Recommend a tattooist in Seattle

February 20, 2008 9:42 AM

Help me find the right tattoo artist in the Seatle area.

I haven't been inked in about 15 years, but I've got the itch again. The problem with Seattle wrt tattoos is that there's too much choice. Help me find the right artist. I'd like to get the Apple of Discord on my upper arm, so I'm looking for someone who could do a fairly realistic golden apple.

posted by oncogenesis to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Best answer: I have had great results at Slave to the Needle, as have many others in my circle. I can particularly recommend Andrea, who works out of their Ballard location, and was extremely helpful and insightful in the process of getting my first ink. She was a great artist and guide for me.
posted by Roach at 10:17 AM on February 20, 2008

I got tattooed by Andrea Ottlewski at Slave to the Needle (Ballard location) almost two years ago. It was my first tattoo and the colouring on it is absolutely amazing. I'm incredibly happy with it and without a doubt, I'd go back there for more work.

If you're interested, I can provide a photo of the tattoo when I get home.
posted by Nelsormensch at 10:17 AM on February 20, 2008

Jinx!
posted by Nelsormensch at 10:18 AM on February 20, 2008

Nice!

She really did a great job. She gently talked me out of adding lettering elements that would have really cluttered up the piece, with the understanding that I could always add it. I am very grateful for her eye and sense of space, because it would have looked bad.

There was something very comforting and anxiety-reducing about having my first piece done by a woman, for some reason.
posted by Roach at 10:40 AM on February 20, 2008

Today is your lucky day. That was done at Apocalypse Tattoos by Victor, who also is known for tattooing his face on your ass for free.
posted by herbaliser at 1:32 PM on February 20, 2008

Best answer: I got my ink at the Lucky Devil Tattoo parlor [with Bobby Love who was visiting] and Vyvyn Lazonga's place [Tina was my artist and it looks like she's not there anymore]. I was impressed with the detail on both pieces and I've had other friends who had good experiences at LD. I have also heard nothing bad about Slave to the Needle so if that looks like a decent consensus I'd also suggest them.
posted by jessamyn at 2:59 PM on February 20, 2008

I would travel to see this person: http://www.divingswallow.com/marie.asp?cat=1 if I was anywhere near the west coast.
posted by Acer_saccharum at 4:05 PM on February 20, 2008

All the guys at Liberty Tattoo are amazing. Jerad is known for really intricate, detailed tattoos, Vinse One was really helpful planning my friend's first tattoo and made her feel really comfortable and I have heard nothing but good things about Jamie King.
posted by thehmmhmm at 5:52 PM on February 20, 2008

Second Vyvyn Lazonga - she is absolutely outstanding with lineless graphics and vivid color work. She is also an outstanding person, but that's a personal opinion.
posted by ptm at 6:03 AM on February 21, 2008