Excellent, excellent.
I'm sorry, but I really cannot understand the negativity of the last review. More over, nor can I understand why there aren't more reviews to begin with. I should start off by saying that I'm a huge tattoo enthusiast. I'm the kind of guy who plans to be fully inked by the time I'm 30 years old. I have spent the last few years inking up my arms - sporting a full sleeve, a few large forearm tatts and a few wrist tatts. Having moved from the gigantic tattoo market of Vancouver -where I had a large body of connections - a little over a year ago, I really made sure to research where to get my next tattoos. I started sifting through different shops around town and came across Blackbird. Want to know if you'll like a shop, check out the artists and their work. Simple concept right? Well clearly not for some. Great tattoos, great art and great connections are defined through out research. If you can't envision the artists ability on your skin through out their body of work, then don't go and risk getting something you don't want.
But enough about that - let's talk about the art, the tattoos and the experience. One thing I have been adamant about with my tattoos is that they are done by females. Sounds sort of sexist, I do realize. But there is something about the subject matters that I choose that tend to be, in my opinion, better suited for a finer hand (clearly there are amazing male artists and poor female artists - let's not debate that). I choose to book a consultation with shop owner Karrie Arthurs to discuss two tattoos. I came in with the concept of two Japanese fox tattoos, based on photos and drawings that I had researched; the first being a 'Kitsune', a nine-tailed Fox spirit, and an Inari Okami (fox messenger of Inari, the goddess of rice and fertility). The Kitsune was placed on my left arm, and the Inari on my neck. The neck is a very controversial place for tattooing and is in many ways, still quite taboo. I appreciated not being lectured by Karrie as a result. I can understand the concern of any good artist, but at the same time, there has to be a sort of respect towards the customers wishes. Perhaps though, this was also because I've a fair amount of tattoos. The neck tattoo is something I've wanted for nearly 4 years.
The hard part: the near 4 month wait!!! Like any good tattoo shop, there is a waiting list. Karrie sent me the artwork via email and I could not have been happier. They were perfect. The two foxes a pair, but in their own way, individual. I came in on April 12th to get these two tatts. The two of them took a little over two hours. Whilst being tattooed, I found the discussion and atmosphere of the shop to be enjoyable. Good music, good discussion (little crude, but absolutely hilarious - it's a tattoo shop, not Winners). Other artists in the shop dropped by to see Karrie's work and compliment her artistry. The other guys in the shop were nice - said hello, good bye, etc.
Tattoos are healing well, probably better than any of the others I've ever gotten and my neck tattoo, is honestly my favourite tattoo I've ever gotten. I am very confident in the artwork of these artists - all of them. Though I've since only been tattooed by Karrie, the other artists have impressive art. It hasn't even been two weeks and I've just emailed Karrie about another consultation. This is a good shop. Go there and get tattooed, and then get more tattoos and then more. read more