Writing a review for Speakeasy is the reason I set up a Yelp account. I don't know if I could praise Patrick enough for making my first tattoo experience an amazing one. After a coworker recommended Speakeasy and Patrick, I was also informed that he has quite the waiting list. Which is also reaffirmed on the Speakeasy website. I sent Patrick an e-mail hoping he could at least recommend another artist for me. A few hours later I received word that he had an open spot due to a cancellation. I jumped at the opportunity. I first met Patrick at my consultation on a Tuesday night. I brought him a couple images I liked as inspiration and he wrote down a few vague concepts I had. After about 10 minutes he told me he'd draw something up and show me on Saturday right before I was scheduled to get the tattoo. The tattoo he had for me was absolutely beautiful. How he turned a few vague ideas into an amazing piece of art is beyond me. Patrick is extremely cool. He was nice and respectful during the whole process. I never felt uncomfortable or ignorant in the least, which is something I was worried about since it was my first tattoo. If you are willing to wait and willing to pay more than your average tattoo parlor, I would absolutely recommend Patrick. If you can't wait, try to get someone else at Speakeasy. I'm sure he surrounds himself with excellent people. If you can't pay much, save up. You get what you pay for and paying for an excellent artist like Patrick to design something for you is something you won't regret. My tattoo hasn't even totally healed and I'm already about to put myself on the waiting list to go back. read more

Amazing experience! I have been contemplating a memorial tattoo for almost six years. Luckily it didn't take that long to find Sean and Speakeasy Custom Tattoo. After speaking with Sean on the phone, we arranged for me to stop by so he could measure the area. The space was beautiful, not the typical rough around the edges tattoo joint. After measuring, I scheduled an appointment for later that week; I left feeling excited to return not the least bit apprehensive. The procedure wasn't as painful as I imagined, in fact I pretty much relaxed and listened to Coldplay on my iPod. After Sean finished and I looked at the tattoo, it was as if Sean had read my mind and saw the exact image I wanted. It's worth noting I told him the story and how I came to want the name and a sun. From there he used his creative genius and came up with the perfect tattoo. Flash forward a few days and the soreness is gone and when I look at it it makes me smile. Thank you Sean, you have an amazing presence and do beautiful work. read more

This review is a year too late. Sean Adams is the shiznit. He took his time to make sure the piece was perfect- I think I was there for 5 hours. It was so awesome to talk to him too. Such a cool guy. I couldn't be happier with my tattoo- my beloved golden retriever wearing a top hat. The shop itself is super clean and has a laid back feel to it. My experience with speakeasy was awesome from start to finish. I send all my friends and family to them. read more

PATRICK FOR LIFE! I am totally on the Speakeasy bandwagon and I have recommended ALL of my friends to come in. I have forsaken all other tattoo artists and will never EVER cheat on Patrick Cornolo again. What a dumbass I was to even think about it. Email them, get an appt, and trust me, it's SO worth the wait. My friend got a piece done by Jen while I was getting one by Patrick and was elated with my recommendation, which is good, because I could probably see big drama if I was recommending bad artists. My DAD started going to the shop about 7 years ago. He got his first piece from Patrick and I was sold and have never looked back. My dad and I will trade appts if we have to and are on regular rotation. I think Patrick has done all seven of my Dad's tats and I am currently working on a full sleeve of Cinderella, that I absolutely adore. Anyway, the point of the story is that I have never met more professional or friendly crew at a tattoo shop and really at most places. Patrick doesn't treat you like you are doing him a favor by sitting in his chair. He actually listens to what you want and will draw something amazing that no one else has even if it's something else that everyone has. I already have five more appts booked and no, I am not sharing. Get your own appt today. :) read more

First off, the shop itself has a great atmosphere and is filled with tons of great artists with phenomenal talent. I was amazed at some of the work I saw while I was there. It is no mystery why this is quickly becoming the premier shop in Chicago. If anyone is looking for the best place in Chicago to get tattooed it's here. Now to the specifics. I was tattooed by Heath Rave a few months ago and I cannot fully express how blown away I am with my tattoo. He has been nothing but professional and a lot of fun to get tattooed by. I went in today for my complementary touch-up to tighten all of the details and I could not be happier with the final result. I went to Heath with a basic idea of what I wanted, a couple pictures, and he turned it into a piece that has caused just about everyone I have shown it to, to ask where I had it done, and say things like "unbelievable," "awesome," "crazy," "legit." The lines (there are a lot) are clean and straight. And my favorite part, the part that drew me to his work, is that he is not afraid to go heavy on the black when he needs to. Not to mention, he took my idea for a tattoo that I thought could not be meshed with the tattoo I have on the other side of my back, and completely integrated the themes. I highly recommend Speakeasy and Heath specifically. If you see this Heath, thanks again man, I look forward to the next one. read more

I've been with Patrick for about 5 years, so I'm partial to his work. I've been with him since he was @ Cherrybomb with Kim Saigh. His last shop had a similar feel but wasn't as amped. This time, the atmosphere has been sized down but gussied up, polished, and spiced up with the bright green walls (Patrick's signature drafting/drawing pencil color) and a few more classy touches. Don't get me wrong, the shop still keeps its tough edge with the background metal/punk tunage that plays behind the buzzing tattoo guns and conversations. Luckily, because the shop is appointment only (or at least approaches it, I believe), most of the riff-raff goes to street-level shops for walk-in, smaller/less intricate, or flash pieces, and large-tattoo owners hit up the shops, like Patrick's, for appointment-only pieces (typically large or intricate). Also, meeting the other guys (Scott and Rodney) has been great. They're friendly and amazing artists from the work I've seen. Each of them has his own website (Patrick Cornolo--www.patrickcornolo.com, Scott Fricke --http://artworkbyscottfricke.com, and Rodney Taylor--http://www.rodneytaylorart.com). Patrick and his wife also run mosh baby clothing (www.moshbaby.net), so you can clothe your babies in cute tattoo-fashion gear. As always, their shop is clean, friendly, inviting, and safe, but call ahead to book appointments--especially Patrick (I'm partial, I know, I know). He's gaining popularity, and you might need to book well in advance if you have a difficult schedule (like me!). Look at their stuff online, see if you like the guys' styles, and call or e-mail the shop for appointment. Kelly's been helping out with the books (since they're so busy now), and she's pretty good about responding to e-mails within a day or so. Remember, you pay for cleanliness, quality, and convenience, so expect to pay typical tattoo artist (in the city) pricing. read more

I have to say all of my experiences at speakeasy have been wonderful. The shop is super clean and has a great welcoming energy. All of the artists there are incredibly nice and unbelievably talented. I can speak from first hand experience especially about Tiny and Scott. I have work from both artists and i love them. Tiny is amazing at what she does i have sent many friends to her for their work. Scott is also incredibly talented and i have referred a lot of work his way as well. I give them both 5 star reviews. If you're looking to get work done I highly recommend this shop. You are bound to find an artist that will give you your dream tattoo. read more

Whether it's your first piece or your tenth, walking into a tattoo shop can be downright intimidating. Speakeasy is the first tattoo shop I've experienced that I felt completely at ease as soon as I entered the door. The shop itself is clean, bright and cozy (not to be confused with small!). I loved the open floor plan with dividers available, if someone wanted to use them. Everyone was friendly, greeting others and showing off their works in progress. I had the pleasure of working with Andy, a very pleasant, friendly and SKILLED artist. I wanted some simple lettering done and was shockingly, not scoffed at. He assured me he loves his job and it's my body, he would tattoo whatever I wanted. I ended up with two pieces. The pain was minimal, the colors are vibrant and sitting in silence as he worked wasn't awkward in the least. I highly suggest this shop to anyone looking for a clean, reputable, friendly and welcoming tattoo shop. read more

I have heard about Patrick's work for many years and have seen it online but until I walked into to Speakeasy Tattoo studio in wicker park and saw his work in person did i understand how truly talented an artist Patrick Cornolo is. He took his time in understanding what it was i was looking for and after going over several design ideas he masterfully sketched out exactly what I was looking for to fit the contours, shape of my arm perfectly. The positioning was right on! The colors and detail within are incredible and in many years of admiring tattoos my own and others I have not come across another artist whose work is so crisp and vibrant! Definitely worth the wait! read more

Speakeasy Custom Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Get in there now! Don't walk, don't run, don't drive... Get an aeroship... Get a jet pack... Whatever it takes... Just get there FAST! Scott Fricke is amazing! Initially I sought Scott out for a cover up. He did such an amazing job (nobody can tell where the cover up is) that I've gone back for more! I'm sure everyone there is just as awesome! The shop overall is clean and sanitary. Everyone there is friendly and downright awesome! Each artist stopped by to check out my progress and chat for a few minutes during each of my visits (and there have been many!). The new(er) space is larger (spacious) and pretty damn narly! There is art on every wall and window by each of the artists. Each space has it's own style. You're made to feel comfortable and there is no shortage of good music and hilararity in conversation! read more

This was my first "real" tattoo and I did a lot of research before choosing the right artist, and finally decided on Heath Rave. I'm so glad I did!! So far it's been 3 weeks and it's healing perfectly and I've gotten loads of compliments (on what is just an outline so far), especially on the creative design. I had a loose idea of what I wanted to have done, but needed someone to put the pieces together in a cool way that fit well on my upper am. He got an drawing ready for me to look at ahead of time that I sat on for a few days and ended up going exactly with his initial drawing because it was perfect! I chose Health initially because I really liked his aesthetic style shown in his portfolio, but his personality and professionalism really sealed the deal. He responded the same day to may initial email, and all of my other correspondences, and seemed genuinely excited to work on my idea. He's also all around a really cool guy, and has great taste and music which made the tattooing pain much easier to take. Ministry and Danzig while being tattooed? Hell yes! Overall, I'm trilled with my experience and would recommend Heath in a heartbeat. Can't wait to go back and get the color filled in! read more

I cannot say enough about this place. It has amazing artists and a great atmosphere. This is not your usual tattoo shop. These guys listen to you and really work to make your tattoo something you can be proud of. They take pride in their work and really give all their effort to making this the best experience you can hope for. I was tattooed by Heath. I would recommend him time and time again. He has done amazing work with the four portraits I had done. It was great to work with someone with as much experience and knowledge as he does. He gave great advice and has a great eye for detail and really knows how to make the tattoo exactly what it should be. Heath was a great resource during my decision making process and really helped me zone in on design, detail, and coloring/shading. If I could choose only 1 tattoo shop in the city of Chicago it would be this place. The shop is awesome. Very clean, very sanitary, and very professional. It has a great "buzz" every time you walk into the shop. There are amazing artists all around completing true pieces of artwork. You will not find many places like this one. I will continually return to this shop as this will be the only place I get my tattoos from now on. If my mom was going to get a tattoo I would gladly walk her right in the front doors of this place. Speakeasy Custom Tattoo keep up all the great work! read more

I'm on session one of three planned with Patrick Cornolo and am very happy with what I've experienced so far. I really dig the relaxed vibe of the store - because my appointment was late night on a Sunday, we had the place to ourselves without much walk-in traffic interrupting the flow of things. Patrick did a great job making the tweaks I wanted in his proposed design, after taking the materials I gave him and piecing together something really wonderful. I can't say the work itself was painless, because that's just kind of part of the whole deal, but I was distracted by the good tunes and good conversation. I am looking forward to working further with Patrick as I complete my piece, and would recommend him and the shop to anyone looking to get some work done. read more

Yes, yes & yes. Just got my first piece with Sean. He took so much time to make sure that we talked through everything before we started the piece. He was so meticulous & made my first tattoo such a great experience. Not rushed at all. I really can't say enough nice things about Sean!! The piece came out EXACTLY like I wanted it to & I can't wait until it's healed and all perdy-like. The shop also has such a great vibe. Not being one to frequent tattoo shops, I felt super comfortable and not out of place by any means. The space is light, open & very welcoming. I was so impressed by all the artists and their upbeat attitudes. They were also extremely nice to people that came in for walk-in tattoos, which I think shows how inclusive they are (if that makes sense). I would recommend this shop to anyone that was thinking about getting a tattoo -- whether it's their first or 80th. My friend is even considering getting his 2nd sleeve done there. read more

Look no further than TIny at Speakeasy! What an amazing artist! Tiny has been the only person tattooing me for the past 3 years now, and my collection is growing to be more and more amazing. I constantly get stopped by people to ask who I go to, and wouldnt recommend them to anyone else besides her! I was saddened when she left Chicago, and am SO glad she is back in the city crushing out more work. Not only does she listen to every detail when youre describing your ideas, she has an uber light hand, and the conversation is also great! I'll recommend every one of my friends to Tiny to get their work done! I am nowhere near done getting tattooed and I cant wait to get my next piece from her! Tiny is Bigtime! read more

Is it possible to get TOO MANY compliments on your tattoo?? Go see Jen at Speakeasy if you want to find out! I've gotten four tattoos from Jen, and she has done AMAZING work every time! The colors that she does are perfectly bright and bold. In fact, people (including other tattoo artists!) always as me if my tattoos are brand new, even though one is over three years old now. Jen's artistry is also extraordinary. She tattooed a stunning arrow/flowers design on my forearm, and I get compliments on it literally every single day! Plus Jen is super cool, relatable, and easy to talk to -- all important things when you have to sit with someone for a few hours while they tattoo you! The Speakeasy shop itself has the best vibes out of any tattoo place I've ever been to. First and foremost, it's clean and they only use single-use, disposable supplies. Also, the decor and layout of the place makes it clear that there is an elevated level of taste here. Plus, from all interactions that I've witnessed, it's very obvious that the artists all support each other's work. Overall, it's incredibly welcoming! I highly, highly recommend Jen Trok and Speakeasy Tattoo!! read more

Havn't got work here but wen with a buddy who started his sleeve. This place is set up really cool and is a great looking shop. VERY clean, elegant, and some damn good artists. Paul did my buddies tat and we were all blown a way at just the outline. after looking through alot of the pictures of the other artist's work, i can say they definitely have some good talent there, including a really good portrait artist, i think his name is Josh Gimble. I will definitely hit this place up for my next tat. keep your eyes open, its kinda easy to miss, but its just past Piece brewing and pizza read more

Before I met Heath Rave, I didn't think I could ever love again -- at least not getting tattooed. Artists had stood me up for appointments and forced me to wait on the couch -- in one instance for two hours -- while they finished designs and set up their stations. When I finally found an artist I trusted, he promptly relocated to the west coast. Luckily, before he left, my guy set me up with Heath, and I've been happy ever since. During my initial consultation for a cover-up, I talked to Heath not only about the design I wanted, but also about my previous, disappointing experiences. I left our meeting with a clear understanding of every aspect of the upcoming session, from how long it would take us to start after I arrived, to how much cash I should bring. I even asked Heath to email me a sketch of the design several days beforehand, to make sure we were on the same page, and he happily agreed. Of course, it's the end product that matters most with tattoos, and Heath came through big. He completely covered the old tattoo with one that I'm incredibly proud of. What's more, he finished the entire half-sleeve, which is line-heavy, in only two sittings. I had thought about different elements of the tattoo for several years, but Heath's ability to bring my ideas to life blew me away. Because Heath was open to talking with me, I knew exactly what to expect heading into our session. More importantly, his work is absolutely outstanding. This week I'm headed back into Speakeasy for my second -- but certainly not last -- tattoo with Heath. read more

This was my first tattoo, and I couldn't have been happier with the experience. I went to Jen Trok, and she is incredible. I emailed her with my ideas, a few photos of what I was thinking of, and we set up a time for a consultation a few weeks later. Going in for the tattoo, I was a bit nervous, but she was extremely professional and made the experience easy. My tattoo turned out better than I dreamed, and I get complements daily on it! When people ask where and who I went to for my art, I don't hesitate to recommend. read more

Speakeasy Custom Tattoo - Blueberry branch chest tattoo by Jen Trok, July 2015 - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can make this very short and sweet. I will go no place else for work but Speakeasy and I will wait the months it takes to get the appointment with Patrick. Aside from being an excellent artist that seems to really get the vision you put out there, he's a very nice, very likeable person - pretty important when you are sitting face to face with no place to go for a few hours. My first piece with him was a very small engagement ring tattoo in the shape of a tree. Twelve years in and there is no bleed, no sag, no weirdness. It still looks great, and this is a spot that can really be touch and go. My second, larger piece was a cover-up of a very hideous tattoo from a schlock shop. I can't even begin to tell you how I felt during the process. He turned something that was a tremendous embarrassment for me into an impressive piece of art. My third piece was a very old-fashioned looking glass on my arm. It looks very realistic and has held up well over time. Patrick is now working on my fourth piece. I had this idea, but his execution of it is just perfection. Just amazing. Every time, he has taken my idea and then made it 10x better. His new shop is great. I remember the small, hot pink Cherry Bomb shop from years ago, and then even the second, larger place. This larger space has managed to keep that small shop intimate feel while growing to meet the demand. I'm kind of delighted to see how things have grown over the years, as it is well-deserved recognition of great work. There are a lot of great artists doing work in Chicago. Patrick is one of them. Highly recommended! read more

This is certainly an endeavor that you do not want to undertake before taking all necessary precautions and making sure the tattoo is perfect for you. This place removes all doubt anyone who wants a tattoo may have going into it. This was my first one and they made it so easy, calming and were able to reassure any doubts a first timer may have. Very clean. Very talented. Great shop. read more

I got my first tattoo by Josh Grable here! It is amazing just as all his work is and I couldn't be happier with it! Its amazing!!!! I love this shop and the atmosphere and its so clean and they care! He went through everything I needed to know and made me so comfortable I wasn't nervous one bit! Love this shop! Highly recommend it and it may be my only shop! read more

Speakeasy Custom Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are looking for some custom ink in the city of Chicago this is the place to go! It's not your run of the mill, generic flash on the wall type of shop!!!! These are real artists, with incredible talent. Both my husband and I have pieces done by Scott Fricke who does world class work and has a world class attitude! read more

Another visit and I continue to love the work and service I get from Crystal Martinez, a truly gifted artist of Speak Easy Custom Tattoo. I just wish I could capture a better image that better represents the color. read more

Speakeasy Custom Tattoo - My customized mommy/baby owl - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Let me start by saying Jennifer Trok is amazing. Great approach to design, kind and welcoming, and knows how to handle her equipment like a boss! She did a custom piece for my arm and I've never felt so comfortable and happy with the whole process. The drawing she did was gorgeous. It was one of those "that's what I was hoping for but couldn't explain" moments. On the tattooing end, I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to needles, but she worked through the process carefully and methodically. The whole thing was a perfect blend of professionalism and just general down-to-earth friendliness. I highly recommend her and her work. It took me a long time to find a Tattoo studio with people that I trusted enough to put something on my skin permanently. I'm a designer and while not a tattoo artist in any right, I am incredibly picky about visual images. After a good year of searching, I came across Speakeasy. Now, most of my favorite tattoo artists from Chicago are working here. The place has a great vibe to it as well. It's clean and well kept, but also pleasant to be in. The artists all seem like great people and they have a nice variety of approaches to their work. I wouldn't hesitate to come back for the next one. read more

I started getting ink done while living in Denver, CO - so when I moved to Chicago, I knew I was going to have to find an artist as soon as possible - as I wanted to finish up my sleeve. Luckily, I work in the Wicker Park neighborhood, so Speakeasy was recommended to me by coworkers. The space itself is open, beautiful, and come on...they have a jar of candy always filled. SCORE! Speakeasy does not disappoint, but the main focus of my review is for Tine, the artist I see regularly. She's beyond talented, beyond nice, and basically just beyond awesome. I recommend her to every single person that inquires about where I've gotten my ink. Every time I look my tattoos, I'm continually in awe of how beautiful they are, and it's simply a testament to her work and her ability. I. Freaking. Love. Her. and I love Speakeasy! PS - No but seriously, the candy jar is ALWAYS filled! :) read more

Love it! Very rad & large space. Super relaxed environment & artists. Not snobby one single bit, which is VERY hard to find. Manos tattooed me and will be tattooing me again very soon. They also sell the cutest baby & kids shirts! :) read more

Great tattoo shop with a friendly staff and extremely talented artists. I have been tattooed here twice and could not be more pleased with both pieces. I was most recently tattooed by Adam Fox who did an incredible piece of my cat and dog. He took the ideas I had and put them together beautifully. No matter what style of tattoo you are looking for there is an artist at speakeasy who can get the job done. Staff is always courteous and friendly. Not a street shop, plan to make an appt. All of the artists do their own booking. The area where the shop is can be busy so leave yourself a little extra time to park on the weekends. Plenty of metered parking on the streets. The ParkChicago app is a great tool to avoid having to run out and feed the meter if your in for a long session. Would recommend Speakeasy to anyone I know looking for a new piece of body art. read more

Ashley Wollaston exceeded all of my expectations, and I couldn't be happier with the piece that she created for me. As discussed at our intial consult, Ashley shared her sketch with me before my first sitting. Then, she spent over two hours of her own time on the afternoon of my first appointment customizing the design with me. Her insight and experience was invaluable in molding the intial concept into an outline that resulted in a stunning tattoo. Ashley was extremely professional and a pleasure to deal with from the first email interaction through the final sitting, ensuring that I was 100% happy with the bespoke, final design before putting ink to skin. She completed this piece over two sessions, and the end result is amazing. She is a gifted artist, dedicated to her craft and clients, and I am really looking forward to engaging Ashley to create my next tattoo. read more

Sean Adams gave me my first tattoo. It was my deceased brothers signature, so it was very important to me to get it right. He was patient and explained everything to me in detail. I felt comfortable getting my first tattoo. Thanks Sean. read more

Best tattoo experience ever! Jen Trok drew up an amazing tattoo for me from my ideas- and it by far exceeded any of my hopes! All Of the staff was friendly- the decor is beautiful- and I will not only be back- but won't be going anywhere else! read more

Despite reading Summer S's review of Heath, I decided to keep my appointment with him a week ago because of the 50 other reviews, all glowing, of his work. And I'm glad I did. I went in to meet with Heath for the first visible-in-a-t-shirt tattoo with a relatively vague way of explaining what I wanted. I had E-mailed him two pictures of the general idea (a map) and said I wanted the map done in a feminine-story-book type of drawing/etching way. I had a really specific idea in mind but no way to explain But it didn't matter. Heath drew out EXACTLY what I had in my head, and then kept sketching to be sure it was exactly right. He placed the tattoo according to my specifications and got to work. During the tattoo, our conversation was as easy as it would have been between two old friends. Once I was finished, he charged me less than the quote. He even told me if that the tattoo color in the tattoo faded funny once it healed, he'd touch it up for free. Then he E-mailed me a few days later to check on how I was doing. I am completely happy with the tattoo as it stands now but will likely be adding to it - with Heath. I'm sorry that Summer S didn't have the experience I did... It's hard to believe we had the same artist based on our two starkly different experiences. Each time a friend sees the new tattoo, their remark is "That is so you." How Heath was able to extricate a feminine map of Boston bay from my contrasting pictures and nervous babbling about styles, I'll never know. But he totally did. Five stars. read more

Just finished getting my second tattoo from Sean Adams. He might be one of the friendliest and easy going people I have ever met. After completing a walk in tattoo of a black cat that was quick and nearly painless, I decided to go back to him when I wanted a picture of my first dog. I had a couple of pictures to choose from and Sean agreed with me that the one I selected would be the best fit for my tattoo. This tattoo happened on a sunday and my girlfriend and i along with Sean and the owner of the shop were the only people there that day. After we selected the best picture he spent a long time perfecting and sketching out the highlights and low-lights of the photo. The thing I like most about Sean is his willingness to explain every aspect of the tattoo process which made the time fly bye. The shop mainly works by appointments only and from working with Sean twice now he has been super professional and prompt in responding to my emails. If you're looking to get anything that involves animals or color then check out Sean because he will not disappoint. read more

I give out 5 star reviews a bit liberally, as i am a hate it or love it type of person, but this 5 star rating is well-deserved. I went to Speakeasy to get my one and only tattoo done last February/April from Sean Adams [who I am not sure is there anymore :( ] and upon my initial visit, i was impressed by the staff (especially Sean) and how beautiful the shop was. It was by appointment only and had wonderful reviews on various websites, so I decided to come here and talk to Sean. He walked me through the whole process, which was quite intimidating for what I wanted, the price, and the fact it was my first tattoo. Sean laid it all out for me and collaborated with my ideas to create something unique that I could sort of visualize, but could not produce. He ran with my idea and I loved his sketch/watercolor. I had two total sessions and also a touch up appointment, all with Sean, who was calm, professional and had a sense of humor that worked with mine, making the two 8 hour sessions much more bearable (we were on a mission to finish this thing!) Sean was accommodating, though hard to get an appointment with, a I hear many of the artists can be since they are so highly regarded. Funny note, Sean estimated the total time for the tattoo to be about 4-5 hours, but that turned out to not be the case due to the amount of effort and detail the young man put in. The session was $150 an hour and my first session lasted 8 (150x8=$1200) whcih would have bankrupt my poor ass at the time. So after the session ended (which was about 8-9 stright hours, till like 1:30am), Sean told me that since his time estimate was way off and that he really like the tattoo, he would do the whole thing (17x8=$2550!!!) for the original price of $600 which was a relief and super generous for a dude putting in a lot of work. I had my second session and finished the beast and couldn't have been happier. the touch up made it perfect. Will be returning once I decide on another new one. read more

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Ashley Wollaston is awesome sauce!!!!!!! I originally wrote the first sentence in all caps but yelp doesn't like yelling... Seriously though Ashley Wollaston is a brilliant artist and I highly recommend her! I emailed her to make an appointment, she was quick to reply. Ashley sent me a detailed email about the shop, her rates and schedule. Ashley was very accommodating and professional. I sent her a few pics along with a brief description of what I had in mind. When I came in and saw the drawing I was so excited because it was exactly what I had in mind! Ashley is extremely talented and is able to take an idea and bring it to life. She's so chill, easy to talk to and patient this made the session really fun and relaxing. She has impeccable attention to detail and really took her time to make sure my tattoo was perfect. I was blown away when I saw the final piece!!! Her passion for tattooing really shows through in her work. I can't wait to book my next appointment with her! read more

Speakeasy Custom Tattoo - This shop is not only loaded with talented Artists it's also one of the best looking shops I've ever been in. So much character! - Tattoo Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ashley Wollaston is an outstanding tattoo artist. Such a great talent and very professional. I highly recommend Ashley and this shop. The shop is very clean and nice atmosphere. read more

Ashley Wollaston put crocus flowers on my bicep several years ago. We scheduled the consult several weeks from the tattoo appointment, and I presented her with a sketch that she beautifully cleaned up and then artfully applied to me. It healed beautifully. I did not receive artwork for the piece until the night before, but as I understand a tattoo to be a lifelong commitment, I really took my time going through the portfolios of several artists to get a feel for what my tattoo would look like based upon the personal flair that each artist adds to their work. I fell in love with Ashley's flowers, and she absolutely did not disappoint in any way. read more

I'm not quite sure what took me so long to write a review! Patrick has been tattooing me since 1995 - from a small 1" x 1" tattoo to a lower leg sleeve we just started, and everything in between. The quality of his tattoos is incredible - from his ideas, to placement, to execution. Patrick manages to take what I have in my head and makes a piece that is exactly what I was thinking time and time again. For my new leg sleeve I handed him a thumb drive with pictures of my mom's garden and let him choose what to use - it is coming out incredibly beautiful! I've had my ribs, sternum and shin tattooed and none were as painful as I anticipated which I think speaks to his technique. He makes you feel comfortable during your session. If you feel like chatting he will chat, and if you don't want to talk he stays quiet. But I suggest talking to him - he's a pretty funny guy. If you're looking for that loud, walk-in focused, flash on the wall shop, this isn't it. As soon as you walk up the stairs and hear the machines buzzing, you enter a very relaxing atmosphere. The open floor plan is artistic and inviting and the shop is meticulously clean. The music playing can vary from Sinatra to Depeche Mode to Fugazi. Over the years I've sent many friends to Patrick. Right now, he does have about a 6 month waiting list but it's soooo worth the wait! Some friends recently haven't wanted to wait and have been tattooed by other artists at the shop and all have been very happy with the work. My friends are now referring other friends to the shop - I love it! I can't recommend Speakeasy enough! If you're on the fence about getting a tattoo here, get the hell off it and get in touch with one of the artists!! read more

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This was my first time booking an appointment at this tattoo shop and all I have to say is it was such an amazing experience! I was greeted politely and offered a beverage and something to eat while I waited for my tattoo artist. Gady did such an amazing job with great precision to all the small details. He incorporated everything that I asked and added his own twist to it. Overall I felt comfortable and welcomed that I will definitely be going back. read more

My boyfriend (now fiancé) and I went to Chicago for our anniversary in February. We had talked about getting tattoos for our engagement, and thinking this would be the perfect occasion, I did some research on the Chicago tattoo scene. I emailed pretty much all the 4 & 5 star rated shops to get info on matching Claddagh tattoos on our fingers. A couple of the other shops politely refused, explaining the difficulties with finger tattoos and small designs. Other shops just ignored me or just flat out called it a bad idea. Speakeasy, however, was positive and professional from the beginning. Right off the bat I got a customer service reply letting me know that they wanted to help out, and they would pass the idea around the artists to see who could do it. Within a day I was put in touch with Tine Defiore, who was super polite and enthusiastic from the start. She sounded confident that she could make the idea work and was able to work with our vacation schedule. When we arrived at the shop, we found it was super clean and really comfortable. Everyone was really friendly, especially Tine, and the people there seemed excited to be part of our engagement. Tine showed us what she had sketched out for us, we made one little addition, and got right to it. Tine's detail work is incredible (check out her portfolio) and we ended up with really beautiful intricate tattoos. It was an awesome way to get engaged, our tattoos healed up wonderfully, and we will never forget our trip to Speakeasy! read more