Ximena has done my tattoo work and beautiful imagery for near 16+ years. I love her personal touches and personality that I find signiture. She is a highly skilled artist. I am running out of open canvas. 6 stars!!! :)) -Heath(cliff) read more

Skeleton Key was amazing. The artist who worked with us, Dan, was also amazing. My girlfriend and I walked in. Dan was helpful and polite. He worked with us to figure out exactly what we wanted our pieces to look like. He was just as excited about our tattoos as we were! It was clear he loves what he does! That made our experience even better!! If we are ever in Portland again we will be back to see Dan! Also, this shop is awesome because they all like cats! There is cat artwork and they do some pretty cool cat tattoos! read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Thanks Dan! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I hate to leave a bad review, mainly because Chaz was a nice guy, but I am disappointed in my tattoo. My tattoo was initially supposed to take 7 hours; it took about 9. Even with 9 hours, it looks rushed (I wouldn't mind it taking longer if it looked good). The grey shading was not finished, and I can see the outlines where he missed spots. I can't tell if some of the missed shading was done on purpose to look like the tattoo on my upper arm or what. It doesn't look anything like what I already had if that was the intent. One of the flowers is supposed to look like it's still a bud, but it comes off more like a pumpkin, and the petals he added last minute don't help. Before contacting him to schedule a 3rd session (he never reached out to me when they opened up after COVID), I let him know that I would be moving in 2 months and needed it finished before I left. At the end of the 3rd session, I pointed out an area that I wanted to be fixed; he rushed it and started cleaning everything up. I hadn't realized that he only scheduled me for 3 hours and wasn't able to finish my tattoo. He said if I'm ever back in Portland to contact him to add the rest of the grey. I've had multiple friends comment on it, and even strangers have mentioned that the tattoo on my upper arm, done by a different artist, is beautiful, but the rest is "interesting." I really didn't want to leave a bad review, but every time I look at my arm, I'm upset by the quality. read more

See all

I loved getting tattooed by Chaz. I've never felt so comfortable and had so little pain, and I've been tattooed for like 75 hours by 7 different artists. I love his design and he made me feel like my idea was cool and exciting, that he was truly excited to do it and that he enjoyed working w me as much as I enjoyed working w him. All the stars. read more

I have an entire arm of Ximena tattoos! Ready for some more. The place is very clean, the pricing is very fair. She works with your ideas until they are just what you wanted. Highly recommended. read more

Levi did a beautiful job. I told him a general idea of what I wanted and he drew it up. It was perfect. It was my 2nd tattoo after 25 years of getting the first one, so I was a bit nervous. He made me feel at ease and comfortable. read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Was on a trip in Portland with friends and on our last day, we all agreed to get simple tattoos. We wanted to kind of mark a great trip and and to just go fulfill the need of wanting new tattoos. We skipped around from shop to shop and found Skeleton Key. Levi greeted us and was friendly and listened to what we all wanted and the pricing was fair. Our friends were a little tight on money and since it was our friends birthday he helped find a solution to help get what he wanted for what he could afford. We all appreciated how friendly everyone was there and its a helped make some great memories for us. We followed the directions to how to take care of our new tattoos and they've been healing well. Thank you Levi, for being so helpful and again...Good luck on your adult coloring book! I didn't catch the other tattoo artist that was there...his tattoo work was great as well. :0) I highly recommend this place. read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Very simple Deathly Hallow's tattoo. So beautiful and healing really well. Tattoo done by Levi - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This studio is amazing! The artists, and owner, are super nice and the place is very clean and comfortable. My artist, Chaz, is very gifted and skilled, he is currently finishing a "Big Bang" (beginning of time, not the tv show) sleeve and it's awesome! Come get tattooed here! read more

Spontaneously decided I was ready to get my next tattoo and Skeleton Key was the perfect fit. They had an artist open for a walk in and sketched up want I wanted almost exactly identical to the picture I showed her! Ximena was very helpful and understanding of my desires. Great pricing, most shops in Portland have a $100 shop minimum which sucks when you're getting something small. Overall great experience and I would return. read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Rose ankle tattoo done by Ximena - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Thank you so much for being closed today!!!! Three of us, on the whim wanted tattoos and were looking for something to get. Thank you for being closed because we ended up at the perfect spot!! read more

Got a tattoo by Emily (Tiny) a few years ago back in North Carolina and had an outstanding experience. Traveled several hours just to get another piece done by her years later and was again treated to a really productive, chill, and positive time in the shop. After many terrible bad experiences with other artists, @tattoos_by_tiny took my ideas and worked them up into something I loved. The atmosphere in her new shop was also solid and I would have had no problem sitting in the chair from opening to closing. read more

If you're like me, you've been tattooed in a number of shops, ranging from the places that blast angry music and are filled with people who look like they might stab you at any minute, to the wonderful places like Skeleton Key where people are smiling, the personal art of the employees hangs on the wall, Johnny Cash is playing, the front door is propped open, and there's no flash to be found. My first tattoo came from a mightily questionable place back in the underbelly of DC (which is thankfully now closed), another came from a place that I still believe was a front for a drug-running operation, and so on and so forth. My most recent piece (my seventh tattoo and sixth text piece) came from the glorious Chaz Vitale at Skeleton Key. We spoke on a Saturday and booked my appointment for the following Saturday - yesterday. The whole process was amazingly painless - Chaz has a light touch and an easy smile and made me feel right at home even while I was in the throes of my customary pre-tattoo jitters. The tattoo itself is wonderful - he suggested that it wrap around my bicep which gives it a fantastic flow and more visual interest, and the lettering is crisp, clear, and beautiful. I knew I liked Chaz when he went to retouch the letters near my armpit and I didn't punch him. Getting tattooed near the pit is a special kind of pain reserved only for nightmares and revenge. I've already informed him that he HAS to do my next piece (Audre Lorde) in a month or so. Getting tattooed here was a pleasure - an hour or so of laughs, warm air circulating through the building, and easy conversation with Chaz, my friend who accompanied me, and the other artist. Make sure you check out Chaz's work hanging on the wall, too! A unicorn boning a cupcake! Superb! read more

My best friend and I were in town and dropped in to get some new ink! Not knowing the shop or artist I was a bit hesitant. Levi was available and within 5 minutes he had me won over! His light hand and amazing artistic skill was top notch! He quickly threw my design together and the outcome was amazing!!!! I would recommend Levi to any and everyone! read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Left: idea from the web Right: Outcome!! Artist: Levi Greenacres - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My husband & I wanted impromptu tats as early birthday presents to ourselves. I picked Skeleton Key Tattoo first for their location (as someone who doesn't have a car, I practically squealed knowing they were just blocks from my home) & reviews (they had the most consistent positive reviews compared to other shops in my area). I called ahead to see what SKT's availability was & if they took walk-ins. They did. A few hours later, I walked in with a few simple concepts for what I wanted: an outline of a swallow bird & a 10-letter Zulu word -- both in black. Easy peasy, yes, but those are the ones that are the most apt to get messed up (see below). The guy that inked me was the same kind fellow I talked to on the phone, Levi. He addressed my concerns (& confusion/indecisiveness) about my art's placement, & gave me his professional opinion on the places in which it would look best. I'm glad I took heed, even though I was disappointed that the placement I originally wanted wasn't the best option. The prep time before I sat in the chair took a lot longer than I expected, but that's because I'm a California native, & people who run their tattoo shops there don't care as much about the formalities (disposable blankets for patrons to lay on & no shoes on the table, things like that). I later found out that Oregon is one of the only states in this country (apart from Hawaii) whose tattoo artists are required to go to school for their craft. Imagine my distaste knowing that the previous guy who did three of my tats learned from a jail cell. But I digress. I was utterly impressed with SKT's ability to be clean & safe; they almost made a show of it. Cleanliness when dealing with blood & skin contact is kind of a big deal. As for the work -- Levi went FAST, & not because of rushing for lack of time, but because he's good at what he does (my very simple tats helped make things quick, too, I'm sure). And the price for both tattoos were beyond reasonable. Both tats turned out well. . . except for one which has a small, harmless mistake. There are two L's in my tat's word, & they were not drawn uniformly; one is larger/smaller than the other. It's obvious only when I point it out, but it's enough to aggravate me. It's the fault my artist & of myself -- he modified the font by hand & I should have caught the error. In my excitement, I didn't. (NOTE: Pay attention to every single bloody detail of your tattoo if you're a bit anal retentive like me!) But this lapse in perfection doesn't turn me off. No, I'd come back again. Definitely. Great guys (& gals); great shop; clean, friendly atmosphere, & not too much death metal playing on the speakers. It suits me. read more

I'm not from Oregon, but all my family lives up here. My parents and I come up in the summer to visit the coast and then visit family. This year, a few family members and I got beach tattoos to symbolize our family time together. I got a beautiful tattoo done by Maki, my cousin and boy friend had theirs done by him as well and had amazing results. He went very quickly, but definitely showed a passion and interest in his work on us. My mom however, had a pretty uncomfortable experience with Levi. It must have been the end of a long day or something. My mom felt like he wasn't interested in what she wanted out of the tattoo, basically scoffed at her ideas and then acted irritated that she wouldn't take his ideas. He was short and snippy with her during the session whenever she would try to make conversation and basically told her that if he messed it up when she flinched in pain it wouldn't be a big deal to him because its her body and her tattoo for her to deal with. I give Maki five stars for his flexibility and general appreciation of our business, but can't give the whole shop a five star because my mom was treated so poorly. read more

Are you there God? It's me, Lisa. Thank you for putting Chaz on this earth. He Gave me a mindblowing tattoo, and I am stoked to get my next one from him in June. Go for the Uniporn, stay for the tattoo. Thank you Chaz and Skeleton key. I am more of a badass because of you. read more

I came here strictly based on the Yelp reviews. Stay away!! I have my first tattoo infection on an unfinished tattoo. Very disappointed. read more

I had a great experience at Skeleton Key. Ximena guided me thoughtfully through the whole process. This was my first tattoo and I was thrilled about it. I had chosen a very detailed skeletal horse image, and am really pleased at everything from the placement and size to the detail of the shading, and precision. My horse nerd friends are very impressed by the detail and accuracy of the skeleton. I couldn't imagine being more excited than I was the moment I checked it out in the mirror at the shop but it has been growing on me every day! Three cheers to Ximena's skills and the bright and styling Skeleton Key tattoo parlor on Hawthorne. read more

I may be a bit biased... but, i've known Ximena for a little while. My boyfriend had been tatted by her for years and we finally decided it was my turn. (a piece by Patrick McDonnell that I've been wanting since I was a teen.) In my conversations with Ximena about everything tattoo (and beer and other topics), we came to the conclusion of inside forearm is the perfect place for this piece... I actually went with boyfriend to watch him get tattooed at one point to watch her work and ask questions. I remarked at how comfortable the shop was (still is.), how warm and inviting the atmosphere is and how much preparation goes into getting a tattoo (a lot!) Funny enough, the preparation took longer than him getting the tattoo. A week before my appointment (as this was my first one), regret and questioning the decision racked my brain. I was finally ok with it as it has been an image that is tattooed in my head for so long. Walking into the shop for my first tattoo I was extremely nervous (shaking was an understatement), though I had an entourage of encouraging friends, and a boyfriend that held my hand through the process. Ximena quickly realized my nervousness and set to work getting me to relax and actually enjoy myself. It was amazing, she skillfully in 1 hour created this piece of art on my arm and although it was a teeny bit painful, was able to curb that pain and distract me enough to enjoy the experience. Apparently I enjoyed being tattooed by Ximena so much I endured a 3.5 hour session with her 2 months later. Consisting of almost nothing but line work wrapped around my arm and ending at my wrist (ouch!), it also surrounds the original piece. I am constantly asked who did the work, if they are local and my favorite "i don't usually like tattoos, but that is gorgeous/tasteful/beautiful/etc." I feel like I am a walking advertisement for SKT and am very proud to say who did the hard work. I run out of cards easily... Now to figure out placement of the other ones I want and to begin work on the back piece... Thanks SKT, I won't go anywhere else. read more

This review is specifically for my experience thus far with Maki. He is the only person to have ever brought a needle to my flesh and hot damn, I am SO happy I found him to do it. He's overall a pleasure to work with. I remember I first walked in and he was incredibly helpful--he asked plenty of questions to make sure he understood exactly what I wanted. He offered alternatives to my ideas and was VERY friendly about it. There's not a pretentious bone in this man's body (which I would understand if there was because if you look up at the wall and see he drawings and at his portfolio on the SKT website, WOW!). He's as humble and polite as they come. As for my experience actually getting the tattoo, it hurt like a bitch (but to be fair it was my first and it's also on my rib cage because I go balls to the wall, yo) but that was nothing of Maki's doing. He was a champ dealing with my awkward squirming and groans of pain and repetitively asked if I needed a break to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. He was very clear with the aftercare instructions giving me both a written set of do's/don't's and verbal explanation to make sure I knew how to take care of my new tattoo. Two weeks later, it looks gorgeous and I seriously look forward to my next session with him to finish it! So far, I am more than pleased with this shop! Be sure to bring cash as they are CASH ONLY (there's an ATM in the convenience store next door)! read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - By Maki Shindo - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Really cool people and Levi's hilarious. Price for a simple tat is good $65. Clean place and didn't take long at all if you got an appointment. read more

Last Sunday my best friend and I were finishing up a nice dinner, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of our night, when I spontaneously suggested we get tattoos. She opted out, but agreed to accompany me if I wanted to go ahead and get mine. Excited we headed to Sea Tramp, but were met with a very long wait. As it was getting late I looked up tattoo studios on yelp to see what was open. I'd researched Skeleton Key a few months ago when I was considering an artist for a sleeve I'd like to get in the future. Their artists are all super talented and as a bonus they are actually just right across the street from my apartment. I gave them a call, and Mark confirmed that he had an opening within the hour. Nervous and jubilant, my friend and I showed up. Since I decided on this tattoo on the fly I didn't have any reference material to show, but Mark listened to my erratic description and drew up two drafts fairly quickly. After some light tweaking we were ready to go. The shop is very clean, with lots of space, light, and artwork everywhere. I appreciated that there wasn't a lot of flash on the walls, but that you could still get a feel for each artist's style via their displayed art and personal portfolios. Mark was also very accommodating to my friend who was just there for moral support, allowing her to sit with me and film the process. He played funky music (old country, some ambient, a little rock) and made me feel completely at ease, especially since it hurt and I was very nervous. A definite bonus is that he's a great conversationalist, so the time passed quickly. Just as we were leaving he gave us a couple copies of his comic book, which is really rad. It's obvious he's very passionate about what he does, and that spirit is very infectious. I am in love with my new skin, would recommend him to anyone looking to get inked, and will definitely come back for my next tattoo. read more

Skeleton Key was bright and clean looking. The art on the walls was really cool and a nice change from walking into a tattoo place that has loads of flash on the walls. I got the impression that these guys are more into creating original pieces of art on the body than just reproducing some generic flash. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the EH look as much as anyone but I don't want to be beat over the head by it. The atmosphere is friendly and really open. The artists are really talented and each has their own style and I could see myself going back and getting different work by someone else. I really like Chaz 's floral work. I am really picky about who I have tattoo me because of the lack of experience tattooing people of color. I've seen too many heavy handed hack jobs in black ink on my friends and family to let just anyone near me. I asked Levi what he knew about tattooing POC and he was really great about explaining his take on colors and pressure and healing time and what the skin does and how it reacts to certain colors. I was impressed. I took my sister to get a Halloween tattoo during their special 31.00 deal on Halloween themed tats. We brought my mom too because she'd been threatening to get a belly button piercing and I was hoping to distract her from that. Anyway, Levi, gave my sister this really cute owl tattoo and I guess my mom was so impressed with how easy it seemed to go and how well Levi explained what he was doing and why that she decided to get one as well. My mother is 62 and the fact that she wanted a tattoo surprised the hell out of me. I took her back a day later and she got the same owl design on her shoulder. Levi was great. He talked her through the whole process, he explained everything he was doing and why, and generally kept up a steady stream of conversation that was part information and part standup. My mother was quite the trooper and though she said it hurt, she also said that he had a really gentle touch. I wanted something cute and girly and he designed a ribbon tied in a bow. I initially wanted yellow but changed my mind to red. It was the best 2 hours I've had on a tattoo table in a long time. The man has a butterfly touch. Firm but not digging in. We hadn't planned on adding the color that day, just doing the outline and shading but it went so well that he just finished it. The color was great it looked really bright and vibrant, even after the scab started coming off. I can't wait to get the other leg done. I would recommend Skeleton Key to all of my friends. read more

I came in with a friend for a simple b&w tattoo of a bubble wand, and left with a lumpy gray design that looks straight up fucked. In addition to being far from what I discussed with Waldo, the line work is undeniably shaky and the entire thing looks misshapen. Pretty sure I am going to have to pay to go to another shop to get a touch up/cover up. If you do decide to get a tattoo here, stay away from: -circles -long straight lines -short straight lines -any length of line that is supposed to look straight -designs that have personal meaning to you -designs from Pinterest (or accept the shade they'll throw at you for it) -designs that are depictions of real world objects or anything that could provide a reference point and highlight how shitty your tattoo really is If you're looking for something fast and dirty like we were, then this review probably won't deter you-- but maybe it should. read more

So me and my friend came here for the $31.00 Halloween deal and it worked out pretty good. Our tattoos look great, but they are not perfect. The shading is a little off and the fill was not done that great. Regardless, for $31.00 we got exactly what we wanted and for a price that was reasonable. Not going to lie, I looked through the the artists' books and I was not too impressed. I only saw one artist that I would maybe consider getting a large serious piece from. I think this is a great place for people looking to get something fast and cheap and that's honestly not a bad thing. read more

Ximena is the awesomest!!!!!!!!! I was getting married last week, and as a surprise wedding gift to my husband, I wanted to have a tat done. I went to a shop here in Vancouver (who shall remain nameless) first to talk to them about doing it, and the artist was super snobby and very uninterested in what and why I wanted to have the tat I wanted done. All I can say is THANK GOD she was because that led me to Ximena!!! OK..... so I have started this review several times, and nothing is coming out the way I want it to.... so I will be short & simple! XIMENA ROCKS!!!!!!!! I wanted to have a devil/angel kitty tat done as a wedding gift for my then future husband. When I read Ximena's bio & saw her gallery, I knew she was the one I wanted to have do it and I was crossing my fingers she could squeeze me in on such short notice!!!!! Not only did she get me in for the tat, but she was genuinely excited about doing it!!!!!! When I went in to get the tat, I was a bit nervous-it has been YEARS since my last, but she put me at ease. She chatted with me the entire time she was working which also put me at ease, and the next thing I knew, she was done!!!!! AND suprise!!!! it really hadn't hurt at all!!!!!!! My tat came out exactly as I wanted it to and is beautiful!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! My husband was thrilled when he saw it too!!!!! All I can say is that she will be the ONLY tat artist I go to from now on!!!! I am going to get my husband into see her sometime in the near future and I am telling everyone I know about her as well!!!!!!!! Thanks Ximena!!!! You are truly a gifted artist and I can't wait to come in again!!!! oh yeah.... the shop itself was pretty groovy too. Clean and inviting and in a wonderful neighborhood!!!!!!!!!! read more

I got my first (and second!) tattoo here from Mark. He is an amazing tattoo artist, as well as a really nice guy. He went out of his way to make sure I got the tattoos I wanted, where and exactly how I wanted them, and was patient and kind in the process. I watched him work on strangers while we waited, and three of my friends. Each time he was professional, polite, and conscientious. The shop, overall, is clean and bright. They always play a rockin' eclectic mix of music, and the vibe is just right. I would definitely go back, and I would also highly recommend not only the shop in general, but Mark Ledford as an artist. I am grateful that I get to look at his work every single day. read more

People ask me all the time if I have tattoos (it's because of the company I keep), and if not, why not? I was comfortable with my standard answer - that I didn't know of anything I'd want on my skin permanently, but if I did, well, we'll see, who knows, perhaps. I wasn't against the idea of getting a tattoo, but I wasn't going to go out of my way to come up with anything. But then inspiration struck. Tattoo inspiration had struck occasionally before, but interest tended to fade within an hour or a day. This one was different, though. This idea stuck with me for days and somehow it just felt... right. I brought my design to Ximena (who has done amazing, amazing work on my boyfriend, which he'll yelp about soon, I hope); we discussed a few details, and we scheduled an appointment. Three weeks later, there I was. Ximena had everything set up, we determined a few more details, and she got to work. She was attentive and precise, it didn't hurt much, and the finished product is something I'm proud of. As for the shop in general... Skeleton Key is bright and clean and friendly and wonderful in every way. The artists have portfolios up front to thumb through and lots of their own art on the wall. They're all really nice and amazingly professional. Really, I could go on and on about how great Skeleton Key is, but I'll just get right to the point: Whether you're just in the abstract contemplation phase or you're actually planning out the details of getting a tattoo, come and check this place out. read more

I went in yesterday to get a tattoo of the I Heart Oregon sticker on my left foot. I already had an outline of WA state on my left foot, but was poorly done by another tattoo shop. Maki was kind enough to take the time to fix my WA state tattoo to match the OR one he had just previously done. I am so happy with his work! He was very detail oriented and always made sure to ask what I thought. I would go back there again for sure! But i probably wouldn't get 2 feet tattoos in one setting again though! Can you say ouch? :] But the outcome was amazing! I can now represent my home states proud! read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - By Maki Shindo :] - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This being my first tattoo, I was pretty nervous about finding a tattoo artist I was comfortable with and that would do good work. I decided to take a walk down here and see if I could find someone to talk to. Raven was opening up that day and she immediately put me at ease with her friendly personality and enthusiasm. I gave her a vague idea of what I wanted and she did a great job of starting to put in her own ideas to really make the tattoo come together. We set a date for me to come in to take a look at what she had drawn up and a date for the tattoo. A week later my husband and I came and I was totally impressed by what she had drawn up for me. It was way more than I could have imagined myself. From the two sessions I've had so far, I would say that all the artists here seem just wonderful. They all seem to be very talented and love what they do, and they are all extremely easy to talk to. The atmosphere in this shop is great and laid-back. I am so proud of my tattoo done by Raven and I highly recommend checking this place out if you are looking to get a tattoo done. read more

I had my tattoo done here about 2 years ago on a whim when I was visiting Portland. I did a walk-in and didn't have an appointment. Maki helped me with the tattoo font and made sure that I didn't get a tattoo too small or else it would bleed like the one on his hand. Very honest and helpful. I love my tattoo! Great job, no complaints. I would go back for touch-up, but I live too far. :( read more

Ximena was incredible. She drew up exactly what we envisioned. Made room to tattoo both my wife and me on short notice for our anniversary. Given the intricate work she tattooed us quickly. Just an overall excellent experience. Can't wait to visit her today for touch-ups and to see what she drew up for us next. read more

Levi did a great job helping me design and doing my tattoo. I'm really pleased with how it came out. read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Our first tattoo....came in for matching tattoos with my husband. We requested Ximena...she is awesome! Did exactly what we wanted! I will be coming back! read more

See all

I walked in and had a great experience! Reasonable pricing (shop min is $80) and my artist (I think his name is Levi) did a great job of dealing with my irrational fear of needles/pain and spontaneous location change. He talked through the whole thing and eased my nerves. read more

Chaz did my tattoo there at Skeleton Key. It was my first tattoo, I was very excited but also very nervous. Chaz was great at calming me down by making me laugh, explaining everything clearly and focus on other things. Not only is he kind and hilarious, he's also a very talented artist. I highly suggest this tattoo spot. read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Skeleton Key is clean and friendly. Right in front, all four artists have portfolios of their work and business cards, and there is art all over the walls. They also have first Friday events, but I have yet to go to one. I got my tattoo done by Ximena, and she was great. I stopped in with a friend who has gotten several tattoos done here and showed Ximena the design I wanted, she gave me a quote and we set up an appointment. She's very friendly and relaxed, and my tattoo turned out fantastic! She was also kind enough to quick touch up a tattoo from several years ago by another artist. I would highly recommend stopping by! *Cash only* read more

I went in today, after deciding this morning it was time to get my first tattoo. When I got there Levi helped me. I had my tattoo already drawn up by a friend and he gladly brought it down to size for me. He also informed me about alternative spots to get the tattoo that may work better with my body but when I decided to stick with my decision to get it on my side he didn't try to talk me out of it. Getting the tattoo was a breeze, it didn't hurt at all even in a spot where many find "sensitive". I was very comfortable the whole time and he informed me of what he was doing the whole time too. He kept a good conversation going that wasn't too mucho or too little. The shop itself seemed a little sketch from the outside but it was very clean on the inside. I definitely recommend read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Portland skyline tattoo by Levi - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is a good shop! Stopped in today to see if I could do a walk in, and was able to get an appointment with Levi just a bit later in the day. He did a great job with what I wanted, super clean work. Very professional guy, and very thorough. The shop itself is clean and open. I think they have very reasonable prices for a Portland shop, and from what I saw, all of the artists are very talented. Ximena is also super awesome, and was really fun to talk to when I first stopped in. Definitely would go back, and recommend these guys for sure! read more

This was my first tattoo and worked with Maki, who came up when I Googled Japanese style water color. I checked his portfolio online and really dug the color work, so decided to stop in one day. Ximena was there, totally cool, but said he was out so I came back and met him. He was a really easy guy to work with, I gave him my ideas and he took some measurements, said he'd get back to me. The shop was like an art gallery, a lot less scary than I had figured tattoo shops to be. After we agreed on the piece, we scheduled it and I was ready to roll. Figuring it was going to be painful, having listened to friends, I was psyched up for the pain, which was frankly pretty minor. The coloration was awesome, looks great, and overall it was a fantastic experience. Before I was out of the chair, 2.5 hours later, I was already figuring our what my next piece was going to be. It looks better than the drawing, which was great by itself. Maki killed it, great shop and great experience, would TOTALLY recommend to anyone. The piece is healing well 2 days later and everyone who's seen it can't believe how well it looks. SKT will see me again for more work. read more

Skeleton Key Tattoo - Shot of Maki's work, watercolor 1 day after ink - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon