Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones jr.

Anyone who knows Will knows he’s a boxing fan. A boxer in his youth, Will found the characters of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson fascinating. With the upcoming exhibition match between Iron Mike and Roy Jones, Will has decided to offer two free portraits to one lucky fan of each fighter. To enter, you need to follow our Instagram; share the post about the free tattoo drawing; and comment on the post which fighter you would like a tattoo of. You must be available to get tattooed on Wednesday, Oct. 28th and/or Wednesday, Nov. 4th to win. Entrants IG names will be put into a hat and the winners will be drawn this Saturday, Oct. 24th at 4pm. If we can not reach you via IG message by 6pm, we will draw another name. If you would like to message us your phone number and/or email on IG we will try to call and email you before we move on. Good luck!

Update:

After the killing of George Floyd and subsequent and ongoing upheaval regarding policing in particular and race relations in general, we saw fit to re-post our policy about not doing Confederate imagery tattoos. It’s times like these when people start to come out of the woodwork so to speak and emblazon their beliefs on their skin, sometime to their detriment. We want no part of that. We pride ourselves on conscientious tattooing and while we seek to not judge our clientele and the wide array of beliefs they exhibit, there are just some things we don’t want to participate in.

That being said, we’ve had our previous post up since June 30th and in the last 6 weeks we’ve had more people come into the shop asking for Confederate flag tattoos than have in the last two years. It’s no coincidence. It takes a special kind of ignorance to wind up being called a racist and a race traitor in the same week, but the same day?!? Come on! That must be some kind of record.

To reiterate: We will not put imagery related to gangs, racist ideology, hateful images, boyfriend/girlfriends’ names, or anything else we as a group or a particular artist finds objectionable. We’re cool, and we want you to be cool too, but if you’re not, don’t expect us to be.

That being said. We understand a lot of people don’t feel that the rebel flag is a racist image. We understand, we just don’t agree. Certainly, in years to come, that symbol will become even more synonymous with bigotry and since tattoos are a lifelong commitment, we would not want to saddle any of our beloved clients with that kind of long-term burden. We hope you understand. If you don’t that’s okay too, but we’re still not doing any Confederate flag tattoos.

The Joker

Joaquin Phoenix won an Academy Award for Best Actor with his portrayal of failed comedian Arthur Fleck in The Joker. Visceral and disturbing, Phoenix’s performance seethed with a intensity that grabs at your gut. The message is clear and disheartening: We’re all only one bad day from insanity. Michael Douglas in Falling Down; Robert De Niro in Cape Fear; Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers; and now Joaquin Phoenix in The Joker, a masterpiece of cinematic psychoses! Call 615 784-4500 to schedule your appointment today!

This is the first session on this color portrait by Will Wood.

Now accepting Piercing Appointments!

We are now accepting appointments to do piercings. in order to observe the most reasonable balance of social distancing and commerce, we will be scheduling piercing appointments at 30 minute intervals, starting at noon daily. Clients will need to call the shop at 615 784-4500 and pay for the piercing over the phone in order to get an appointment. We do this to reduce the number of people who may waste our time and yours. Once the appointment is set, the client need only bring their appropriate identification paperwork (Driver’s license; or the extra documentation needed for minor piercings), get your new piercing, and you’re done!

We ask that all piercing clients please bring their own masks and wear them while in the shop, until our piercer dons their face shields. We appreciate your patience and cooperation while we work diligently to serve you during this time of heightened risk.

So, call Lighthouse Tattoo today to schedule your piercing appointment! We look forward to serving you!

The best vehicles for Social Distancing are Motorcycles!

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It should be obvious by now, someone up there wants you to buy a bike. Two wheels of social distancing fury! Motorcycles are better than cars for more ways than dogs are better than cats (fight, fight!) but one more way that they’re better is they tend to make better tattoos! Mostly because you can see the engine, which adds a ton of detail and that can make a piece all the more interesting to look at. This is by far the largest, and one of the very best motorcycle tattoos we’ve seen. Call Lighthouse Tattoo to leave your deposit an schedule your appointment today at 615-784-4500 or email us at info@lighthousetattoo.net

Re-Opening Plans, We Think.

Governor Lee has seen fit to lift the ban on close-contact professions conducting business as of May 6th. While we respect the practical nature of this decision, we also understand the threat it poses to the public health and we must acknowledge that this choice has been made for many of us out of necessity. It’s not the safest choice, but the alternative for many people is forced poverty. So wish us all in close-contact businesses luck!

To insure that we have enough protective equipment for our artists and clients, we will not be opening until May 15th. Our procedures will be as follows:

1. We will not be offering piercing for the foreseeable future, once we do, it will be by appointment only. Feel free to call to book your appointment or stay tuned to this website for updates.

2. We will only allow the person getting tattooed into the building. Upon entering, you will be directed to wash your hands and don a pair of gloves and a mask. We ask that you either leave your phone at home, in your car, or in your purse/pocket, we have ordered a UV sterilizer for telephones but it is on back order and phones are dirty people, so please use some restraint with them.

3. If your appointment is not the first one of the day, we ask that you remain outside until the previous appointment is complete. Please call once you have arrived and we will let you know when to come in.

4. Common Sense: If you don’t feel well or suspect you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please reschedule your appointment.

5. Tattoos will be performed on an appointment-only basis. We will not be letting people into the shop for any other reason. No questions, no consultations, no exceptions. Please resort to phone calls or emails to correspond with us regarding your interest in getting tattooed.

The next few weeks will be pretty tentative, but we will persevere. We want to go ahead and express our humble thanks to all of our loyal clients who have stood by us during this difficult time and are ready to ride it out with us, we love you all, please stay safe

Thinking Ahead to Summer

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about your "summer look", but body piercings and tattoos are a great way of showing off who you are and what you are all about, and with more swimsuits and even more sun, summer is the prime time to show off that uniqueness. Getting an early start on a piercing or tattoo before you bust out that summer bod that you have studiously been working on (and definitely not been putting it off till "next year") can be a great idea.

Starting off with healing, ultimately the most important part of any new piercing or tattoo and you wouldn't want that getting in the way of your spring and summer plans. The main hold up on your plans being NO SWIMMING!!!! While healing you cannot be out in the water for 4-6 weeks for piercings, and at least 2 weeks for tattoos, really killing the whole point of summer! So getting that Naval, Nose piercing, or sweet new tatty now will allow you to kick back on the beach this summer without a single worry of getting your fancy new art or jewelry infected or otherwise harmed.

Next is the look of healing, anyone who's familiar with piercings will tell you that they tend to get red, swollen, and even getting those infamous crusties on your jewelry. Along with tattoos having the tendency to peal and flake and always look the best once you get all that out of the way. Though all of that is just your bodies way of healing and is completely natural, it doesn't always match with your outfit. Getting all that flaking and redness gone well before you're getting out on the lake, can make it all the better. Along with no longer having to deal with the soreness of a fresh piercing or tattoo as you stay active with summer plans, you can get all the nitty-gritty of healing out of the way while we're all cooped up in our well-heated houses hiding from the cold.

Last, and this mainly goes for the piercing audience, customization! Who wants to be walking around rocking the same jewelry as everyone else? During the healing process you got to keep the jewelry you got pierced with in to promote a better heal, and though we don't use anything ugly, we keep the jewelry simple here. So by the time you're out there swimming, boating, or just tanning in the sand you can be putting in whatever colors or styles you like and really pull your summer look together with some nice looking jewelry.

So what you waiting for? Come in and show us what your wanting to get and we can get you a quote and an appointment to come in and get you that work done and you may even be surprised at just how affordable that may be.

As of February 1, 2020, prices for piercings will be changing.

All single-hole, above-the-waist piercings are now $30.  Dermal anchors are $40. All prices include the initial piercing jewelry. 

WE WILL HAVE A PIERCER ON SUNDAYS NOW!

Minors must bring a parent or legal guardian and both the child and parent or guardian must bring a state-issued, photo ID, as well as a birth certificate (as documentation proving the relationship of the parent/guardian) in order to get pierced. The last name (and address if using an ID) of the child must match the last name (and address if using an ID) of the parent, or a divorce decree/marriage certificate must be included (in order to explain the name discrepancy).  If the minor does not have a state issued ID we will also need some form of photo identification corresponding to the child's name i.e. a yearbook photo with their name or and ident-a-kid card, in addition to the other materials listed above.  

We will pierce children’s ears of any age as long as they can sit still and not cry (too much).  We recommend very small children (under 7 or so), go to the Gallatin Children’s Clinic for ear piercings, they are better equipped for children so young.  

New Hours

Lighthouse Tattoo

New Hours!

12pm to 10pm

Wednesday through Sunday. 

Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Yes we are open on Sunday’s now!!

Updated business hours

Lighthouse Tattoo is changing our hours of operation. 

We will be open:

12pm to 10pm

Wednesday through Sunday. 

Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Yes we are open on Sunday’s now!!

Stop on by and let us know how we can assist you with your next piece of body art!!

Closed on Saturday, December 7th

Lighthouse Tattoo will be closed on Saturday, December 7th for our annual shop Christmas party. We will re-open for our normal business hours on Tuesday, December 10th.

Happy Thanksgiving

We will be closed 11/28 & 11/29 to spend time with our loved ones. We will resume regular business hours on 11/30. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

I, Zombie

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This is the result of some 6 plus hours of work that Will did on fellow tattooer Buck Wayne. This was performed during the now-legendary heat of the Pit Row Tattoo Expo. We enjoyed our time in the infield of the Atlanta Motor Speedway and are proud of our accomplishments there, including this visceral, detailed piece. Are you a fan of the Walking Dead? Zombieland? Bill Murray? Come on in to Lighthouse Tattoo and let us realize that fandom in permanent art! Simply visit the shop at 328 North Cumberland St or call 615 784-4500. Long distance inquiries can reach us by sending an email to info@lighthousetattoo.net We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Veiled Screamer

For those of you who don’t know, our beloved Tasha got tattooed a couple of months ago while we were at the Lenoir, North Carolina Tattoo Expo. It’s a small show of hand-picked artists, by-invitation-only. We were lucky enough to get the invite, so we made the trip and boy, was it a doozy! It read like a who’s who of tattooing: legends like Tony Olivas of Sacred Heart and Joe Capobianco of Hope Gallery; powerhouse artists such as Dave Tevenal (who tattooed Karen a few years ago, he’s arguably her tattoo idol) and Jime Litwalk (maybe the nicest guy ever); we also met David Jorquera, John Ronkza, and Lefty Colbert; if you don’t know these guys do yourself a favor and Google them! We brought home an award for best portrait (the trophy was made from an old whiskey barrel, how cool!) and we hung out with some great friends like Kris King and George Patrick of From the Cradle and To the Grave Tattoo respectively.

George took the time to tattoo Will, and Will took the time to tattoo Tasha! The screaming sculpture you see above is the cell phone photo we took of the tattoo the day it was done, we post healed pics whenever we can nail Tasha down long enough to get her to pose for a photo!

All in all is was a great time (and beautiful drive, wow those mountains!) and we look forward to going back next year! Anyone interested in tagging along with us to get tattooed just let us know, we’ll cover the travel and lodging if you buy the tattoo! Stay tuned LighthouseTattoo.net for upcoming show dates as we build next year’s convention schedule!

Psycho Killer

With upcoming films about Ted Bundy and H. H.. Holmes, popular culture has found itself smitten with the macabre. Stories about psycho killers have always thrilled, but with the release of the new Halloween movie and the success of serial dramas such as Dexter and the more recent American Horror Story, it seems the nation’s taste for the dark and dubious has been piqued.

At Lighthouse Tattoo we are committed to those who should be committed! We tend to prefer the allure of more fantastic horror film stars, like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees, or even the Leatherface seen below, but we understand the impact even real world psychos have had on the American imagination. Elisabeth Bathory, Lizzie Borden, Jack the Ripper have all drawn interest from antiquity. Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, and Jeffrey Dahmer have all inspired motion pictures in modern times, even giving birth to the creation of characters like Hannibal Lecter and the aforementioned Leatherface of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs fame.

People have always had a fascination with serial killers, if not with their deeds, than with their tactics or motivation. It would seem more odd if it weren’t for the overwhelming interest so many of us have for these deranged individuals.

Interested in satisfying your fascination with serial killers or horror movie villains? Swing by Lighthouse Tattoo for a consultation anytime between the hours of noon and 10pm , Tuesday through Saturday or call 615 784-4500 to leave your deposit over the phone!

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Leatherface

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Horror movies, if you don’t like them we can’t be friends. I mean really? How hard is it to derive enjoyment from the rush of adrenaline felt by being scared? The entire Halloween season is built on this feeling of chaos and powerlessness. It preys on our ego to juxtapose ourselves into the situations faced by a group of hapless teenagers at camp, or some survivor of an urban legend, how might we have fared in the same situation? Regardless, the campy gore and inventive ways of dying have become part and parcel of an entire film genre, and who are we to argue with that? Come on, horror movies are a guilty pleasure, just like tattoos, so indulge, live a little, you might actually catch yourself having a good time!

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Pit Row Awards!

It’s common knowledge that Lighthouse Tattoo likes to participate in the greater tattoo industry by attending tattoo conventions across the nation (and world!). This year we have only done a few shows due to the increase in our local schedules, but we remain committed to exhibiting our wares so that our clients can take pride in the fact that they are getting work from one of the premier tattoo establishments in the region. Say what you will about competition, some folks think it doesn’t matter, others will tell you its rigged or make some other excuse for not competing; Lighthouse Tattoo will compete and we have a habit of winning. As evidenced by the couple of trophies pictured here, one for a Portrait of Harry Potter on Will’s daughter Christa (he still feels weird that she’s old enough to get tattooed), and for Best Sleeve on our good buddy Ryan. We didn’t take a lot of people or enter many contests, so it’s good to be able to win something in a group of some of the best artists we’ve had the privilege of competing against.

The real reward isn’t in the trophies though. It’s in the artwork and the people we put it on. The real reward is the relationships we develop with our clients and the lasting mark we leave on their lives. We couldn’t be more proud of our loyal clientele, their dedication to the art form, the time and discomfort they sacrifice to be able to carry the best tattoo art they can find into the world. We are honored and humbled by each of you. We thank you and love you. We at Lighthouse Tattoo will continue to strive to improve our abilities and our services so that we never let you down, Sincerely, ~The Lighthouse Tattoo family.

Pit Row Expo

We are Going to Atlanta for the First Ever Pit Row Expo presented by The Marked Society. This is going to be a super cool show and we are super excited to be attending.

We are super excited to be attending this event! This Exposition will be held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and will offer more than just awesome tattoos. There will be a car and bike show, a corn hole tournament with a guaranteed pot of $1500.00 going to the winner, live music from artists such Carnival of Crue, Nightrain International and The Casket Creatures, and last but not least, Horror celebrities including Captain and Maybelle, Bill Moseley, Michael Berryman and Michael Berryman just to name a few.

Will and Tasha will be among almost 100 artists tattooing at this convention and we are eager to follow their journey throughout the weekend. There is never a dull moment when those two are involved so aside from producing some killer tattoos, we know fun will be had!!

We are also eager to see if they enter any contests (which they usually do) and see what they win (because once again, they usually bring home an award - or two- and sometimes, even armloads full). Contest Categories for the Pit Row Expo include:

- Best of Show -  Best of Day - Best Traditional -

-Best Small/Medium Black & Grey -

- Best Large Black & Grey - Best Small  & Medium Color - Best Large Color -

- Best Automotive /Hot Rod Theme - Best Sleeve Arm or Leg - Best Chest/Back -

This will be a crazy week as we are gearing up for the trip. If you are in the Atlanta area, give us a shout! We would love to see you there!!

More information regarding the Pit Row Expo can be found at PitRowExpo.com

We Will Be Closing Early Tuesday

Lighthouse Tattoo will be closed from 5:00 - 10:00 pm on Tuesday, October 1st. We will re-open for regular business hours on Wednesday, October 2nd at noon.