, he took my ideas and used his creativity and made it into a beautiful piece!!!. He actually listens and incorporates what you as the customer wants and likes. No doubt I'll definitely be going back ! . I referred my brother in law to him and is definitely very happy with the work hes gotten done from Toney!!! Awsomeeee shop!!!
--Stephanie Jacob
Toney Plugz is an amazing artist! Ive been going to him for almost 8 months now and every piece hes done for me is  extraordinary! I got my first tattoo from him when i turned 18 and he was so easy going. Toney has done a beautiful kuan yin buddha on my inner right forearm. Hes also done a cherry blossom and a beautilful geisha woman on my shoulder.
Toney Plugz is extreamy versatile with the work he can do. ANything you want, he can do it.
Love for Bill, Love for Tony. Â totally makes sense.
But where's the love for Rebecca? Â what an amazing artist with intense attention to detail. Â Everyone who gets a look at my latest indulgence is blown away, and I can't take half the credit. Â yeah it's on me, but it's all her doing.
it will take you a while to get an appointment, but for something you are going to enjoy forever, a few weeks is worth the wait. quick tattoos are better met at the place up the street that advertises 'half price Tuesdays'
Rebecca is FABULOUS!
Had been looking for someone to do my latest tattoo and she was just around the corner! Â I e-mailed the design to Rebecca, we had a consultation, and we set a date. Â She was very professional and extremely helpful. Â The office was clean and welcoming and she put so much effort into sterilization and safety. Â It was so great that I set up an appointment to have matching tats for my wife and I. Â It could not have been a better experience and we are thrilled with the results! Â We now recommend her to everyone looking to have a tattoo done.
THANKS!
Just had my first tattoo done here and I could not speak higher of my experience. After being told by many other tattoo shops that my tattoo couldn't be done in the size I wanted, I researched and found bill and Eden tattoo. Â He discussed my tattoo with me in great length, was reassuring, helpful and walked me through the whole process. He did a more then perfect job on my piece and took his time setting it up to make sure it was perfect. I would recommend him to anyone wanting to get a tattoo, especially their first one!
Review Source:This is a very chill place. Small, classy, clean and air conditioned. Probably as close to homey as a business that isn't your home will ever get. I haven't actually begun the piece I'm getting yet but I had such a nice consultation meeting with Rebecca I feel compelled to get ahead of myself. She navigated and guided me through my own thoughts around the piece I want to get and I'm super stoked to let the inking commence. This is not a place where you barge in, point at a dime-a-dozen picture in a book and you're out the door an hour later. I'll update this review as the work progresses, but as far as getting started goes, you'd be hard pressed to find anything better than Eden Tattoo.
Review Source:I waited soooooooo long to get my tattoo on my wrist. I did a lot of research and found eden tattoo. I felt very welcome and Hanna did an amazing job! We had first a appointment to figure out how the tattoo would be. Hanna was very understanding and listend to what i said and wanted! Im sooo happy with my new Tattoo because it looks amazing, exactly what i wanted!!! Thank you so much Hanna!
Review Source:I waited 3 years to get my first (only) piece. Â I first settled on a general design for my family crest, then started looking for an artist. Â FInally, I met Bill and his amazing portfolio while he was still working for Chronic Tattoo in PB. Â I was amazed by the style and breadth of his work, and immediately wanted to work with him. Â Due to his amazing work, he was booked up 6 months out at the time. Â I put down a deposit, scheduled an appointment, and promptly went to buy a car. Â This meant that when my appointment rolled around, I didn't have the money to keep my tattoo appointment. Â Bill kept my information, and I re-booked with him the following year. Â He honored my initial deposit, and provided me with an amazing design for my leg piece. Â He seemed to put into ink the exact visualization of what I wanted.
Bill's shop was very private, and we rocked out to whatever I was in the mood for during the three sessions I saw him for. Â Bill has a great personality, and we had a great time chatting about terrible b-horror flicks that we've seen over the years. Â As the piece slowly came together, I was extremely happy with the art I saw being put together. Â After all was said and done, I got a great price, a great experience, and a great design that my family can be proud of.
I still get lots of praise on the piece from random strangers, and have recommended him to anyone asking about a new tattoo. Â I can't wait to have him design my next piece! Â Thanks Bill!
Bill Kieffer is an amazing tattoo artist and shop proprietor. His shop is clean, stylish, and private. Not the typical shop, not a walk-in shop. Bill has been tattooing me since before he opened Eden Tattoo Gallery. He is a mad scientist of research, reference, and colors. Hannah Cowan also tattoos at Eden and a great artist in her own right.
Review Source:Meet Bill nice guy. But Hannah Cowan  is the artist that is doing my lower leg piece. The shop is great Hannah id a great artist. Wanna get some work done by Bill as well.
But the prices are fair. The shop is great clean and kinda feels like your are at home. Bill offered to set the music to what i ever i wanted while getting worked on., Hannah is just plan great. Just cannot say enough of good things about this place. Â I am going back to get more work from this shop. It is so hard to find a place that you can build a relation with to get work done at . This is definitely one of those places . Go check them out.
Years ago I got my first tattoo at a tattoo shop that's actually located a couple blocks away from Bill's studio. While I like the tattoo, and it's sentimental to me, and I don't regret it one bit, it did turn out to be a bit of a learning experience. There are a couple of flaws in the design that unfortunately I didn't notice until after it was already completed, and the artist wasn't probably as skilled as I would have liked.
I'd seen Bill's work "in the wild" a few times and always loved what he'd done. When the time finally came to get my second tattoo I knew exactly who I wanted to create the art.
The first thing you need to know about Bill is he's extremely busy. (In fact, as a general rule, if you call an artist and he's available the next 3 days, there's probably a reason for that.) I wound up waiting about 3 months to fit the first appointment into both of our schedules, and about an extra three months after that to complete the piece.
When I met with Bill for a consultation, I knew I'd made the right choice. He took my rough idea and in about 20 minutes breathed life into it. In his first attempt he really captured the spirit of what I was looking for. With a couple of minor changes Bill put together the perfect design.
His new studio is quite comfortable, and the collective 4 hours I was there went by about as fast as 4 hours can go by with a needle in your arm. The artwork came out better than I could have possibly imagined.
Modifying your body in a permanent manner is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. You need a good artist, and IMNSHO Bill is the best. You'll have to make your appointment weeks (months?) in advance, but your patience will be rewarded.
I am a fan of Bill, the artist and Bill the human.
I had a piece in mind and  was on the hunt for an artist. I was armed with three artists I wanted to see, with an emphasis on one in particular. My boyfriend was on the hunt as well and one of his friend's suggested Eden, so i stole the info and decided I would look into it  as well. I called my cousin over and together, riding a caffeine buzz, we went around town and talked with various artists. After seeing a few people, I was pretty burnt out but, drove to Bill's anyway. Parked across the street, I saw Bill's shop and was ready  to head home. My cousin said, "you're here, you may as well run in and check it out."  I figured she was right and off we went.
Bill was cleaning up, most likely from an earlier appointment. I was completely unaware of this studio, so me just waltzing in I'm sure caught him by surprise. Immediately, I liked the cozy, clean, serene feeling of this place. I liked that is was chic and modern but, not pretentious. I liked that even though, he could have been annoyed with me barging in, he instead greeted me with a warm, sincere smile. I loved that I did not see flash but, instead saw Bill's brilliant artwork. I wanted to see more.
I told him the story of how I came to find him and asked for a card. At the time, he didn't have any but, instead he offered me his computer, so that we could look at his website. As I was perusing the site, we chatted about a this and that and instantly became comfortable with this artist stranger, like he and I could be friends. I was truly impressed with what I saw on his easy-to-navigate site. So much, in fact, that I exclaimed and stood up when I saw one in particular. I yelled out something like, I"m your new biggest fan!" I knew that this man was THE man for my piece.
I left there with a feeling of  (insert angelic sound). Like everything was right in the world. I knew what I wanted, and I had found just the man to give it to me. The next time I saw him was to discuss my piece and make some appointments. I got his very first appointment card. Tee hee. I'm special. ;-)
Bill is gentle, considerate, sweet, funny, an outstanding artist, a distinguished tattoo artist and humble. After two long sessions, my piece is now complete. If it's showing, I get no less than three compliments about it, each person raving about how real it looks and who's the artist. To which i respond, "Bill of course", and hand them a business card. Yes, i ALWAYS have them on me.
I have to admit, my Kieffer tattoo is by far, one of the best I've ever seen. And, how lucky am I that I get to wear it? So rad!
PS. Thanks Ivonne C. for giving up the info on Bill, which I stole for myself.
This is the 3rd shop I've been to, and it is definitely the most comfortable experience I've had. This is definitely not your typical Tattoo Parlor! Bill makes sure as a client you are completely satisfied with every part of the experience. He's very knowledgeable about the industry and will be happy to answer all of your questions. Most importantly he is an incredible custom artist and will work with you diligently to make sure you get exactly what you're looking for.
One of the things I really like is the ability to watch movies. Watching a  few movies during a 5 hour tattoo session makes things go by MUCH better than they would if you were listening to music that you might not even like!
This is the only place I've been to in San Diego, but from what I've seen I'd recommend him to almost anyone.
I moved from the east coast out to San Diego and I had NO IDEA who to go to with my tattoo ideas. I had never gotten one before and I just kept talking about it with friends native to San Diego. I got a lot of suggestions but when I reviewed their artwork I was not impressed.
Then my friend told me about Bill at Eden Tattoo. She said that he was great with newbies and he would make me feel comfortable. I went to the website to look at his work and I had to say, I was blown away! The detail, the color and the fact that he is the only artist in there made me feel at ease, since I was getting a back piece and would be in my bathing suit top the whole time.
I emailed Bill, which he recommends, and then he called me within a week to set up an appointment. When I entered his shop I felt very comfortable. He is the only artist that works there and he assured me that he could close the shades and lock the door so we could have privacy during my appointments. He also has water and he can put the temperature at whatever temperature you feel the most comfortable! After I left I was really excited to start! Bill is such a talented artist that I had to wait 3 months to start my work but it's only because he does such great work and he gets busy.
Bill is a very professional and clean artist. I am a medical professional and I know how clean is clean. And his place is CLEAN! And he opens all the needles and ink in front of you so you know that it was only meant for you. Bill uses disposable needles which makes me feel waay more comfortable then the artists out there that sterilize their needles and use them again.
I had a back piece done by Bill and he just finished it! I am soo happy with the detail and color! He always tried to make me as comfortable as possible and he answered my questions with ease.
Well, what I can say is that Bill has the touch to work on women and make things very feminine. That was such a big problem for me when I was looking for an artist. I recommended him to my husband who is now doing a full sleeve! He is doing portraits which look soo good! My husband actually told me that someone asked him if his tattoo was a stick on tattoo! The person said that he had never seen anything look so realistic!
In conclusion, I loved my experience soo much that I will be going back to Bill in a year to start my leg! He is so diverse and welcoming that I would recommend anyone to have a consultation with him!
I would totally recommend Bill for any of your tattoo needs! His prices are reasonable and comparable to other places. But I think its way more worth it to go to Eden Tattoo because you will get a better quality tattoo!
Bill is THEEE BEST. He did my half-sleeve, and I don't think I'd go to anyone else. I have a few more large pieces planned. People stop me all the time to ask about my artwork.
He really makes you feel like you are the most important client in the world, at all times. Always flexible and willing to work with what's going on with you on any particular day, he's both professional AND talented.
I have to agree with Ivonne, Bill runs an excellent business. Â He communicates quickly with you over email, phone, and in person. Â No question seemed to be to small to ask. Â This was my first Tattoo, and after going with friends to get theirs from other Artists, I was really glad I picked Bill.
He explains every step of the process, everything is Very clean, and his shop is very nicely setup. Â Truly an artist who also has his business side in order (not always the case with Artsy Types).
His web site shows great examples of his work!
After having over 21 hours worth of tattoo work from other shops I decided it was time to switch it up for my next piece. I have had my eye on Bill Kieffer for a while back in the days when he worked for Chronic Tattoo. He has since opened his own studio in North Park.
His studio is private, quiet, clean and a pro shop through and through. No gimmicks, no framed flash tattoos that other shops have on the walls. From the time I called him for a consultation, the communication with him has been very thorough, welcoming, friendly and best of all, no typical tattoo artist ego and snobbery. He treats you like a client, knows you're the one wearing the permanency and makes sure you're on the same page before one drop is inked in. Phone calls are returned, emails are responded to and my experience with him has been fantastic up until this point and I am only about 20% in to my sleeve. It will be several sessions before it is completed but I can't wait 5 months to give him a review. If the finished piece and future sessions are going to be anything like my last one, I am gonna be one very happy, ink sporting customer.
If you plan on giving him a chance, please make note he is not a walk-in kind of joint. Good tattoo artists work by appointment only basis and they are booked for a while, there is a reason for that... just sayin'.
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