Greenpoint Tattoo Co. (131 Meserole Avenue) was started by John Reardon in 2011. The shop’s interior walls are covered top to bottom with sheets of tattoo flash designs. Almost all the flash displayed is custom painted by the crew of artists who works there. So just because you choose a tattoo off the wall doesn’t mean it’s generic. If you’re just in to browse, they’ll let the books full of artists’ work and flash tell you what you need to know, or you can follow them on Instagram and browse from home. Continue reading →
On the corner of Franklin Avenue and Eagle Street you’ll find Evil & Love Tattoo (211 Franklin St.). A signboard hangs out front with their distinctive umbrella-eye logo, and a chalkboard advertises walk-ins. The windows are full of modern shelves that could be mistaken for a trendy coffee shop, but through these you can see large designs painted on the walls.
Via Instagram @evilandlove
Inside, I was greeted by a man with a friendly demeanor and tattooed head. This was Joey Rosado, who began as an apprentice shortly after the shop opened in 2013 and is now a full-time tattoo artist there. When I complimented the giant squid attacking a submarine tattooed on his arm he told the story of how he got it (you’ll have to ask him yourself). Continue reading →
East River Tattoo (1047 Manhattan Ave.) opened in 2000 out of a storefront on Franklin Street, making them Greenpoint’s first tattoo shop. They have since moved a few blocks to their current Manhattan Ave location, where a glance in the window reveals a taxidermy fox next to a spotted and stuffed fawn. Continue reading →
Greenpoint currently has four tattoo shops, each with their own vibe, style, and specialties. Whether you’re a tattoo collector, planning a custom piece, or just seeking a small meaningful mark on your skin, finding the right match is never as easy at it seems.
The best way to check places out is to go by and look through the artists’ books found on the front counter of most shops. After you’ve looked at designs, notice the quality of lines in various artist’s work and the way tattoos are placed on people’s bodies. Greenpoint’s tattoo shops are so close you can check them all out in one afternoon.
I recently got a beautiful tattoo of my favorite flower done by Three Kings’ talented Amanda Rodriguez, who specializes in flowers. Amanda lives in Greenpoint and until recently worked at Evil and Love. She’s recently moved to Three Kings and I’m excited to see what she does there.
I was impressed with her floral work and I also really enjoyed hanging out with her, so we chatted about how a portrait artist made the transition to tattoo art.
More after the jump. Follow her on Instagram at @amandatattoos.
Born into a family of architects and photographers, Bolivian artist Diego Romay had wanted to go to art school with no other purpose than doing what he liked. Four years after graduating and saving money he made from a couple of art shows, Diego had the chance to study abroad and come to North America with his family’s support. He found mentors in a shop in Washington, DC who taught him the techniques of professional tattooing. After two years of learning, his experience and love for the craft led him to permanently relocate to Brooklyn. Continue reading →
If you live in Brooklyn, then at least one person on your gift giving list has a tattoo and you know once you get one – you can’t stop!
Maybe your roommate needs one more tat to complete his sleeve or your sister needs to cover up that butterfly on her shoulder she got on her 16th birthday. Greenpointers’ gift guide can help!
Our favorite local tattoo shop,East River Tattoo is offering 20% Off Gift Certificates for Greenpointers readers. Do the math. That’s $100 Gift Certificates for ONLY $80! Just mention Greenpointers and this deal is yours!
Founded in the summer of 2000 by Duke Riley, East River Tattoo is located on Brooklyn’s historic Greenpoint waterfront. The artists of East River Tattoo specialize in high quality custom tattoo designs in a variety of styles, heavily influenced by maritime folk art and 19th century traditional tattooing often evoking antique nautical charts, woodcuts, engravings and scrimshaw.
East River Tattoo
1047 Manhattan Avenue (between Freeman and Eagle)
(718) 532-8282
Follow East River Tattoo on Instagram @eastrivertattoo
Raf Delalande (guest artist who just arrived yesterday from France!), Rob Banks and Rachel Hauer will be tattooing their own flash pieces ranging from $50 ‘charms’ to $150 flowers/other stuff and donating the proceeds to Threads for Teens from 10am to 1pm.
Duke Riley’s Project Manager Kitty Joe, an awesome Greenpointer, wrote in to let us know about this charity that her niece Allyson Ahlstrom started in 2011 when she was 14. Allyson runs a boutique in Windsor, California that welcomes teens in foster care and cases of extreme poverty to ‘shop’ for free in an upscale boutique. The project started out simply to satisfy 10 hours of required community service through her school. After graduating from high school in May, she outfitted a 62′ trailer as a mobile boutique and is currently on the third leg of her 48 state tour of the country, making daily stops in cities to distribute clothing to deserving teens recommended by social agencies. Continue reading →
East River Tattoo is moving from its current location on Franklin St to 1047 Manhattan Ave (betw. Freeman and Eagle) in January 2013, which is next week.
Maybe you have a friend who has been dying to get that first tattoo or maybe you have a friend trying to fill up a sleeve.
East River Tattoo is offering $100 gift certificate for $80 (20% off) when you mention “GREENPOINTERS” !
East River Tattoo specializes in high quality custom tattoo designs in a variety of styles, heavily influenced by maritime folk art and 19th century traditional tattooing – think antique nautical charts, wood cuts, engravings and scrimshaw.
