Wyatt Earp

This is a poor cellphone photo of a really fun tattoo that our artist Will Wood performed while doing an out-of-town guest spot. We’ll be sure to get you a healed photo ASAP.

Tombstone is a singularly great stylized western film starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, depicting the Texas law man and the historic gunfight with the Cowboys at the OK Corral. Decades later and people still love the film, so much so, that another Wyatt Earp film starring Kevin Costner has been completely overshadowed. To his credit, Russell’s performance didn’t wither when compared to a uniquely great portrayal of John ‘Doc’ Holliday by the late Val Kilmer. We love the movie, we love the tattoo, we hope you do too!

Greek Mythology Leg Sleeve WIP

We’re not sure if you can tell from the photo, but this tattoo is an ankle-to-knee monster. This WIP (Work-In-Progress) is going on one of our favorite and most prolific clients. What can we say, we love the guy. After two full sleeves and full torso of work from our awarding-winning realism artist (and the fucking best around) Will Wood, he’s finally moving on to his legs.

This piece, in keeping with a Greco-Roman mythology theme, is based on the story of the Gorgon Medusa, one of the most favored stories completing with the likes of the Labors of Hercules and the stories of Perseus. We wanted to give you a little taste, rest assured we’ll be keeping you updated on this magnificent body of work!

Tiny Tattoo Tuesdays

With the increased costs of medical supplies since Covid and the corresponding jump in inflation, the price of tattooing has continued to rise at a time when wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living. That giant sucking sound your bank account makes every time you go to pay rent is a stark reminder of that. The average home price in the U.S. has risen 45-50% in the last four years. Simply put, if your pay hasn’t doubled in the same time frame, you’re fucked. We think that’s wrong.

So here’s what we’re doing about it: To coincide with our on-going $300 for 5 hour sessions, on TUESDAYS of the next couple of weeks, Lighthouse Tattoo will be offering tiny tattoos at half-price, even below our normal minimum.

Normally we have an $80 minimum to cover our expenses, but a lot of you have come in asking for really small pieces and at times we’ve gone below our base price to take care of you, but we need to concentrate those small pieces into a single day in order to make it cost-effective for us. This should make the practice sustainable and thus, you can get tiny tattoo for as little as $40. We think this is the lowest price for any tattoo anywhere within miles.

What’s a tiny tattoo you ask? Some examples of recent requests: A single-line cross on a wrist, a little, single-lined red heart, ‘let them’ in single-line cursive, a linework butterfly/angel wings/sun/moon. We’re not trying to get rich doing these tattoos, we feel that they are as legitimate as any other tattoo requests, and we think it’s not fair to force people to pay that minimum is we can help it. With your help, we can change the way things are done.

So call us now and set up your appointment to get your tiny tattoo starting this Tuesday, September 17th! We look forward to seeing you!

An Update

A few weeks ago, in an attempt to combat a ferocious economy and offer some relief to the tattoo crowd, Lighthouse Tattoo started a sale of $300 for a 5-hour session. We told you we would continue this sale as long as heavy participation allowed us to remain profitable and to your credit, it’s been a fine success. With this is mind, we will be continuing the $300/5hr sale for the month of September. Please remember that we need your active participation to keep this sale alive, so get that tattoo you’ve been waiting for, share this post with your friends, and live a little in a world that seems so intent on keeping us all down!

Guard Your Heart, WIP

Breakups are never easy, even when they’re necessary. When your ex is so screwed up they decide to take you with them into some rabbit hole to Hell, well that’s a trope we’re all too familiar with. The psycho ex is the thing of high Hollywood drama, after all. That combination of Fatal Attraction and Pacific Heights where it seems that same ex has nothing better to do than try to destroy your life? well that’s the inspiration for this tattoo.

Guard Your Heart is about the evil that our lost loves can render upon us once our apparent usefulness has come to an end. Far too many of us know this feeling. The stalker, the midnight caller, the cyber vigilante dm’ing your every new prospectful lover, someone who refuses to relinquish a codependency they’d grown all too accustomed to.

That’s the road to Hell they say is paved with good intentions. Staying in a relationship for fear of retaliation is a pretty damn good sign to get out of it in the first place, but all too many folks stick around out of a pronounced sense of responsibility for their partner, dysfunctional though the relationship may be.

So, kids, remember to guard your heart. You’ll be happy you did.

Praying Hands and Dove Tattoo

Prayer is something a lot of people have gotten away from. Maybe they feel like it’s pointless, maybe they think they just don’t have the time. Still other’s will say God’s not listening.

Then those same people will wonder why things don’t go their way.

Look, I’m not saying that people who pray get everything they want but I WILL tell you this: The mindset of a prayerful person lends them to a sense of awe and gratitude that will serve them far better than anything a nihilist worldview has to offer. Prayer isn’t begging, it isn’t asking for favors, it’s a conscious display of faith; a way of communing with a higher power; and a way of reminding ourselves of what’s really important in our lives, a centering exercise that even the most jaded could benefit from. That’s the Truth.

So maybe give it a shot. It can start with something as little as taking the time to get your thoughts together before beginning a hectic day, or a few minutes spent re-grouping after lunch, a simple practice of mindfulness. It can become the thing that holds you together in the darkest of times.

Let us pray.

Realistic Lion Tattoo

This large realistic lion thigh piece was performed by artist Will Wood in a single 7 hour session. It’s large and delicately detailed, without seeming bulky or dark, striking a wonderful balance of beauty and power. We’ll post some healed photos soon!

Dragon Backpiece WIP

What can we say, except it’s a giant fantasy-style dragon backpiece tattoo that we’re working on? I mean, that kinda covers it.

This is the result of the second session and we hope it gives you some insight into how larger pieces like this are executed. We’ll be posting regular updates on this piece over the coming weeks as Will begins revving up his winter larger-scale tattoo projects. Why start your large-scale projects in the fall, you ask? So they can be completed in time for Spring without hindering your outdoor activities like swimming or boating. Some folks just can’t wait, like this young lady, and we’re happy to accommodate, but it’s best to do the lion’s share (or in this case, dragon’s share) of the work when the sun is lower on the horizon.

Xenomorph WIP

WIP simply means Work-In-Progress. While this piece may look finished to many, there’s still more to do involving adding highlights and backgrounds. Due to the sensitive nature of the placement of this tattoo on the inner bicep, Will chose to break this piece into 2 sessions to keep his client alive. You see, at Lighthouse Tattoo, we only accept clients who are currently living.

Jokes aside, pain management is a very real part of the process when it comes to tattoo and it’s something we take seriously. Advancements in the technology of tattoo machines, pigments, numbing creams, even stencil application help to create a more tolerable, if not downright comfortable experience. Aside from the obvious reduction of the ‘squirm factor’, it’s our fervently held belief that clients who enjoy the experience of getting their tattoo will repeat that experience and that’s great for all parties involved. But your grandma may hate it.

Not that all grandmas hate tattoos, some are quite fond of them, but as demographics go, of the people who dislike tattoos, grandmas are pretty high in the list. Doesn’t mean we don’t still love you Granny, we just wish you’d quit making that face at us at Thanksgiving.

Hercules

Hercules wearing the Nemean Lion as a cloak

Greek Mythology is awesome. From the movie Wrath of the Titans, subsequent remakes and sequels, to the liberally told Frank Miller movie 300, we find ourselves engrossed in the provocative and often violent images they elicit. This piece was put on Devin by master tattooer Will Wood. If you like, give us a call and set something up with him!

Cheapie Piercing Day!

Lighthouse Tattoo is expanding and that’s good news for you! This Tuesday, August 5th, we will be having a Piercing training day. Not to be outdone, a couple of our veteran piercers will also be on hand and will be offering a day-long discount!

Anyone that wants a piercing that our new apprentice hasn’t done yet will be able to get said piercing for just $10. All other piercings will be $20 (except ear lobes, $15 apiece; and Dermal anchors, which be only $30!).

This is a single-day sale just in time for back-to-school so don’t miss out and tell your friends! We will be accepting appointments in advance and walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. Please do not call on the day of the event to book and appointment. Appointments will be scheduled prior to the event ONLY.

Molon Labe Tattoo

‘Come and get them!’

This awesome image of King Leonidas from the movie 300 conveys something many of us have come to feel, certainly as of late. It tells a tale of men, using reason and courage, fighting for what they knew to be right. Willing to die if need be, willing to kill if forced to. Turn on the news and you see that people the world over share the same sentiment and express it in different, sometimes unhealthy ways. Still, it’s obvious the idea of MOLON LABE is alive and well in the hearts of men these days. Let us use our powers of reason to make sure we’re fighting the good fight, just like King Leonidas here.

Gail from Sin City Portrait Tattoo

Rosario Dawson played the leader of the women of O-town in the movie Sin City. Beautifully written and illustrated by Frank Miller, also of 300 fame, the style and over-the-top quality of these works is what brought people back for the sequels. This tattoo was done by Will for free on one of our Free Tattoo Day volunteers. He didn’t tell them they would be getting tattooed (that would be payment, not volunteering) but he wanted to show his appreciation for their very valuable help. Thanks Eric, we’ll see you again real soon buddy!

Deus Corydon

Clowns are creepy, sure. Four-eyed clowns, SUPER creepy. This is the stuff of nightmares, man! A fun little banger done as a birthday gift for a friend, Get ‘cher nightmare tattoos at Lighthouse Tattoo. Open seven days a week!

Cholo Clown Girl Tattoo

If you don’t know what a Cholo or Chola is, well, Google it. This clown girl tattoo is the beginning of a mixed Hispanic and Asian heritage leg sleeve that’s lining up to be a real doozy. We hope you enjoy it and stay logged in to Lighthousetattoo.net for more!

Harry Potter fan Appreciation Day is Almost Upon Us!

Lighthouse Tattoo’s annual Harry Potter Fan Appreciation day is upon us and those of you familiar with this event know the format: Fun Wizarding World-inspired tattoos to celebrate our shared love of JK Rowling’s extraordinary story cherished by so many across the world; engaging decor to inspire you and entertain; games to challenge you and your knowledge of HP; and food, specifically our famous Sorting Hat cupcakes and Butter Beer suitable for children and adults alike!