We have a sterile, light, comfortable and welcoming studio where everyone is welcome. Long gone are the days of walking into a nicotine hazed studio, browsing the bold flash designs and maybe spending a bit of spare cash you had left at the end of the week. Tattooing has progressed exponentially and we are very proud of the clean, professional environment we work in. Cleanliness which leads to your well being is our first priority, you are always welcome to visit the studio before making a booking to see us and check the studio out.
We are appointment based only so please make sure you contact us first before making a journey to visit us. You can see more about Monki Do and where to find us HERE.
We are appointment based only so please make sure you contact us first before making a journey to visit us. You can see more about Monki Do and where to find us HERE.
CUSTOM TATTOOING
Tattooing is now predominantly custom based. This means the majority of our clients prefer a bespoke, completely one off, never to be repeated design.
Ninety percent of my projects involve me taking an idea from my client and turning it into firstly a drawing, and then a tattoo. We may start with simply an idea, or a tattoo you have seen online. My favourite part of my trade, is taking someone’s ideas all the way from a concept to a fully healed tattoo.
-TAILORED TO FIT-
I believe tattoos look their best when they fit the body perfectly. Measurements are taken, muscle shapes and natural ergonomic paths considered even before drawing anything, all to create the best looking tattoo.
-EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT-
As we all know, everyone is different. Body sizes and shapes change drastically from person to person and very rarely have any advantages or disadvantages from each other. As the tattoo is designed to fit you alone, you don’t need to worry whether you have the ‘right’ body shape for the piece you are thinking about getting.
-TRUST-
I believe that trust needs to be earned, but it is important to have between client and artist. I completely understand how life changing a tattoo is, whether it be a large back piece or tiny star on your wrist, they are equally important to the individual and it is a daunting step counting on a tattoo artist to not only do a good job, but to be able to understand and share your vision. Trust will be built slowly and the best time to start this is in a consultation. Most projects are started with at least one of them, they are around one hour, and are a great opportunity to go over ideas, look at inspiration and to throw some ideas around.
Ninety percent of my projects involve me taking an idea from my client and turning it into firstly a drawing, and then a tattoo. We may start with simply an idea, or a tattoo you have seen online. My favourite part of my trade, is taking someone’s ideas all the way from a concept to a fully healed tattoo.
-TAILORED TO FIT-
I believe tattoos look their best when they fit the body perfectly. Measurements are taken, muscle shapes and natural ergonomic paths considered even before drawing anything, all to create the best looking tattoo.
-EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT-
As we all know, everyone is different. Body sizes and shapes change drastically from person to person and very rarely have any advantages or disadvantages from each other. As the tattoo is designed to fit you alone, you don’t need to worry whether you have the ‘right’ body shape for the piece you are thinking about getting.
-TRUST-
I believe that trust needs to be earned, but it is important to have between client and artist. I completely understand how life changing a tattoo is, whether it be a large back piece or tiny star on your wrist, they are equally important to the individual and it is a daunting step counting on a tattoo artist to not only do a good job, but to be able to understand and share your vision. Trust will be built slowly and the best time to start this is in a consultation. Most projects are started with at least one of them, they are around one hour, and are a great opportunity to go over ideas, look at inspiration and to throw some ideas around.
GETTING THE BALL ROLLING
-ENQUIRIES-
Firstly you will need to make an enquiry. You can do that HERE. I will need a brief description of your project, that would include size, body part, style (Japanese, realism, traditional for example), is it a coverup, an extension of a current tattoo? Also any images you have are great to see, inspirational images, art, a doodle on a scrap piece of paper, they are all useful. I can then reply with some details on pricing and waiting times. If you are happy with everything up to this point we can then book a consultation.
-CONSULTATION-
Face to face consultation in studio. Your first consultation is usually around one hour long and a great brainstorming opportunity. Custom tattoos are a collaboration between client and tattoo artist and a good consultation is key. All the important groundwork is usually done at this stage, this includes taking measurements, drawing shapes on your body to see how the tattoo will fit, and a lot of notes. An estimate on cost and time needed can be then figured out and hopefully a deposit paid, appointments then booked.
-DRAWING-
After the consultation and if you make a booking, somewhere around two weeks prior to your first tattoo session we will organise a fitting and viewing appointment. A little like a consultation but this time we will have a drawing to look at, it won't be rendered and may be only a sketch or a line drawing, but it will be enough to see where the project is headed and to try it on for size as well. This avoids any anxiety on your tattoo day towards whether your design is correct for you or not, any alterations can be discussed in the fitting and dealt with in due time before we start tattooing. The last thing any one wants is to feel pressured into having a design tattooed that they are not entirely happy with.
Firstly you will need to make an enquiry. You can do that HERE. I will need a brief description of your project, that would include size, body part, style (Japanese, realism, traditional for example), is it a coverup, an extension of a current tattoo? Also any images you have are great to see, inspirational images, art, a doodle on a scrap piece of paper, they are all useful. I can then reply with some details on pricing and waiting times. If you are happy with everything up to this point we can then book a consultation.
-CONSULTATION-
Face to face consultation in studio. Your first consultation is usually around one hour long and a great brainstorming opportunity. Custom tattoos are a collaboration between client and tattoo artist and a good consultation is key. All the important groundwork is usually done at this stage, this includes taking measurements, drawing shapes on your body to see how the tattoo will fit, and a lot of notes. An estimate on cost and time needed can be then figured out and hopefully a deposit paid, appointments then booked.
-DRAWING-
After the consultation and if you make a booking, somewhere around two weeks prior to your first tattoo session we will organise a fitting and viewing appointment. A little like a consultation but this time we will have a drawing to look at, it won't be rendered and may be only a sketch or a line drawing, but it will be enough to see where the project is headed and to try it on for size as well. This avoids any anxiety on your tattoo day towards whether your design is correct for you or not, any alterations can be discussed in the fitting and dealt with in due time before we start tattooing. The last thing any one wants is to feel pressured into having a design tattooed that they are not entirely happy with.
TATTOOING AND HEALING
-TATTOOING-
I prefer to book a single day session, per client. By keeping a day exclusively for you, I can keep complete focus on your project and neither of us should feel pressured by time. A day session may sound bigger and longer than it is, I tend to work around for one hour at a time, stretching and staying hydrated is important for both artist and client. Breaks are not a problem.
Of course if your tattoo requires less time than a day session, this can be organised as well.
-HEALING-
If you are new to tattooing and need healing and aftercare advice, we can provide everything you need. A chat at the end of your session covers most of it, but we have physical copies of aftercare procedures available if you need one. We also have any creams and soaps that you require as well, these aren't mandatory but are there if you wish to buy some from us.
Aftercare is as important as the tattooing process, bad aftercare can lead to a scarred and potentially infected wound. Good aftercare makes all the difference, avoids all the stress of a bad heal and leaves your tattoo looking better all those years down the line.
I prefer to book a single day session, per client. By keeping a day exclusively for you, I can keep complete focus on your project and neither of us should feel pressured by time. A day session may sound bigger and longer than it is, I tend to work around for one hour at a time, stretching and staying hydrated is important for both artist and client. Breaks are not a problem.
Of course if your tattoo requires less time than a day session, this can be organised as well.
-HEALING-
If you are new to tattooing and need healing and aftercare advice, we can provide everything you need. A chat at the end of your session covers most of it, but we have physical copies of aftercare procedures available if you need one. We also have any creams and soaps that you require as well, these aren't mandatory but are there if you wish to buy some from us.
Aftercare is as important as the tattooing process, bad aftercare can lead to a scarred and potentially infected wound. Good aftercare makes all the difference, avoids all the stress of a bad heal and leaves your tattoo looking better all those years down the line.
