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| - I got inked!
The tattoo: I love it more than the painting it's based on! The image is large on my back and very detailed. The pigments are rich, the shading is complex, and black is deep black - like it should be.
The short: I'd NEVER been tattooed, but had high expectation for perfection. I didn't have a referral for a tattooist but I was confident that they were all hand picked by Mario Barth - I know his work so that was good enough for me. I only had two days to work with, and two artists to choose from -- one was a clear choice: Paes!
Paes and I discussed his ideas for customizing my piece and I found comfort in his enthusiasm and professionalism. I've brought my image to 4 high-end shops in San Francisco, and couldn't find someone who I felt would do a good job. People kept telling me it would take multiple sittings, couldn't use white cause it wouldn't show up on my skin etc... bunch of crap that never came up at King Ink.
Paes had good energy, 13 hears of experience and an impressive book of work. His piece wasn't cheap but he moved quick and really made it his own. I love my new tattoo and it was well worth it! Great first time experience!
The long:
I scheduled my appointment as a walk-in for the following evening. I was staying at the Mirage and had my heart set on Barth's Starlight Studio at the Mandalay. My friend has modeled for Inked magazine and highly recommended Starlight, but then I saw a sign for King Ink and never made it to Starlight.
At first, the shop looked like a clothing store with a bar in the back. Further back is a very stylish and comfortable lounge area with heating lamps and cool air misters!
The tattoo area was super clean and surrounded by mirrors. On the ceiling, there was a camera that captured most of my tattoo process for others to view in real time. Of course, they asked permission before showing the image at the bar. I also got to watch the process on the private large screen ahead of me from start to finish.
My Tattooist:
Honestly, I lucked out in finding this guy. Paes is relatively new to the Las Vegas area, but has been a tattooist for 13 years. His work is amazing and he's a true artist. What impressed me the most is that he does NOT use stencils - EVER. Instead, he prefers to freestyle his images with a pen. He sketched my wolf so quickly, I didn't even have time to fear/anticipate the needle. A few minutes in, it became obvious that his interpretation of my painting was beyond what I expected - really powerful, detailed and realistic. Unbelievable, because it reaffirmed for me that I was doing the right thing: committing to having a piece of art that I love on my body forever.
I sat up the whole time, while Paes worked on my back. I watched him work on the screen in front of me and on the mirrors surrounding me which was really comforting. While I can't say that this was the most enjoyable experience I've ever had, it wasn't the most painful either. Instead, it felt like an exciting and annoying burning/stinging. The loud music and high energy of the place distracted me from the needles' buzz, and I found myself occasionally getting lost in the image and music. Distractions are great when you're sitting for hours. It's also nice that this is a lounge where your friends can party while they wait for you.
My tattooist did his best to make me comfortable throughout the process and worked through with only one break - at my request. I felt taken care of and enjoyed watching him develop my tattoo from start to finish - pretty amazing. Someone behind the desk offered to sell me the video for $25, but I passed. My girl took a bunch of pics, and that seemed sufficient.
Aftercare:
I have to say, Paes' explanation of what to expect was spot on. I bought an aftercare kit from the shop and followed his instructions to a T - everything looks great so far. Paes said I'd be sore for a couple of days, and would peel around the 3rd or 4th day, but not likely to scab, because he has a light hand. He was right, there was no scabbing, because he didn't press hard. It peeled for two days and that was it. Really wasn't that bad, but felt like a sunburn.
It's been over a week, and I'm still healing, but the swelling and peeling is gone. My back is a little itchy in the morning and night, but the itch goes away after I wash the area and slightly hydrate with the lotion they gave me. I hardly feel my tattoo anymore though i know it's there.
I recommend King Ink to anyone looking for a clean and high-end shop in Vegas. I recommend Paes for anyone who is looking for a dope customized piece.
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