Request a Custom Tattoo from Eli
I create original fine line and black and grey tattoos from my private studio near Pike Place Market in Seattle. My work is rooted in illustration, nature, and storytelling, with every tattoo designed specifically for the client and the part of the body where it will live.
Tell me about your idea using the request form below. You do not need to have every detail figured out; I’ll personally review your submission and let you know when a project feels well suited to my style and process.
Tattooing professionally since 2011 · Private studio by appointment · Licensed Seattle tattoo artist
Is Your Tattoo Idea a Good Fit?
I’m most excited by projects that allow me to create detailed, illustrative artwork with a strong composition and a clear central idea, while complementing the anatomy of each client.
Some of the subjects I work with most often include:
Floral and botanical tattoos
Pet portraits, wildlife, birds, and marine animals
Skeletons and hidden-skull illusions
Landscapes and Pacific Northwest–inspired scenery
Whimsical animals and unusual depictions of natural subjects
Narrative tattoos that suggest a story, memory, or sense of place
Your idea does not need to fit neatly into one of these categories. A compelling subject and an openness to my artistic interpretation are often more important than the category itself.
Pricing at a Glance
Tattooing: $250 per hour of tattooing, plus tax
Deposit: $250 non-refundable deposit required to schedule
Tipping: Not expected
Larger, multi-session tattoos generally include a concept review. Smaller, single-session tattoos ordinarily do not. When an advance concept review is requested for a smaller tattoo, a separate $150 non-refundable drawing fee may be required.
Please review my complete [Tattoo Policies & Pricing] for information about payments, deposits, cancellations, rescheduling, and late arrivals.
How the Custom Tattoo Process Works
1. Submit Your Idea
Use the form below to tell me what you would like to have tattooed, where you would like it placed, and approximately how large you imagine it.
Reference images are welcome, but you do not need to create a finished design or find an example tattoo that looks exactly like what you want. A clear description of the subject, mood, and important details is usually enough to begin.
I personally review each submission. If your idea aligns well with my work and current availability, I’ll send you a link to schedule a consultation.
2. Meet for a Consultation
Consultations are generally held in person at my private Seattle studio. A virtual consultation may be available upon request, although meeting in person is usually best for evaluating placement and scale.
We’ll discuss your idea, reference material, desired size, placement, and any practical design considerations. I’ll also answer your questions and explain what to expect from the project.
When we decide to move forward, I’ll take any necessary photographs or tracings, collect your $250 deposit, and schedule the appropriate next appointments.
3. Review the Concept
Larger, multi-session projects generally include a concept review before tattooing begins. During this meeting, I’ll present a rough sketch showing the primary composition, placement, and direction of the design.
The concept sketch is not the completed tattoo drawing. Its purpose is to make sure we are aligned on the overall idea before I develop the final artwork.
If necessary, one round of reasonable adjustments is included at this stage. Small changes to positioning, proportions, or individual details are generally possible. A major change in subject or direction—for example, changing a sleeping fox into a leaping fox—would be considered a new design rather than a revision.
Substantial changes may require additional drawing time, a new fee, or rescheduling.
Smaller, single-session tattoos ordinarily do not include a separate concept review. You will see the completed line drawing at your tattoo appointment. An advance review may sometimes be arranged for an additional drawing fee.
4. Begin Your Tattoo
On the day of your appointment, I’ll show you the completed line drawing and we’ll confirm the final size and placement. After completing the required paperwork and providing a valid government-issued ID, I’ll prepare and apply the stencil.
Once we are both happy with the placement, tattooing begins.
Tattooing is billed at $250 per hour, plus tax. Payment is due at the end of each session, and tipping is not expected. Your deposit is credited toward the completed tattoo or, for a multi-session project, toward the total due at the final appointment.
Before you leave, I’ll explain my recommended aftercare routine and answer any questions about healing.
Before You Submit a Request
Originality is an important part of my work. The following guidelines help me focus on projects where I believe my style, experience, and design process can produce the strongest result.
Projects I Generally Don’t Accept
I generally do not take on requests involving:
Direct copies of another tattoo artist’s design or imitations of another living artist’s style
Very small or ultra-minimal tattoos that do not allow enough room for my usual level of detail
Long passages of script, quotations, or lettering
Additions to or completion of tattoos begun by another artist
Most coverups, except for selected projects where color may provide a workable solution
Exact reproductions of specific landmarks, buildings, or monuments
I sometimes consider one to three words of custom lettering. I may also consider interpretations of historical artwork.
For landscapes and location-based ideas, I generally prefer to capture the character of a place or region, such as a Pacific Northwest forest, alpine landscape, or Southwestern desert, rather than reproduce a specific landmark exactly.
Leave Room for the Design Process
The strongest custom tattoos begin with a clear idea, meaningful context, and enough creative freedom for me to develop the design in my own illustrative style.
When submitting a request, please tell me about the central subject, its meaning or significance, the approximate placement and size, and any elements that are especially important to you. Reference images can help communicate the mood, visual qualities, or aspects of my work that appeal to you.
You do not need to plan every part of the finished tattoo—in fact, it is best if you do not. Composition, perspective, arrangement, borders, background, shading, and other visual decisions are an important part of my creative process. Requests that prescribe nearly every detail may not leave enough room for me to create a cohesive design that feels distinctly like my work.
A custom tattoo with me is a collaboration, but it is not a process in which the client directs every visual decision. I will listen carefully to your priorities and use my experience as an illustrator and tattoo artist to translate the idea into a readable, lasting tattoo that works naturally with the body.
The best fit is someone who connects with my existing portfolio, communicates what matters most, and trusts me to interpret the idea rather than execute a fully predetermined design.
What to Include in Your Request
Please include:
A clear description of the central subject or idea
Your desired placement on the body
An approximate size
Any details, symbolism, mood, or story that matters to you
A photograph of the area if the tattoo will interact with scars or existing tattoos
Any elements that are essential, as well as areas where you are open to interpretation
You can attach reference images if they are relevant, or if you think they help communicate the idea
You do not need to know the exact dimensions or have every visual detail resolved. Those questions can be explored during the consultation.
Submit Your Custom Tattoo Request
Please use the form below to tell me about your idea. The more clearly you can describe the subject, placement, approximate scale, and important details, the better I’ll be able to evaluate whether I’m the right artist for the project.
Submitting the form does not guarantee an appointment. I’ll personally review your request and, when the project is a good fit, send you information about scheduling a consultation.
Because I receive a high volume of inquiries and handle each request personally, response and booking times may vary. Thank you for your patience and for considering me for your tattoo.