I have been communicating with Shane (owner) for several months now, trying to find a time when I could finally meet him in person after seeing the artwork he had done on one of my friend's girlfriend. I knew from the second I saw his work on her body, Shane was the one person who I wanted to do my first tattoo. This is something I have wanted for over 10 years, just waiting to find the right person to trust putting artwork on my body. Yesterday was my glorious day when i finally was able to meet Shane in person and talk about what I wanted and the ideas I was having about what kind of tattoo I wanted (which he patiently listened through ALL of my many ideas!!). :) His patience and attentiveness to everything I was telling him was remarkable and priceless to my comfort and trust in selecting him to meet my needs. In addition, I had also met with Pete who also works here previously on another visit to their shop in Venice. I want to just mention and commend Pete for being very genuine and straightforward with me when I had visited at that time, since I was not completely sure about the tattoo I wanted to get. Pete never pressured me or tried to sway me in any way whatsoever--again, very professional and much appreciated by me. Back to Shane and my experience with him as my 1st tattoo artist.... ....I am so thrilled and so satisfied about the beautiful outcome of his work, that I really can not put into words how wonderful my experience was yesterday! I had warned him how scared of needles I am, probably the biggest baby when it comes to seeing or even talking about anything involving a needle (yuck!!!). Shane's work was SO gentle that I honestly almost fell asleep as he was doing the tattoo!! (No joke here!!) The tattoo I got was on the back of my neck, so I was sitting in a chair with my head tilted forward (actually resting on my sweatshirt (since I am such a baby I thought I would need to cover my eyes). But I was so amazed that there was NO PAIN, and even more surprised that I was so comfortable and felt so at ease, that I was actually worried about falling asleep and having my head tip to the side or something while he was working on my tattoo. In summary, I want to express my gratitude to Shane and his staff for the way they made me feel and the quality of their work. I will be forever grateful, and after it was all over, I went outside and screamed "I got my first tattoo!!!" (which embarrassed my friend who had come by the shop to support me as I was getting my first tattoo). I fully recommend Shane as a tattoo artist, as well as Pete, too. (Note: I have not had any work done by Pete, but I did see the beautiful tattoo he did on some lady who was there when I came by the shop on my first visit, and she was equally loving of her first tattoo that Pete had just done on her on her back.) SO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I am so looking forward to the sum coming out and being able to show off my first tattoo to everyone I see today!!!! I definitely will be back for my next tattoo at this shop. xoxoxo Carrie read more

10/10 WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. Gman is a scammer and hands down has the worst service with false advertising. He used a cordless machine with little to no pressure being applied. When I asked about it, he said it was a 'new machine" and "better" results DO NOT GO HERE! I went in to get 3 tattoos, 2 of which were on my finger. A week after the initial tattoo, I started to notice the ink flaking off to reveal no tattoo. When I went back to get a touch up on day 11 of healing, he refused to do a touch up unless I paid $100. Mind you, the 3 tattoos were $120. When I showed him my unfinished tattoo/faded he said "I mean I think it looks good.. its there" He them dropped it down to $40 saying I have to pay for the equipment to be set up or else I couldn't get anything done. I inquired and asked why not considering the business card advertises "1 free touch up". He continued to refuse and said the card was made 5 years ago and its not his fault. When we contacted the owner Shane, he was 100% No help. Said it was up to the artist discretion. When we mentioned their business card and the free touch up, he continued to say that it was up to Gman since he was not in at the moment. I ultimately ended up paying the $40 bc the tattoo looked so bad. Gman continued to say it wasnt his fault, it looks good, not his fault my skin cant take ink, and even went on to say that finger tattoos are known to fade.... after 11 days... I have 3 other finger tattoos and have never had this issue. A tattoo should never be this painless. he simply applies 0 pressure to make the ink stick, forcing people to come pay for a 2nd round. The photos and video tell you all you need to know. This is 2 weeks after the 2nd touch up and its faded on my thumb and non existent on my middle finger. After looking into reviews while there, I noticed that Shane comes recommended but this seems to be an ongoing experience and done to a lot of women. Be very weary and go somewhere else. Ink monkey on Venice would never and they have great customer service. I will not be coming back. read more

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Came in for a more comfortable cartilage earring and they helped remove and replace my piercing. Also got a cool tattoo on the way out.

Shane was great, prompt reply, friendly service, decent price, would definitely recommend

Updated Review. My few tattoos are infected. I have multiple others including a half sleeve. I know how to take care of a tattoo. I would avoid this shop. read more

This place is clean and very sanitized; however, the tattoo I got from this place isn't the best. I came in to get a fine line word tattoo that says, "no rain, no flowers." It looked nice as soon as the tattoo artist finished, but now that it scabbed over, parts of the ink are completely faded or you can say, "gone." The tattoo artist specifically told me that he didn't want to do another layer of ink to prevent scaring. He also said he "HOPES" the ink stays and doesn't disappear. If the tattoo artist isn't experienced in fine line tattoos, he should have told me before I handed over my $100 + $20 tip. read more

DevOcean Tattoo - As you can see, some of the ink is gone. - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

What terrible tattoos I got here. They looked great when I left but due to the inexperience of the artists and their new cordless machines, 70-80% of the tattoos fell out when healing. I have tattoos all over my body and even after dry healing some of them I have never seen this happen. I was tattooed by both Shane and G-man "Garrick", Shane did the larger tattoo. Both guys are nice but when you are talking to them after the matter they become extremely irate and/or unresponsive. No liability forms here, which should be a must if they are going to give out bad tattoos and hope to avoid liability. If you see this review, and then get a tattoo and think "Oh it looks great, that guy is wrong", wait two weeks for your tattoo to start healing and you will be in the exact same boat as me. Guaranteed. read more

Incase you were unaware, the whole point in "ranting" on yelp, is to give honest feed back towards the business, which may benefit others who are looking for an artist. But at least you came to your senses and deleted your response which included lies and excuses. Good luck in your future man, again, just don't do tattoos that are too intricate for you. read more

Pete was friendly and accommodating. Me and boyfriend walked in for small three numeric tattoo (138) as tribute to the original misfits since the show was that night. Pete helped us with placement, sizing, and was so enthusiastic about our small tattoo that it made it even more exciting for us! Pete also did a great job making the stencil with the font we picked. He had us fill out the proper paperwork, made copies of our ID's, showed us the new needle in the package and informed us of proper care. We both have lots of tattoos but he still made sure to be thorough. Thanks again Pete! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - 138 tattooed on my arm and my boo's ankle. We are 138. - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

Came in today for a tattoo. I wanted a 7 point mandala that I am obsessed with for years. Had Garrick do my tattoo and I am extremely satisfied. He was able to tattoo the mandala perfectly on my left shoulder. Couldnt be more satisfied, not kidding. Will be coming back for more, prestine work my friend. Keep it up! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

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Hello everyone hope we are doing well and safe. I went and got 2 an added Cherry blossoms to my very old tattoos and I love it My Tattoo artist SHANE L was AWSOME and he listened to my directions which was FANTASTIC he took his time and I love my tattoos Thank you for accepting my same schedule and keeping your place clean. LOVE THIS PLACE PLEASE GO AND YOUR YOUR TATTOOS DONE HERE. cheers read more

So my sister and I were walking down the boardwalk and we came across this tattoo shop. There was a note with a number posted on it for appointments so we called and got a response right away. Within minutes they were confirming an artist and a same day appointment. About the artist that was sent, Sall, he was very efficient and professional. We went in with an idea and he turned it into art. He is super talented. I want to get more work done and I will definitely be coming back to sal! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

I look very young I'm a 23 year old female and not like i care personally but they didn't ask for my ID, they didn't ask me to fill out ANY paperwork before they did my tattoo. I don't want work done by people are going to be so unprofessional like that. They didn't even ask my name. I don't recall who did the actual tattoo but when it came time to do it, he rushed and it was very painful (I have other tattoos I know what it feels like) and the final product is one of the worst tattoos i've ever seen. All I got was 3 very small letters on the side of my hand. Nothing complex or complicated whatsoever. When it was done, I got no aftercare instructions. I paid $80 for a tiny tattoo that was supposed to mean a lot to me, that I now need to get fixed. Do yourself a favor and don't go here if you want professionalism and great quality work. read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

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I came with a friend to DevOcean Tatoo. I saw how nice and detailed Shane's work is. The other artist were also very friendly. The studio is also very clean, organized, and they were following Covid protocols. I will definetly bring my friends and family back here again. Just one tip please be patient because touch ups are normal. read more

Anthony has accommodated me both times I came to Los Angeles on a whim from the East Coast. His free hand is sick and his work is amazing!!! He did a koi fish and lotus tatoo for 3 hours on my shoulder 8 months ago and a word with clean lines just yesterday. Brought my girl with me and he did two cute pieces for her as well. This dude is talented, reasonably priced and super friendly. read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

Just got my arm done by jane. she did an awesome job on creating a concept i through at her. best tattoo expereience ever. nice little shop with very talented artists. read more

DevOcean Tattoo - pand-a-mazing - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

Shane was incredibly responsive via both email and text from the beginning and went through multiple drafts of sketches to ensure it was exactly what I wanted. After 8 hours of painstaking (but painless to me!) detail work, the end result is nothing short of stunning! He is a true artist. I would recommend Shane unreservedly. The price was extremely fair, he is careful and clean, of course, and his commitment to his craft is obvious. My piece feels more like a work of art than a tattoo and I couldn't be happier. read more

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Got my first tattoo from this place today by Sal. Love it. Loved him. Loved the place. Great location and easy to get to. I loved how easy it was to communicate with them this week and even though the shop is small they were super professional and easy going. He made me and my mom, who was in a tattoo shop for the very first time, feel very comfortable. He was so nice and he gave me the perfect tattoo. It was small and simple but it was exactly what I wanted. And let me just tell you it was THE least painful tattoo I have EVER HAD!! It was unbelievable! Can't wait to go back:) read more

Pete is the man! He's super cool and made my wife and I's experience so cool for being just a walk in. He was really down to earth and made us feel so welcome. Thanks Pete ! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

I give Shane 12 stars! He did an amazing awesome incredible tattoo for me. He is so talented and a great artist. I got a tiny little mermaid with all the details from a large tattoo. I highly recommend this artist! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Mermaid tattoo made by Shane - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

New favorite place to get some ink. The artist Shane is truly talented. Check out some of the pictures. read more

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Pete kills it. Always nice with great work. Always shows clean, fresh, unexpired needles. Along with clean fresh ink. Great guy, always a fun time. read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Pete at devocean crushes my tattoos every time. I've gotten 5 done with him and they have all exceeded expectations. - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

If you're looking for an affordable place to get your septum (or any part of your body) pierced this is it. Got my septum pierced by Pete and I have to say it has been the best experience I've had getting a piercing. Pete has the best energy and is extremely patient, he made sure I was comfortable with every single detail, not to mention the fact that I didn't feel absolutely anything when he pierced my nose. (Mind you I've gotten my septum pierced twice before at a different location and I know how much it usually hurts). It's been about a week and my nose feels pretty good, it's healing extremely fast. Overall I'd recommend this place to anyone. It's also a great location in case it's a bit of a drive for you, you'll have lots of activities to do and it won't be a waste of a day. Pete's the man. read more

This place is nice and clean and right off the beach. Many cool places around the shop. I am giving them 3 stars because they do have clean equipment. They gave me a good price for my tattoo however the tattoo itself healed up terrible. For one you cant see the tattoo anymore and some letter the ink came off completly. We came all the way from sylmar because of the reviews but sadly i am not happy with this. Though i appreciate how friendly they are i will need this re-done read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

I'd had the idea for my first tattoo years ago but wanted to use a typewriter font which I never found hanging on the wall of a parlor. Earlier this month I printed it out and began visiting parlors in the Venice area. I found some decent artists, but either the price was too high or they just didn't seem to have the right attitude (or the right amount of teeth). I visited over a half dozen parlors and was planning to check out the boardwalk's places when I passed by DevOcean Studio. It was a tiny little shop filled with original artwork with a distinctive Japanese motif, lots of samurai and geisha pieces on the wall and in the books. The shop itself looked new, freshly painted with black walls and extremely clean from floor to ceiling. Shane asked me what I was interested in getting and I showed him the design. He seemed to like the concept and immediately began asking a lot of questions about how I wanted it done. To my surprise, he also asked just as many questions about its meaning and why I decided to get it. I had a number of questions and he answered everything patiently and was very polite. Some tattoo artists seem to have an attitude or even the parlor itself gives off a certain unwelcome feeling, but I didn't get either here. I needed my tattoo in the blackest ink I could get, and they have a "tribal black" that the other artist [Cris] had a great deal of experience working with. Price was the last thing we discussed and I got a decent quote. I told them I might be back, but I left thinking they'd be the ones getting the job, and seeing other artists only reinforced that feeling. The next day I arrived to get it done and brought a slightly smaller version of the lettering as Shane had suggested. Cris looked at the design and smiled, claiming that after 15 years of tattooing, he's still surprised about what people will bring in sometimes. The typewriter font was both precise and chaotic, with tiny flaws in some of the letters which I wanted reproduced. As he began work on it, he kept saying it was a challenge, but he said it with a smile and was genuinely enjoying the process. Every once in a while he'd mention something in the printed version that wouldn't look good on the tattoo and asked my opinion about it before making some suggestions on what to do. Although the stencil was done rather well on the first application, Cris pointed out a slightly uneven letter here or there and would redo that section until we had it right. The process took longer than either of us had anticipated, but I didn't get charged anything extra, even after talking them down a bit. When we finished it, Cris and I were very happy with how it turned out and another customer also nodded in approval. They gave me some information on keeping the tattoo clean and had some of the ointment needed for sale at $1 a pack. They explained what it'd feel and look like over the next week or two and reminded me that touch ups were free, of course. He said "Of course" as if every parlor had that policy which just doesn't seem to be the case. I'm already considering a second tattoo and, while I did see some great stuff in other places, I may very well go back to these guys due to their professionalism, love of the craft, and not to mention that 10% discount on another tattoo. I took a chance going to a place that didn't have reviews, but my instincts told me these were the guys I wanted for the job. Their clientele appears to be a mixture of repeat business and references from friends, but considering the girl in the chair next to me was going back to Shane for her fifth tattoo, these guys just might qualify as Venice's best kept secret. read more

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Last year I was looking for a shop and visited at least 10 places when I found this one. It was small but clean and comfortable and the guys there were SO nice. I had the sketches of what I wanted and he (I forgot his name, but he had black hair...) helped me refine it waited for me to decide on the angle and spacing with my friends. So it was really unfortunate when I had a sudden panic attack and started to have a slight breakdown and couldn't go through with it lol... but the guy was so understanding and said it was totally fine. I felt so bad but he was so nice about it, I really appreciated that he didn't make me feel like a dork. My friend saw the art work and ended up getting his done there, and it looks great! It's been a year now and I'm thinking about finally going back. read more

Shane is awesome. He asks for your input and makes it your personal tattoo. He takes time to gather your ideas, your sketches and the meaning behind what the tattoo and works with it. I came in for a tattoo with all needed to make it my own. I kept moving because I had it on my sides. He took his time and allowed me to breath and find the comfort. As he knew that spot was the most sensitive he reminded me to breath and took his time. The end result was much better than what I brought in. read more

First time visiting Cali and me and the hubs decided we wanted a little permanent souvenir. We took a stroll down Venice Beach on our last night there which was a Tuesday. Everything was shutting down around 8 and then we remembered we passed by a little shop on one of the side streets. So we mosied on into DevOcean and Shane was there by himself. It was a small shop with NO flash posted up. Much cleaner and less shady looking then the other shops on the strip. We told him what we wanted which were pretty simple/small and traditional tattoos. He was able to draw up what we wanted and slap them on us in about 2 hours. He had a gentle touch. We both got something small on our ankles and mine was right on the bone so it was pretty painful but he knocked it out quick enough. He gave us reasonable prices. We left him a great tip and are happy with our souvenirs! read more

Last night was the FOURTH time I've been into DevOcean. I've been in more shops than I can count with people getting tattoos. I had 3 prior to finding DevOcean. My friend and I spent months going around southern California trying to find a tattoo shop where she felt comfortable. This was it, she got 2 there from Cris, spaced a year apart and I couldn't resist not having them do mine. In August Jane started the outline of my tree of life across my entire back and now Shane is finishing the shading of it. IT'S GORGEOUS! To keep it brief, here are some points to pay attention too. They are SUPER clean. Shane couldn't stop saying how much fun he was having doing art on my back. He comes to work for FUN, not work. They ask questions until they know it's exactly what you want. They're so nice. I even got offered food when I didn't have dinner. They're not trying to hustle you for a price. They're there to do great art on you. I don't need to find another tattoo shop, ever. They'd much rather pay their full attention to their current customer than stop and try and make another sale (I've had that happen before). The shop is inviting. Just a place you want to be. So go get a tattoo or piercing there because these guys are the best! read more

My boyfriend and I were each looking to get a small tattoo in remembrance of our beloved Lab mix we lost last year. We drove over to Venice pretty late on a Tuesday (around 8:30 pm) looking for an open shop. I called a couple of the other highly rated places for hours and pricing and none of them wanted to make any accommodations. I called Devocean and spoke to Shane. He was extremely kind and helpful. He even stayed late for us! The shop was closing up for the night when I called but he was so generous with his time he said it was no problem to squeeze us in that evening. As everyone says, he has a very light hand which makes for a pleasant tattooing experience. He was very personable and worked with us to make sure we were happy with what we were getting. I definitely recommend this place and hope to return for more detailed pieces :D read more

Great work, great price, and great artists!!! I had my appointment today to get my comet tattoo I've been wanting for a while now. I was a little nervous because I didn't have an exact picture of what I wanted, just an idea and some sketches (I am a horrible artist!) But Christian was able to produce a design that went above and beyond my expectations! I am more than satisfied with the final outcome. Not only was the work amazing, but the artist (Christian) was extremely nice and helpful. He gave me his full attention and didn't rush for another appointment. And if all that wasn't enough I got an amazing price! This is a small shop that produces quality work with great customer service for a very good price. I highly recommend coming here for your tattoo, I'm definitely coming back for my next one! read more

Got my very first tattoo here today. Christian was awesome!! Has a very light hand and really knows what he is doing. Hardly any pain at all. Was awesome about listening to what I wanted and personalizing it. I would recommend him in a heartbeat. read more

DevOcean Tattoo - My First Tattoo!! - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

Love my tattoo !!!! It was a wonderful first time experience that I got to share with my best girlfriends ! Would definitely come back here again read more

Huge shout out to this dude. Last minute let us slide in for some tattoos. Thank you so much.

my best friend and I came in to get matching tattoos & hers (hand) is exactly what we wanted while mine is completely crooked and uneven. completely ruined my first tattoo experience :-(. the service was not bad, but i'm really unhappy with the tattoo itself. read more

Anthony aka shank lifted my soul with his work. Truly great and I'll never forget my time in LA thanks to him! Highly recommended

Love Dev Ocean! A true art studio & shop filled with talent, skill, experience & passion! Call to make an appointment or walk in but definitely take cash. I've been here to many times to count (obviously quality & my body art only gets better after every session) I am amazed time & time again! Shane couldn't be any better to work with or the rest of the crew if they tried! I'm never rushed, I am always asked if I'm OK during the tattoo session or if I need a break, they are super clean and do everything in front of you BONUS: they have the most comfortable T-shirts (seriously I even have a long sleeve that I wear as a dress)! The crew is super respectful and I have respect for them. I have lots of work & have seen lots of work done. All the clients I've seen are ecstatic and extremely grateful for the work they've done. Somehow the artists remain very humble which is super refreshing! These guys are definitely in it for the art, making sure you're stoked with it & I can't imagine working with better people/artists! People don't ask to see my tattoos they start moving my clothes around so they can see my tattoos I always get compliments and several people have told me they've never seen a better tiger! We recently started a mermaid and although she's in complete viewers are always stand by her beauty and all the detail! If I didn't have all this work on me and saw it on someone else or I had a lot of work on me by someone else I would be super jealous of me! Hey I said the artists are humble not me! Lol - enjoy your tattoo & never doubt your artist ONLY if you're getting it done here! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Masterpiece in progress all by Shane. I get compliments always & if I didn't tell you Shane's done 3 or 4 cover ups you would never know! - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

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Awesome experience and Richard is a amazing artist also very nice thumbs up to this guy and shop!!!! read more

DevOcean Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Venice, California

Richie was AMAZING!!!! I never had a bigger piece done and was a little nervous! But I showed him a few pictures of what I wanted (peonies) and he put together a design that I was extremely happy with. He did the shading by free hand-very talented. Came out truly awesome and I am very very happy with it. He even touched up my foot (smaller tat) and filled it in as it needed some touching up badly! I would highly recommend him as he knows what he is doing and has true passion for what he does. Thank you, Richie! You will be my artist that I go to for all my tats!! read more

Shane is incredible and generous. The best parlor in LA, straight up!