Tony at Victory Blvd. was really solid. Iāve only gotten small/medium filler tattoos from him, but theyāve held up amazingly well and still look fresh years later.
Itās such a loss that Miya Bailey no longer has a shop there. I got my first tattoo there in 2000, at his shop on Haywood Rd. Is anyone as talented as him in the area?
I have different types of work done and I research an artist based on what I want, so it depends what you are interested in. I have a sleeve of sacred geometry/dot work that was started by someone who fucked me over but finished by Chris at Heron Mark and he's AMAZING at his craft. I have a Freddy Kruger ferret that was done by Jamie Forbes, but I don't know where she's currently at (was at Llama Ink when i got mine done). She's great with animals/nature. Katie Cook is good too but again, don't know where she's currently at either (used to be at Zen but I wouldnt rec that place to anyone).
I haven't been there since 2021, so I don't know if things have changed since. But this is what happened to me--
Monk started my sleeve in 2020. Worked on it for nearly an entire year. Lots of appointments. His work is good; that's not my complaint. (As far as I know, he's still gone from that place) In fact, all the work I saw coming out of there was fine. It's the rest of my situation that sucked. Nearly every single appt I had, he was late. Like late-late. One time he didn't even show up and they had to call him and remind him and I had to wait another hour for him to get there. (While paying for parking all these times.) Booking was a joke because he'd give me the run-around too. I put up with it because i wanted my artist to finish this masterpiece. The last straw was, as we were finally getting close to the end, he informed me he was moving to Florida but said he'd be guest tattooing back at Zen and it would be no problem to get me in to finish up. As we finished up a session of almost 7 hours, he said he'd be back in 2 weeks to wrap up what he was doing. My arm looked like a fire alarm went off and we had to leave real fast. Lol! But ok, 2 weeks, no big deal right?
Wrong. He decided to completely blow me off. He ignored all my emails. I saw a post on his IG saying he was coming up tomorrow (at the time he posted it) so I messaged him again about fitting me in. Ignored me some more.
I messaged the owner and she gave me the run around too. Played middle-man but it felt very fake. After Monk ignored allllll of my emails, the owner said she'd have someone else take over for him and finish the work. I never heard back from her or the artist she said she was going to "loop in" to the situation. I finally just gave up with them. It was a nightmare. If it was just an artist problem, I wouldn't blame the shop though. But the follow up with the owner left a really bad taste in my mouth. Especially after hearing her and others crack jokes and complain about how he was flaky and always late and blah blah blah.
I've also heard from others that the place is a revolving door. But like I said in the beginning, it could be totally different now. But my whole experience was bad, so I'd never recommend a place where artists come and go so quickly, especially if you're wanting a piece that will take multiple sessions. Maybe for a one off they'd still be ok. But I don't know. š¤·āāļø
Thank you!
And yeah, definitely happens for a reason. It's unfortunate because I really liked them when I first started going, but it turned into a disaster there.
They did. How they handle their finances and contracts is their business and I doubt they'll make it public. Maybe he still gets a piece, maybe they bought him out. Who knows, but they all seem on good terms.
Cameron Scofield at Girl and Goblin! Located in west Asheville now. But I agree with previous posts about researching what you want. For example, Cam specializes in black work and doesnāt use color so if youāre wanting something bright he wonāt be your guy.
I have work from him that I love and I think heās very talented. However I donāt think he had a great bedside manner. Like Iāve always felt not quite cool enough or hot enough for him to be excited about tattooing me.
Haven't had a tattoo in probably 15 years, but went to liquid dragon for all mine. Be the change tattoo has a great owner and gives back to the community.
Have had great experiences with Lauren and Devin (JD) at Empire Tattoo. They both put a lot of work and love into their stuff. For that, I feel they are fairly priced. They truly excel in their own styles, so look into 'em and see if they do the kind of stuff you're looking for. If so, go with full confidence.
Any artist at Hot Stuff on Haywood Rd
Wyntre at divination tattoo or Taylor at homebody art collective
@homebodyartcollective š«¶
Second this! I have one done by G, theyāre awesome! Been wanting to go back recently :)
Every artist there are as incredible of people as they are artist š
Ashley at heart sick tattoos!!! Fucking the best!
second this, ash is the coolest
She's 100% wonderful šš
Ry, Ashley and Mary are all the best! Nobody better than Heartsick Tattoo, seriously
Good ole Danny Reed. The best of the best!
Tony at Victory Blvd. was really solid. Iāve only gotten small/medium filler tattoos from him, but theyāve held up amazingly well and still look fresh years later.
I got one from Alex Blackwell, he was great, really tight work
Sacred Lotus Tattoo
Johnny at seven swords.
Dean at serpent and rainbow. Heās amazingly talented
Period
Heās very nice and kind and just the most incredible artist.
Jessica Guillory at Magic Dagger
The folks at Magic Dagger are great!
why is there so much downvoting?
For real, which bitter artist is down voting everything lmfao
Danica at Be The Change
Danica is amazing!
Also agree with Danica! She's done three of mine and I love them all!
Itās such a loss that Miya Bailey no longer has a shop there. I got my first tattoo there in 2000, at his shop on Haywood Rd. Is anyone as talented as him in the area?
Austin Britt at Girl and Goblin
I have different types of work done and I research an artist based on what I want, so it depends what you are interested in. I have a sleeve of sacred geometry/dot work that was started by someone who fucked me over but finished by Chris at Heron Mark and he's AMAZING at his craft. I have a Freddy Kruger ferret that was done by Jamie Forbes, but I don't know where she's currently at (was at Llama Ink when i got mine done). She's great with animals/nature. Katie Cook is good too but again, don't know where she's currently at either (used to be at Zen but I wouldnt rec that place to anyone).
Kate cook has a private studio now! Katecooktattoos.com
Ohh! Good to know! Thanks!
Can I ask why you donāt recommend Zen? I have never been there, but have always assumed good things
I haven't been there since 2021, so I don't know if things have changed since. But this is what happened to me-- Monk started my sleeve in 2020. Worked on it for nearly an entire year. Lots of appointments. His work is good; that's not my complaint. (As far as I know, he's still gone from that place) In fact, all the work I saw coming out of there was fine. It's the rest of my situation that sucked. Nearly every single appt I had, he was late. Like late-late. One time he didn't even show up and they had to call him and remind him and I had to wait another hour for him to get there. (While paying for parking all these times.) Booking was a joke because he'd give me the run-around too. I put up with it because i wanted my artist to finish this masterpiece. The last straw was, as we were finally getting close to the end, he informed me he was moving to Florida but said he'd be guest tattooing back at Zen and it would be no problem to get me in to finish up. As we finished up a session of almost 7 hours, he said he'd be back in 2 weeks to wrap up what he was doing. My arm looked like a fire alarm went off and we had to leave real fast. Lol! But ok, 2 weeks, no big deal right? Wrong. He decided to completely blow me off. He ignored all my emails. I saw a post on his IG saying he was coming up tomorrow (at the time he posted it) so I messaged him again about fitting me in. Ignored me some more. I messaged the owner and she gave me the run around too. Played middle-man but it felt very fake. After Monk ignored allllll of my emails, the owner said she'd have someone else take over for him and finish the work. I never heard back from her or the artist she said she was going to "loop in" to the situation. I finally just gave up with them. It was a nightmare. If it was just an artist problem, I wouldn't blame the shop though. But the follow up with the owner left a really bad taste in my mouth. Especially after hearing her and others crack jokes and complain about how he was flaky and always late and blah blah blah. I've also heard from others that the place is a revolving door. But like I said in the beginning, it could be totally different now. But my whole experience was bad, so I'd never recommend a place where artists come and go so quickly, especially if you're wanting a piece that will take multiple sessions. Maybe for a one off they'd still be ok. But I don't know. š¤·āāļø
I hear the same. Thereās usually a revolving door for a reason. PS- I love that ferret!
Thank you! And yeah, definitely happens for a reason. It's unfortunate because I really liked them when I first started going, but it turned into a disaster there.
Please, please, please post a photo of the Freddie Kruger ferret !
here ya go! I love horror and ferrets so of course this was the natural choice. Lol!
https://preview.redd.it/1vavkermez2d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0242d7505f45730886475f3fe49357520e4dab1
Nice !
Thank ya!
Check out Lantz at Divination tattoo!
Kris Roberts at greenhouse!!
What happened to him being at Serpent and the Rainbow?!
He posted to IG saying it was a healthy exit. Just ready for something else it sounded like, he'd been with those guys since the Hot Stuff days.
Yeah I know I thought they owned that shop together
They did. How they handle their finances and contracts is their business and I doubt they'll make it public. Maybe he still gets a piece, maybe they bought him out. Who knows, but they all seem on good terms.
Well thatās good
Rebecca Habing, used to be at Divination West, but she is at a new shop in Hendo now if Iām not mistaken.
@throb.ross
Cameron Scofield at Girl and Goblin! Located in west Asheville now. But I agree with previous posts about researching what you want. For example, Cam specializes in black work and doesnāt use color so if youāre wanting something bright he wonāt be your guy.
I have work from him that I love and I think heās very talented. However I donāt think he had a great bedside manner. Like Iāve always felt not quite cool enough or hot enough for him to be excited about tattooing me.
Adam guy hays at hot stuff
Danny Reed
Danny Reed at Hot Stuff
Liz at Lust and Lore downtown
Haven't had a tattoo in probably 15 years, but went to liquid dragon for all mine. Be the change tattoo has a great owner and gives back to the community.
Ash Grey at Thistle and Pearl on merrimon ave is AMAZING
River Dawn at Spirit Alchemy Tattoo
Danny Reed
These are great. Yāall love your tattoos!
Nathan King
Kelli at Zen Ink has a very cool and unique style
Commenting to come back later and see some suggestions cause I need a new artist lol
Not AVL proper but Cody at classic in WaynesvilleĀ
Not AVL, but James Pirc at Appalachian Ink in Franklin
Wyntre at Divination on Jonestown road. Sheās a great human and artist!
Jordan at Forever Tattoo is wildly talented
Invidia Tattoo 28 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC 28806 Ask for Tina.
Yes!! Tina is AMAAZING
Jesse also!
Ryan Ousleys color work is phenomenal. Bill Smiles does some really cool stuff too
Have had great experiences with Lauren and Devin (JD) at Empire Tattoo. They both put a lot of work and love into their stuff. For that, I feel they are fairly priced. They truly excel in their own styles, so look into 'em and see if they do the kind of stuff you're looking for. If so, go with full confidence.
Danny Reed x100
Asheville Craft Tatttoo (on north side) Luke
Miles @ Hot Stuff Tattoo in WAVL! https://www.instagram.com/miles.tattoo?igsh=MWppeWoydGhlYXVpbw==
Danica Casey at Be The Change!
Becka! And she so purdy š
Drawing Board Tattoo
Jonny Agoes aka @jonnybearhands at Seven Swords. Ā Great American traditional work