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about myself
i come from Japanese and Jewish diasporas, and use he/him pronouns. i have been tattooing for 18 years.
where do you work?
home base is greenfield in so-called western massachusetts. sometimes i travel to stolen unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations, also known as vancouver, canada.
when are you taking appointments, and do you have a wait list?
i don’t keep a waitlist, or use a books open/books closed system. im open to hearing ideas thru e-mail whenever, and will likely say No or not respond. the best way to know about multiple appointment openings when they arise, or flash, is through my newsletter.
what are your rates, do you take deposits, what forms of payment do you accept and should i tip?
for tattoo projects ~3 sittings or under, i charge by the piece + by your budget, aiming for 1000 - 1200 per day. Those with means will pay at or beyond the ceiling of my sliding scale, those with less means will only need to pay what they can offer. pay me well for my time, expertise, materials and care; and pay within your means. for longer projects, the day rate is lower. all rates are flexible, especially for multi-session projects like backpieces, with flexibility depending on your budget, my needs, and workload. i don’t take deposits, and accept only cash and paypal currently. cash is king.
if you have a pressing idea, no matter your budget, please reach out! we can make something happen if there is enough alignment.
what kinds of projects do you prefer to do? how best do i describe my ideas in proposals?
the art in my socials indicates what i like to do. however, i love to be challenged with new ideas/styles, and complicated projects like blastovers, gap fillers, etc.
a fleshed-out tattoo proposal must include ideas about subjects youre interested in (persons, places, things!), and placement(s) on the body. you could also provide reference material and/or descriptions for style, posing, placement, and atmosphere/vibes. thoughts about what you *do not* want are welcome. lots of information and specificity is best. i am not fond of vague open-ended proposals.
you may send multiple ideas in the same email.
im not against the inclusion of pertinent personal details, but do not treat me like a therapist :)
i no longer tattoo in a “pencil sketch” style.
i have been following your work for a long time, and have sent submissions but i am disheartened. i really want a tattoo - what gives?
it is real understandable to be frustrated and feel strung along. the truth is that i won’t be able to tattoo most people, even patient and supportive people. i appreciate all the support I get, and don’t expect people to be faithful to my process alone.
tattoo process
through e-mail, we discuss size, placement, budget, timeline, and the design itself. i’m available for zoom consults but it’s not my favourite platform.
once on the same page, we book first appointments! for larger projects, it’s preferred (but not necessary) to book two to three days, back-to-back. sometimes we book two or three months’ worth of appointments ahead. ideally we discuss budgeting, pace of appointments, and scheduling as the project develops.
sometimes, i email rough sketches before the appointment, but they’re usually provided day-of. im happy to try to provide sketches earlier, but try to avoid prolonged design workshopping through e-mail.
large projects
large tattoos are expensive, painful, and take a long time. some take months or years to complete. for example, when i make full back pieces, they take on average a year and a half to complete. that is with 1 to 2 appointments every month, with long breaks in the summer and holidays. scheduling, the design, and budget are collaborative spaces as project unfolds.
freehand tattooing
freehand means i draw the design with a marker on your skin before tattooing. this is unlike stenciling, where the linework is realized before you arrive and is applied w transfer paper. sometimes i use stencils, or a combination of stencil and freehand. there is plenty of time to pause and check in with each other during intervals as i draw on you.
first sessions are usually quite anaemic and the design could look flat, or rough, for the first session or two. depth and detail are built over several sessions.
click here to see an example of how i build large, freehand tattoos!
collaborating and boundaries
my approach to tattooing asks you to be present with your needs and boundaries. if you sense yourself checking out while we make decisions for your tattoo, please flag me, and we can pause and create a contingency plan. i will do my best to read you, make space for your questions and concerns; and consider your input alongside my professional experience. and, i am not perfect at reading people and anticipating needs. if we’re struggling to be in the right headspace, we can slow down or hold off on our appointment altogether. :)
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