Let me begin by saying that I NEVER write yelp reviews, I just read them. As testament to my very strong feelings concerning Mark and the entire Truth family, I think that this will be my very first one... It almost hurt MY feelings to read that one negative review from Michael and I hope that this review (along with the multiple others) can trump that bad seed. I have been getting tattooed by Mark for almost 2 years now. He did my first "big" piece. I have a few other tats from random shops along the way, but once I was introduced to Mark, I knew I had stumbled upon something amazing. Mark is not only a unique and talented artist, but he's a good-hearted, honest, and beautiful person. I've sat for multiple day-long sessions with him and there is never an uncomfortable or unhappy moment-aside from the fact that you are being stuck repeatedly with a needle of course. However, even THAT isn't so bad, as Mark has a steady, gentle flow as well as some fantastic equipment. You can't even hear that often annoying "buuuuuzzzz" sound from his machine. The environment is relaxing (waterfalls, live plants, candles) and inviting. There is all kinds of art on the walls, prayer flags and clouds on the ceiling-no scary biker skeleton shit that little white chicks like me might get scared away by. I've been in other shops that make me feel intimidated, or like I don't belong there. Not at Truth! It is honestly such a family-oriented environment. I've met his kids on multiple occasions (so adorable!) and his wife is awesome too! My boyfriend is the one that originally sent me to Mark. He has such an incredible following. Mark is super personable and a great conversationalist. If you've ever sat for a long session before you know that this is a huge plus in an artist. You don't want to have to lay there bored and in pain for hours. Time literally flies by with Mark. As for his tattoos...I can't express how impressive his work is. As other reviews have mentioned, if you want a shamrock or a heart on your big toe, go to one of those places that have you pick your design off the wall or out of a book. Mark's pieces are brilliant interpretations of the clients dreams. His "book" is filled with full sleeves of Where the Wild Things Are, morphing fire phoenixes, tree women, and all kinds of crazy custom creations. I came to Mark with an idea for a large piece and we worked together (looked at photos/ brainstormed ideas/ sketched different elements) to bring my vision to life. He talked me through every step of the process...even to the point of me saying "Mark, you are amazing, just do what you think is best." The journey of creating a permanent piece of art on your body can become very emotional and sometimes trying in many ways, but Mark is such an intuitive person that he understands all of the process as if through the clients eyes. Reaching that level of trust with your artist is so wonderful. I am so grateful. I truly think that if you are type-A and want a tattoo RIGHT NOW and are in any way close-minded, you definitely should consider looking at another shop. There are artists out there who will be right for you. But, if you are not afraid to step outside the box a little, you're not afraid of tweaking your original vision for the betterment of the overall masterpiece, you aren't in some major kind of rush and understand that perfection (dare I use that word) may take some time, and you are chill, friendly, and generally a good soul, you will love Mark, and he will love you too! He has such passion what he does, and that just makes it so much better. After our last session he said to me, "Damn I had so much fun today." I have no idea who that person Michael is nor do I care, but I have a suspicion that his negative attitude toward Mark and his shop may have more to do with the type of person he is, not necessarily Mark's abilities or attributes as a shop owner and artist. All in all, I highly recommend Truth Tattoo to anyone whether it's your first tat or your 15th..Mark will hook you up! Stop by the shop and check it out for yourself! read more

AMAZING SHOP! Great artists! Beyond rad staff and fun environment for my girls and I. Thank you for the perfect tats and great experience! read more

Truth Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Truckee, California

JuanCarlos was the absolute best, we decided to get impromptu family tattoos and he took us in (for four walk ins). -- he made us feel super at home and the vibe of the shop was so good. I'm prone to fainting and he was super verbally reassuring which was so helpful, and for my brother it was his first tattoo and JC was so communicative. We really loved his work and would fully recommend read more

Truth Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Truckee, California

My friend and I decided to get tattoos while I was in town visiting her in Truckee. We contacted tattoo artist Juan Carlos on Friday and we messaged him our ideas for the tattoos and the next day we got our tattoos! He was amazing and we both love our tattoos. My friend was getting her first tattoo and I was getting my second. He explained everything and made us feel very comfortable and heard. The tattoo room was full of plants which gave the place a cool vibe! I can't recommend Juan Carlos enough! read more

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Go get some ink! Best shop in town, great vibes great art great music and great people. Quality work always, you will not be disappointed. Go check em out read more

Had an appointment for my birthday with Kaylee! She was super friendly and worked with me to get my ideas and thoughts to the perfect design. Tattoos came out better than I imagined!! Thanks so much for a great experience. Can't wait to come back for more read more

Truth Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Truckee, California

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My experience with tattoo artist Juan Carlos (and Mark, who owns the shop and offered to help me re-cover my fresh ink when I stopped in with a quick question) was nothing short of spectacular. Both of them are absolute gems who have created a very special place to be inked that tops every previous experience I've had. I should note that I have a number of tattoos, each of which I've received only after doing loads of research in each place I've lived, from LA to Oakland to New York, and this was hands-down the best time I've ever had getting inked. Both Juan Carlos and Mark are kind, genuine, creative and massively talented people. I am so honored and feel so lucky to have found them and entrusted them with this special piece of art! I recommend them to anyone, whether you're looking for your first or 80th tattoo. I'll certainly be back. Thanks again Juan Carlos for your magnificent work! read more

Juan is one of the most genuine souls Ive ever encounterd in life...The dude is so legit...great artist but amazing human!!!!! Helped me and a friend deal with loss....and got sick ink to go with it...I love you Juan!!!! read more

Kaylee was amazing. We had a group of 10 girls wanting small tattoos and she accommodated all of us as same day walk-ins. I understand a group so big and last minute might be annoying but she was SO welcoming and was happy to fit us all into her schedule. Not to mention, her work was amazing and we are all so happy with the end result. Thank you so much Kaylee. read more

I have been working on my never-ending body art with Mark for over 6 years. This is the place to go if you're looking for excellent work and a quiet atmosphere! Every inch of my work is beautiful. My color is vibrant and looks fresh years later. You will never find me in another shop. Check Mark out, you will not be disappointed! read more

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I can't believe it took me this long to write a review for the best experience I could have doing something so new to me. This was my first and only tattoo-just so I don't have to wear a wedding ring. Mark not only made sure I was comfortable, but I didn't even know the picture I wanted. He designed the best tattoo perfect for me, and I get so many complements. Lots o' joy & happiness with my tat. read more

Truth Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Truckee, California

I am so impressed by the quality of work and the caliber of the artists who work at Truth Tattoo. Over the summer my dad was living in Truckee and decided it was time for his first tattoo, at age 64. This came as a bit of a shock to me, especially when I found out what kind of tattoo he wanted - full back piece that extended up onto his neck and head, to behind his ear. Yes, I needed to be there for this. And yes, I needed to get one with him. Father-daughter bonding time over tattoos? CHECK! Mark, the owner and main artist at Truth Tattoo, is an incredible guy who worked tirelessly with my dad, my stepmother, and myself to design a tattoo that all 3 of us loved (my dad figured he wouldn't be the one looking at it, so our opinions held a lot of weight.) He is a fine artist who was able to translate this vision from inside my dad's imagination perfectly onto his body. Not only am I so impressed by his work (literally hours of time was spent over multiple sessions getting my dad's piece finished) but he also has a great sense of humor and is a generally fun guy to be around. He even let me try out the tattoo gun on my dad! Talk about a cool experience! For my own work, I wanted to get one tattoo fixed up, and a new one done. Mark was super honest with me about the location of the new one I wanted - partially on the bottom of my foot which he explained was a bad idea because it would eventually wear out into an unrecognizable blob. He could have easily taken my money and done it, but he is a stand up guy, truthful guy (pun not really intended). Smiley, the newest artist there, helped me out with my touch up and the one I finally decided on. His name says it all - super friendly and did a nice job to boot. If I didn't live so far away from Truckee I might be spending all of my hard-earned money at Truth Tattoo...so instead I'll just recommend that everyone else go there as well! read more

Mark and Nate are great. Mark makes his shop welcoming and friendly. I was laughing my ass off. Great atmosphere, great artist. Best in Truckee read more

I'm SOOOO pleased with Truth Tattoo! J.P. is making my tattoo & it truly is art = I LOVE my tattoo!!! This whole experience has been wonderful. When I first walked in to get a tattoo, Mark gave me 2 different portfolios to look through. By choosing which style I preferred meant which tattoo artist would make my tattoo (you don't know who's portfolio your looking at). My personal choice was J.P.'s style. Unknowingly, what I have always wanted for a tattoo ended up to be a major cliche in the tattoo industry - however J.P. was estatic to conquer what I wanted and he sure has = this is a tattoo that is so special and meaningful to me AND is truly a piece of art! I couldn't be more pleased :-) The atmosphere in Truth Tattoo is very enjoyable and clean, and the tattoo artists are very talented, professional, kind, and truly listen to what you want = I highly recommend Truth Tattoo to everyone :-) read more

An awesome experience! Mark is the man. He was able to fit me in last minute for a small tattoo. Although known for his multi-session large pieces, he put substantial thought and detail into my small tattoo. He understood that no matter what the size, a tattoo is still meaningful. Mark uses a unique style of tattoo machine that far superior to what I have experienced at other tattoo shops. There was no annoying buzzing, and it was far less painful. The studio was neat and Mark was willing to discuss issues of sterilization. I felt completely confident with the cleanliness of the place. The place was tasteful. This was not a typical tacky tattoo shop; the client does not pick their tattoo off a wall of options. It was truly an individual experience. The studio was beautifully decorated with plants, a small fountain, an a killer-color-changing light display. The music was eclectic and the conversation was great! I got to ask lots of interesting questions about parenthood. It was an overall excellent experience. I will most definitely be returning to Mark at Truth. In addition, I would highly recommend him to others. Book ahead of time, cause the man is in high demand. read more

they are the best. got my first tattoo there & kaylee talked on the phone with me for half an hour answering every possible question i had. gave my sister & i the best tattoos. best tattoo place! read more

Mark is the man! I'm 44 and this was my first tattoo. He modified a design my 17 year old daughter did and I couldn't be happier. He (and Nate) are solid people and provided a great experience from the moment we first walked through the door. Chill environment. Great music! Great result. read more

Wow Mark. .. all 5 stars? I guess I not surprised. Mark is awesome. I send everyone to him and get countless compliments on how "unique" and "beautiful" and of course "bad-ass" my tattoos are. I especially like changing the mind of someone older and conservative when they say they "don't usually like tattoos but wow yours looks like a painting!" Mark is the best. Make your appointment for a consult now! read more

I had a really odd experience at Truth Tattoo. My wife and I have a time-share in Tahoe, and, I was (honestly speaking) drunk, wanting to get a tattoo. The owner tried to slam me into a horrible drawing, and we left. Not cool. Creep-factor set to 11. No good! read more

Love the work I got from Mark! They were at the Seattle Tattoo Convention in 2010 .. and I spent quite a bit of time perusing the various artists. Some were friendly but Not in my style. Some were ... well that is another story. Then I turned a corner and bumped into this amazingly soft and welcoming energy coming from the Truth from Truckee area. Where the HECK is Truckee was my first question. But hey, right energy. Loved the samples of his work .. and watching him do a complex cover was beyond amazing! You'd never have guessed. We did a short consult as I explained the concept of what I wanted - and we set a time to get together to see if we could meet minds on the piece. I was back 2 hours later with artwork ideas in hand. Mark and Anna and I sat for about 30 minutes going over my vision and coming up with a plan to start. As it's a complex piece we all knew that we'd not be able to finish in this one sitting. We set to work with a clear idea of the "do now" and making sure it left space for the "do later" pieces. My start took about 3 hours and was an amazing process! Working with Mark was a Joy. his focus was intense but talked when I needed it. Remember to be realistic in your own expectations. If you want a larger, more complex, customized piece - it's going to take time and more than one visit. So plan your budget for more than one sitting - or find that "friend" taking tattoo lessons or that is "learning" and take your chances. Yes this is going on you - yes it's forever (short of lasers) ... and do you really want cheap? I'm very happy with the start of my new piece .. the price, the work, the ME conveyed. Thanks Mark ! Anna you're a love! I appreciate the communications and shared intention of creating Truth in Truckee! Can't wait to see you again for the next addition! Blessings all ! read more

Mark and JP are magnificent artists dishing up amazing ink, and are fun to be around on top of it all. I thoroughly enjoyed all four of my sessions with mark, and now have a tattoo that I'll make my kids cut off my arm and frame on the wall when I die. read more

Mark is an exceptionally gifted artist, visionary and communicator. I'm beyond pleased with my cover-up piece and look forward to completing the final session at the soonest. No doubt this process was fairly extensive: between developing a concept and scheduling six-sessions in a timely manor. Nevertheless, I've been increasingly stoked on the progression. Thank you Truth Tattoo for providing me with a work of art I can now appreciate for a lifetime. read more

I've been seeing Mark now for more than 5 years now. First met up with him while he was at Monkey Wrench in Santa Rosa and followed him to Truth Tattoo in Truckee and have never looked back, in terms of artists. I have several large pieces done by Mark and have spend roughly 120 hours under the gun. To say that I'm happy with his work is an understatement ;) All my work has far exceeded my expectations in quality as well as beauty. Mark is fabulous at taking my ideas or scraps of doodle paper and creating amazing art! Not the kind of place to go if you're looking to pick something off the wall.......these guys are true and serious artists. The shop itself is extraordinarily relaxing and comfortable (important for as much time as I'm there) with an overall peaceful creative vibe flowing through it generally with someone painting with plants draped around a fountain. Pretty freakin' cool for a tattoo shop! If you're serious about a piece of art and letting the artist be an artist and not micromanaging him, this is the place to go!! read more

Mark is amazing! His experience and talent is undeniable. He took some old, not so nice looking tattoos that I had and turned them into works of art. The shop is clean, relaxing and full of beautiful art (art that mark created of course). Thank you for applying your talent to my leg Mark. Simply the best. read more

My experience with Mark at first was great, until he started the piece. He takes forever (milking the wallet), the work was crap. When I was having it covered up with a bigger piece, the artist told me it looked like he grinded way too hard because the lines were raised up. I would'nt go back. Take it or leave it. read more

This is by FAR the best Tattoo shop in the Tahoe/Reno area! Every tattoo I have ever seen has been absolutely incredible! All of the people that work at the shop are so awesome and down to earth and guarantee a great experience. These guys do wonderful work and that is the Truth!! read more

Can't say enough good things about Mark Larson. I spent a lot of time interviewing atattoo artists, asking for them to work with me on a design at their consulting rate and was turned down. Mark and I corresponded by email for a while until I felt I knew what I wanted and he was clear also. He was thorough in making sure he understood what I was looking for and where I would allow his artistic vision to step in. I spent at least 4 hours under the needle on my first session (my first tattoo!) and found it to be a comfortable and friendly experience. I have at least another 4 hours to finish my piece and I am really looking forward to my next appointment. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WORK? you ask. Mark understands how the inks age over time and takes this into consideration when he works so that the end result will be what I envision. HIs art is exquisite and his attention to detail is a marvel. I am so pleased with the tattoo so far. This is work that will be on me forever and it has been so worth it to have Mark Larson be the one to execute it. If art on skin is what you are looking for, you should talk to Mark. read more

This shop has by the far the best atmosphere of any shop I've been in.. and I've been in quite a few! Not to mention the amazing work Mark and JP do read more

Mark is an amazing artist and does phenomenal work. He did a large piece on my back and strangers are always remarking on the uniqueness and artistry of my piece. At the beginning I had one thing in mind but when he was done it was a thousand times better than anything I could have imagined. I have other pieces, much smaller, by other artists but I will only go to Mark now because I trust his work and him, and he always makes me feel calm and comfortable on the table (I mean except for the whole needle in the flesh thing). I can't wait to get my next piece from him. If you are looking for an artistic masterpiece then he's your guy. If you are looking for a generic tattoo go elsewhere and leave room in his schedule for the rest of us. read more

My experience at Truth Tattoo is the reason I decided to finally get a Yelp account. I've used Yelp in the past to make plenty of consumer choices and almost let it drive me to a competing shop on King's Beach. I stumbled upon Truth Tattoo in Truckee almost by accident and at my wife's insistence that I check it out. I'm so glad I did. This is not a tattoo parlor. Mark and his staff are tattoo artists. This was my first tattoo and I had very particular design and placement concerns. Mark set me up with JP Seger and I couldn't be happier with the results. JP was very accommodating with my schedule (we were on vacation), answered all my questions, and took my design ideas & improved upon them. JP is a real artist. All in all, it was a very professional experience and I'll definitely be back for more work. Pay no attention to the bad reviews ... go see their portfolios for yourself and talk to them. You won't be disappointed, I assure you. read more