I tattoo at Unkindness Art, which is located in Richmond, VA!To book a tattoo with me, please consult my booking page and reach out when my books are open!If you'd like to be notified as soon as my books open, the best thing to do is subscribe to my newsletter! You can also follow me on Instagram or Twitter for updates.
RECENT ORIGINAL WORK
MANGA PANEL TATTOOS
When tattooing manga panels, I aim to make a tattoo that will age well, sacrifice as little detail as possible, and honor the original artist's work as closely as I can. Here are a few selections of my manga reproductions - original artists are noted in the captions!
HEALED WORK
I love to receive healed pictures of my work! The best healed pictures are taken outside (or in natural/diffused lighting) and with someone else taking the photo. This will help get a better angle on the healed tattoo!
COMMISSIONS STATUS: CLOSED
If you'd like to propose a project when my commissions are open, you can e-mail me at jaystorart@gmail.com! You can also contact me anytime to request a quote for a future project.I do NOT take tattoo design commissions, as I am a tattooer myself! If you'd like to get my work tattooed, please make an appointment with me rather than taking my work to another tattooer.
FULL-COLOR DIGITAL PIECEHeadshots start at $180+, Waist-ups at $250+, Full-Bodies at $300+
A digitally-colored piece with a simple background. Base prices are per character, and prices may increase for complicated backgrounds, designs, or props.
TRADITIONAL PIECEAsk for a quote!
A traditional piece made with ink and markers. These prices can vary widely, so please request a quote!
BOOKING STATUS: CLOSEDReopening for appointments on 1/1/2025!
BOOKING FORM
I open my books every 2-3 months for the following 1-2 months! When my books are closed, I ask that you please hold on to your tattoo concepts rather than e-mail to see if I'm interested.When my books are open, please fill out the Google Form above with your project idea. I don’t respond to booking DMs, and typically won’t respond to e-mails from folks who haven’t filled out the booking form. When the form is open, you can fill it out as many times as you like!Once opened, I leave my booking form for about 1-3 weeks. I recommend signing up for my newsletter if you're hoping to submit a project - you’ll get an early heads-up when my books open!I do NOT book first-come, first-served - instead, I select projects based on what I feel I can execute best and what I'm most excited about! In the weeks following my books opening, please keep an eye on your inbox (and your spam folder) - if you hear from me, it will either be to start the booking process, or to offer you a spot on my wait list.Due to the number of inquiries I typically receive, I can't guarantee a response to every submission. If you don’t hear from me, you're welcome to resubmit your idea in a future booking round!
FLASH VS. CUSTOMS
Flash are pre-drawn tattoo designs that I release periodically, whereas custom work is when you bring me an idea, we discuss it, and then I create a piece based on your concept. I typically book about 50% flash, 50% customs each round!All of my current flash designs are available here!
PRICING
I charge $175/hour. Most of my appointments are at least two hours, and I have a minimum of $350 for custom projects.I’m happy to give you a quote range for your tattoo once we’re discussing your piece, but please do not ask me to give you a quote for something while my books are closed! It’s just not a great use of my time to do a full consultation when I’m not prepared to book your project.
DEPOSITS
To book a tattoo appointment, I require a nonrefundable deposit! Please do not fill out the booking form if you're not prepared to pay this deposit.For most appointments, the required deposit is $175. For large-scale projects - half-sleeves & sleeves, backpieces, large thigh pieces, chests, etc - the deposit is $350 (these take much longer to draw and are harder to re-sell if you cancel your tattoo).Your deposit will come off the final cost of your tattoo! The point of this deposit is to cover my time if you cancel/reschedule your tattoo within 4 days (96 hours) of the appointment. If you ask to reschedule with more than 4 days' notice, I'll happily honor your deposit for a new appointment time. However, if you contact me to reschedule within 4 days of the appointment, your initial deposit will be forfeit and I’ll require a new deposit to rebook.
SLIDING SCALE RATES
Tattoos are a luxury! While I am very grateful to clients who save to afford this luxury, I don’t wish to exclude less-privileged people from the joy of getting tattooed. To combat this, I offer a few sliding scale appointments every time I open my books. Your tattoo project could be anywhere from $125-150/hr on this scale!Please understand that I can only accept 2-3 sliding scale appointments per month - any more would compromise my ability to meet my personal income needs. I prioritize clients interested in larger-scale or multi-session work for this sliding scale, as this is typically the kind of work that is most inaccessible to less-privileged clients.Here is a helpful visual for assessing where you may lie on the scale of financial privilege!
LOCATION
I'm based in Richmond, VA (in the United States) and I tattoo at Unkindness Art. I'm always delighted when people come visit from out of town - Richmond is a very driveable city, and Unkindness has bike parking, a parking lot, and easy street parking when the lot gets full. The closest airport is Richmond International Airport, and the closest train stations are the Amtrak ones at Staples Mill Road or Main Street.If you're coming from out-of-town to get a tattoo that will take more than a single session, I'm open to seeing you for two days back-to-back! Just mention this in your booking inquiry and we can make it happen.
TOUCH-UPS
If you’ve worked with me before and your Jay Tattoo needs a touch-up, you don’t have to wait for my books to open! Simply e-mail me at jaystorart@gmail.com, and we’ll find a time to touch it up (as long as it’s been healed for at least a month).Your first touch-up is always free, but tips are appreciated to cover materials! I’m also happy to touch up an existing tattoo during a session for a new one.
AVAILABLE FLASH DESIGNS
I update my flash pretty regularly - if a piece is shown below, it's likely available! That said, please don't ask about reserving it/booking an appointment for it if my books are closed. You're welcome to ask me about a piece you've seen in the past if you're not sure whether it's still available.Much of my flash is repeatable, meaning I'll tattoo a design 2-3 times before retiring it!Interested in a flash piece? Learn how to book here!
LOOSE PROJECT CONCEPTS
Some ideas for projects I'd really like to do, in no particular order...
An Andalite from Animorphs
A Hork-Bajir from Animorphs
Unicorn backpiece, maybe fighting another creature?
Vicar Amelia half-sleeve or half-leg
Tiger the size of half ya leg - or ya whole leg??
Centaur along the side-body (side of chest, onto back, down across butt and side of thigh)
Any Final Fantasy summons/aeons (Ifrit, Shiva, Valefor, Bahamut, Carbuncle, etc.) - though some of these will need to be Big, like min. 12"!
Big pieces of Elden Ring bosses/NPCs
Zelda Light Dragon sleeve!!! with plenty of Dragon's Tears cascading down the arm
Chimera-Falin from Dungeon Meshi leg sleeve (or large thigh/outer/back of leg piece)
Dungeon Meshi backpiece with a take on this page (CH. 91 SPOILER)
This panel of Falin from Dungeon Meshi (would need to be min. 12" -an entire calf, shin, shoulder, or thigh) (CH. 97 SPOILER)
Marcille's Winged Snake from Dungeon Meshi, redrawn, maybe a half-sleeve? (CH. 79 SPOILER)
Rayearth (wolf form) from Magic Knight Rayearth
Any of the Mashin from Magic Knight Rayearth
Garurumon half-sleeve (arm or leg)
Large thigh or arm pieces based on Vocaloid MVs - in particular, Black Rock Shooter, Imitation Black, Matryoshka, Magnet, Servant/Daughter of Evil, Tengaku, Calne Ca, Hakaokuri no Uta, Close and Open, Demons and the Dead/Musunde Hiraite Rasetsu to Mukuro, Ghost Rule, and... whatever YOUR favorite is!
WANNA-DO POKÉMON
Below are some Pokémon I'd really like to tattoo, loosely organized by generation. I am always happy to repeat Pokémon, and I am equally happy to do any Pokémon that's NOT on this list! These are just some of my favorites <3I will almost always stylize Pokémon a bit rather than draw them on-model. Some Pokémon get stylized more than others, but please know that I won't usually do a 1:1 tattoo of original Pokémon art! If that's what you're looking for, I may not be the artist for you.
Every Eevelution!!
Rapidash
Beedrill
Alolan Vulpix & Ninetales
Alolan Meowth
Classic/Hisuian Growlithe
Classic/Hisuian Arcane
Alolan Marowak
Galarian Articuno/Zapdos/Moltres
Dragonair
Dragonite
Mewtwo
Hisuian Typhlosion
Hoothoot
Pichu
Chinchou
Ampharos
Unown (especially if we spell something silly in them)
Hisuian Sneasel
Slugma
Houndoom
Kingdra
Miltank
Scizor
Suicune
Raikou
Entei
Lugia
Celebi
Chimecho
Deoxys (any form)
Jirachi
Rayquaza
Latios
Latias
Spheal
Snorunt
Absol
Tropius
Banette
Milotic
Zangoose
Altaria
Spinda
Flagon
Nosepass
Shroomish
Surskit
Gardevoir
Ralts
Kirlia
Cascoon
Poochyena
Mightyena
Blaziken
Grovyle
Arceus
Rotom (any form)
Froslass
Gallade
Chingling
Glameow
Mismagus
Lopunny/Alpha Lopunny
Drifloon
Shinx
Luxray
Infernape
Oshawott
Pignite
Musharna
Woobat
Swoobat
Zebstrika
Leavanny
Scolipede
Petlil
Classic/Galarian Darumaka
Scraggy
Scrafty
Archen
Classic/Hisuian Zorua
Classic/Hisusian Zoroark
Gothorita
Volcarona
Pawniard
Mienshao
Eelektrik
Joltik
EmolgaCubchoo
Sawsbuck (any form)
Jellicent (both sexes)
Mandibuzz
Meloetta (wouldn’t it be cute to make a Vocaloid version of her…)
Vanillite
Vanillish
Keldeo (either form)
Braixen
Delphox
Greninja
Pyroar
Florges
Pancham
Meowstic (either sex)
Honedge
Aegislash
Dralgage
Tyrantrum
Aurorus
Goodra
Phantump
Noibat
Noivern
Xerneas
Yveltal
Decidueye
Primarina
Cutiefly
Lycanroc (either form)
Mareanie
Salazzle
Tsareena
Passimian
Cosmog
Zeraora
Nihilego
Wooloo
Nicki
Thievul
Corviknight
Frosmoth
Sirfetch’d
Obstagoon
Toxtricity
Sneasler
Glastrier
Spectrier
Farigiraf
Annihilape
Tatsugiri
Tinkaton
Grafaiai
Ceruledge
Armarouge
Arboliva
Dachsbun
Fidough
Floragato
Meowscarada
Walking Wake
Scream Tail
Miraidon (either mode)