Oh, if only there were six stars. Or ten. Or fifty.
When I arrived in Austin four years ago I immediately began searching for a new tattoo studio. I poured over dozens of websites and portfolios, and the only artist whose work really caught my eye was Michael Norris.
After drooling over his website for several years I finally had the time, the money ,and the right mindset for a large tattoo, and so I set out without hesitation for east 11th Street. The experience has been phenomenal - the studio is gorgeous, the conversation is intelligent and comfortable, and my leg is covered with an incredible, one-of-a-kind piece of artwork. Michael is professional and personable at the same time. He sketches your piece directly onto your skin (none of that stencil routine), and his hand is firm but not heavy. He understands human anatomy and uses this knowledge to position your piece so it compliments the contours of your body. And his mastery of both color and grayscale work is unmatched in Austin, in my opinion.
If you are serious about tattoos and want something beautiful and unique, go here. You will not regret it.
Just wanted to update. Michael completed the last session of my half-sleeve this weekend, and the experience has been awesome. The final touch-up session allowed him to evaluate how I had healed (really well), assess the effectiveness of the tat, and make some last-minute tweaks to send me away pleased with a total work of art. I couldn't be happier, and when I save up some more cash I'll be back to do the other arm and start thinking of a chest piece.
Review Source:I highly recommend Michael Norris ( HUBTATTOO ) as your one and only tattoo artist. There is no one better. He is AMAZING at what he does. i was so nervous about getting my sleeve (pain wise) and Michael really knows how to calm the mind. He really makes sure that you are comfortable.
My husband comes with me every appt. and hasn't really ever wanted anymore tattoos but after watching Michael work on my arm he now wants Michael's artwork on his body as well.
There needs to be more than 5 stars to rate Michael's artwork - It is off the charts!!!
There aren't enough stars in the sky, let alone on Yelp, to quantify my appreciation of Michael's work. He's a bad ass artist and dude in general. He gave my girlfriend and I our first tattoos and will continue to tattoo me until one of us dies. He was the only one willing to give a knuckle tattoo as a first piece which I'm still thankful for. I also trust him to tattoo my family and closest friends, and is always in my suggestions of artists when people ask. I know nobody would ever be disappointed with a piece he did. His portfolio speaks for itself, but as far as a professional goes, he's top notch. Tip: book early during his booking period. He's in high demand !
Review Source:If you want amazing work, great service, a comfortable atmosphere, and an artist who is very personable and full of integrity I recommend Hubtattoo. I first started working with Micheal about a year ago when he was still working at Southside Tattoo. I was originally drawn to his work souly through his portfolio. Then I met Micheal who blew me away with his commitment to his work. I wanted (and am in the process of getting) my whole back done. Its also a cover up. I originally had a piece of shit tribal spanning shoulder blade to shoulder blade, now I have a beautifully drawn and designed grizzly bear surrounded by columbines and Japanese clouds. I never thought I could have had as beautiful of work I have now. I won't ever forget when Micheal called me telling me he was uncomfortable with tattooing me with the original plan we had made and explained how he had been working (in his spare time might I add) on how we could make the design looked better. When we met and I saw what he had drawn up it blew me away. It incorporated everything I wanted in my tattoo but did it in a much more amazing way. He has worked with me and my inconsistent schedule. His new shop is damn near breath taking. I have never seen a tattoo shop look like Micheal's. Its more like an art gallery that provides a comfortable atmosphere that makes you not want to leave. I HIGHLY recommend Hubtattoo for any and all tattoo work you want.
Review Source:After my fist sleeve was so bad ass (see my previous review), I had to come back for more. So Michael is currently working on a sleeve for my other arm. He thought about how it would look with my existing sleeve, bringing symmetry between the two and that really makes the tattoo. He has that attention to detail. This sleeve already looks super cool and gets attention where ever I go. I can't wait to see it finished. Next weekend we start on color! More to come...
Review Source:While I haven't had my appointment with Michael yet, I have met with him and was so impressed by his knowledge of movement and flow of a persons body that I knew I was in good hands. I presented Michael with an intricate cross that I wanted on my back... he looked at it, marveled at it's design and then told my why it wouldn't work and in all my other experiences with tattoo, I have never met any one so "involved" and in tune with the process... it's not just slapping ink on skin for Michael. He's an artist and a damn fine one from what I've seen. I'm excited to be part of his creations.
Review Source:Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Â The One?
I'm not sure about all that frilly romance stuff but tattoo-wise, Michael Norris is my one and only.
It all started with two words that I had tattooed on my arm.  "Mischief Managed."  I brought in the font I wanted, etc.  That was all.  Spur of the moment - I had some small tattoos done at  _InsertTattooShopNameHere_  in Chicago - wasn't attached (mentally) to them but I never really wanted any others.
BUT.
From the second he started working on those two simple words, there was something special about MIchael. Â I hadn't even looked at his portfolio - I didn't need to. Â He understood me, I understood him - a true artist who draws from wherever it is that true artists reach into and extract beauty and soul.
I now have beautiful phoenixes extended from the top of my foot to my knee. Â Follow that further and it leads to a dragon backpiece currently in progress. Â They are all a part of me - defining me. Â I didn't bring in a picture. Â We just talked about phoenixes. Â I just let him draw on my body with Sharpies. Â When I looked into the mirror, the drawing was magic. Â Perfect. Â I didn't change a thing.
I moved from Austin to California and no. one. will ever work on these tattoos but MIchael. Â "You mean you fly all the way from California to Austin just for your tattoos?" Â Yes. Â Yes. Â Unreservedly, passionately, emphatically yes.
And those other tattoos? Â The ones that after discovering what the difference is between "meh" and wearing something risen from the hands of an artist? Â They're being covered up. Â By Michael.
I love Mike Norris as an artist and as a person. Â He made (what I consider) to be a large first tattoo to be a remarkably pleasant process. Â
I started off, like many, with a vague idea and some internet picture print-outs to present to Mike. Â He held onto it until our first session a few months later. Â During the first session, he tactfully described how best to anatomically fit my peacock onto the side of my leg. Â I watched as he skillfully sketched what he envisioned onto my leg with Sharpie and highlighters casually referencing a book of Chinese paintings that had a focus on peacocks. Â I was stunned and could find no reason for hesitation. Â
Mike has a comforting and reassuring presence, and I had no trouble letting him take charge. Â Judging a person's skill in art is really subjective... but I'll just say he is really skilled in art and highly qualified. Â The result has been stunning. Â
Strongly recommended!
I came to Mike with an idea for a half sleeve after scoping the work he has displayed online. Our discussion around my rough idea made clear the depth of his knowledge and passion for his craft. By the time we were done, the tattoo had changed significantly (for the better) and he'd combined my original idea with a second tattoo (a koi) that I was going to do at a later time. Very cool creative process - be prepared to be challenged about what you want, because Mike will make it better, if you'll let him!
With just the outline of the koi done, I am getting questioned about it far more frequently than my other tattoos, and have received numerous comments on the sharpness and quality of the lines. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of this work come to life.
I'm currently getting a sleeve done by Michael Norris and like Dale S. and Heather B. have already written, he is superb and as good as it gets. Â I came to him with and idea that was not traditional, octopus and butterflies, and after talking, I let him draw what he thought would look good and in a matter of minutes he had free handed with a sharpie marker a true work of art on my arm and shoulder. Â I couldn't believe it. Â He got inside my idea and brought it to life even better than I could imagine. Â He even incorporated other tattoos I had into the piece with a creativity that was simple and beautiful.
His placement of the tattoo elements on the body has a flow that elongates and compliments the body so that it blends with the person rather than a stamp sitting on the skin. Â He also has a wonderful touch with line quality and color and can be bold or delicate depending on what you are going for. Â He is also very kind and nice and was able to talk to me and calm me down when I started to twitch. Â He made the experience so enjoyable and I can't wait to go back next month.
I get stopped every day in the store or on the street by people who are blown away by the work and my piece isn't even finished yet. Â
Only words of advice I can give, LISTEN TO THE MAN! Â His suggestions were ones that at first were bigger and more detailed than I originally thought and it scared me at first but I'm so glad I listened to him. Â His suggestions are the parts of the tattoo that are the most stunning.
About the artist and man, Micheal Norris, he is a complete professional. Micheal listens to you, learns about you and your passions. He then transforms your ideas into a visual reality. Never would he impose his own ideas about what he thinks you want, colaborating with you to acheive YOUR ideas is what he is all about. A complete joy to converse with, he makes you feel as if you've known him your whole life. Talented beyond artistry, he has the bigger picture going on and it's all about you.
Review Source:I had Michael do a large piece on my leg last year, and I can honestly say that everything about the experience and the tattoo are perfect! He listened carefully to what I wanted, and added his own inspired interpretation. He was careful about making sure the tattoo fit my body. He was professional, on time, and his space was immaculately clean. He was very considerate about my comfort and made sitting for the work easy. Above all else his artistry is stellar!
Review Source:Hello, my name is Heather and I am a tattoo snob. Â In a day and age when everyone seems to have a tramp stamp or spring break mishap it is important to me that people understand I am not in this population. Â I have worked hard for over 20 years at keeping my skin out of the sun so it will be the perfect vampiric white to imitate a canvas. Â Over the course of the last 20 years I have filled my body with the most colorful custom japanese tattoos money can buy. Â
In January of 2010 I was wanting a Koi sleeve and did research on the internet for weeks. Â I found Michael Norris and knew I had to have work by this guy. Â Even though I was excited to have his work I have to admit I arrived with my tattoo snob chip on my shoulder. Â After all, I have been to some of the best in the business, could this guy really hang? Â
When I showed for my outline appt he didn't even have a drawing ready of what we had talked about. Â Hmmm..... my skeptic was triggered. Â We looked through a book together of a few Koi fish and he pulled out his markers. Â He just started sketching free hand right on my arm~ no stencil in sight. Â Before my very eyes the beauty of his work started to take shape. Â I was completely blown away. Â
Now that my Koi is complete I get stopped on the street EVERY day and asked about it. Â It is exactly what I wanted, better even. Â He listened to my input during the process so that we could make it my own. Â I have never been more proud of a piece of work and plan to make Michael my "forever tattoo artist". Â As a matter of fact I thought I was done after this sleeve, but Michael has such a way of tying all of my work together that I feel my body tells a story. Â And I have much more to say! Â
Michael is professional and easy to get along with, he listens to what you want and works hard to deliver something you can both get excited about. Â
Take it from a tattoo snob, he is as good as it gets.
Speaking specifically about Michael Norris...
On top of being one of the best artists I've ever encountered, he has great bedside manners (which is extremely important when you happen to be laying there in some awkward position in an attempt to get tattooed), and will do what it takes to get the job done (like call in an assistant at 2am to handle things that twitch too much). Â
I flew to TX once to get work done, and would definitely do it again.
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