3003 NE 120th St, Seattle Washington 98125
I've always wanted to get a tattoo of my dogs, but I hesitated for a long time because of three main concerns: (1) the fear of not being able to handle the pain, (2) the worry that my skin might react with allergies or scars, and most importantly, (3) the fear of not finding an artist skilled enough to capture the adorable details of my dogs because tattoos are permanent. While I could research the first two concerns on my own, finding a great tattoo artist required not just research but a bit of luck. After browsing through many portfolios and reviews, I was fortunate enough to come across Ying's Tattoo, and I have to say, I couldn't be happier with my decision. I have two beloved dogs, a 10-year-old Great Pyrenees named Congcong and an 11-year-old Maltipoo named Duoduo. They're healthy and happy, despite their age, and I wanted to carry their image with me forever. After thorough research on social media, I found this incredible artist and decided to book an appointment two months in advance. I traveled from out of state specifically for this session. I wanted a realistic black-and-grey tattoo of both dogs covering the outside of my upper arm. The goal was to capture every detail, making it as lifelike as possible. When I arrived at the studio at 10 am, we immediately began discussing the design. I had a hard time choosing reference photos because I love my dogs so much, so I showed the artist my entire photo album! With great patience and efficiency, the artist asked about my dogs' breeds, personalities, typical expressions, and behaviors. After narrowing down the selection, he quickly created a few potential designs. Once we finalized the design, the artist printed it out to scale, placed it on my arm to adjust the positioning, and then transferred the stencil onto my skin. After a brief break, we began the tattoo process. Over the next 9 hours and 11 minutes, the artist skillfully worked with different needle sizes to create a stunningly detailed portrait of my dogs. The process involved three main steps: first, outlining the basic shapes with medium-thick lines; then, filling in the details with needles of varying thicknesses, from dark to light shades; and finally, adding highlights with white ink for extra depth. The artist's dedication was incredible - he remained focused throughout the entire session. As for the results, they speak for themselves. You can see the individual layers of fur, the fluffiness of Congcong's face, and even the slight glint in his eyes that shows his confident, yet sweet personality. Duoduo's more recent picture shows her serious expression after her dad said, "Duoduo, mom is getting you tattooed, sit nicely for the photo!" The tattoo captures even the tiniest details, like the curl of her fur and the little speck of her nose. When I sent the photos to my hubby, we both felt an overwhelming sense of joy, and cried like babies. I can't express how grateful I am to have found this tattoo artist. It feels like my dogs are now with me forever, and I'm beyond happy with the result! For anyone considering a tattoo here, I'd like to share a few tips: 1. Listen to the artist's advice and make sure you get a good night's sleep and a big meal before your appointment, as it helps with managing the pain. 2. Bring something to distract yourself during the process (like a phone) because it's a long session, and you might get sleepy. 3. Try not to chat with the artist too much during the tattoo; they need to focus on their work. 4. Aftercare is important, especially if you're not from Seattle - follow the instructions closely to avoid needing touch-ups. Pain-wise: black ink hurts less than color ink, with a ratio of about 1:4. As for placement, the outer upper arm hurts less than the inner arm or shoulder, with a pain ratio of about 1:1.5:2. I feel incredibly lucky to have found this amazing artist! I hope Ying's Tattoo continues to grow and thrive because they truly deserve it!