have received tattoos from artists in Medford, Salem, Portland, and Seattle (9 total), and Jade Mermaid is by far my favorite place to go. Joe Bass, the owner, is friendly, knowledgeable, and talented... Read More
have received tattoos from artists in Medford, Salem, Portland, and Seattle (9 total), and Jade Mermaid is by far my favorite place to go. Joe Bass, the owner, is friendly, knowledgeable, and talented as all heck. His approach to tattoo is very artistic and concepual. There are no flash books to choose from - you go in with an idea and he works with you to develop a design. He knows tattoo like the back of his hand (probably because he has tattooes on the back of his hand) and isn't afraid to tell you what will and won't work with your design idea. He is especially good with color, layering colors upon colors to create incredible depth and movement. He is halfway done with a sleeve on my left arm and I get rave reviews on the art from friends, family, and complete strangers. The atmosphere of the shop is more like a coffee shop than a traditional tattoo parlor. There is a pinball machine, comfy chairs, screens for privacy, and free hard candy. The decor is warm and inviting, with original pieces on the wall displaying not only Joe's dedication to tattoo but also his skill as an artist. As far as Joe himself, you probably couldn't find a nicer tattoo artist. Not only is his artistic skill hard to come by, he is also very smart and a great conversationalist. When you're sitting for a 3-4 hour piece, it's good to have an artist that can hold a conversation. All in all, The Jade Mermaid and everyone that works there is a class act. Go there. Now.Read Less