H A N D
P O K E D
T A T T O O
I began hand-poking in 2020 and have about 5 years of full time experience in the industry, working in and out of shops and private studios.
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The tattoos I make are formed by the staccato of my hands against ink and skin. I believe the look of hand-poke compliments our bodies and our humanness - leaning into our own imperfections by adorning them with soft forms and organic textures. Beyond that, I am a hand-poker because of my love for the process. I find that our nervous systems have an easier time engaging in trust without the unconscious presence of the machine.
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My tattoo practice is aimed to facilitate a meditative and collaborative process. I strive to create work that doesn't impose itself on the skin, but rather is in conversation with the form and movement of the body.
Pre-drawn Custom Designs
Maybe you have something personal that you are envisioning
in my style, or maybe you saw a tattoo I have done and want something similar. I am always open to new ideas, and I am very happy to re-interpret old works and make them new. That being
said, I only take on custom work that I believe aligns with my style abilities.The process goes as such:
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1) You submit a booking form and include 3-10 reference images
for the piece you are imagining. It is helpful if this includes reference photos, tattoos I have done in the past, and a photo of the intended location of the tattoo.​
2) Once I have approved the project, I will ask for a non-refundable $75 deposit to start the drawing process.
3) Between 1 week to 2 days ahead of our appointment, I will send 2-4 rough sketches. From here, we may choose to use one of those
ideas, do a second round of sketching based on your feedback,
or opt to finish designing the tattoo together in session.
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Collaborative Sessions:
working together to fit with
your body
One of my ethos around tattoos is that they not just impose themselves on the skin, but become one with the flow and movement of the body. You might consider this kind of session if you want something abstract, simple, and perfectly fit to your anatomy. Think of knots, vines, and body lines. In your form, I will ask for the general size, placement,
and intention for the tattoo, but all of the
designing will happen in session. This creates a
resulting tattoo that is 'of the moment', and that we can actively shape and bring to life together.
In-session drawing is charged at a flat rate of $50.
One of a Kind Pre-drawn
These are designs that feel unique, and I want to stay that way.
Often what I categorize as one-offs are drawings that feel like spirits
or entities that aren't meant to be replicated. Like flash, there is no maximum for sizing, though there is a limit to how small each design
can be dependent on the level of detail.
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Because I love working in both black and color, many one off's are available in both a black and color version. If you want a one-off in a different color than the one pictured, please note this ahead of time, as
the black or color version may have already been claimed.
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I am often open to minor alterations in a design, although if we change it significantly you may be charged a custom fee, or I may opt to keep the original design still available to be tattooed the way it was drawn.
If you want to make an alteration, please let me know on your form.
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FLASH
While the term "flash" has become misconstrued in contemporary tattooing, traditionally this refers a collection of designs that are available to be tattooed again and again (think the walls of a tattoo parlor)
Some flash I retire if I feel it is becoming
overdone, but you will likely share the same
tattoo with many strangers.
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All flash has a minimum size, but no maximum. For sizing up simpler designs, we can discuss
adding variation to the shading to create
more visual interest. All flash can also be done
in black or color.​​​
I book about one to two months in advance via Google Forms. Once your form has been accepted you receive an email containing a link to select a date and time for our session. I do this to ensure I am able to accommodate your request, and send an appropriate time slot length.
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Pricing
I price tattoos ahead of time based on size, location, and an approximation of how long it should take. This way a price is agreed upon at the start of our tattooing time. This is typically decided at the start of a session once we have established stencil size and placement. Estimations are available ahead of time upon request. If you want an accurate quote for your tattoo, please be specific about sizing and placement. If a significant size change happens in the stenciling process we can discuss a price shift in-session. My prices are based on active tattooing time only (to reduce any stress around taking time with stenciling, taking breaks, etc.)​
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To help with accessibility, my prices are also offered at sliding scale. If you would like guidance around where to place yourself on the scale, a self assessment guide can be found in my booking form.
Are hand-poke tattoos
different?
If executed correctly, a hand poke tattoo is the same as any other kind of tattoo. It is not any more prone to fading because of the process. Like any tattoo, the look and lifespan of your tattoo is based on the style your artists is utilizing, ink quality, density of ink placed, and skill.
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Because it is manual, hand-poke can be a slightly slower process, but also is not inherently slower either. Speed vs. machine has many factors, but mostly is a mix of skill and style. Yes, a thick lined traditional tattoo with a coil machine is likely to go a lot faster, though there are also many machine tattooing styles that are relatively comparable in speed to an experienced hand-poker.
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Despite what your friend's tell you, a hand-poke is also not inherently more or less painful, and you will find people on either side of that spectrum. No tattoo experience is created equal, and there are countless variables that go into pain. Beyond the artist's tool or style of tattooing, pain is a psychic experience influenced by our immune systems, nervous system state, emotional state, hormones, and stored trauma.
Allergy & Patch Tests
Ink allergy is uncommon, but there is always risk with introducing pigment under the skin, with red and yellow being common culprits.
Severity of a reaction can vary widely. It might just look like mild irritation that subsides with time. In more serious instances it could be chronically red, itchy, bumpy, or even reject completely (your body pushes out the ink while it is healing, sometimes leaving mild scarring)
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If you are concerned about color allergy, or even just how a color will settle with your skin tone, we can schedule a patch test at least a week before your appointment.
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There are two types of tests
- ink place on the skin and covered by a derm shield bandage
- tattooing a very tiny dot or line
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A successfull patch test does not guarantee you won't have a reaction, but can be a good way of testing for extreme allergy or irritation.​