Five stars! I got my first tattoo with Dan, and I couldn't be happier with it. I felt very comfortable and everyone was professional and friendly. It took me a while to find the perfect artist, I looked for a long time. I picked Dan because of his experience with large, detailed, well colored back piece, and his obvious ability to shape the image to the body in question so that it looks natural.
I went in for my first sitting and when Dan had the transfer paper all ready, he paused and inversed the entire picture and said I think we should do it this way instead. He was really thinking about how it would look as a piece of body art. I was pretty nervous and said okay that's fine, do that but honestly at the time it made no difference to me. It looked the same. Once my first session was done and I saw it, I realized it made a huge difference! It was a great change and it was entirely his idea, unsolicited.
My second session was bumped up after someone canceled because I had let him know I was moving soon. My third and last session he even bought me coffee. He was super professional and did a wonderful, detailed job. Everyone there was friendly and I always found myself surrounded by people to talk to for every sitting.
I have gotten a lot of compliments on the detail and color. People who don't like tattoos tell me that they can still appreciate it as a nice image. I would recommend this place to anyone in Santa Cruz!
Klem is the man! He does fantastic work!! It has been several years since I have gone to see him for another tattoo since I moved away, but as soon as I am able I plan on having him do some more work on me. He did the blue tiger that I posted in the picture section.
I have yet to find a artist that is as good as he is! Hopefully I can make it back down to Santa Cruz at some point for some more amazing work.
Love love love. 100% worth the wait! Honey had gotten a tattoo from Klem a few years ago and decided it was time for more ink so he made an appointment at O'Reillys to start a huge arm piece. While I LOVE tattoos I have never been brave enough to commit to a big piece so I figured when the urge for some new ink hit me klem would pass me off to someone else since I literally wanted a small one session tattoo and he is so in demand. Â Because he is AWESOME Klem did my tattoo and made it look AMAZING. He also managed to fit me in right after one of honey's session so I didn't have to wait the 4 months I was originally quoted (Having seen Klem's work I gladly would have though!) I have only seen the other guys work while working with klem but they all seem super talented, and are way friendly which makes it even better. There is nothing worse then a "I'm such a cool guy" tattoo artist acting like a Dbag. The O' Reilly's guys are real, fun, and kick ass at what they do. Plus they have the cleanest shop I have ever seen! This is a major thing to be aware of with body art of any kind. Don't get discouraged by appointments being way out it is A) worth the wait B) worth the wait and C) WORTH THE WAIT! Also Danielle who is a rock star is always willing to help make scheduling as painless as possible You go girl!) Honey and I will be back for sure!
Review Source:I was not the one getting the tattoo but I was present at both the consultation and the entire appointment.
My fiance and I went in for a consultation with Adam Barton back in February for a portrait. Â The building was a little hard to find parking for, as the street is busy. We were able to park down a little bit and walk. The consultation was pretty quick and they reviewed what he wanted and where (typical stuff). Â We made the appointment for his next weekend opening (we live in Sacramento), which was the end of July.
A few days before the appointment, the shop assistant called to confirm the appointment. The day of the appointment, my fiance received a call from Adam asking if he could have his morning appointment take his appointment, as he was coming from out of town. Mind you, we had come to the bay area the night before specifically for this appointment and were about to head out Santa Cruz from San Jose. Â My fiance let Adam know that, like his client, we came from out of the area for this appointment. Â Adam kept his appointment and we headed off to Santa Cruz.
When we arrived, we had to wait almost an hour past the appointment time to get started. Now the fact that I'm used to this either speaks to my experiences as a tattoo client but yes, to me, it's quite normal to have to wait a little after your appointment to get started (I'll explain lower why this isn't a big issue to me).
Once he was set up, he placed the stencil and got going. Adam was able to knock out a BEAUTIFUL and well done portrait of my fiance's grandfather on his forearm in less than two hours. It was INSANE. He has such an eye for fine detail and knows what he's doing. The fact that we had to wait a little longer (and finish our teas) isn't annoying when you still get out of there before the end of the appointment time. Â
The goal was a great portrait on my fiance's arm in one sitting and we accomplished that. Â Even though I didn't like that Adam called to cancel/reschedule the day of, I'm glad he didn't and that my fiance was able to walk away with one of his favorite tattoos.
I got tattooed here by Dan, and the experience was awesome. Â He drew up exactly what my idea was, fit it to the space perfectly, and gave me a totally awesome tattoo. Â He works fast and about as painless as it can be, and the quality is amazing. Â He totally killed it. Â This whole shop exudes professionalism, and everyone in there seems really cool. Â I would recommend this shop to anyone, and would love to get tattooed by Dan again if I'm ever back in the area.
Review Source:I waited almost 1 year to get my appointment with Adam. Â The morning of the appt., he called to say he couldn't draw it and wouldn't even show me what he had attempted to draw...or discuss any options. Â I wanted an artist to create the final design and had only given him a basic concept... not sure why he couldn't draw it. Â Out of respect he should have at least decided earlier so I could find someone else.
I immediately went back to researching artists and decided on Tim at Good Omen - a new shop in S.C. Â Tim (prev. @ Staircase) is talented, friendly and worked me into his schedule within 1 month. Â Just finished the first part of a 3/4 sleeve and love it!!
Disclaimer: Did not get a tattoo here!
I tried really hard to get one here, but it didn't work out. Well, why the five stars you ask? PROFESSIONALISM!!!
I met with Klem first, as he came recommended by my cousin, who got some work done from him. He looked at what I wanted and where I wanted and said that Ed would probably be better doing that style art.
That's good, didn't want to do a bad job. Met with Ed and he tried to talk me out of the tattoo I wanted, but of course, I wouldn't listen. Finally, when he put the stencil, it didn't look quite right. He tells me straight up, for what I wanted and where I wanted it. He was not the right guy for the tattoo, he didn't want to give me a sh*tty tattoo.
Now, you make think that's a bad thing, it's not. I would rather have a guy totally committed to something I'm gonna have forever and KNOW he's doing a badass tat, than have someone just take my money cause that's what I wanted.
As a side note: Ed was 100% correct and after searching around and changing where/what I wanted, I found the right guy to do my job. Will be reviewing him later when it's all done.
If you want quality and professionalism this is the place to go. Â The shop is clean and runs well. Â Very professional staff. Â My husband had work done by Adam and the results are amazing. Â He gets compliments all the time and asked who did the work. Â This shop can be difficult to reach, but it's worth being patient. Â They are busy because they are so well known.
Review Source:Edu is a fantastic artist and person. I came in with an idea for my tattoo (a bunch of feathers) and pictures, and he turned it into this incredible rib cage piece. While working he was friendly and professional. Although I have two other tattoos, this one is my first true piece of art on my body. I couldn't be happier with the end product!
Review Source:Five Stars for Jason:
I worked with Jason for six months between 2008 and 2009. He tattooed my entire lower sleeve on my left arm. Jason is incredibly talented and very focused on detail and was really into the tattoo he was making, which I appreciated most. The tattoo came out incredible. Even after four years, I still get asked who worked on me. He designed a raven motif with incredible detail on the feathers and roses he gave it.
O'Reilly's Tattoo Parlour is very clean and always smells it. It's a converted home with perfectly polished wooden floors. I still remember their old-timey tattooed freak show pictures in the bathroom walls, which was incredibly interesting in itself.
Less than Five Stars:
A few months after my tattoo was finished, I was hanging out at Cafe Pergolesi and met a barista who was in the process of getting the SAME EXACT bird motif as mine on the same place of his arm as mine. The artist he was working with (not Jason - can't remember his name) also worked at O'Reilly's. Whether copying previously done tattoos and putting them in the same places that other people have them may be common, I was not expecting to ever meet them! To describe the feeling better: I felt like I was in a situation where I wearing the same dress as someone else to prom.
Poor form!
Adam Barton is the most unprofessional tattoo artist I have ever come into contact with. He is the only tattoo artist I trusted and because I had known him for 11 years I thought he would give me the common courtesy of treating me with respect. He cancelled appointment after appointment the night before after I had taken the day off from work. Once even on my birthday. The last time he lied and told me he had to help his family recover from a hurricane in New York. Come to find out he had put some dude in my spot to start another piece. I have always been punctual and tipped Adam well. I never had any qualms with him and didn't understand why he would do something like that. After speaking to many of his clients I found out this is just how he handles business and his clients. He constantly flakes at the last minute and is highly unprofessional.
I am lucky to have found an even better artist who is so incredibly professional and exceeds my expectations on portraits. Her name is Holly Ellis and owns a tattoo shop called Idle Hand in SF. She is amazing. If you are looking for a killer artist for portraits schedule an appointment with her!
I had a vague idea of what I wanted, and Jason made that idea into something beautiful. It's a "simple" design, referencing the Polska Walczy symbol and the flag from Solidarnosc, but he managed to put in detail--the lines are not straight like printed lettering, but have a "weathered" look to them. He did a really beautiful job, and I couldn't have been more pleased with his and the other staff's good-natured, helpful attitude. Lots of good vibes in this shop. So proud of my new ink!! There is beautiful artwork put up all over the shop's walls (in a tasteful way). Will definitely be back next time I'm in Santa Cruz and need some ink.
Review Source:The only problem I have recommending this place is that I'm worried my next appointment will be harder to get. Â Gotta do it though, the shop deserves it. I've had 6 pieces done, all by Jason. I came in with scattered ideas for a half sleeve, nervous I'd be judged for my lack of artistry. Not even close, everyone you encounter in the shop is non-judgmental, helpful and friendly. Jason helped me turn my ideas into something I'm stoked on every day. Jason described the demeanour I was worried about encountering as "tattitude". Part bro, part locals only, rude, arrogant and self-righteous. You know the joints. The artists at O'reilly's will tell you how it is though. If your idea won't look good, they're gonna tell you. Do yourself a favor and wait for an appointment at a shop that's going to do the work right.
Review Source:Ladies and Gentlemen: Â If you are looking for well done, beautiful tattoos, look no further than O'Reilly's.
This shop is hands down, the best tattoo parlour I've ever visited. Â It's unpretentious, inviting and the artists are down to earth, funny people who create incredible custom pieces. Â I can not recommend this shop enough. Â I get my work done from Edu Cerro because I really like his unique style, but all of the artists there are very talented.
(Please Note: Â If you get a tattoo here that is visible, you should be OK with strangers talking to you all the time about it.)
Got tattooed by Jason year a couple years back, and am still in love with my tattoo & get compliments on it every day. He did a wonderful job. He gave me an estimate, saying it would take two hours but it ended up taking three (two sessions) but he still charged me for the original estimate. He is very talented as well as everyone else who works at the shop. The shop's layout is really nice & private as well.
Review Source:After looking online and reading yelp reviews I decided to call O'reilly's Tattoo Parlour for my cover up project. When I dropped  by to make an appt. Klem was very helpful by listening to my needs and then suggested I book an appt. with Jason because it seemed as if I liked his style of work. I could not be any happier with my tattoo. He did an awesome job! The place is very clean; everyone is very personable and professional. I will be going back for my next tattoo in about 4 months. Jason is the BOMB!! He captured just what I had envisioned. Thank you Jason for such great work.
Review Source:What can be said? Â Somewhat of a hidden treasure in SC, this is the best of the best, a whole level above the competition, where true artists work their talent on those who have the inspiration, desire and money. Â This is not a walk-in shop. Â This is a place run by serious artists, for those who take their body art seriously. Â Clean, professional, and the tattoos speak for themselves. Â Appointments can be hard to get, wait times for new projects can be upwards of 6 months. Â This speaks to the commitment of these artists to maintaining the quality of their work, and obviously the demand for that quality.
All the artists are pure talent - but I have a work in progress (a large back piece) with Ed Cerro. Â A wonderful artist and a warm human being, I'm already ecstatic with what's been done, and am looking forward to the finished product. Â This was my first tattoo, and considering how much planning went into it, of course I was full of worry and mild OCD with getting it 'perfect'. Â He's been utterly patient and accommodating and worked with me every step of the way as this piece came together, and in the end his skill spoke the loudest as I have a product that just says that this was 'meant to be'. Â In Ed & O'reilly's I trust. Â This is THE tattoo parlor.
I am 63 and never had a tattoo. In fact I had never set foot into a tattoo parlour. I went with my son to O'Reilly's because he was finishing up a tattoo. I spoke with the staff and they were very helpful. I worked with Jason and he showed me a number of samples that he thought I might like. I didn't find what I was looking for, but gave him some ideas and set up an appointment. I loved what he did with my ideas. He is a real artist. It took almost five hours to finish the project and it was well worth it. I have had nothing but positive responses from friends about the tattoo. I may even do another.
Review Source:I got an awesome tattoo by Adam. I had to wait for 6 months to get an appointment with him but it was worth the wait. It gave me time to save up for it. He did a really good job, worked with me on brainstorming to figure out how to do the tattoo just how I imagined it. It was the best tattoo experience I have had so far. Adam is very friendly and everyone was laughing the whole time I was there. My tattoo took 2 hours and was on my side/ribs and by the end of it my ribs hurt more from suppressing laughter than from the tattoo. The only reason I give this place 4 stars and not 5 is because Its been rather difficult to get time in for a touch up and that's a little annoying. I highly recommend this place. Clean, awesome receptionist girl, good vibes, nice attitudes all around, and worth the price/wait.
Review Source:My first time at O'reilly's I was welcomed into there very clean and friendly establishment.
Klem did an amazing job on my tattoo. He created more than I have ever hoped for and went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable. I am more than happy with this lovely artwork I get to proudly showcase. I am now hooked and can't wait to have Klem create another piece of art for me. Many thanks for a wonderful experience and a rocking piece of art.
Best Tattoo Shop in Santa Cruz for sure.
I've had work done by Dan, Jason and Adam. I love each of my tattoos from them. Saving up to get work done by Edu and Klem in the future.
Danielle is the glue. This girl knows how to run a shop. It's nice to go to a place where the shop girl is not only friendly (as opposed to bitchy, which I've seen in other shops) but efficient as hell.
What everyone else says about waiting is true (took me 6 months to get in with Adam), but it's well worth the wait and the price. Remember: "Good tattoos aren't cheap...and cheap tattoos aren't good."
I am 22 years old. Â I have no real experience in the tattoo industry but I do recognize outstanding art, beauty, and good energy when I see it. Choosing O'Reilly's Tattoo Parlour is by far the best decision I have and could have made as a novice and unknowledgeable person looking to get an extraordinary tattoo. Â In my opinion, this parlour is no place to go to if you are looking to get a tattoo so you can say you have one. The artists here are passionate about what they do so bring your ideas and prepare for the best because that is what you will get. Adam Barton worked on me, a quarter sleeve. I checked out his site which I found through the O'reiily's site. It is simple, efficient, and it very nicely displays his work in clear, well taken photographs. I hope to get more work done by him, he is honestly a hero to me for what he does, and I feel lucky to have met him and been tattooed by him. Life is short. Do yourself a favor and make your appointment if you haven't because you honestly deserve a great tattoo if you have taken the time and effort to research this parlour, let alone read my post and examine the others. - Patrick, S.L.O. California
Review Source:I visited O'reilly's a little more than a year ago when I graduated from UCSC. Klem did an awesome job on my graduation present to myself. He helped me design a tattoo that was worked with the size and location constraints that I gave him. It's done well this past year and still looks brand new. I'm definitely going back to Klem when I get my next one.
Review Source:I have never actually gotten a tattoo here but I attended their 5th anniversary BBQ (the first and only time there) a few weekends ago. Â Especially being my first time there, everybody was SUPER nice and welcoming. Â Short and sweet: Â Go here for your tattoos. Â I've seen my husband's work and it's the best. Â And the bedside manners ofthe artists are wonderful. Â They will make you feel right at home.
Review Source:I got my first tattoo here and I'm so glad I did!
After looking through the online portfolios of pretty much all of the highly rated tattoo shops on yelp, I decided that the work at O'Reilly's was the best, so off I went. When I got there, they had even more work for me to look at than what they had up online, so I looked through their books and picked Adam Barton as the guy I wanted to do my tattoo.
I came back in later with a (kind of crappy) sketch of what I had in mind and had a consult with Adam. Despite the vagueness of my sketch, he seemed to know exactly what I wanted, and asked good questions to make sure we were totally on the same page. So I left feeling pretty good, but a little nervous, since I'd been expecting to have to wait several months before my appointment, but they had a cancellation a week and a half later and gave me that time slot.
When my appointment rolled around, stupid me had gotten a sunburn on my back, where my tattoo would go, the day after I made my appointment and it had just started peeling. Adam, being a pro, of course told me that it would be a bad idea to tattoo over a peeling sunburn, so we rescheduled and I came back 3 weeks later. I did get to see the design that day, though, and I instantly fell in love. It was even better than what I had imagined! Adam is a really amazing artist.
When I finally got the tattoo done, Adam was great about it. I'm a big wuss and it hurt a lot more than I was expecting, but he was really cool about letting me take as many breaks as I needed. He would sing along with the music while he worked too, which definitely helped lighten the mood. The first session was three hours long, but he only charged me for the two and a half of actual tattooing time - he didn't charge at all for the time when I was taking breaks, which I thought was nice. My experience coming back for the colors was even better, since it didn't hurt as much and was quicker. All told, it took four hours to do a full color back tattoo about 6" in diameter. And it looks great! I get complimented on it every time I go anywhere.
It healed great without scabbing at all while I followed Adam's specific aftercare instructions, and when I got a rash (from using too much lotion, I later found out) I called in to ask about it and Danielle was super helpful. Following her suggestions, the rash was gone in a couple of days.
Overall, I had a great experience. A couple things to note (especially for first timers):
- Expect to wait a long time for your appointment. I got lucky and got in on other people's cancellations, but normally Adam's wait list is about four months long. I know Klem's is about as long, and the same is probably true for the other artists at the shop. It's worth the wait!!
- They don't get a lot of first timers coming into their shop, because they're kind of expensive ($150/hr) and have such a long wait list, so their attitude about tattoos may seem kind of cavalier to someone who's never had one before. When they told me I wouldn't be able to see the design until right before I was about to get inked, it scared the crap out of me. It seemed crazy that they could be so casual about something that would be on my body FOREVER. But going through the process, I realized that there was nothing to worry about, because they know what they're doing, and it turned out great. So, first timers: don't let that scare you off! You will get an amazing tattoo here, I promise. Just do it!
My New Home ...
I have been getting tattooed for about 13 years now at various shops around the bay and O'reilly's is my new favorite place.
My best friend Jesse told me about Klem's shop awhile back and it's only now that I got around to checking it out, Â he always has steered me in the right direction when it came to shops and artist thanks pal.
So went up to check things out as well to see if anyone could fix some fingers tattoos that I had done at another shop that didn't come out to well. I was greeted by Klem and Danielle at the counter and the both of them could not be anymore nice. (Sidenote: Danielle was a breath of fresh air and very friendly unlike some other shop help I have encountered) Shop looked awesome killer artwork up everywhere, very clean and rest of the staff was just as awesome - Met Ed and Dan ... really cool guys.
So Klem was a little sketchy on touching someone else's mess - don't blame him - but was able to clean things up and made them look about 200% better. Super stoked!!
Already have my next appointment set up for a new piece with Klem, looking forward it. Â Thanks guys!!!
The Crème de la crème of Tattoo shops. Not only do I get my Tattoos done here but I refer everyone to them. In particularly , Dan. He did my very first tattoo way back when he was just an apprentice at True Art Tattoo. He was an amazing artist then and continues to be phenomenal. I'm looking forward to getting my back finished by him. He is extraordinarily talented and is also a pretty rad human being. Â
I have some ideas for future tattoos that I want to get from some of the other artists there. They really are all ridiculously talented. Ive heard nothing but good things about each of them and all for different styles which is great to have in ONE tattoo shop.
The shop itself is extremely well kept. Clean, organized, and comfortable. Great decor, but not over the top. Â Its in a converted home on the west side of SC which keeps it from being seedy like a lot of other shops Ive come in contact with. They keep tattooing as the art it is and not just a place to go on a whim. You pay for what you get, its worth every penny, and you are in the hands of amazing talent and respect. They are good at what they do and present themselves accordingly.
Cant wait for my next appt.
These guys mean business. The talent here is amazing. The staff here is legit as well. These guys are the pros here. Friendly and they get down to the point when it comes to tattooing. I come a long way just to get my tattoos done here.
Mr. Barton did all of my tattoos, and ace is not strong enough words to describe this G. I have also witness the work of the others, from Jason, Dan, Â Klem and Ed. These guys are like the cussing Power Rangers of the Tattoo World. Bravo Gents. Thank you for the wonderful experiences I have at your shop.
Adam Barton is hands down the best artist in the United States and probably the best tattoo artist in the world! He's done all of my tat's and I love them! I get stopped all day, everyday, seven days a week by people who are blown away by his work! Stop being a wuss and make an appointment!!!!!
Review Source:I got my first tattoo from Dan, who i not only respect as an artist but also as a person and friend. He has a very good eye for detail and listens to exactly what you want, while at the same time maintaining his unique artistic perspective. I am so pleased with the result! I will recommend Dan to everyone i know; he is DEFINITELY worth the long wait it may be for your tattoo work, and worth the money as well.
Review Source:What a great place. Â Santa Cruz has some very talented and original artists, glad some one recommended O'reilly's. Â Place is clean, professional. Â Klem was great at taking the two sketches I had and turning it into an image that translated great as a tattoo with excellent shading/depth. Â I'll be back here for my next tattoos.
The wait line can be pretty long, but that isn't surprising for a good shop, this isn't a 24 hour place. Â It's worth the wait. Â When you go through the portfolios, you might notice a good deal of flash style, but by no means is that the only style there. Â They are also pretty informative on how to take care of your tattoo in the immediate hours, days, and long term after you get your ink done.
I really didn't WANT to review a tattoo shop, but I think I will anyway, just because I'm such a big fan of tattoos.
I just have to say, I know that Dan and Klem are the guys that I have been tattooed by or friends have been tattooed by and they are both wonderful artists and businessmen. Â They make you feel very comfortable and will ask lots of questions about what you want to get. Â They both are booked out for rather long periods of time, but it's absolutley worth it.
They're receptionist (lack of a better word) is awesome and will work her magic to get you in, confirm appointments and be all around awesome.
Thanks for a great tattoo shop with some of the best tattooers in all of SC County!
This is actually a *gasp* professional shop. With quality artists!
No dude walking in hungover and an hour late for your appointment.
I got some really beautiful hinges from Dan Wysuph,
but I think all the tattooer's at this shop do amazing work!
I will definitely be going back.
But be prepared to wait, it took nearly a year for them to call to make my appointment. In demand much?
If I could give Klem 10 stars I would. He has done 4 of my tattoos and I am pissed I hadn't gotten the other 3 from him too! He has tatooed my mom, moms friends and so many people I know. He did a memorial tattoo for my grandpa on my wrist of a sunflower I got it over 2 years ago and the color hasn't faded at all. I also have a finger tattoo that looks amazing for that area, so many tattoo artist won't do finger tattoos not only for the reason it fades so fast but it's such a small area but Klem is so good it just coulnd't look bad. I only had it touched up once because I scraped off some of the scab as it was healing,, (ouchy) and it still has not faded. I have a huge SC in seaweed, starfish and seahorse on my stomach that is still my fav tat. The most recent from Klem is the eye of horus on my neck. I dont think I could go to anyone else!
Review Source:I highly highly highly recommend Klem! He is amazing...he's done 4 tattoos for me and a 1/2 sleeve for my husband. I had to wait 6 months for my first appointment but it was worth it. The environment is cozy, like being tattooed at your grandmother's house. The tattoo rooms are semi-private so your bits are aren't out for all the world to see which is nice. Klem is a fantastic artist - all 4 times I gave him ideas of what I wanted and he drew up designs better than I'd imagined. I can't wait for my next one!
Review Source:klem if you are reading this you are the best!
klem has inked me up a total of three times now. Â gave me a sick dragon on my left shoulder & arm and a tight t-rex (thats right, dinosaur) on my right shoulder & arm. Â I receive compliments on those tats all the time! Â they are just absolutely tremendous. Â i cant say enough about how awesome they look.
klem is a busy man, understandably so. Â but CERTAINLY worth whatever the wait is and whatever the price is.
I have to be honest, I have not yet traveled to O'reilly's, but I have had most of my tattoo's done by Klem over the years. Â He is a wonderful artist, completely dedicated to studying traditional forms of tattooing. Â I want to emphasize the word artist when referring to Klem's work. Â I have been very happy with my pieces over the years and am always amazed at how vibrant the color has stayed. Â Klem is great.
Review Source:Note: I have not had a tattoo done here, so just reviewing my overall impression as I check out portfolios and studios for a place to get my sleeve started.
A friend and I stopped by O'Reilly's this weekend to check out portfolios, and to get some idea of pricing/time for larger pieces. Â We didn't get to meet any of the artists that work there, but the front desk receptionist was friendly and had a lot of tats done by the guys there - a walking billboard if you will.
The shop is a converted single-story home and the ONLY indication that you have the right place is a tiny sign pointing you to the parking lot. Â There are no signs on the building itself, that we saw. Â So be sure you have the address if you're going there in case you miss the sign!
The place is well maintained, clean, and has a good feel to it. Â The flash on the walls is not faded or cracked, the paint is in good condition, there is some artwork on the walls (strangely though some of it is art given to the artists - I'd think the artists would like clients to see what they're capable of, not their friends, but anyway ...)
The portfolios showed us a shop that does mostly American Traditional and some Japanese work. Â Not what I was looking for - and while the lady at the desk assured us that was because that's what the clients were asking for - if I can't see examples of anything else, I'm not going to be able to trust any of the artists can do what I'm after. Â So that was a bit disappointing.
I did pull out my photoshopped image that shows the idea of what I"m looking to get done. Â The lady (I wish I could remember her name!) discussed with me the process, her guestimate of how long overall it would take, and told me their hourly rate. Â I really appreciated her willingness to give me that ballpark on time - not all tattoo places seem to be as open to the concept that I want to know a rough idea of how long it's going to take and how much it's going to cost.
I'm sure this isn't the shop for what I'm looking for on my arm - but I saw nothing that would tempt me to tell others not to check this shop out if they're in the market for a tattoo - especially if they're looking for something in the American Traditional style.
Forget the neon lights. Forget people being stupid and drunk picking out a tattoo they will regret. This is hideaway of shop filled with custom tattoo artist, emphasis on artist. I waited a year to get onto Klem's calendar and considering the piece of artwork he mapped onto my backside I would have waited 2.
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