Scheduled a full sleeve after 3 separate sketch appts, he sketched maybe 2-3 elements. I had a very specific vison, style, elements, all on a Pinterest board. "Treasure Island" - a ship, a beach, some animals, from elbow down an underwater segment. Gord didn't use Pinterest so I sent him photos. Still didn't manage to come up with anything that wasn't a direct trace from the pics I sent. Each "appointment" was less than a minute, just him showing me the exact pics I'd already sent, poorly sketched onto an iPad.
Then I spent, literally, 13 hours in his studio. Between smoke breaks, taking care of his needy dogs and then a 3h wait while he searched the studio top to bottom for his machine, deciding he'd been robbed and spewing conspiracies all the while. He made me feel extremely unsafe. I wanted to leave, but feared that he would have a full-on mental health breakdown. The only reason I let him put ink into me is that I'd been there for 6 hours waiting and didn't want to lose my deposit.
Finally this quite literally insane man located his equipment. But now it's time for another 45 minute smoke break. All the while lecturing me on the many ways in which covid is not real. He kept coaxing me to remove my face mask, but he's antivax.
Stencil time! After an hour of being stenciled, I look in the mirror and... the sleeve that I wanted to reach my fingers didn't reach my elbow. He told me it would look better that way. At least I can find another artist to add to it.
At around 4pm he decided he was hungry and so disappeared for another 2h to make himself a meal, then walked around eating in front of me as I clenched my every muscle in fear.
Once in the chair it was business, the guy got it done. Not what I wanted, but he did... something. I won't say the tattoo itself is bad. It's what I was expecting, but not remotely what I wanted.
Didn't leave till 1am. Only inked for 3h. I spent NINE HOURS doing NOTHING.
I cannot believe I spent $600 for a literal traumatic experience. I am literally in fear of this person having access to others' skin.
Oh, and he's very racist. He said to my face that Black people "don't actually know what they want for a tattoo so I don't do them". Same with religious people and other POC. Also told me a story of a woman wanting a tribute to her daughter who ended her life. He said no, that she'd regret it because she was still grieving.
This man is sick mentally and socially. Unless you want something to talk about at therapy, avoid this psychopath at all costs. Be prepared to seek another artist immediately afterward to fix everything he did wrong. read more
