studio and location

I work in a private studio space with two rooms on Lək̓ʷəŋən land, on Fell Street in the Oak Bay area. If you are driving, on-street parking is available nearby. I will provide you with the address of the studio by email after you are booked.

The studio spaces are single-station rooms, so there will be no overlap with others when you are booked.

studio accessibility

the space: The studio is located on the main floor of an old, commercially zoned character building. There are residents in the upper and lower suites, and the other commercial office on our floor is shared with another professional. The shared waiting room is located up a flight of 8 stairs off the sidewalk with railings on either side. There is a motor-powered wheel chair lift to the right of the staircase if needed. There are no stairs inside the waiting room or studio space, and there is a railing to the left of the toilet in the toilet. The washroom is private for single use; it does not have hand supports. There is a back porch that is for artist and client use and accessible through the studio, with a small bump on the sliding glass door to navigate on your way out.

We have a HEPA air filter running in both studios. We have a masks-in-the-studio policy for both artists and clients. I wear an N-95. We can take water and food breaks outside.

other considerations: I do not use or wear strong scents in the space, but we use products (such as green soap and cavicide), which do have a strong smell. You are welcome to bring your own sensory-coping tools: use earplugs or listen to music etc. Let me know if you need specific things set out in the room for your guide or service animal. If you would like somebody else to be with you at your appointment, please just let me know so I can expect another person. 

Note that I normally use a massage table on four legs for clients to lay down or sit on (it can rise up to an angle), but if that doesn’t feel comfortable for you I can usually provide you some alternate options, like sitting on a chair or sitting on the table with your back against the wall.

pricing, generally

customs: I charge a drawing fee for customs at $60, in addition to the hourly tattooing rate.

touch ups: touch-ups on my work are free.

payment: on the day of your booking, please bring cash (preferred). E-transfer or PayPal is available as a backup option.

hourly rate: the ‘time’ starts when we actually start tattooing. Sometimes it takes time to get stencils right, and often can take a couple times to get it right, so don’t feel time pressure as that part of the process isn’t part of the time charged. 

deposits: I don’t take deposits when working locally at my own studio. I take deposits if I am guesting in another city. However, my expectations around cancellations (which deposits usually cover) are covered by my cancellations section below.

pricing, specific

I charge hourly rates, with an hour minimum for tattoos.

• hourly rate: sliding scale $200

  
  

• hourly community rate: sliding scale at $50 - 150 for specific community members. Black and Indigenous clients always welcome to this rate. Otherwise, this is for economically marginalized community members. Some prompts to think about to welcome you to pay in this area: precariously/under employed or housed, are receiving disability or social assistance benefits. These prompts have been adapted and shortened from a longer source via Constellation Tattoo Collective’s site here, which I am sharing with permission for reference. I want people to feel good about picking community rate if fits. I also know that this can still be out of reach for some, so if that’s the case, just let me know if you have a maximum budget for a piece or want to propose a goods/skills trade.

  
  

  I trust that people understand their own circumstances and reality and can participate in choosing a fair and realistic rate for themselves.
  
  I understand that not knowing how much something might cost ahead of time can be a deterrent: if you know you have a max budget, please share it with me in your booking form. My practice is able to accommodate case-by-case requests.

materials

I use vegan ink (Kuro Sumi). On request, I use zensa topical cream (5% lidocaine) for numbing, applied about 40 mins before we begin your tattoo, and can spray on bactine during the tattoo to upkeep the effect. Please let me know if you’d like this option, just so we can plan the timing of application of the cream. You’re welcome to use your own as well, but please let me know that you plan on applying it so we can coordinate timing.

experience notes

I have taken Health Canada’s Blood Borne Pathogen certificate course. My studiomates and I apply standardized sanitation practices in the studio space.

I have a fair bit of experience tattooing on skin with stretch marks, and with clients across a broad range of ages. I have some experience tattooing over scarring, on area-specific nerve damage, and doing ‘blastover’ work, going through an older tattoo (funnnn and one of my favourite things). I have more limited experience tattooing more melanated skin but have been fortunate to have a feedback loop of getting to see healed pieces in person across different skin tones. I have a gentle application style and am aware of when to schedule second sessions so as not to overwork skin, in instances where people’s skin may react more quickly/sensitively in a session. I always prefer to go really gentle and see how a client likes the healed effect before building up. Please be in touch if you have more specific questions about my experience; I am careful and confident in doing work for anybody who is keen on my style. 

playing

with colour: I will consider single-colour ink instead of black on request, and have a number of colours to consider, but do not typically design work with colour, so you have to request this specifically. it is always fun when it is requested! 

with sizes: after your design is chosen or drafted, at your request, I can provide you with a “prep sheet” of sizes that I am able to tattoo in and around the size you’ve indicated so you can play to see what works ahead of your session. I no longer do this automatically - please ask if you’d like it!

cancellations

If I draw you a custom design (and even with any revisions required), you just decide not to get tattooed, or if you change the subject matter substantially on a custom piece, I charge a $60 cancellation fee. I also retain the ability to offer the custom piece to others in the future. Locally, I don’t charge a cancellation fee for flash designs; just let me know if you are cancelling as soon as you know.

Please let me k now if you aren’t feeling well. For rescheduling, if something comes up at any point, please let me know so I can try and fill the spot or be able to plan my own time around it. You don’t need to explain or give the reason, just let me know you’d like to reschedule.

boundaries

you must be over 18. I won’t tattoo pregnant people or people with blood-thinning conditions.

I don’t tattoo feet or hands or the upper inner thin skin under the arm close to the armpit. I don’t tattoo text. I don’t do coverups because my style doesn’t really lend to coverup designs.

I do not give permission for people to bring my designs to other tattoo artists, as inspiration or as a proposed design. Don’t use my work in any way without first asking me.

I will not create flash designs which contain imagery or symbols not from my own cultural background. If you have an object or visual reference which does have specific cultural significance to you, and you feel that I am the artist to do this for you, I will consider this on a case by case basis. An example where this case-by-case consideration comes to mind are: plants with cultural importance, objects, an item of clothing, or a specific fish.