I will email you! If you don’t hear from me, it probably means I wasn’t a good fit for your project/parameters. Nothing personal, I’m not for everyone! If I do take your project, please book your date promptly! If you receive an email and changed your mind, please let me know as soon as possible so I can fill the slot.

Yes! I require a $150 non-refundable deposit that will go toward the final cost of your tattoo. The deposit/booking link will be sent via email once we've established a dialogue about the piece you're wanting.

Deposits are always non-refundable!

If its a small addition then that’s usually not a problem, but please don’t ask for excessive additions (can you add 10 more flowers and a bee type of excessive). If it strays really far away from your additional proposal then I might ask you to reconsider your original ideas, and if that doesn’t fall within my comfort level or interest, I’ll kindly step away from the project. Keep in mind you’ll lose your deposit, BUT losing $150 over creative differences is a lot less stakes to lose out on than a tattoo that feels forced and with ya forever.

I work Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays! I do NOT work weekends.

Yes. I start my sessions at 11am and need to have appointments wrapped up by 4 or 5. Larger scale projects will often be split into multiple sessions because it allows for healing time in between stages and also helps folks split things up budget-wise. Please understand that this is common in the industry and when working with me! If when we push into the late evening, I will have gone without a meal since the early AM and am unable to do things like prepare for my session the following day, grocery shop, eat, etc.! I understand wanting to have the instant gratification of a finished piece, but tattoos shouldn’t be rushed and you probably won’t get the best work from me if I’m starvingor exhausted.

The week leading up to the appointment I recommend drinking lots of water and moisturizing the area thats going to be tattooed! Try not to drink alcohol the night before and avoid omega/fish-oil supplements for a day or two if you can (these two things can make folks bleed more)! You'd be surprised how far this goes!

A valid form of ID, clothing thats comfortable and won’t make it difficult for us to tattoo the procedure area, and maybe some snacks to keep your blood sugar up! Blankets, books, tablets, etc are all great to pass the time! Also, you’re more than welcome to bring blankets/pillows, just make sure they’re clean!

This is the question I get asked the most and unfortunately I’m not sure. Everyone tattoos differently because skin isn't a consistent medium. I can give you a ballpark estimate, but keep in mind that it could take more or less so be prepared and try to have some wiggle room in your budget/patience! I do my best to consider budget and will let you know if we're getting close to pushing it. Because of this, make sure you prioritize you appointment for the day and be open by making any arrangements you have to for animals and child care, evening plans, etc.! 

I’m located in Tigard, Oregon (greater Portland area)! We will be working out of my private studio space there. Once I accept your proposal I’ll send you an email with the exact address!

The studio space is kind of small, so please just bring yourself unless absolutely necessary!

A couple reasons - The first is that its unrealistic for me to tattoo a piece of art that’s taken DAYS to draw to be tattooed in 3-4 hours, or even a full day session. The second reason is that I’m also looking out for the integrity of the skin. If only skin were paper, this would be more possible, but unfortunately skin can only go so long during a tattoo without swelling, redness, and getting angry at me for tattooing it (understandably so)! If I feel like your skin is done for the day, its done (believe me). Blackwork projects are case by case, but color projects (besides smaller flash) will typically take multiple sessions. If you’re getting a project with detailed shading, color detail, or illustrative line work, plan on coming back! I promise, you won’t regret this! You’ll have more time to heal, have time to touch things up over sessions, and build your piece to the best tattoo it can be!

If you’re traveling 4+ hours and making travel arrangements, please give me a heads up so we can come up with a plan of action! If you aren’t open to multiple sessions and have a larger scale piece on the mind, I’m not the right artist for you. I’m unfortunately not a xerox machine and tattoos take time! It’s physically not possible for me to pull off a half/full sleeve in one appointment. A couple of months of awkwardness in between sessions is worth it if it leads to a great looking piece for a lifetime!

Yes. Some areas hurt more than others, but if it was unbearable, people wouldn't get them. To put this in perspective, I personally pass out every time I get my blood drawn, and I'm rocking lots of tattoos! The pain is more so annoying than anything. Generally the outer facing parts of your body hurt less than the innermost parts (ex. outer bicep, thigh, calf vs. ribs, inner arms).

*Sigh - it’s not my favorite, but I won’t turn you away. The longer I tattoo, the more I am starting to realize the different effects on healing and session pace. First, I find that folks who use numbing cream actually tap out quicker than folks who don’t. Mainly because it doesn’t allow your body time to hit that adrenaline that helps you get through pain/adjust and so eventually when it wares off it hurts twice as bad.

Second, I really really don’t like hurting people, and I find that the fidgeting/clenching/jumping when I even slightly graze folks, always happens in that window where the numbing cream wares off. This makes me tattoo slower and less confidently, which takes up time, vicious cycle, you get what I’m saying.

Third, healing isn’t the best. Usually this is because of the texture change that happens in the skin when I use it, and it effects how the skin looks which makes it easier to overwork. This makes for a more weepy, scabby and very sore healing, which can be pretty brutal. Ultimately, its your decision, but those are my reasons and my best attempt at internet transparency (you have the right to know why/what you’re getting into). I use a lot of bactine and lidocaine during my appointment, so I encourage you not to use it, but obviously you know what’s best for you and your body and I always respect that choice regardless!

Make arrangements for any obligations you might have the day(s) of your tattoo, and don't plan to do anything the night of unless it's tentative! Skin is an unpredictable medium and everyone is different. Tattooing is not 'quick' and rushing your artist is kind of crappy. It can really undercut our abilities while also putting us in a difficult position. Permanently marking someones skin in a rush is not ideal. When choosing a date to work with me, please be thoughtful of your schedule and make sure you don't put yourself or me in a position that is stressful!

Don't let this fear get in the way of getting some awesome art on your body! The most important thing to do is be honest and upfront with me and let me know you're susceptible to becoming faint/dizzy! If at any point you feel it coming on, let me know so we can stop the procedure, take a break, get you some water and let it pass so we avoid you completely passing out. Its also incredibly important that you eat a good hearty meal before your appointment! Your adrenaline will kick in when we start tattooing, so if you have nothing in your stomach this can actually make you feel even more faint/dizzy. Be open, upfront and honest and I'll do my best to make you feel comfortable and as relaxed as possible!

Absolutely! Bring anything you'd like! A lot of times clients bring books, handhelds, iPads, etc. to distract them during their appointment! As long as it doesn't hinder the area we're working with, I highly recommend it. I also have a TV  that I can play some good planet earth/netflix! I will try to provide some great conversation as well, but sometimes I do fall into concentration silences! You’re also not required to listen to me gab, if you want a silent appointment or to just zone out, that is totally cool! Whatever you need to make you comfortable works for me!

My rates are $200/hour with a 2 hour minimum! Some pieces such as smaller pre-drawns and flash are occasionally priced by the piece, but unless specified, plan on my hourly rate. 

Cash and Card! No preference to which, just whatever works best for you! I do not accept venmo/cash app/any apps!

Enough for around 3-4 hours is pretty common. I usually don’t push folks past 5 hours, so I guess $1000 on the high end and factor in a bit of a buffer? I can always run half card, half cash if we need to, many folks do that since tattooing isn’t predictable. If it’s too much to pull out high amounts of cash (banks are weird about that) we can just run a card!

Tattoos are permanent additions to your body and paying a licensed tattooer who knows how to apply them correctly with no skin damage, scarring, or infection is incredibly important. Licensed tattooers are also self employed, which means taxes (40% of what I charge you… I’m not kidding) AND benefits that employers usually offer such as healthcare, dental and retirement are funded by our tattooing businesses. If you're on the fence about the price, either hold off on your tattoo plans or think of it as supporting a local artist! Also remember that tattoos last forever, so it's a life-long investment in yourself! Treat yo self!!

I do my absolute best to work within your budget, please just be honest as well as realistic when considering what you’re willing or able to allocate to a project.

A few things to keep in mind - Smaller doesn’t equal quicker, less elements are cheaper and location does matter. Sleeves, half sleeves and med/large scale pieces aren’t achievable within a $500/budget (Remember, my minimum is 2 hours). Scaling that down to 4x4 inches also doesn’t make it achievable within that budget (and it crowds things/makes them age less-gracefully). Really processing your ideas and scaling back on the necessary content included in your tattoo could make things work in a smaller budget. Simpler is often better, so consider this when you’re considering your new piece.

One of the best ways to accommodate budgets is splitting your tattoo into multiple sessions (lining, shading, color) so that you pay in smaller more spread out chunks versus one bill after a full day. I do ask that if you do want to split your tattoo into different sessions to please still respect my two hour minimum (no half hour this day, one hour this day business). I know this is often times inconvenient (more days off work, moving obligations/priorities), but ultimately its on you forever, so this could be worth it in the end.

I am more than happy to offer free color swatches to you if you feel thats the best path for you! If you’d rather not permanently tattoo test dots onto your skin, I am more than happy to give you a consultation offering my advice about color on any skin tone. I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have and leave you with brand names and ink color recommendations we discuss as a resource! Of course it goes without mentioning that I cannot guarantee a specific outcome, but I have a vast understanding of color theory, warm/cool undertones, and color tattoo ink to make you more comfortable starting a color tattoo project, even if you don’t plan on working with me! I strive to make my space a safe and comfortable environment to all! If you find yourself in a position where an artist tells you they can’t give you color tattoos due to your skin color, they’re not only wrong, but also racist. I’m here to help and do my part in making this a safer community for all BIPOC and combatting racism in the tattoo industry.

It is standard practice to tip your artist and if you're getting a free touch up, you absolutely should 100% definitely tip! Tattoo artists put a lot of work, thought and time into creating the perfect piece for you, and we only charge you for tattooing hours, so tips are incredibly appreciated. Cash is preferred, but I also accept tips via cash app/venmo/square!

The policy for re-scheduling an appointment is:

• Deposits are non-refundable, and only apply to the date in which you originally book.

• To reschedule, you will be asked to place another deposit down for a new date that works for you via my booking portal. Your old deposit does not compound onto the new one and will not be applied.

• If you cancel or reschedule without 48 hours of notice, you will be charged $200 and lose your deposit.

• If you no-show, I will charge you my minimum fee ($400) and will not schedule you again in the future.

Please be conscientious and thoughtful when choosing your tattoo date. Make sure you’ll be prepared budget-wise, time-wise and have any other arrangements made for the date and time you book your appointment. If you have an appointment within the upcoming week and request a reschedule, it is likely that I will not be able to re-fill that date. If you have a true emergency and need to reschedule, please reach out to me as soon as you possibly can via email (laurenbolesart@gmail.com) and we can go from there.

———-> If for some reason I need to reschedule on you: It’s pretty rare, but if for some reason I face an emergency or am unable to make it to work, I will email you as soon as possible and work with you on getting you a new appointment date. Your deposit will be rolled over to a new date/applied to that day’s tattoo.

Those who cancel without 48 hours notice will be automatically charged a non refundable half of my minimum ($200). Your deposit will not be applied to the $200, and will not be refunded. If you no show the appointment, I will charge my minimum fee ($400) and you will not be re-booked or accepted for a project in the future.

What DON’T you tattoo?

Ribs, cover-ups, restorations or modifications of other artists' works, a design/tattoo you saw on pinterest (because it's plagiarism), sacred geometry, women who are breast feeding or pregnant, minors, genitals, anyone who's intoxicated and any and all offensive/racist content.

My color palette will always HEAL to be softer versions of what you'd see on the color wheel. I don't like to say muted, but colors that are well balanced within the piece, work well together, and look great on the skin. Keep in mind that tattoos lighten up A LOT when they heal so a color piece will be darker day of versus how it will in 3 weeks post tattoo. Don’t go with color if you have tight expectations on how you want them to look over time.

My best recommendation for color clients who want exact colors as a reference is to drop all expectations of color. Unfortunately, tattooing isn’t painting and I’m not a color printer and everyone’s skin tone is unique to them. The inks become a biological part of your body’s makeup and you’ll grow a layer of skin (which also has pigment) over the top of your fresh tattoo (because it’s a wound)! Overtime, your body will break down the tattoo ink and the colors will change/fade. Although this sounds scary, modern tattoo inks fade beautifully. Sometimes their undertones come out more, or they just become a lighter version of their original state! Keep this in mind when considering color tattoos!

I always recommend just embracing the process, but if you’re not comfortable with the color tattoo process that’s totally cool too, I would just recommend sticking with blackwork (which is an equally beautiful option). Tattoos and bodies are wild ya’ll, so relinquishing control (since you can’t control how your body heals a tattoo) is really the best option. That being said, I can am great at making color choices within a tattoo based on references, balance within the design as well as your unique skin tone, I just ask for your trust to do so!!

Absolutely! I feel so honored you'd chose my art to cover your scars and make you feel better about your body! Make sure when you're submitting your proposal you include that it would be a scar cover up. Also make sure the scars you're wanting to cover are 1.5-2 years old! Keep in mind that there are some scars that cannot be covered (such as keloids) but its rare.

Unless it's a pre-drawn piece or flash, no. You will see your drawing in the beginning of your appointment. I'm more than happy to make changes to the design (I promise it wont offend me, again this is YOUR piece) and there will be plenty of time for me to add/subtract things as part of your appointment!

If it's a good half hour, 45 minutes of re-drawing, feel free to explore the neighborhood and come back! Because of this, I recommend NOT planning anything other than your tattoo for the day and making the appropriate arrangements so we have all the time to solidify the design, apply the tattoo and finish in the amount of time we need! If I have to make changes to the drawing more than twice, I charge a $50 drawing fee! Please make sure if you have any specifications about the piece to include them in your proposals/communications with me! Also be open when coming in with an idea!

It is common practice to not see your design in the tattooing industry for the following reasons:

1. Your first reaction is your real reaction. I can usually pick up through body language if you're not feeling it, in which case we can talk options from there (see question below for more information about if you dislike a design day of).

2. Often times what happens when I have sent out drawings is the client gets super excited about it and shows it to family, friends, spouses/significant others or all the above, all of whom have different tastes, which leads to a flood of opinions about the design and 'what they'd change' even though its not going on their body. This then makes clients feel not only self conscious about the design (even if it has everything they asked for) but also causes a string of back and forth emails of 'change this, change that' which adds tons of drawing time on top of the amount I already have. Usually when this scenario happens clients end up going with the first rendering anyways, making the entire drawing process for a piece not only stressful for me, but also you. Be confident in your ideas, and trust that what you're getting on your body is best for you and the opinions of those around you about a permanent addition to your body don't matter!

3.  Designs are my art and my intellectual property. By sending clients my designs in an email form, I run the risk of people taking my work to other artists and having them do it. This is stealing and unethical within the tattoo industry.

If you're uncomfortable with any of these reasons listed above then I might not be the artist for you. I need your trust and if not seeing your design before the day of your appointment is a deal breaker, then I completely understand! There's artists out there that do practice showing designs before their appointments, it just requires a little research!

One of the most intimidating scenarios is telling an artist you don't like something they've drawn. Understand that I've created this design under your parameters and for you, so it's not going to offend me if you aren't liking what I've designed. The most important thing to me is that you like something that's permanently being added to your body. So now that you know my priorities, lets talk about what we do next, and what to do to prevent this from happening:

For every custom piece I'll send you an email asking you to include not only images of the area we're working in, but also reference photos of subject matter, color palettes, shading styles, etc. If you're wanting something super specific let me know so I can include it in your tattoo!! Clients that clearly communicate what they want and follow instructions never face the problem above. If your ideas are unclear, you're undecided on some aspects of the piece and say I have more creative freedom than you're actually wanting me to, then you're most likely not going to like what I have designed for you. If you want me to have creative freedom, you're the best, but don't say it unless you are completely open minded and mean it!

Long story short, develop your ideas and let me know what you’re looking for when communicating ideas to me! In the case of you disliking a design and it requiring a total re-draw, I'll likely turn your appointment into a consult and reschedule you. But be aware that if we're on different pages and you don't clearly communicate ideas to me, or aren't being open minded, we'll have to settle on parting ways. Just remember that at that point I've lost an appointment date as well as hours of drawing time so the deposit will not be refunded.

Absolutely! All inks I use are always vegan, no questions asked.

It will lighten up. About 3-4 shades, if not more. I have more clients coming back to be to get things darkened than clients complaining about things being too dark. Think of your skin like a tinted window - The day of, all the work we did is on the top of your skin (which will also be red and angry) because its an open wound. As your body heals, pigments settle, and your skin forms new layers of skin over the top of your new tattoo. Once fully healed, the inked layer will be many layers below the top surface skin of your tattoo! Because of this, the coloring of your tattoo will be much less vibrant than the day of your appointment (aka the tinted window analogy) and hopefully be more along the lines of what you’re wanting. Just understand that day of, I’m almost working in the future, applying colors in a way for the ‘healed’ version of your tattoo and working for the affect of when things heal versus the day of!

1. Not read my emails throughly. There’s lots of information in there about booking, references, pricing, addresses, etc. I get really bogged down with emails and many times its hard for me to keep up, so when I get email responses asking information that is clearly stated in a previous email, it causes more back and forth emailing threads making it ultimately harder for me to communicate with you & find references you’ve sent me!

2. Book a date on a whim and then ask for a last minute reschedule a day before because ‘you forgot you had this other thing’ or planned poorly.

3. Ask me how much longer it will take during the appointment! I really really want to give you the best tattoo that I can, please trust that I’m moving as efficiently as possible for a wonderful piece that will last a lifetime!!

4. Micro-manage my color selection when it comes to color tattoos.

5. Ask me to do something outside of my written or spoken boundaries. It will just put me in a weird spot where I’ll awkwardly have to tell you no, and I don’t think either of us really wants to go through that!