My name is Theo, and I am a tattoo artist from San Diego, CA. I primarily focus on color realism and neotraditional color pieces (while also having the fundamentals for black and grey illustrative pieces and more styles).
With a formal education in animation, I bring the fundamentals of formal art training as well as a strong sense of flow, composition and color. I was drawn to tattooing for its unique sense of intimacy between the art and its audience, and for the ways in which it is a medium that is still finding boundaries to push.
Some of my primary goals for client interactions include:
Maintaining informed consent at all times
Sharing technical knowledge by creating dialogue, discussing what is and isn't optimal depending on the client's priorities for a project
Maximizing comfort through understanding of the process and options for pain management
I understand that tattooing is an inherently very vulnerable process. While some uncomfortable elements are unavoidable (like maintaining certain positions or enduring some level of pain), my goal is to honor your trust by keeping you in the loop and an active participant of your project's execution.
You can see a reel I've put together reviewing my booking process on the sidebar to the right, or you can click here to watch my video on my booking process! It goes as follows:
Submit a booking form through my Venue.ink page. You can either submit a form for a custom project, or browse through available flash (which are pre-drawn designs you can choose from).
You won't need to create an account, but you will need to provide an email or phone to be contacted at.
Receive a no-strings-attached quote for your project. If you chose flash, you might have already seen the price for that design and size range.
Schedule a date for your tattoo. If we reach a price that works for your budget, I will suggest 3 dates based on your availability that you can choose from. A $100 deposit is required to book you in, $200 for a day session, and this will go towards the final price of your tattoo.
Start pre-care. Staying hydrated, moisturizing the skin, and having good sleep can all be helpful to achieve best results! I have a full list of pre-care instructions here.Β
Drawing revisions. You will see either a sketch or final product of your design 1-3 days before your appointment. This is not industry standard, but I know that I ask for my clients for a lot of trust, and so I am happy to give some trust as well.
Preparing for your appointment day. Make sure to have a hearty meal on the day of. Don't forget to also bring a government approved photo ID, and prepare any additional items like blankets, jackets, snacks, etc.Β
Aftercare. How well your tattoo will look over the years will greatly depend on your aftercare. I have instructions on my Venue.ink Aftercare page and on my website page for tattoo care as well!
For frequently asked questions, including about parking and numbing agents, please visit the FAQ page. If you want reminders regarding your appointment (a lot of this information will also be sent to you through automatic messages on Venue.ink), please scroll down to the end of the page.
Thank you for considering me for your project. βΊοΈ
That's okay! You can submit a booking form anyway, and just specify in the text box which elements you aren't actually set on, or want opinions about.
Β I love working with people who are inspired by my work and want to give their trust for me to create a unique and meaningful piece.Β
β’ California law requires that a person be at least 18 years of age in order legally to get a tattoo. If you're under 18, I can guarantee you it's worth the wait to get tattooed by a licensed artist!
β’ We will have you fill out a consent form & show a government approved photo ID when you arrive.
β’ Your tattoo will be wrapped either with cling wrap or second skin, and that is up to your preference. If you have known allergies to adhesive bandages, we recommend the cling wrap. We are not allowed to let any client leave the shop with their tattoo unwrapped in accordance with health dept standards.Β
β’ Our session will happen at 9550 Black Mountain Road #C, San Diego, California, 92126. There is guest parking at the front, sides and back of the building. The business name is Daygo Ink and Cuts.
β’ Please reschedule if you feel sick, have been exposed to or gotten COVID within 14 days of our appointment. Even if it is just a cold, it's worth it to protect your artist and other clients!
β’ We have pillows at the shop. You're welcome to bring more pillows if you have one you prefer, stuffies, a blanket, etc. We can cover them if you'd like to protect your pillow and stuffies. We also have chips and candy, but you're welcome to bring your own, especially if you have any food restrictions!
β’ Our shop minimum is USD100 - this covers each client's disposable setup items, their stencil, overhead, and setup/breakdown time.
β’ The deposit for your appointment will be USD100 for 1-3 hour sessions, and USD200 for 4+ hour days. This goes towards the final price of your tattoo. It can be paid through Stripe (credit or debit card), PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or Apple Pay, or even Affirm and Klarna.
β’ Pricing for flash designs can be found in the "flash" tab. For custom pricing, I am happy to offer a quote per piece before we book!Β
β’ Tips are appreciated, but not required - I know tipping culture is very strange in the US, but please do not feel any obligation to.
β’ For each tattoo, 2 rounds of revisions are included! One round can be multiple small notes as well.Β
If we end up needing more revision rounds, that's totally fine, and I am happy to work with you to refine towards the result you want! However, to account for the additional drawing hours that can be involved in 3+ revision rounds, additional revision rounds might require rescheduling and thus submitting a new deposit.
Thank you for your understanding!
β’ If you aren't sure of what you want yet, please consider scrolling through some existing designs in the flash tab, or watching this helpful video by Holly Astral!Β
Another alternative for people who would like to discuss ideas is to set up a consultation. If you'd like to set up a consultation, please email me at contact@theodraws.art! You can also submit a booking form, and just clarify in the text box which elements aren't set in stone. Let's collaborate!
Personally, my love for art is a love of the process of drawing, so I personally don't have strong preferences to any one particular subject matter. Anything that feels "witchy" is fun to me, but really at the end of the day, I want what you're going to be most excited about.