https://berlintattoos.com berlin-tattoos Wed, 12 Aug 2020 19:10:41 +0000 https://berlintattoos.com en https://berlintattoos.com/My-tattoo-practice Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:35:34 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/My-tattoo-practice my tattoo practice I have been taught tattooing by others in a slow informal built up way, and continue to actively look for learning to expand what I can offer. I work with a machine, though I first learned tattooing by hand. My illustration and tattoo practice captures simply with single-weight linework illustrations in black ink. I incorporate minimal textural shading with liners and mag shaders. I aim to explain and narrate the steps of getting tattooed before we work so you know what is going on in terms of sanitation, process, and the products used. I love getting questions before or as we go because tattooing is a thing I love to talk about so please ask me anything! more of this please I love large scale work: elements that cross and jump across the body, backpieces, and works that build up over time. love backpieces always. the most meaningful work I’ve done is in doing work to mark or clarify dreams or passings: memorials of selves and others. I have the capacity to continue to offer memorial pieces at my client’s lead. I am also interested in working on compositions that are multi-element, combinations of objects approached with curiousity to how they sit in relation to each other, or which include elements that repeat within a larger composition with slight differences. learning and working among others&nbsp; I regularly work to educate myself about the nuance of this practice: I have taken Tamara Santibañez' trauma-informed tattooing workshop (which you can find here) and regularly update my knowledge with other sources that help me offer this type of work in a way that honours that everybody is showing up as they are and that there are so many factors that can affect the experience of getting tattooed for someone based on their own reality and intersectional experience. I am committed to small acts that resist the gatekeeping/scarcity culture of tattooing that is rooted in white supremacy: if you ever want to ask for tattooing advice, have questions about supply sources, or if you want a recommendation for a tattoo artist, please ask.&nbsp; <img width="2000" height="3000" width_o="2000" height_o="3000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83110a2fec51716c76d2fc275a34415ecba50f11a8af305c8dee8593d48c72b2/---_0225-edt.jpg" data-mid="235279828" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/83110a2fec51716c76d2fc275a34415ecba50f11a8af305c8dee8593d48c72b2/---_0225-edt.jpg" /> https://berlintattoos.com/FAQs Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:35:34 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/FAQs 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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp; 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 $200hourly community rate: sliding scale at&nbsp;$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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp; playing with colour:&nbsp;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!&nbsp; 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.&nbsp;I don’t tattoo text.&nbsp;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. https://berlintattoos.com/Flash Wed, 12 Aug 2020 17:05:54 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/Flash flash Flash tattoos are tattoos done of pre-made designs. I do them as ‘one-off’ designs: I only tattoo exact designs once. I will sometimes work on the same idea or elements with different iterations, but work to make designs and compositions distinct. My flash designs are organized into five rough categories, linked below. Flash that has already been tattooed is linked under the ‘unavailable flash’ heading below. They are there for inspiration, should you want to propose that I riff off something or to help you describe an element of something that you’d like to pull into a custom.My new flash is always posted first via my email newsletter, which you can sign up for&nbsp;here.&nbsp; links to flash fabrics botanicals pre-raphaelite hands other thoughts and other dreams composition partslinks to unavailable flash fabrics botanicals pre-raphaelite hands other thoughts and other dreams <img width="2000" height="3000" width_o="2000" height_o="3000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/73a3fe1e25e47080c84f607bd38e8233a17a181de18ffe8d25c762ea0357c151/20A_0573.jpg" data-mid="235280139" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/73a3fe1e25e47080c84f607bd38e8233a17a181de18ffe8d25c762ea0357c151/20A_0573.jpg" /> https://berlintattoos.com/Customs Wed, 12 Aug 2020 19:10:41 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/Customs drawing fee all custom tattoos require an additional drawing fee of $60, paid by e-transfer once I offer you a booking. process for custom work I aim to get your custom drawn and sent to you by email at least a week before your booking. This is so you can sit with it alone and articulate any revisions before your appointment. I do rounds of revision through email. Custom work is hard because there is so much trust! I want to assure you explicitly that you always have agency to choose if you want something, whether it is weeks ahead or on the day of your appointment. If you aren’t feeling good about the design, please let me know if you want to work on revisions, change your appointment to give more time to think on it, or just cancel - all of these things happen and it is okay that they do. I support and respect your choice and intuition at all stages.&nbsp; <img width="895" height="1347" width_o="895" height_o="1347" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/070b960c9469edc0eb6d946be17172839bee56c125811ca2fb1e2dadb0cd1558/hand.jpg" data-mid="235280028" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/895/i/070b960c9469edc0eb6d946be17172839bee56c125811ca2fb1e2dadb0cd1558/hand.jpg" />healed photo taken/copyright by J N : @contr4ry <img width="1024" height="1536" width_o="1024" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/41664d4006fa9ae12e2fe4ff5c72f542084c3a55435712f58f61c70a027bac0c/---_0027.jpg" data-mid="235280029" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/41664d4006fa9ae12e2fe4ff5c72f542084c3a55435712f58f61c70a027bac0c/---_0027.jpg" /> https://berlintattoos.com/Booking Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:35:35 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/Booking BOOKS OPEN FOR SUMMER AND FALL 2025 / tattoo booking please fill out my booking form here. Read the scheduling bit below first.I am taking very few (2 or 3) custom booking requests this round. I work on a seasonal booking system: I’ll review all requests at once, and offer bookings to all requests that I can take on. I may offer waitlist spots (meaning, you have a spot, but we won’t schedule it until closer to) for the following season. consult booking if you want to discuss specifics about a design, or have questions that can be covered in a consult, please email me at mberlin (at) live.com to organize a phone consult. If we need to meet in person for a more placement-specific consult, we can plan from there. touchup booking touchups are free and all you need to do is email me at mberlin (at) live.com to set up a time. schedulingI only book tattoos on Saturdays (all day, with my starting slot beginning at 10AM). If you are travelling on a specific set of dates and Saturdays don’t work for you, please reach out or detail this when booking and I can selectively consider if your proposal is possible for me to take on (meaning: I need to consult with my studiomates and see if I am able to work on another weekday evening or on a Sunday). <img width="1787" height="2694" width_o="1787" height_o="2694" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/811c4589338775e1c78178a2cb76ed144e9033189da36b2639217061c958b7e3/0005_31A-copy.jpg" data-mid="235282776" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/811c4589338775e1c78178a2cb76ed144e9033189da36b2639217061c958b7e3/0005_31A-copy.jpg" /> https://berlintattoos.com/After-your-tattoo Wed, 12 Aug 2020 17:06:17 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/After-your-tattoo saniderm I usually use a bandage known as ultraderm/saniderm/second skin, unless you know you are allergic to the adhesive. I will let you know what to look for to spot an allergy if you have never used it before. It is a flexible film covering that protects the tattoo while it is healing. You can shower with the bandage on. I will give you alternative instructions in person for healing your tattoo if you choose not to use this type of bandage. immediate aftercare keep the second skin bandage on for four days if you can; afterwards, it is easy to take it off by peeling up a corner of the bandage in the shower and pulling it off in the direction it is pointing. Wash off the residue left under the bandage gently with some water and unscented soap. Pat dry with a disposable paper towel. healing aftercare start your cleaning and moisturizing regimen, which I recommend keeping up for at least 3 weeks, and at best, 4 weeks: clean your tattoo in the same way as described above 2-3 times a day, and let it dry well before and between moisturizing. Aquaphor, A&amp;D lotion, water-based unscented lotions all work best. Avoid salves or beeswax-based products that have a sealing effect from air, which doesn’t allow it to dry out as well. My best suggestion is to use Aquaphor for the first week after you take the bandage off, and then switch to a lotion for the next 3 weeks. your tattoo should finish any flaking around the edges of linework within a week and a half after getting the tattoo, and feel healed over within three weeks. It will settle in and look a bit more matte/become less raised and sharp in about 1-2 months. things to consider for best results slap it instead of scratching when it is itchy; don’t soak or swim in water until it is well healed (about 4 weeks). Be cognizant of the fact that sun exposure does effect the quality of your tattoo during healing and as long as you have it - keep your healing tattoo out of direct sunlight by covering it with clothing for at least a month to protect it from sun damage. After this, you can start using sunscreen to protect it. feedback My tattoo practice evolves as I learn and I always want to do better. I welcome all feedback about your experience: feedback form <img width="1024" height="1536" width_o="1024" height_o="1536" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/42f853f7ea4bde4c025ae6ff7316b03b8c0db0320351f900b511a17684b9e705/---_1028.jpg" data-mid="133310150" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/42f853f7ea4bde4c025ae6ff7316b03b8c0db0320351f900b511a17684b9e705/---_1028.jpg" /> https://berlintattoos.com/Homepage Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:35:35 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/Homepage <img width="1920" height="2400" width_o="1920" height_o="2400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1c460a96df0eee6fce849de2c10a2354f412221207421c0a525d18759d68d1aa/220911_whergt_P1012205_edit.jpg" data-mid="235279758" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1c460a96df0eee6fce849de2c10a2354f412221207421c0a525d18759d68d1aa/220911_whergt_P1012205_edit.jpg" /> photo by Walter Hergt https://berlintattoos.com/About-Contact Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:35:35 +0000 berlin-tattoos https://berlintattoos.com/About-Contact <img width="881" height="1294" width_o="881" height_o="1294" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/64532d88021ba99fc0d80740ff3e9154264af016de611bed381573ebefc83bdc/Screenshot_20200812_141844_com.android.gallery3d.jpg" data-mid="79755335" border="0" data-scale="66" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/881/i/64532d88021ba99fc0d80740ff3e9154264af016de611bed381573ebefc83bdc/Screenshot_20200812_141844_com.android.gallery3d.jpg" />My name is Meagan Berlin (they/them). I am a queer printmaker, illustrator, and tattoo artist. I’m white with ukrainian settler ancestry. I’m currently working on the territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, as represented today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations / 'victoria bc canada’.&nbsp; I work at Famiglia Tattoo. Our website is here and you can also find news at @famiglia.tattoos ︎ Instagram ︎ (my other) website ︎ Email: mberlin (at) live.com