Category: Tattoo shops in Bury

Persian Black and Grey Tattoo

  By

Persian Soldier Tattoo

Black and Grey Tattoo

Directly inspired by the Persian Immortals, the 10,000- strong elite warrior guard of the Achaemenid Empire. Their number never dipped below 10,000. If any of them were killed they were immediately replaced by a trained prepared soldier from the reserve unit.

I always enjoy tattooing Gary, he’s half Iranian, that’s where the idea of a Persian soldier comes from. He initially came in for a consultation explaining everything how he wanted, our consultation is always enjoyable, we talk not only about tattoos, but we also have the same interests in Sports, he’s a big Bury FC fan, so we always end up talking about football.

The space Gary showed me on his arm was a Rectangle, so I had the idea of finding a Persian soldier stood up holding a spear. As soon as he saw the image he was so happy, and willing to go ahead with it.

Gary has all his tattoos in black and grey, black and grey is a style love doing, and I try to add realism to the black and grey tattoo I’m working on. Gary has multiple tattoos on his arm, but now he’s looking to join them all in, I’m glad he can see that, he’s willing to work on it, and I’m more than happy to help, as I do like working with Gary. He has overall a very positive attitude, and that really makes a difference, and it adds positivity to the Tattoo session.

Researching for the Tattoo Artist you want to collect their style on your body for life, it really adds positive energy when you are sure about who you want to get tattooed by, and it gives confidence to the tattoo artist. Not being sure if a Tattoo Artist can do a good tattoo or not, only adds confusion, therefore, your tattoo will be affected. So a lot of faith in your Tattoo Artist’s work, it really helps.

This black and grey tattoo took 2 sessions, of 3 hour each. Gary prefers to do 3 hour sessions, he’s not the guy to do full days, and I’m totally cool with that, our sessions are enough but it doesn’t drag along all day. I think the best way is to work around your clients situation, and work around their needs.

Thank you Gary

Facebook X-twitter Youtube

Tattoo Shop in Bury

  By

Hi Everyone, Thanks for making the time to visit my website. I remember almost 5 years ago, when Covid kicked in, and I was in lockdown in my flat in Leeds, that was the first time I had time to stop, and think about my life long term, and the more I thought of it, the more I realised, I wanted to move back to Manchester, for long term, my Mum was here, its here where everything started. The more I wanted to move back, the more I used to think, how I’m I going to do it? I was tattooing in Leeds for 13 years, and I had built my life and business around all that time. Things kept happening to me in Leeds, things I will never mention online, but everything had to happen in order to open the doors for me to come back to Manchester. So here I’m, after 5 years, of taking risks, leaving everything behind, to start again from scratch. I remember, being sat with my Mum, outside The Village Hotel in Manchester, letting her know for the first time that I wanted to move back to Manchester, and she looked at me with a surprising and happy eyes, but I remember thinking, how is it going to happen? It seemed something so difficult to do, but I did it. Sometimes I look back at when I wanted to move back, and I look at where I’m now, its almost surreal that I managed to do it. I would like to thank everyone who motivated me to move back to Leeds, including people I have worked with, thank you so much. I have transformed every experience I had in Leeds in to something positive which it was, moving back to Manchester.

In 2006, I had started tattooing in Bury Greater Manchester, and it was in Bury College where I learned English, so Bury has a special place for me, as its where I started my life in the UK, and where I had my first experiences living in the UK.

So in this blog I would like to talk about the beginning of tattoo shops in Bury, and how its nowadays. I can talk about it, because even knowing I started in 2006, I have worked with Tattoo Artists who have been tattooing in  Bury for so long.

 Tattoo Shops in Bury

The first Tattooist in Bury his name is Dave Heap. Dave is now retired, and still lives in Lancashire. Dave’s tattoo style is very traditional, and I think that’s great. A lot of young Tattooists do traditional Tattoos, but Dave is from the times where the traditional tattoos were made. I have Dave on my Facebook, and sometimes we speak on messenger, and one of the things Dave mentioned, that stood out to me the most, was when he said “ I had Bury to myself for almost 30 years” That shows you how long he had been tattooing. I’m sure Dave has some amazing stories to tell about tattooing from back in the day in Lancashire Bury, which now is classed as greater Manchester.

After Bury’s first Tattoo Studio opened with Dave, the next tattoo shop in Bury that open it’s doors in the  90’s was Mad House Tattoo on the Rock. I believe that Tattoo studio was also opened by someone called Dave, who later started working with other artist’s in the tattoo shop in Bury.

Sween, who now owns Odin’s Eye Tattoo, used to get tattooed at Mad House, back in the 90’s.

The Tattooists who used to work at mad house, end up going to work at Rochdale Road, then for years, until the early 2000’s, there was only 2 Tattoo shops in Bury. I believe, mad house was closed down for a bit, and re-opened by a Tattoo Artist called Shaun. I remember Shan, as he was on the rock when I started my apprenticeship in Bury.

When I left Bury in 2009, there was only 2 Tattoo Studio in Bury. Coming back after nearly 13 years, the number of Tattoo shops have doubled. Theres a lot of more Tattoo shops in Bury nowadays, a lot of better work is being done from when I used to tattoo in Bury.

If I was not a Tattoo Artist, or even if I was still Tattooing in Leeds, and if someone asked me for recommendation to where to get tattooed in the best tattoo shop in Bury, I would recommend Odin’s Eye Tattoo Collective, even if I was not working there.

The reason why is because Sween, Left Hand Tony and Louis Santos all specialise in different styles, and the clients are the ones who win at the end. As the clients are waling out with the best work possible. They have the best variety in tattoo style any Tattoo shop in Bury can offer. Its quiet rare to see that in a tattoo studio.They make the dream team, which is hard to form and build. I have worked with many artist’s in the past and never before I felt like something has clicked so well as a team, and I believe, that clients can feel the love energy when the enter the studio, as its important for the client to feel a good vibe when coming in the tattoo shop in Bury.

Thank you for reading

Tattoo Studio in Bury

Louis Santos Tattoo

Mythology & Fantasy Tattoos

Call
Email
WhatsApp
Instagram
LinkedIn
Download Resume

I combine my love of painting and drawing in to Tattooing

Tik Tok

On Tik Tok, is my account im most active in. I upload videos almost daily, so give a follow if you want to keep up to date with daily projects.

Tattoo Shop in Bury
Realism Tattoos
Charcoal and Graphite

Goat Tattoo

  By
Screenshot

Thank you for reading my blog, i have been back in Manchester for 2 years now, and im so happy to have come back, and i feel like im starting to get settled. Im forever grateful for my new clients in Mancheter and some of my Leeds clients who still come to see me. I have been meeting some really interesting people, and when i get to meet interesting clients, and they pick a good design, i think its time to write a blog on my websitre.

Realistic Goat Tattoo

I have previously tattooed Josh, so I was really happy to see him back in the studio. I had previously tattooed a philosopher with a philosophy message on Josh’s arm, his tattoo was previously posted on this website.

First time meeting a client, there’s a lot of explaining to be made about how I work and how I prefer to approach their tattoo. Josh was very understanding and easy going, which if put me at ease and it contributed to a better tattoo outcome.

So when he messaged me again, I was happy to have him back as not only the first tattoo had gone well, but he has a really positive energy about him, I feed off his good vibe and that contributes to the positive tattoo outcome.

Having a consultation with Josh, he requested a small black and grey goat tattoo, I love tattooing and drawing goats, as they are spiritual animals, and they have a spiritual positive meaning. They represent wealth and prosperity. Josh mentioned he wanted a graphic flower bellow the goat, so I had the idea to line it. Lining something next to a realistic image it looks really nice. 

I give a lot of attention to small realistic black and grey tattoos. Of course the smaller the tattoo the bigger the challenge. Specially if you are trying to do realism. However, the more you draw as an artist, the better you can deal with smaller black and grey realism tattoos. 

I booked Josh in for a Sunday in our Bury Tattoo Studio, and we had a nice and relaxing day, the tattoo studi in Bury is closed on Sundays, so it was really quiet. Of course I do love when the studio is open and the socialising part of it, we love the interaction with the clients in the studio, as it’s a busy studio. However, having a day where it’s just you and the client is quite different, and I think I picked the right person to spend the Sunday with. 

Tattoo Shops in Bury

Instagram Account

On Instagram, you will find what im up to behind the scenes daily on my stories.

Louis Santos Tattoo
Tattoo Studio in Greater Manchester
Click Here
Goat Tattoo
Small Black and Grey Goat Tattoo
Click Here
Louis Santos Tattoo
Tattoo Shop in Bury
Click Here
Facebook X-twitter Youtube

Black and Grey Tattoo Bury

  By ,

Memento Vivere

Memento Morri

This tattoo has a strong meaning in words, it’s almost like a quote for life. The quote is in Latin, Latin is a dead language that gave birth to many other languages, including my first language Portuguese. Latin gave birth to French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. So even knowing this quote is in Latin, I can understand the meaning of it.

That was the first tattoo I did for Gary. Gary had previously been tattooed in the studio in Bury. And for the style of black and grey realistic tattooing he was looking for, he was was put in my direction to work on the Tattoo in Bury.

As soon as I saw Gary I liked his energy, he seemed like a very genuine and easy going guy. He made the request, explained the meaning a little and gave me the freedom for me to work a design. 

I worked on Gary’s design, booked a consultation viewing, and he loved the design lay out, so I was exited about starting his tattoo.

Fast forward to the tattoo day, I realised we had the same interests on similar things, like football and music. We both shared a love for football and we listen to the same kind of music so it was easy to get along and I felt comfortable with him. That also has an effect in the end result of your tattoo, getting along with the client puts you at ease, and being at ease when tattooing someone, your mind is in a good place, you make better decisions, and it enhances the outcome of the tattoo in Bury.

We managed to finish in one session, however, I was sure to book for a touch up session. When I saw the tattoo healed, I was glad the touch up session was booked, it only needed a bit of touching up on the bottom of the sand, but all worth it in the end. 

In this image and video, the tattoo was fully healed, taking a video and a picture of a healed tattoo is a lot better than a fresh tattoo. Freshly done tattoos have a lot of glare, and the skin is quite red. So when the tattoo is healed it looks more natural. 

We are currently re-working Gary’s tribal on his arm. He had a tribal being previously done by a tattooist in Prestwich, and he’s getting it all re-worked. This project will be also posted on this web site, so keep an eye on updates

Thank you Gary 

How to get Tattooed

  By

Tattoo Studio in Bury

 

 

Guide on how to get tattooed for first timers, and for who previously been tattooed. 

Getting tattooed specifically for first timers, can be quite a decision to make, and nerve racking to approach a tattoo studio. I would like to divide this blog in 2 parts, the first part I would like to focus on first timers, and the second part of the blog, I would like to focus on clients with more experience with getting tattooed in Manchester.

First time getting tattooed

Being a first time tattoo collector in Bury, many questions can pop to your head, where should I go? Which artist should I choose? Does the tattoo hurt? How much is the tattoo going to cost? 

Where should I go? Nowadays there are so many tattoo studios around, but that doesn’t mean all of them have an artistic background, that doesn’t mean all of them have experience. When searching for a tattoo studio, you should first look for the artist who does the style you are looking for, if you could see the tattoo healed it really helps to see how your tattoo is gonna look healed. Seeing fresh tattoos online, sometimes it does not do justice to see it in real life. Every Tattoo Artist in Manchester are passionate about doing at least one or 2 styles, and based on the style you are looking for, you should choose your Tattoo Artist who is passionate about the style you are looking for.

So once you look at a tattoo artist with the style you are looking for, you should pay attention to 3 factors, line work, zoom the tattoo image in, and check if the lines are neat and consistent. A lot of Tattoo Artist cut corners, so spending time looking at a tattoo, it will allow you to double check if a tattoo artist is careful to do everything properly. 

Researching is key when choosing the right studio for you, looking at Tattoo studios websites, it really helps you to have an idea which artist’s work you would like, then when finding the artist’s work who you like, book a consultation to see if you get on with the artist, and your energy matches with theirs

Where should I go? 

Nowadays there are so many tattoo studios around, but that doesn’t mean all of them have an artistic background, that doesn’t mean all of them have experience. When searching for a tattoo studio, you should first look for the artist who does the style you are looking for, if you could see the tattoo healed it really helps to see how your tattoo is gonna look healed. Seeing fresh tattoos online, sometimes it does not do justice to see it in real life. Every Tattoo Artist in Manchester are passionate about doing at least one or 2 styles, and based on the style you are looking for, you should choose your Tattoo Artist who is passionate about the style you are looking for.

So once you look at a tattoo artist with the style you are looking for, you should pay attention to 3 factors, line work, zoom the tattoo image in, and check if the lines are neat and consistent. A lot of Tattoo Artist cut corners, so spending time looking at a tattoo, it will allow you to double check if a tattoo artist is careful to do everything properly.

Researching is key when choosing the right studio for you, looking at Tattoo studios websites, it really helps you to have an idea which artist’s work you would like, then when finding the artist’s work who you like, book a consultation to see if you get on with the artist, and your energy matches with theirs.

 

Which Artist should I choose? 

You should choose the artist who specialises in the style you are looking for, and when you look at the tattoo artists work that you like, send them a message, and book a consultation with them.

Choosing a tattoo artist because your friend knows them, you could end up with a tattoo that fit your friend’s style but not yours. Every tattoo artist have high and low points in their work, so the tattoo artist your friend chose for his tattoo, mite not be the request you are looking for. 

A lot of Tattoo Artist’s nowadays use sexuality in order to attract clients, that is  a red flag in a professional tattoo artist’s  point of view, and as well an unprofessional approach to bussiness. Tattoos are about art, and it’s the artist’s capability that’s going to last in your skin, and not how good someone looks. The Tattoo industry used to be all about the art in the early 2000’s, the best artist’s were the best and most successful Tattoo Artists. Someone’s look will not dictate how good your tattoo will be.  And someone’s look will not have relevance in the end result of you Tattoo.

 

Why book a consultation?

Consultations really helps you to see if the Tattoo artist you are considering getting tattooed by, understands what you are looking for.

Also, when letting someone mark your body for life, you have to make sure your energy matches with theirs. Having a consultation allows you to feel if the tattoo artists vibe matches with yours, it allows you to find out if you will get on with your tattoo artist and if you want to spend time with them.

Before approaching a big tattoo specially, I love to have a consultation, specifically to find out if the way I think is similar to my clients, if they are chilled, or if they are patient.

Being a first timer it doesn’t mean that you are getting a tattoo to see how it feels like, you are getting a tattoo because you really want it. A lot of first timers end up getting a really small tattoo, just to see what it feels like, then, they end up with a tattoo that they didn’t really want.

Is the Tattoo process painful?

We get a lot of clients coming in, and mentioning, my friend said it hurts on the wrist, my friend said it hurts on the chest, my friend said it doesn’t hurt on the hands. Everyone who gets tattooed has a different experience with their tattoo artist, so I can assure, if the tattoo was painful in a certain area of someone’s body, it doesn’t mean that’s going to be the same for you. Your experience getting tattooed, it will be different from others, independent of the area you are getting tattooed. You have to consider that, everyone has a different pain management, it depends on your health as well, how much your tattoo is going to hurt. Drugs and alcohol can affect your nervous system. So someone who drinks a lot of alcohol or used to be a heavy smoker, those clients will feel the tattoo more than someone who has chosen healthier habits. Your health will have an affect with how your tattoo will feel, and your health will also dictate how well or fast your tattoo will heal. Also how good quality the needle is will dictate how your tattoo will feel, lower quality cheaper manufactured needles will traumatise the skin a lot more than a well manufactured high quality needle. So think twice before getting a cheaper tattoo, the tattoo will be cheaper and so will be the equipment, which it will also affect longevity, due to poor quality inks.

How much will the tattoo cost?

Every Tattoo Artist’s price will be different and one of the reasons why, is because everyone knows how much their stuff is worth. A tattoo artist who sacrifices their life and free time to study art and becoming a better artist, those artists’s will charge more, as you are paying for their artistic capabilities. Being able to tattoo, it doesn’t mean you are an artist

To be continued…

 

Work in Progress

  By ,

Pep Guardiola Oil Paint

Work in Progress

In this blog I would like to share what I have been doing lately, I love to switch from pencil drawings to oil paint, the contrast in between the two mediums, it allows me to spend all day doing art, with brakes in  between. When I work on pencil drawings, it allows me to focus on shadow, paying attention where the light falls, proportion, and building a drawing skill, it always benefits anyone as a Tattoo Artist. When I’m having fun doing oil painting, it allows me to study colour value, learning colour contrast, and discovering which colours look good next to each other, allowing me to know how my tattoos will look like before I work on it.

The Portrait I’m working on, it’s a quiet large one, being so large it allows me to add as many textures and facing features as I wish. The portrait is of Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City.

Why did I choose to paint Pep Guardiola? I chose to paint Pep Guardiola due to his incredible capacity to change football forever with his tactics. A lot of people say, since Pep Guardiola has been a successful manager in football, football has changed a lot. Now its more about passes and there’s no dribbling, and football  is not the way it used to be. I believe everything changes, and it has an evolution, so you rather catch the wave or get left behind.

Even knowing not everyone agrees with Pep Guardiola’s approach to football, and makes him responsible for the change in the game, I still can see beauty in his way of playing, I still can see intelligence in his game play and organisation. Tactics is  still a form of art in my eyes, even knowing it could look robotic from time to time, I still see the invention of tactics a form of art. I do believe football is not as free as it used to be, however, football is a lot of more a serious business as it used to be, so nowadays teams play for the result, and the philosophy is win or win.

One of the other reasons I’m working on a Pep Guardiola portrait is due to my love of Sports, I was looking for an inspiration from books, about focus and dedication, and the books recommended by google were usually from athletes, from different Sports, one of them was from Kobi Bryant “The Mamba Mentality” I’m not in to basketball as much as I’m in to football, however, the amount of inspiration that is in that book, is beneficial to whatever job you do or whatever career you want to pursuit, or if you are looking to find focus, purpose and dedication.

Greek Mythology Athena

Athena Greek Mythology

Gladiator Tattoo Idea Manchester

  By ,

Gladiator Pencil Drawing

The Importance to Draw as a Tattoo Artist

With the age of technology, it is easy to get disheartened and not see the point of drawing as a Tattoo Artist. Nowadays, all you need is an iPad, and you can mix and match all the images needed to achieve the tattoo required. Getting an image from google images, is what 80% of tattoo Artists are doing nowadays, however, practising and being able to draw, it allows the artist to give  the client more of a natural and creative looking and custom tattoo.

Getting an image from google, and mixing with another images to create a tattoo, it ends up with a lot of images being repeated when tattoos are being done, that’s why in realism tattoos, you can see the same images, being repeated and repeated again.

One thing about dealing with tattooing, is that, you will come across issues, and problem solving, and the better you can draw, the quicker, and more precise, you will be able to deal with your problem solving. Every craft requires problem solving, and tattooing is not different.

Drawing it allows me to practise ideas on paper, before I attempt them on skin, it’s also a form of respect for the client, as clients are allowing your art work on their body for a life time, it is, imperative to be sure what you will place on their skin before attempting it.

In this drawing, I have practised, a lot of textures, which it teaches me to add texture to the tattoo without needing any reference, and it saves me from having to stencil every single texture from the image before applying to the skin. Drawing textures on a drawing, it also allows me to add textures where sometimes is not clear on the images. A lot of images we see, or images the client mite bring, it is not possible to see every texture that’s supposed to be there. So having a practise of textures on a paper, it allows the artist to add what is not seen, and it is supposed to be there.

That practise, it also allows you to work with a portrait, where the image is taken in the 90’s or 80’s, and you can not see the pores in the face. Every face has pores, and with the camera quality nowadays, it is a lot easier to capture those details in the face, however, understanding texture it allows me to add the details in a portrait, when I am presented an image from back in the day, where the cameras were not what they are today.

My inspiration for this drawing, was watching the latest Gladiator movie, I was very inspired by it, and enjoyed watching the battles in the arena, where they had ships and the gladiators were fighting each other, as an Entertainment for the king.

Tattoo Shop in Bury

Tattoo shops near me

  • Book your tattoo