It only took about three years, but I finally have my running tattoo. After much debate, I decided to go with the chemical compound for runner’s high on the left of my ribcage, and I could not be happier.
Originally I was planning on getting this done on my foot, as I am a big fan of small and subtle tattoos (tattoos can be classy, don’t let your overly-conservative father tell you otherwise), but the tattoo artist I saw in Venice Beach with Steven said that the ink would eventually blur together on the small writing if it were small enough to fit on a foot. I went to another tattoo studio that told me the exact same thing, remorse-free. I was frustrated and down. I was antsy to get some ink into my body and I needed to do it soon.
So finally, months and months after I spoke with the first negative and grumpy tattoo artist, at a Baltimore shop called Charmed Life Gallery & Tattoo Studio (the artists are both tattoo artists AND artists in other mediums, and their gorgeous artwork is displayed and for sale around the shop), I walked right in with my mother and sister in tow, lifted my shirt (woohoo), and was out in less than an hour.
Walking into this shop located a few blocks from Morgan State University in northeast Baltimore city, you’d never know it was a tattooery. The entrance is a cozy and warm sitting room with comfy couches and art all over the walls and laying on the floor. The art is one-of-a-kind, colorful, enlightened, and fun to peruse while you wait for the artist to be ready for you. And I did not have to wait long. They were attentive and friendly and had no issues with me bringing half my family with me to hold my hand.
For anyone on a budget: the shop is not particularly cheap, but it is absolutely reasonably priced. I got my tattoo for $170, and fully believe that paying a whole lot less than that elsewhere would have been compromising the quality of both the service and the final product.
I would highly recommend this place. The fact that the artists also create other types of art really proves that they are serious about what they do, and the clean, cozy atmosphere makes you feel right at home. Not to mention how great the artists were to work with (I had Darl — a doll. He seemed like a very cool guy. For anyone familiar with the dynamic between tattoo artists and tattoo purchasers, the artists often won’t put their name on something that they didn’t put their own artistic twist on. Darl was more than happy to give me my long-desired chemical compound tattoo, no questions asked. I’ve never met a tattoo artist who has been so patient with my nerves and indecisiveness)! ECSTATIC about the final product!
