Art Alive Tattoo & Piercing is an upscale tattoo studio specializing in custom, one-of-a-kind, tattoo designs. Award Winning artist/owner Kevin Ray has the knowledge and talent to transform any idea into an exceptional tattoo! Art Alive also offers professional body piercing with the most competitive prices in the area. There are private rooms available for both, the tattooing and the piercing, with plenty of extra room in each to accommodate your friends or family. When visiting Art Alive there are a few things you should know that will help insure your experience here is a positive one.

1. When you come in for a quote please be patient. Sometimes I will be very busy and will only be able to answer some of your questions with general answers. It's hard to give exact quotes and times while I'm working on another client. I can work with you directly on your design, but you may have to wait until I finish with my current client or take a break.

2. Have at least a rough idea of what you want. Art Alive is an entirely custom tattoo studio meaning there are no pre-made tattoo designs to pick from. Most of the tattoos performed here are drawn from scratch, so you need to at least give me a general idea and then I can make artistic suggestions from there.

3. Please leave your children at home. There are extremely dangerous chemicals and bio-hazardous waste on site at ALL times. No one under the age of thirteen is allowed in the studio.

Finally, if you have any questions, ask! The better educated people are about tattooing, the harder it is for bad tattoo artist to stay in business. Knowledge saves lives!

Frequently Asked Questions...

How much do your tattoos cost?

There are many variables that factor into the price of a tattoo. Size, time, and technical difficulty all play a role in determining how much a particular tattoo will cost. Please come into the studio, or message me through the contact page for a quote. Remember, I enjoy what I do, if you have a great tattoo idea I will work with you to make it affordable.

Do I need an appointment?

Appointments are highly recommended. I can get very busy here and sometimes book 1-3 weeks in advance. I put a lot of time into each client so depending on what your asking for and what my schedule is that day I may not have the time to do your tattoo if you just walk-in. I will absolutely tattoo walk-ins whenever possible! You do not need an appointment to be pierced; all piercings are on a walk-in basis.

How do I make an appointment?

Come in for a brief consultation visit to discuss the design, placement, and price. Just so that we are on the same page with what you want, how long it will take, and roughly what it will cost. From there we will set up an appointment to do the tattoo. I do require a deposit for most appointments. This deposit only comes off the price of the tattoo, it is otherwise non-refundable, so make sure that you can make it on time before you set up an appointment.

When will I see the design?

I will not draw any design until we schedule an appointment to actually do the tattoo. When you show up the day of your appointment I will have your design sketched out. Please do not show up before your appointment date to check on the progress of your design, it takes my attention away from whomever I'm working with that day. If the sketch is not what you expected when you arrive we will have time to make minor adjustments but if the changes will take a considerable amount of time we may have to reschedule the appointment for another day (in which case your deposit would carry over). You always have the choice to not go through with the tattoo for any reason; however you will unfortunately lose your deposit. I never want anyone to get a tattoo they are not entirely certain about. Be honest with me if something is not to your liking. I promise you will not hurt my feelings.

Can I bring in my own design?

Yes you can, but remember that tattoo is a very different art form and your design may need to be altered slightly to work as a tattoo or in some cases may not work at all. Be open to suggestions, my goal is to give you a great looking tattoo.

*Things to Remember the Day of Your Appointment?

1. Make sure you get a good night's sleep, shower, and eat a good meal before getting tattooed. Coming in right after working out, or after being awake for 36 straight hours can lead to a negative experience for you AND me. If you are well rested and well fed, you will react better to the work being done.

2. Wear appropriate clothing. I cannot tattoo through your clothes, so wear something that can easily expose the area of skin you're getting tattooed. Also, tattoos can be messy, so wear something that you wouldn't mind getting ink on.

3. Be on time for your appointment. I'm turning away other people to work on you at a specific time. Be respectful and be there on time. If you're running late call me and let me know. It may affect whether or not I can still tattoo you that day, and the status of your deposit.

4. If you're nervous, feel free to bring a friend for support. Just be sure it is someone who will act appropriately and will not be a distraction.

5. On the subject of distractions; please do not text or talk on your cell phone during the tattoo process. It is annoying and causes your body to move more than you realize.

6. We will take breaks during most tattoos, so that you can stretch, smoke, use the restroom; get a drink, snack, etc? Don't worry it's not a torture chamber; you will be taken care of.

7. Please leave your children at home. There are extremely dangerous chemicals and bio-hazardous waste on site at ALL times. No one under the age of thirteen is allowed in the studio.