Community Corner
Dummies Guide to Getting a Tattoo
Javier Eastman of Get Ink in Norwalk provided a tattoo primer during a weekend fundraiser for New Canaan-based Bully Breed Rescue.
Written by Leslie Yager
Javier Eastman was painting before he could walk. Originally from Venezuela, Eastman has been in Norwalk for 12 years and joined Get Ink at 76 Cedar Street two years ago.
Eastman, co-owner Alex Marquez and the team of Get Ink artists specialize in custom and free-hand tattoos, realistic color, black and grey, traditional Japanese, lettering, illustrative and graffiti, as well as new traditional American tattoos. Â
Sometimes customers request an older tattoo be covered," said Eastman. "So we strategically blend a new one over the old one."Â
Eastman's studio space is a cross between a doctor's office and an upscale spa. Awards and certificates adorn the walls. Rows of colorful ink tubes line the shelves. Music plays and the artists chat with customers to pass the time and keep their minds off any discomfort.
Though the staff are cheerful and sociable, they are serious about their craft. Eastman travels to international conventions and has been invited to shops as a guest artist as far away as Austria, Germany, Colombia and Peru.
At the weekend fundraiser at Get Ink for Bully Breed Rescue, Amanda Branstrom sat comfortably on the padded bench with her leg outstretched, ready for a BBR tattoo, her 15th.Â
While Branstrom's foot was transformed, discussion turned to the pain factor. Apparently everyone is different. Branstrom said that the boney parts of the body, like the foot, are less painful spots for tattoos.Â
"When I got my tattoo of my bichon, Chloe, the part at the top of my thigh, that hurt a bit," said Branstrom. "For me, the pain is afterward, when it feels like a bruise."
In the adjacent room Kayte Mulligan Zowine of Project Precious Rescue was also getting a tattoo to support BBR.
"I tend to laugh when it hurts," said Zowine as Manny Valerio worked on the outline of her tattoo.Â
Eastman said that typically a customer will first contact Get Ink to discuss an idea.
"We work with 95 percent custom design," said Eastman. "A customer comes in with an idea and we use their input to come up with the design."
A small tattoo takes an hour or two to complete, though Eastman mostly does larger tattoos, requiring a half day or full day appointment.
Normally the artists at Get Ink work by appointment. They're open six days a week from 10:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.Â
Get Ink is located at 76 Cedar Street in Norwalk. Tel. (203) 354-3790 Â
Javier Eastman was painting before he could walk. Originally from Venezuela, Eastman has been in Norwalk for 12 years and joined Get Ink at 76 Cedar Street two years ago.
Eastman, co-owner Alex Marquez and the team of Get Ink artists specialize in custom and free-hand tattoos, realistic color, black and grey, traditional Japanese, lettering, illustrative and graffiti, as well as new traditional American tattoos. Â
Sometimes customers request an older tattoo be covered," said Eastman. "So we strategically blend a new one over the old one."Â
Eastman's studio space is a cross between a doctor's office and an upscale spa. Awards and certificates adorn the walls. Rows of colorful ink tubes line the shelves. Music plays and the artists chat with customers to pass the time and keep their minds off any discomfort.
Though the staff are cheerful and sociable, they are serious about their craft. Eastman travels to international conventions and has been invited to shops as a guest artist as far away as Austria, Germany, Colombia and Peru.
At the weekend fundraiser at Get Ink for Bully Breed Rescue, Amanda Branstrom sat comfortably on the padded bench with her leg outstretched, ready for a BBR tattoo, her 15th.Â
While Branstrom's foot was transformed, discussion turned to the pain factor. Apparently everyone is different. Branstrom said that the boney parts of the body, like the foot, are less painful spots for tattoos.Â
"When I got my tattoo of my bichon, Chloe, the part at the top of my thigh, that hurt a bit," said Branstrom. "For me, the pain is afterward, when it feels like a bruise."
In the adjacent room Kayte Mulligan Zowine of Project Precious Rescue was also getting a tattoo to support BBR.
"I tend to laugh when it hurts," said Zowine as Manny Valerio worked on the outline of her tattoo.Â
Eastman said that typically a customer will first contact Get Ink to discuss an idea.
"We work with 95 percent custom design," said Eastman. "A customer comes in with an idea and we use their input to come up with the design."
A small tattoo takes an hour or two to complete, though Eastman mostly does larger tattoos, requiring a half day or full day appointment.
Normally the artists at Get Ink work by appointment. They're open six days a week from 10:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.Â
Get Ink is located at 76 Cedar Street in Norwalk. Tel. (203) 354-3790 Â
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