I'm 48 years old and just got my first ink last week. I'd been thinking about it for more than a year, but finally got serious. I started by checking yelp.com for local artists. I read a few review... Read More
I'm 48 years old and just got my first ink last week. I'd been thinking about it for more than a year, but finally got serious. I started by checking yelp.com for local artists. I read a few reviews, even messaged one other Yelp user and settled on Black Cat. I stopped in at about 11:30 on a Friday morning. The shop is in an old strip mall storefront at about 31st & State. My assumptions about tatt shops were not disappointed, as there were s couple of guys there, one getting a sleeve worked on when I went in. They looked tough and gruff. The art samples on the wall are what lot of people (mostly those not familiar with the vast array of styles out there) would expect. Skulls, flames, busty dames.. nothing cutesy, nothing speaking to the recent generations of women (not unlike myself) seeking sweet, sparkly art. After I stood around for a few moments Travis asked if he could help me. I fessed up to being a first timer, and showed him on my phone the image I had in mind (yeah, it's Hello Kitty.. sue me.. LOL). He looked at it, and told me it would take about an hour. I asked if he had time that day to do it, and I think he was kind of surprised. He told me to come back in an hour. I'm fairly certain he was surprised when I came back. To the point that I don't think he'd sketched out the image and considered mixing ink. So I chilled (literally.. damn it was cold in there) in some old school seating, going between my phone and Kindle keeping busy. I filled out the consent form quickly, and read until Travis was ready for me. Travis applied the temporary image of my tatt to my arm, and I used a mirror to look at it. Thankfully I brought up a color issue, or I'd have more pink than I like. Hopefully that was a note to Travis to be sure he asks again before getting started, but it's not a bad reflection on him. The tables they use for us canvases to chill on are high, and slippery. I'm 5'7" and had to hop a bit and pull (wearing yoga pants) my obese frame onto the table with some finesse to keep from sliding right back off, but once I was there all was good. A lot of the reviews I read about shops mentioned the kind of music they play, I was kind of turned off by the word 'metal' in one of them. I was VERY happy to find that the guys at Black Cat play a good mix of music.. I sure as hell wasn't wanting Celine Dion, nor did I expected it.. which is GOOD because there WASN'T any (LOL). My ink is on my left bicep, yes.. it's Hello Kitty.. and I love it! People ask me if it hurt, pain is relative. I'm telling people that it was rather like a continual vibrating flu shot.. with just a couple of spots where I found myself needing to breathe deep. No tears from this chick though. Did I pay a lot? I think some would say I did, but I firmly believe every word I've ever heard from those who do ink art, and those who receive it. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. I have no fear whatsoever that my ink will remain anything less than amazing. I plan to go back, as soon as I get another image in my head that I can't erase. You are never too old to express yourself, besides being normal is boring as hell. Live your life, love who you are, and laugh your ass off at every opportunity. Travis Campion at Black Cat Tattoo will do your proud with his artwork. Read Less