I've thought about this a lot since I hate leaving negative reviews, but after several months of consideration I feel the information I have to share could be of value to others.
I'm not a stranger to tattoos. I have a very large piece that took about 15 hours to complete on my right side, ribs, hip, and back. I have tattoos on my forearm, foot, wrist, and now knuckles.
I moved to Humboldt and needed a new artist so I went to a few places until a found Tom, who seemed great at first. Our first consultation went well (I wanted the large tattoo wrapped fully around my body) and he took some large outlines of my shape and original tattoo. But after a month of trying to get a sketch from him all I got was a minor mock up that he admittedly didn't like himself, and finally after several texting bouts referred me to an artist in Arcata (whose work I had already checked out and didn't like).
Fast forward several months. My dad commits suicide after years of battling Parkinson's.
I wanted to get a tattoo in his honor and went several places before landing back at Sangha and met with Dalton. I had very specific elements to incorporate: squash blossoms, tomato flowers, surrounding an ouroboros with a wolf head instead of a serpent. I wanted it done within the month before I went up to his memorial in Vancouver. Dalton said we could get it done within a week or so. After not hearing from him I texted him and he apologized and said he had been busy.
A friend and I decided two weeks later to get hand tatts and came in for an impromptu visit. Dalton was there and got super awkward but we talked thru it but we ended up having him draw some knuckle tatts up for me which I liked. But on the first finger something jammed in the ink and it skipped and made a spot on my finger. Ugh. Additionally, my friend who was getting the side of his hand tatted by a female artist (name unknown) had her literally say "oops" as she committed a similar error on his hand. We both now have permanent freckles.
Weeks and weeks of pestering Dalton went by and he kept saying he would get me something and hadn't forgotten about me, and then never did get me anything. Haven't heard from him since and I am loathe to pop in unannounced and have it be super awkward again. I shouldn't have to constantly harangue an artist who promised repeatedly to get back to me.
Super bummed at the quality of service and care for clients. Overall, really saddened but feel like I need to get this off my chest. Sorry, Sangha. :( read more