Fine Line, Soft Realism, and Stipple Tattoos
Evergreen Studios, Chicago
NIC AND POKE
About Nic
Hi, I'm Nic (they/them). I am a self-taught artist offering fine line, soft realism, and dotwork/stipple style tattoos. That's right, no more Stick and Poke! I no longer hand-poke any of my tattoos in favor of pursuing a different aesthetic. I've kept my name "Nic and Poke" as an homage to my stick and poke roots, and well, I'm still technically poking needles into you, just faster and better and with a machine.
I have been tattooing for several years, I'm currently based in Chicago, IL, at the beautiful serene Evergreen Studios.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can we do multiple tattoos in one appointment?Yes totally! Let me know when filling out your booking request form, by clicking the box that says "Check here if you have a second tattoo in mind for the same appointment". As long as I know from the start, I can make sure we have enough time, or schedule multiple appointments to get it all done :)
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Do you do Consultations?I really don't, and here's why! 1) i request lots and lots of descriptive details, sizing information, and most importantly *inspo photos* in the intake form for every new tattoo request. Inspo photos are key here for us to align on different interpretations of different design terms. One person's definition of "script ty text" or "realistic" or "cartoony" may vary drastically from someone else's Idea of those same terms. Show me what you mean, even if it seems obvious to you :) 2) I use email to ask any clarifying questions and provide additional photos to help us land on the same vision. If we have these conversations in person, I might not be able to pull up helpful resources on the spot, and we can't refer back to exactly was said later on (which I will need to do when it comes down to design time :) 3) All of my tattoo appointments are half-day (4 hours) by default, so that we have plenty of time at the beginning of our session together to talk about the design, make any edits or changes, place the stencil in multiple locations and sizes, and make a decision we're all excited about without anyone feeling rushed or pressured.
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How far in advance should I plan?Depending on the time of year and the randomness of the instagram algorithm, (lol) I book at least 2-10 weeks out. My books are set to accept appointments a max of 90 days in advance. I will post last minute availability as it comes up, and can sometimes be flexible adding availability, beyond what my books show, for special circumstances.
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Do you provide touch-ups?I provide one free touch-up within 6 months of the original tattoo, if it's needed. limitations apply, such as improper care, sun exposure, tattooing over scars, etc. Just reach out and we'll chat! :)
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How much will this cost?My pricing is $150/hour with a $150 minimum. I always offer an estimated timeframe I think the tattoo will take. For small tattoos, I cannot lower my minimum but I always ask if there are any additional tiny tattoos you're dreaming of, so we can add them in that hour appointment. I also ask for any budget constraints to consider as I can sometimes change design details or sizing to fit within folks' budget :)
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How do I pay?I require a $50-100 deposit paid digitally at the time of scheduling the appointment booking, and I accept cash or card for the remainder of the total tattoo's price after the end of our appointment.
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Can I bring a friend to my appointment?Yes! I have one extra chair in my station for a support-person. Please do not bring more than one person, this is not a party :)
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What is your design revision process?I am committed to working with each of my friends and clients to ensure they receive exactly what they're envisioning. I request specific style 'inspiration photos' and subject matter description so we're on the same page. I always save lots of time at the beginning of the appointment for design changes/edits/tweaks. Additionally, I always print multiple sizes of the tattoo stencil, and place it as many times as necessary anywhere you want to make sure it's a perfect fit. Upon request, I can send the sketch 12-24 hours before the appointment, so that there's time for any tweaks and edits. Anything past two edits, I have to charge an hourly rate of $100, so clarity is key.
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How can I prepare?Leading up to your appointment: Moisturize your skin, hydrate by drinking water, gently exfoliate, avoid excess sun exposure. The day before: rest well, eat well, drink water, avoid alcohol. For your appointment: bring a snack, waterbottle, any comfort items like headphones, a sweatshirt, small clean fidget toy, etc.,
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Thoughts on Numbing cream?TL;DR - not a fan :( - i sometimes use a numbing spray (extra strength bactine with lidocaine) - it only works on skin that's already 'broken', or already has had one pass of tattooing over it, so the spray can penetrate the skin and numb it. This is great for pain breaks in the middle/end of working on a piece with lots of shading or color that requires tattooing over the same area repeatedly. This is not really applicable for smaller, simpler line-focused tattoos. The lines are typically done in one pass with small touchups for best ink saturation. Numbing spray can be helpful with some styles of tattoos, but does require long breaks that stretch length of the appointment, contributing to mental fatigue, and offers only momentary relief ( 5-30 mins depending on the person), before more spray would be needed/feeling resumes. -regarding numbing creams, personally I do not provide these or recommend them, they are not analyzed or regulated by any health and safety entity. They are intended to be applied in a thick layer an hour before the tattoo to sit and soak in under a layer of plastic wrap. When you arrive for the tattoo, we have lots of cleaning to do to get the gunk off of the skin, which in my experience brought back lots of feeling to the skin. These creams also sometimes change the surface texture of the skin from an artists perspective, which can make the skin a little harder to work with, and harder to saturate correctly with ink, resulting in a longer time tattooing, and sometimes less precision or predictability in how the ink deposits and settles into the skin. Additionally - in my experience the creams do not last as long as advertised and the experience of jumping from no pain to the full discomfort of being mid-tattoo is much less preferable than allowing my body to naturally adjust to the sensations as they build. Everyone may have different experiences, this is just my point of view as both a client and artist. Ultimately the decision is yours, just let me know at the start of an appointment if you have numbing cream applied.
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Do you do handpoke / stick and poke tattoos?No I don't. That's right, no more Stick and Poke! I no longer hand-poke any of my tattoos in favor of pursuing a different aesthetic. I've kept my name "Nic and Poke" as an homage to my stick and poke roots, and well, I'm still technically poking needles into you, just faster with a machine.
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Deposit, Cancellation and Reschedule policy?I require a deposit paid at the time of scheduling the appointment, to hold the time slot. Deposits are non-refundable but do apply towards the final cost of the tattoo. Deposit is forfeited if client does not arrive for the appointment, or cancels within 7 days of the appointment. Client may reschedule without losing deposit if at least 2 days notice is given. If client is more than 30 minutes late without notifying me and providing an updated ETA, the deposit is forfeited and the appointment must be re-booked. Please reach out and work with me as soon as you know you or someone near you is sick, or you foresee a problem attending your appointment. Exceptions may be made in certain emergencies.
Tattoo Healing
I send my clients home with a layer of second-skin derma-bandage. These bandages are waterproof but breathable to beneficial gasses like oxygen. This bandage can stay on for up to 3-5 days. If your skin is very uncomfortable, or if you sweat excessively under the bandage, you might want to take it off sooner than that. Please leave the bandage on for a minimum of 24 hours, the longer it stays on, the better the tattoo will heal overall.
As soon as the second-skin bandage is removed, begin using an unscented antibacterial/antimicrobial soap twice per day to wash the entire area, and unscented moisturizer/ointment 3-5 times per day to keep the tattoo moist and protected. Be sure to wash your hands before touching the tattoo at any time during the healing process.
After the second-skin is removed, your tattooed skin will feel a little bumpy and raised, even itchy. This is the 'scab' phase, and is completely normal. Do not scratch the skin, or expose it to any products containing fragrances, dyes, thickeners, or chemicals. Different reactions may occur, causing poorer healing outcomes (this includes sunscreens! Use clothing to protect from sun!).
The tattoo may appear healed within a few days, but the full healing process to the deeper layers of the skin will take 2-4 weeks. During this time it is crucial to keep the skin moisturized, avoid sun exposure, refrain from swimming/soaking and avoid scratching or irritating the skin. The better and longer you care for the skin, the crispier the tattoo will heal :)
While very rare and unlikely, keep an eye out for signs of infection (like prolonged swelling, redness, tender to the touch, fever, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, rashes, etc). If you feel you may have an infection, please see your healthcare provider, and follow up with me to let me know if any specific or serious infections are diagnosed. I follow standard OSHA bloodborne pathogen guidelines, as long as the tattoo is properly cared for during healing, there should be no such issues :) If you are a client of mine, feel free to email me with any further questions.