According to the artist, geometric involves a lot of work “that the client didn’t ask for”. The reason behind this is that geometric work has to have a certain shape and style and while it also has to fit the area it’s more important for it to flow properly. While clients might not always be enthused about their design Hoopers enthusiasm for the medium means he’s often quick to assuage that and to help get them beyond their fears.

 

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Hooper’s art style is heavily influenced by the tattoo style of Borneo and Australasia thanks to the influence of his mentor Jim Macairt. He tried to remind himself when creating art that these tattoos were originally meant to be fearsome and protective. When their forefathers emerged from the jungles the very sight of them would have created terror and struck many speechless. Hooper hopes that maybe his designs will do the same when their wearer reveals them.

Much of his work continues the same patterns as those ancestry tattoos with geometric patterns related to the cosmos, eastern religion, and folk symbolism. The design has a story to tell and creative both that and a meditative experience for the viewer as their eye explores the design. It’s that same exploration of self-identity that fuels his evolution as an artist.

 

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Part of Hooper’s work ethic comes from the words of his mentor and he is constantly striving to improve the mark he makes on the tattoo world. He tries to give back and be both inspirational and creative. Finding new ways to illustrate skin and create new styles is something that happens over time but Hooper has managed to make his unique style popular in just a decade and make it cross the world to become popular.

Hooper tattoos at Rock of Ages tattoo in Austin Texas but he also produces a significant amount of fine art prints and designs. His blog “meditations in atrament” explores not only his large scale tattoo projects but also his ideas on paper so that he can grow as an artist away from skin. Much of his art work continues his fascination with geometry and repetitive shape and even his commission art such as that for the band Neurosis album Fires within Fires use similar media.

 

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So, what’s next for someone who has already evolved an art style?

Strangely enough Hooper’s flash sheets do not always involve the recurring patterning his tattoo work and leans towards a more traditional style. Perhaps a return to tattoo roots is in the cards for the king of patterns?

The post Artist Spotlight: Thomas Hooper – Geometric Tattoo Genius appeared first on Tattooaholic.

Stick around to learn some valuable tips and tricks regarding the importance of tattoo placement and how you can make a confident choice that leaves you will full creative expression.

Why Does Tattoo Placement Matter?

So, why does tattoo placement even matter? Choosing the right location or proper tattoo placement can make or break a tattoo. The wrong location can turn a great tattoo into an artistic nightmare. Not only does this have ramifications to aesthetic value, but it can diminish the significance of the tattoo.

You should always consult with your tattoo artist on this subject. As artists and professionals at their craft, they know a lot more about tattoos than you do. They have created and witnessed tons of tattoos and might even have placement suggestions you never considered. Find an artist you can trust and respect and ask them for their two cents.

Tips for Choosing the Right Tattoo Placement

Below are five different things to consider when picking out the location for your next tattoo. Some of these might not hold importance to you, and others might open your eyes and force you to reconsider some things. When it comes down to it, the choice for where your tattoo goes is ultimately up to you and whatever you feel is the best way to express yourself.

Shape & Size of the Tattoo

The size of the tattoo is a major factor to consider when choosing the placement of a tattoo. The size matching the location might seem like a no-brainer, but it is not always obvious. For example, let’s say you want to get a dragon tattoo in the Japanese style, and you want it placed on your leg.

The best route would be to consider the size and shape of your tattoo with your body. The dragon can flow with the natural curves of your body, which will make the tattoo look more seamless, almost like it naturally belongs there.

Tattoo Styles

The style works similarly to shape and size because certain tattoo styles also come with particular placements that are near-perfect combinations. All this means is that some tattoo styles work better with specific places on the body, almost like the tattoo was supposed to be there.

Smaller, daintier tattoos, for example, look great on specific parts of the body like behind the ear, on the wrist, fingers, ankle, and rib cage but, you are not limited to just those regions alone if you want a dainty tattoo.

Symbolism & Placement Meaning

The symbolism behind your tattoo–universal or personal–can also be a key element when deciding on the right location for your next tattoo. Placing a symbolic tattoo in the wrong place can distort the overall meaning or dissipate the impact. In this same vein, the reversal is also true.

Some tattoo placements come with preset symbolism and meaning on their own, for example, a tattoo placed near your heart or on your ring finger. Placing tattoos in those regions while symbolizing the opposite idea, unless purposefully done, can degrade the overall value of the tattoo.

Tattoo Pain Tolerance & Length of Time

If you are new to tattoos, then listen up. One of the most important things to consider is the level of pain associated with different parts of the body and your pain tolerance.

Consider how long it will take for the tattoo. If you have low pain tolerance but want a large tattoo, be sure to schedule it over multiple sessions. You should also make sure it is in a place where the pain is manageable, especially for long periods. Breaking upthe process into separate sessions does not necessarily lessen the pain unless there is significant time between sessions and the tattoo can heal.

Tattoo Visibility

This tip is pretty straightforward. Depending on your job or lifestyle, this might be the most important question you ask yourself. Does it need to be hidden for work? Can it still be visible but covered up when needed? Whether or not a tattoo can be visible varies from person to person, and it comes down to your career choices and personal expression.

Wrapping Things Up

Ultimately, the final decision of the placement for your next tattoo is up to you and your artist. The important thing to do is weigh the factors that matter to you and spend time thinking past the tattoo to the overall picture of it as a permanent piece of art on your body. The beauty of tattoos comes from the complete and utter freedom to express yourself in either a single piece of art or a collective grouping of unique tattoos to tell the story of you.

The post 5 Helpful Tips On Finding The Right Tattoo Placement appeared first on Tattooaholic.

A Rigged Ship

Old ships can be very pretty, and while a ship might seem a little cliché for a sailor the meaning originally meant that they had traveled around Cape Horn. Cape Horn is the southernmost part of Chile and is where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. It’s pretty significant in terms of seafaring so it’s an obvious choice for sailors.

Swallows

Swallows represent distance. A swallow will migrate thousands of miles each year and in tattoo form each swallow means a sailor has traveled 5000 miles. The colors of the swallows can also illustrate different countries depending where the 5000 has taken them. Swallows are usually done in pairs but can be individual or threes.

Shellback Turtle

Turtles might seem like a rather modern idea. The turtle isn’t one of the more popular traditional designs but it was a very important one for sailors. The shellback turtle was part of Neptune’s initiation ceremony that sailors went through when crossing the Equator for this first time. A less popular but more obvious choice was Neptune himself to mark the occasion.

Anchor

Anchor tattoos were reserved for those sailors who sailed primarily the Atlantic or who were Merchant Mariners. Today anchors have a much more literal meaning and many choose them to illustrate not being held back in their lives.  Crossed anchors however, usually placed on the hand were a sign of rank meaning Boatswain, Bos’n, or a boastswain’s mate.

 

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HOLD FAST

A common knuckle tattoo these were a talisman of sorts that sailors hoped would give them strong grip on the rigging. A poor grip could mean you were washed overboard or potentially a long deadly drop to the deck if you were climbing.

 

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Rooster and Pig

Another set of traditional tattoos that has started to fade into obscurity. These animals were more commonly seen in Asian tattooing until WW2. During WW2 they were inked on the feet of sailors as a talisman against drowning. When ships were torpedoed it was a common site for wooden crates of livestock to survive because they floated. Roosters and pigs were sometimes the only survivors so by putting them on a sailor’s feet he hoped he would float and survive should the ship go down.

Compasses/Stars

A compass or star is quite a literal tattoo. It’s a prayer that the sailor won’t get lost and will always be able to find their way home.

 

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Hula Girls and Pin Ups

Hula girls were a rather obvious choice and usually illustrated that the sailor had been to Hawai’i, however, having a pin up or a girl tattooed dates much further back and often was a reminder of a sweetheart back home or an homage to the “sailor’s life” with a girl in every port.

 

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The post What Do Traditional Sailor Tattoos Mean? appeared first on Tattooaholic.

One of the biggest signs of tattoo acceptance becoming more mainstream is that many museums and art exhibitions are embracing the style.

Tattooing is something that is fundamentally at odds with the art world. By nature tattooing isn’t tangible. It’s not something you can hang on the wall or stand on a table. Tattooing has a unique status because it’s not an object and is much more similar to performance art – another controversial and debatable art form. Many other art forms such as Japanese woodblock printing weren’t considered fine art or museum worthy for centuries because of the unique method used. Nowadays you can walk into any museum and find block printing on the walls. It’s no wonder that tattooing is slowly creeping into acceptance.

Another reason tattooing isn’t so widely accepted is that there’s a subversive undercurrent of it being linked to gangs, drugs, prison and other unsavory parts of society. It has an outsider status mostly because until recently those who practiced tattooing were part of that outsider social group and had no need to belong to the art world.

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As tattooing becomes more mainstream and more accepted how society sees tattoo art has changed. It’s inevitable that as tattoos become more popular art institutions will begin to embrace it. And embrace it they are. In November an auction in Guernsey offered up tattoo images for as much as $50,000 each while Richmond VA’s museum of Fine Arts recently held an exhibit of traditional Japanese tattoo art photography by Kip Fulbeck.

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But the tattoo industry isn’t necessarily keen to enter the limelight. While many artists are fine artists who paint and sculpt in their own rights many big name artists disagree with bringing tattooing and fine art together. Horiyoshi III, one of the most well known Japanese tattoo masters, considers the drawings and paper art a poor facsimile for the living canvas which allows those drawings to come alive.
Traditional art is always associated with the artist, but once a tattoo is done that piece may walk out the door and forever belong to the canvas instead. It’s the exact opposite of fine art.

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Even with the reluctance of some artists to join the movement it’s no doubt that tattooing will one day be accepted as fine art. It’s already hanging on walls alongside Picasso at the Virginia Museum of Fine art and that’s a pretty good argument that tattooing is an art form just like any other. Chances are though that much like controversial graffiti art tattooing will always remain slightly subversive even as it becomes accepted by the art world.

The post Is Tattooing Considered Fine Art? appeared first on Tattooaholic.

It’s Popular

One of the reasons they’re popular is because of their own popularity. The more visible they are the more likely people are to consider that space for their own designs. It’s very much like seeing an outfit you like on a celebrity and then wanting to get it yourself. This is also why facial tattoos have become more common, especially when they’re so visible on sites like Pinterest.

Celebrities

Speaking of celebs, many celebs are now heavily tattooed which includes fingers, hands and faces. These celebs are literally covered in tattoos so it’s not really surprising that people want to copy their idols. Even 5 years ago hand tattoos really hadn’t taken off beyond the metal and rap scenes but now even many models have visible hand tattoos without any others.

It’s Acceptable

While in some states (South Carolina) it’s still illegal to tattoo hands and faces most places don’t have such laws anymore and most shops have no reason not to do them. While your job may still have a tattoo policy it’s much less common these days because so many people are tattooed. It’s expected that clients know the risks and dangers that come with having a permanently visible tattoo so as long as you can pay for it then most shops will be happy to do it. By hand tattoos being so visible they’re also becoming much more socially acceptable so it’s less likely to be commented on than it would have been 10 years ago.

 

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It’s Cute

Small, minimalist tattoos are in, which means big areas like backs, thighs, and arms are out unless you want a lonely looking tattoo. The hands are full of small areas which means they’re the perfect size for smaller designs.

 

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It’s Visible

With tattoos being more acceptable people want to show their body art off. That means that visible areas are becoming more popular than those that can be covered up. It’s natural to want to show off your ink – you paid for it, its pretty, and you’re proud of it! With less reasons to cover your tattoos up these days why not get your hands tattooed.

Should you get your hands tattooed?

You’ll find that there are plenty of people who regret making the decision to tattoo their hands. While it would be nice if tattoos were acceptable everywhere some jobs still have problems with such visible ink. The military, for example, has a policy on visible body art. If you’re not sure it’s best to check first before making the costly decision to get tattooed.

The post Why Are Hand Tattoos So Popular? appeared first on Tattooaholic.

Paw Prints

If you ask your vet nicely they will often do a print of your doggos paw with some ink on paper. This is just like a finger print – it’s unique, and no other dog has the same footprint. A pawprint is something you can do yourself too at home before they pass. Just get some kid friendly non-toxic paint like tempera and put a little on their paw pad then press it to some paper. Don’t forget to wash their paw afterwards!
Even if you don’t get your dogs actual paw then you can just get a simple generic dog print, this can also be done really small if you’re trying to save space.

 

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Portrait

Portraits are also quite a popular choice but it’s important to remember that whatever artist you choose needs to be skilled enough to do them. Portraits are quite specialized so finding an artist who is skilled in realism is essential (and they’re not cheap). A good portrait tattoo costs upwards of $300 and you’ll need a good clear photo of your dog. Make sure you check artists portfolios and look at prior examples of their portrait work to see if they’re capable.

 

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GUEST ARTIST Rotty portrait, tattooed by @Hasapis_Tattoo, Nicolas is available from the 28th-30th July! DM to book! . . . . #petportrait #petportraits #traditionaltattoos #tradworkers #tradworkerssubmission #dogportraittattoo #dogportrait #dogtattoo #dogtattoos #pettattoo #twickenham #london #tradtattoos_rtw #rottweiler #rottweilertattoo #dogsofinstagram #doglover #dogoftheday #dogstagram #tattoos #tat #tattoo #tattoo #tattoostyle #tattooing

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Quotes

“A dog is man’s best friend”
“Paw prints in my heart”
“A dog will teach you unconditional love”
There are many great quotes about dogs, and whether it’s something personal or just general there are many ways to make it unique to your dog. Add their initials, maybe a small sketch of their favorite toy, or make the quote into a shape like a heart or an infinity. Keep in mind that letters can’t be too tiny or they won’t age well.

Dog Silhouette

Silhouettes are a cute and easy way to picture your pet without a lot of detail. There are also designs that include a figure of a person and a dog which work well. Even if you don’t want a silhouette to be solid black an outline will work just as well. The great thing about these is that they don’t have to be big because you’re not adding details to them. You can even draw around your dogs picture to create their exact silhouette.

 

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Names/Dates

While it’s a rather cliché choice names and dates always work when it comes to memorials. They’re not very imaginative, but they’re simple, small and will still remind you of your treasured pet.

 

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If your pet has a fun name you can use their name to create the tattoo idea. For example if your dog’s name was Pancake or Flapjack why not do a small tattoo of a stack? Or, if your dog’s name was Iris a small iris flower would be appropriate.

The post Dog Memorial Tattoos appeared first on Tattooaholic.

Name tattoos are so passé. Once upon a time it was corny and cute to get your lover’s name on you and that has led to a massive amount of cover ups over the decades. Couples now want something a little more interesting and unique if they’re going to get tattooed to symbolize their relationship. Tattooing has come a long way since Sailor Jerry and if you can think it you can probably ink it. If you’re considering getting a tattoo together then check out a few of these ideas.

King/Queen

There are tons of versions of this tattoo out there – whether it’s just the crowns or the lettering from card decks this is one of the most popular couples tattoos. The term king/queen has a lot of esteem and respect attached to it so it’s no wonder that it’s popular for couples to refer to each other by that moniker.

 

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“Til Death”

There are many songs and jokes on traditional marriage vows, especially the “til death do us part”.While your partner might balk at getting “obey” on them “til death” is romantic if a little morbid. The question is where to put them. A popular spot is on the side of the ring finger but this often falls out as soon as it’s healed so an area like the wrist or even across the heart might work better.

½ Tattoos

Getting half a tattoo sounds silly but if it’s done right when the two tattoos are held together they make one. This could be two characters holding hands, locks and keys, or something more obvious like a lion/lioness mash up to make one face. If you’re down for something a bit more fun there’s always cute ideas like a peanut butter and jelly slice of bread or slices of pizza.

 

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Cool design Lion tattoos for couples! Done by @badwolftattoos . . . . #americanrebeltattoo #liontattoos #couplestattoos #liontattoo #coupletattoo #arrowtattoo #arrowtattoos #tntattooartist #pigeonforge #tattooartist #tattooshops #tattooshop #inked #ink #matchingtattoos #sevierville #knoxvilletattoo #knoxville #seviervilletattoos #tattooideas #tattooidea #pigeonforgetattoo #badwolftattoos #seviervilletn

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Mr/Mrs

Much like the king/queen tattoos the simple Mr/Mrs moniker works well if you’re looking for something small and discrete. While the words themselves aren’t especially interesting it’s very straightforwards and to the point.

Fictional Couple Characters

Mickey and Minnie, Jack and Sally, Popeye and Olive, Fred and Wilma, Simba and Nala, T’Challa and Shuri ….. there are so many iconic fictional couples that can illustrate your relationship together. Why not pick out her favorite Disney princess? His favorite comic hero? Maybe you have a favorite movie that you both like to watch together that will work.

 

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Tetris Blocks

For the geeky couple Tetris is one of those iconic games everyone knows. Unlike puzzle pieces which can also symbolize autism, Tetris pieces still fit together without any other connotations.

Missing Pieces

The idea of “you complete me” is a common theme of many sappy romance quotes. Why not make it literal by using a cut out shape from one tattoo to create the other. This is similar to Tetris blocks or another tattoo that fits together. What shape you decide to “cut out” of the other tattoo is up to you, but a heart is rather fitting.

Beauty/Beast

While not every man is a beast the beauty and the beast monikers are also quite popular as couples tattoos. There are some variations such as “her beast/his beauty”. What type of font and what size is entirely up to you which means this is also an easy one to figure placement and a unique look. Alternatively just add these words to any design the two of you choose.

 

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The post Best Couples Tattoos appeared first on Tattooaholic.

Love Roses – Red

The Victorians were responsible for many trends and traditions. They were by nature a society that was nostalgic and romance obsessed. Roses were a frequent addition to their artistry thanks to the ancient association with Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Venus was also considered to be a patron of beauty and charm, both of which can be connected to roses.
Roses that are associated with Venus/Love are always red. According to the legends, when the world was young all roses were white, but then one day Venus stumbled and pricked her foot on the thorns, as she bled her blood dyed the rose red.

Rebirth – Red

While the Phoenix is the most common tattooed symbol of rebirth the Greeks considered roses to be an important symbol of life because of the red connection to blood. According to Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite was in love with Adonis. One day he was attacked by a boar and fatally wounded, while rushing to his aid Aphrodite fell into a thicket of brambles which bloomed into roses where her blood fell. Moved by her struggle Zeus granted Adonis life so he triumphed over death.

Friendship – Yellow

The color yellow is always associated with friendship. It is used in many popular songs (Tie a Yellow Ribbon, The Yellow Rose of Texas etc.) as a symbol of friendship blossoming into love. Yellow roses are much less common than their red counterparts and much less robust. They are delicate and require more care which, like friendship, means attention and nurturing. Yellow is also associated with warmth, optimism and well-being. A yellow rose can be a sign of joy and light heartedness.

Loss/Remembrance – White

White is traditionally the color of purity and it has been associated with death for thousands of years because of this. White roses/flowers are also a symbol for true love but it’s rare for people to connect them anymore asides from in wedding bouquets. As they can also symbolize innocence white roses are sometimes put with kids names.

 

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Gentleness/softness – Pink Roses

Roses were originally pink and in their wild varieties they still are. Pink roses symbolize gratitude, thanks, admiration, and gentleness. They were usually given as a sign of young love or thoughtfulness rather than full romance. Different shades of pink often affect the meaning of pink rose tattoos. Pink is a less harsh form of red which is why it may have evolved to have similar meanings to red roses. Historically there are few myths involving pink roses but their popularity as a color rose tattoo often has to do with people who like red roses but don’t want to create romantic meanings with their tattoo design.

 

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Pink rose #tattoo by @graffittoo · Seoul

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The post The Many Meanings of Rose Tattoos appeared first on Tattooaholic.

Tattooing professionally since 2013, Vic takes inspiration from applying techniques from a fine art educated background in order to produce unique custom tattoo work. Inspirational artists for Vic are: Alphonse Mucha, Salvatore Dali, Francisco Goya, Albrecht Durer, and M.C. Escher to name a few. Vic has always been artistic, often blazing a trail far different than other artists and tattoo artists alike. The secret to Vic’s tattooing success is discipline, willpower, and practice, in order to succeed at the art of tattooing (it is a far cry from the wild lifestyles other tattoo artists are known for). Vic’s method of painstaking focus and dedication is evident in the finished tattoos, often proving incredible attention to
detail.

Vic’s early career was spent selling paintings and apparel artwork at 15 years of age. One year later, Vic worked together with Converse for sneaker designs, after winning their contest “Punk your Chucks”, with Journey’s Clothing company two years in a row. Vic then exhibited paintings and apparel art in art galleries across the NY/NJ metropolitan area such as; Grand Street Art and Framing in Newark, Drue Chryst Gallery in Sparta, Art at the Mill in Lafayette, Ahead of Our Thyme Gallery in Milford PA, etc. Always determined to learn more, Vic found a new love of tattooing while at the same time attending William Paterson University.

Vic had a difficult start with landing a tattoo apprenticeship, since many shops in the North Jersey area were fiercely competitive. But Vic was determined to make a name as a tattoo artist. Starting off with whatever design the client asked for, Vic began tattooing with small pieces, names, and traditional works. As time progressed, Vic gained the skill to add a unique, original style to the clients’ ideas. Currently, Vic is one of the most well-known creative tattoo artists in New Jersey that specialize in custom original pieces. Now, Vic is known for Coverups, black and grey, freehand, and watercolor respectively. Due in part to the growing popularity of tattooing, Vic is well versed in many styles of tattooing, and continues to learn ways to improve upon them. Black and Grey, big pieces, custom pieces, freehand tattoos, coverups, all are welcome for Vic.

Over the last five years, Vic has taught demonstration painting classes at Blick Art Materials, been a featured artist on Tattoodo and TrueArtists, ranked top tier of The Alliance of Professional Tattooists, featured in Inked Magazine, and Steppin’ Out Magazine: Tattoo Edition. Vic has attended the Wildwood Tattoo Beach Bash 2016, Inked Out Tattoo Convention 2016-17, and would like to travel more, and attend more tattooing conventions.

On June 1, 2017, Vic opened Victory Fine Art Gallery and Body Art Studio at only 27 years old. Victory is a new cutting-edge creative space which hosts talented artists that perform tattoos as well as fine art. Located at 53 East Main Street, Little Falls New Jersey, Victory is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary artwork of local, and up-and-coming artists. This unique shop provides only the finest in tattoos and fine art, curated for artists, by artists. Victory serves as an ultra-modern resource for North Jersey and the
tristate area, introducing the public to the provocative allure of tattoos, while also providing a professional, sterile environment.

With this new shop, Vic hopes to enhance the appreciation and knowledge of the arts, and offer onlythe best tattoos to the ones who wish to make the art their own forever.

The post Artist Spotlight: Vic Tamian appeared first on Tattooaholic.

Nice Tattoo Parlor, Brooklyn NY

493 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

A fresh, unique studio that looks more like a homey apartment than a studio. It’s full of abstract, enamel décor, and white lamps in a simple theme. It’s clean, and female. Everything in the shop is designed by a woman, chosen by a woman, and the studio is run, you guessed it, by women. The attitude is another thing that’s unique as you won’t find any of the in-your-face know-it-all attitude that tattoo shops are known for.

☔️ Rainy day at the shop. April showers bring May flowers tho right? #nicetattoo

A post shared by Nice Tattoo Parlor (@nicetattooparlor) on Apr 4, 2018 at 11:24am PDT

Sacred Mandala, Durham, NC

405A East Chapel Hill Street Durham, North Carolina

It’s unusual for a new studio to make any “best of” list but when the opening artist is Al Lott whose dotwork mandalas are worth every hour of pain you can understand why. The shop itself is visually beautiful with a Gothic black and white that is as simple and to the point as Al himself.

*ATTENTION TATTOO ARTISTS* @sacredmandalastudio is looking for an EXPERIENCED tattoo artist. Must have shop experience and strong portfolio. NO APPRENTICES. Send an email to sacredmandalastudio@gmail.com Please include a link to your work online and contact info. #sacredmandalastudio #durhamnc #ncartist #nctattooers #nctattooartist #tattooartist #tattooartistwanted #durhamartist

A post shared by Sacred Mandala Studio (@sacredmandalastudio) on Mar 19, 2018 at 8:32am PDT

Nite Owl Tattoo, Northampton, MA

110 Pleasant St, Northampton, Massachusetts

A crew of talented artists and a colorful group of people. This shop has more of a traditional shop vibe but is tucked away in NoHo. The shop boasts some award winning and experienced artists like Timmy B and has rave reviews about its customer service.

Check out our new awesome sign!! Come by and tell us how much you love it… or just come by and say hi! #newsign @niteowltattoomass 110 Pleasant St. Northampton MA 01060 WALK-INS Always welcome!!!! 413-727-3760 ➡️www.niteowltattoo.com⬅️ Like us on Facebook ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ For appointments and info ➡️niteowltattoomass@gmail.com⬅️ #niteowltattoo #westernmass #noho #MA #Massachusetts #redemption #redemptiontattoocare #stencilstuff #prepstuff #spraystuff #tattoo #tattoos #tattoosformen #guyswithtattoosy @redemptiontattoocare @stencilstuff @quickcaps @eternalink @keithbmachineworks @deathlesscords @kingpintattoosupply @hushanesthetic @waterlootattoo @niteowl_tattoo_furniture @niteowltattoonw @niteowltattoofl NOW OPEN!!!!

A post shared by NiteOwl Tattoo Mass (@niteowltattoomass) on Jan 24, 2018 at 11:15am PST

Kustom Thrills, Nashville, TN

1000 Main St #107, Nashville, TN

A low-key atmosphere and a traditional rockabilly feel. This studio is jam packed with things to look at, bright walls, and a “come and get it” attitude. They’re the original “bad ass” tattoo parlor that everyone expects with bright and talented artists that have been the subject of several national shows and a consistent 100 on every health department evaluation.

Tattoo by: @adamthekid

A post shared by Kustom Thrills Tattoo (@kustomthrills) on Aug 8, 2014 at 5:00pm PDT

Monarc Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Private Studio

An appointment only studio that is arguably the best black and gray Japanese in the country. This is a personal experience that goes far beyond the typical “shop” where you’ll have nothing but one on one from the inquiry through to the aftercare. This is a “top” level studio that combines some classical sculpture with a brutal minimalist black and white interior. This is star treatment, and the tattoos are well above the quality you can expect from your local shop.

Entry to Nirvana

A post shared by MONARC (@monarcstudios) on Jun 20, 2017 at 11:11am PDT

Asylum Studios, Roanoke, VA

4179 Electric Rd, Roanoke, Virginia

A little town studio with a New York feel. The owner Daniel Jones is booked up well in advance and with good reason. His portrait work is some of the best around and his prices are very reasonable compared to similar artists found in bigger cities. The studio is cozy and has all the comforts of home as well as a friendly and varied staff.

Daniel (@dr_daniel_jones ) completed this sleeve in only three sessions! #tattoos #tattoo #sleeves #tattoosleeve #vatattoos #roanoketattoo #flowers #flowertattoo #birds #birdtattoo #sessions #colortattoo

A post shared by Asylum Studios (@asylumstudios) on Jun 3, 2017 at 6:33am PDT

Mayday! Tattoo Co. Chicago, IL

1610 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Owner Carolyn Elaine, the self proclaimed “Lady Tattooer” uses clean lines, bold colors and keeps her studio the same way. It’s a bold, clean place where you should expect to wait a few weeks to a few months to even get a consultation. With an artist about to compete on this year’s Ink Master competition it’s understandable why.

Lovely piece by @maydaytattooco artist @carolyn_elaine_tattoo

A post shared by MAYDAY! Tattoo Co | Chicago (@maydaytattooco) on Feb 16, 2018 at 5:34pm PST

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