I had been hemming and hawing about a new tattoo since my last one almost two years ago, but hadn't found a shop in MKE that I was dead set on going to. During this time I moved from the East Side to ... Read More
I had been hemming and hawing about a new tattoo since my last one almost two years ago, but hadn't found a shop in MKE that I was dead set on going to. During this time I moved from the East Side to West Allis and was a little dismayed at the lack of reviewed shops in this area. One of my roommates works right near Rockstar and has talked to several of the artists at his workplace, and his assurances that they are friendly folks spearheaded my decision to go in and see about getting some work done. I did some preliminary research online (not much to be found outside of a Facebook page and their website) and reviewed some artist portfolios, and when I entered the shop with what I knew was a design that would be hard to tattoo, I was a bit nervous & feeling unprepared. The shop is neat, tidy, and clean and there is ample workspace in the back and an equally ample waiting area up front. The receptionist directed me to review the portfolios they had in the waiting area and pick an artist, which was difficult because I didn't see anything like the style I had in mind and they all seem pretty darn competent. My roommate suggested I work with Ashley, whose portfolio I felt was the best fit for me. So I presented her with the artwork I had in mind, we discussed how to make it more tattooable (the placement, colors, and the like), I made a downpayment, and booked an appointment for the next month which was June of this year. When I went in for the actual appointment, I was feeling much more at ease. Ashley showed me her draft, asked a few questions about line thickness and pinned down (not literally, ha ha) the placement, and had me check it in the mirror twice. She made sure I was comfortable before starting, and frequently checked in with me during it. We stopped once for a breather and because my arm was falling asleep and maybe I had dosed off and drooled on the chair a little... maybe. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I may have teared up a bit when I saw the final product. It was that good. I'm just astounded at her ability to take someone else's artwork - watercolor artwork at that - and translate it to the body so well. I'm thinking that if I ever again have the budget for a quality tattoo, I'll have her do a truly custom piece.Finally, she briefly advised me on aftercare knowing that I've had previous tattoos, gave me an aftercare reminder flyer, and suggested that I stop in after it's healed to see if any touchups are needed, which, um, I still need to do. Read Less