General Information

Before you book an appointment, please ensure you have fully read, understand, and agree to all of the terms and information provided in the ‘General Information’, ‘Appointment Information’, and ‘Aftercare’ pages. Your agreement to these terms and information is assumed upon booking. If you need clarification or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email.

Jump to:

• Booking Process

• Deposits and Vouchers

• Availability, Pricing, and Payment

• Required Time Frames

• Location

• Designs and Design Process

• FAQ

Booking Process

I have done everything possible to provide a straightforward booking process:

1. Read the terms and information outlined in each of the 'General Information', ‘Appointment Information', and 'Aftercare' pages. This ensures you are aware of my terms and processes, including the circumstances that forfeit your deposit and appointment. Please ensure you ask for clarification on anything you do not understand or any remaining questions you have before you book an appointment.

2. Fill out my enquiry form.

3. Wait for my response, which generally occurs within 3-5 business days.

• If you have filled out the form correctly, you will receive a quote along with a private link to my booking platform to select your preferred date for the required appointment.

• If you haven't filled out the form correctly, I will request more information/photos.

• If you are still waiting on a response after five business days, and nothing is in your junk/spam folder, please send a follow up as it means I have not received your initial enquiry.

4. Book your preferred date through my booking platform, and check your email for your deposit receipt and appointment reminder. You should also receive email and sms reminders prior to the appointment.

5. Get in touch with me via email if you need to make any changes to your design or appointment.

Please seriously consider your budget, pain threshold, work and personal commitments, and lifestyle when enquiring about a tattoo and booking appointments.

You will need to ensure you are able to adhere to the aftercare for the duration of the healing process. Additionally, for multi-session pieces please aim to schedule appointments every 3-4 weeks apart with an appropriate number of sessions booked initially to ensure your piece is completed within a reasonable time frame.

Deposits and Vouchers

The deposit is required to show your commitment to the tattoo design and appointment you have booked. I know that I will show up for your scheduled appointment, but I cannot guarantee that you will.

Vouchers can be purchased through the shop; for more information, please contact the shop directly.

Deposit terms:

• A non-refundable $200 deposit is required to be paid via debit/credit card through the booking platform to book an appointment. Alternatively you may get in contact with me to use a voucher as deposit. 

• Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable, meaning you cannot get it back if you change your mind about the design or appointment, and you cannot allocate your appointment to another person. Please ensure you are committed to the tattoo and your scheduled appointment before you book in.

• The deposit goes towards the specific tattoo design we discuss that you book in for. Major, reoccurring, or complete change of design may forfeit your deposit.

• Appointments will not be held without a deposit. Failure to pay the deposit may result in your preferred date(s) going to another person.

• The deposit is required per person (e.g. matching tattoos, sibling tattoos, friend tattoos, etc = $200 deposit x number of people).

• When booking multiple appointments, the deposit is required on the first appointment and will roll over to any subsequent appointments made, except in the case of booking back-to-back full days which require a $200 deposit per day (e.g. 2 back-to back days = $400 deposit, 3 back-to-back days = $600 deposit, etc).

• The deposit amount will be deducted from the appointment cost unless it is rolling over to an existing or new appointment.

• In the event I am unable to make your appointment your deposit will be transferred to an alternate date.

• These terms also apply to additional deposit amounts (e.g. paying over the minimum required deposit, paying in part or full in advance).

• These terms also apply to vouchers used as deposit.

Rescheduling terms:

• If you wish to move your appointment, the deposit may be transferred to an alternate date with at least seven days written notice.

• Deposits cannot be held under any circumstances. If you wish to reschedule to an alternate date, you must select a new date within 24 hours of receiving availability. Failure to choose a new date within this timeframe will be considered a cancellation and your deposit will be forfeited and a new deposit will be required to rebook. 

• If you have already rescheduled once, an additional $200 deposit is required to be added to the total deposit amount for each subsequent reschedule (e.g. first reschedule = no additional added, second reschedule adds $200 = $400 total, third reschedule adds $200 = $600 total, etc).

Cancellation / lack of attendance terms:

• Cancellation and/or lack of attendance will forfeit your deposit.

• Please let me know as soon as possible if you change your mind about the design or appointment, or simply are unable to attend your scheduled appointment. You do not need to give a reason if you are not comfortable doing so, just a heads up (preferably with as much notice as possible) that you will not be attending.

• If you fail to show up to any appointment, whether a consultation, tattoo, or complimentary touch-up, and you do not get in touch within a reasonable time frame to provide a sufficient reason then I will not be able to rebook you for any appointment in the future.

In summary, your deposit/voucher will be forfeited in the event of:

• late arrival without notice - I have a grace period of 15 minutes; however, if you feel you will be late in any capacity please take the time to send an email notifying me

• rescheduling with less than seven days written notice

• cancellation

• lack of attendance

• large or reoccurring design changes 

While unforeseen circumstances may occur, before you book an appointment it is crucial to:

• ensure you are confident in the design you have chosen, and are unlikely to change your mind significantly

• look at my work to ensure you want to be tattooed by me and have reasonable expectations of what may be achieved

• confirm your work and personal commitments to ensure you are available for the appointment date and time you have chosen, and are able to commit to the healing process

• confirm your financial situation to ensure you can afford the tattoo, and any unforeseen circumstances that may occur before your appointment

Life is unpredictable, but careful consideration before booking helps create a more reliable and respectful appointment system. As a tattoo artist, my income is contingent on having clients that show up to their scheduled appointments and so strict adherence to deposit policies is necessary. I appreciate your understanding, as I, too, have financial responsibilities and a family to provide for.

Availability, Pricing, and Payment

Appointments:

• At this point in time appointments are available:

  • Tuesday 11.30am-3.30pm

  • Wednesday 9.30am-4.30pm

  • Thursday 8.30am-2.30pm

  • Friday 9.30am-4.30pm

• Mondays are available on request.

• Appointments are not available Saturday-Sunday or on public holidays.

• Your appointment duration begins at the specified start time and ends no later than the specified end time communicated to you. All quotes include GST and stencil time as well as any required breaks (e.g. bathroom, stretching) are factored into the cost. Appointments longer than 4 hours (e.g. short days, full days) also include a 20-30 minute lunch break.

• Aftercare may be purchased separately, for current pricing please refer to the aftercare page.

Pricing:

I charge a flat rate for all tattoo appointments.

• Large and multi-session pieces may book either:

• $1200 full days (up to 7 hours)

• $850 half days (up to 4 hours)

• Smaller pieces are priced based on the specific design considering the style, complexity, and size

• Minimum charge is $250 per person

• this is generally able to accommodate several tiny pieces (e.g. symbols, script, small fine-line designs)

• this represents the lowest applicable amount for any appointment regardless of whether you opt for a single dot, one small piece, or multiple tiny pieces 

Discounted rates:

Flat rates are available for my pre-drawn designs, along with certain subject matter/themes listed on the 'discount offer' posts on my Instagram and Facebook, and in my 'want to do' highlight reel on Instagram (when available). Discounted pricing is not available in the event of:

• design elements or styles outside my enjoyed range, as advised

• cover-ups

• work on sun-damaged skin

• design changes on my pre-drawn designs, unless discussed otherwise

• the use of numbing cream

• placement on the face, neck, hands, feet, ribs, or knee, unless part of a larger piece

Payment terms:

• deposits must be paid for via the booking platform or vouchers

• bank transfer may be used for partial or full payments in advance, provided funds have cleared by the time of the appointment

• remaining payment at the appointment can be either eftpos, cash, or vouchers

• cash payments must be withdrawn prior to the appointment, as you will not be permitted to leave to withdraw cash during

• voucher payments require the original voucher to be presented at the appointment to be redeemed

• change is unavailable and if required, will be issued as a voucher or added to an existing deposit

Required Time Frames

The following estimates serve as a guide to assist you in budgeting for and scheduling an appropriate number of sessions initially. Please note that these are based on the average number of full day sessions required for realism, and the actual time required for your situation may vary due to factors including, but not limited to; size, design complexity (style, subject matter, detail), length of appointments booked, and individual pain thresholds.

• Forearm (one side) – 1-2 full days

• Upper arm (outer) – 2-3 full days

• Upper arm (inner) – 1-2 full days

• Sleeve (full) – 4-8 full days

• Chest (full) – 2-4 full days

• Front or back (full) – 6-8 full days

• Lower leg (full) – 2-4 full days

• Leg (full) – 6-8 full days

Factors that generally extend the time and cost required:

• Low pain threshold: Breaks interrupt the tattooing and disrupt my ability to get into a 'flow'. This includes requested breaks as well as forced breaks (where I have to stop to accommodate your movement).

• Style: Generally linework/stipple is faster to complete than black/grey realism, which is faster than colour realism.

• Design size and complexity: Finer detail and more elements are both factors that will increase the time required versus a design of the same size with less detail and fewer elements. For example, a full sleeve with one element per area will generally take less time than the same sleeve with multiple elements per area.

• Talking: I am more than happy to talk to you during your tattoo (especially if we get to talk about dogs), but please understand that talking will obviously slow down the process as I need to be able to focus on the conversation as well as the tattoo.

Factors that generally reduce the time and cost required:

• High pain threshold: Little to no movement means there's no interruptions during the tattoo, therefore we don't have to start and stop, and I'll be able to get in a zone.

• Less detail comparative to the size of the design.

• Wearing headphones: for you this means being able to 'zone out' which generally leads to less movement, and for me it generally helps prevent overstimulation by blocking out all the noise and distractions in the shop which in turn allows me to focus more heavily on your tattoo.

Location

I operate from State of the Art Tattooing, located at Shop 6/13-17 Evans Avenue, Mackay, within the AusPost Plaza. For your convenience and out of respect to the surrounding businesses, please consider parking behind the complex via the driveway to the left of the AusPost, especially for longer or full-day appointments. Alternatively, there is a small parking area in front of the building, along with street parking. 

The shop is equipped with a private bathroom for your comfort. Additionally, there are plenty of nearby businesses for food, beverages, and ATM facilities.

Designs and Design Process

I primarily focus on black/grey realism, colour realism, and linework/stipple designs; however, I am open to other styles depending on the subject matter/theme. Both small and large-scale pieces are welcome, though I do have a particular fondness for full legs and full backs. 

Preferred subject matter and themes:

• flowers, foliage, and plants

• animals and insects

• human forms - portraits, full figures, hands, eyes, etc (can be specific individuals/characters, or otherwise)

• gothic and baroque architecture

• sculptures and paintings (from renaissance through to realism periods)

• mythology (particularly Greek/Roman)

• cultural (native Americans, etc)

• geographical (e.g. African Sahara, Amazon Rainforest, Scotland, etc)

• gothic/horror

• movies

• tv shows

• ocean/reef 

Realistic pieces from the above list that allow me creative freedom over the specific subject matter and layout will always be given priority. Some exceptions exist (e.g. specific flowers and animals), which are advised as necessary. I am also generally happy to accommodate specific exclusion/inclusion requests where possible (e.g. 'ocean theme but no sharks' or 'greek mythology but not zeus', etc).  

For linework/stipple shading pieces, I particularly love taking on flowers, foliage, plants, animals, insects, and mandalas or patterns. 

All design enquiries will receive a response; however, not all projects will be taken on. As I aim to focus only on designs within my preferred styles and subject matters, there are certain pieces I am unable to accommodate, including watercolour, Japanese, tribal, and Celtic. If I am unable to accommodate your request I will let you know and, where possible, refer you to a more suitable artist. 

Design Process:

Designs will only be started after an appointment has been made. In most instances I will provide two design options, which are viewed in person on the day of the appointment. Under no circumstances will I initiate a design without an appointment, nor will I provide a copy of any design through social media, text, email, or otherwise. There are several reasons why this is necessary, including:

• to prevent external influences such as your family, friends, and co-workers from making you doubt or change your choices and end up with a tattoo you regret

• to protect me from clients who want me to revise a draft an inordinate amount of times, or who may be unsure of what they actually want

• to protect me from clients who may take the design, that I've put hours of my free time and heart into, to find a cheaper rate or earlier availability elsewhere. 

As designs are completed during my personal time (e.g. before and after work, on my days off), please be clear about your design preferences in your initial enquiry, and provide at least two weeks' notice of any changes. While small changes (e.g. 'can we remove this flower' or 'can we add more leaves') may generally be accommodated during the appointment, large or re-occurring changes made at the appointment or with less than two weeks' notice before the appointment may incur additional fees or may forfeit your deposit and appointment. 

In terms of designing large pieces (e.g. full arm, leg, back, front), I prefer to design these in full before the first appointment as it allows me to achieve a more cohesive design. If you wish to add or extend a tattoo that has already been started, please keep in mind that it may not have the same visual appeal as a piece that was designed for the larger area initially. Similarly, redesigning a piece that has already been started may not be feasible. 

Please keep in mind that the reference images you provide serve as examples of your preferred subject matter, theme, style, etc. These images will not be copied directly, but serve as inspiration to create a unique and personalized design that both of us may be happy with. The exception to this is portraits of specific people or pets. For portraits, please ensure  you provide clear, high-quality images depicting the desired position (e.g. do not send a profile view of your pet if you want a front-on perspective).

FAQ

How do I book a consultation?

I do not accept in-person consultations unless I believe they are absolutely necessary. Generally they aren't necessary if you are able to provide all of the required information and photos in the initial enquiry form. That being said, if you strongly believe a consultation is required please contact me so we can schedule a specific date and time.

Do not show up at the shop unannounced as I may not be available and if I am, you will likely disrupt an existing appointment.

Do you have a cancellation list?

No, although changes to availability are communicated through the mailing list (subscribe at the bottom of this page), my Instagram channel, and my Instagram and Facebook stories.

Why haven't I heard back from you?

There's only three reasons you wouldn't hear back from me. Consider:

1. Have you contacted me through my enquiry form or our existing email thread? If not, remember that I only accept these methods for enquiries and bookings.

2. Has it been at least five business days? If not, keep in mind that I cannot always respond daily.

3. Have you checked your jump/spam folder? Sometimes emails end up there, even if we have communicated before.

If the answer to all three is yes, then please send a follow-up message enquiry form or email, as I haven't received your original one.

May I get tattooed if I am under 18?

No. Tattooing anyone under 18 is illegal, regardless of parental or guardian consent. Valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) must be provided to complete the consent/waiver form at each appointment. You are welcome to book prior to turning 18 provided the appointment falls on or after your 18th birthday.

May I bring a child, friend, or relative with me?

No. My booth space is incredibly limited, and as such your guests are likely to disrupt the tattoo process and get in the way of my neighbouring artists and their clients. Distractions are not ideal, considering the risk of cross-contamination and mistakes. Anyone you bring to your appointment, or anyone who shows up during your appointment, will be required to remain in the waiting area for the duration of your appointment.

May I get tattooed if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

No. Due to insufficient research on the safety to do so, I advise consulting your GP about potential risks, particularly if you have an allergic reaction or contract an infection. 

Do you do cover ups?

Yes, although I am incredibly strict about the cover ups I take on. If you would like to discuss a cover up please use the enquiry form and provide clear location photos taken parallel to the area in the appropriate section. Keep in mind that laser treatment may be necessary for effective cover-ups, and if so I can recommend a reputable local clinic.

Do you do reworks?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis. Please use the enquiry form to get in touch and provide clear location photos taken parallel to the area. It may also be helpful to know if there is anything specific you want to change (e.g. colours used), or if you simply want to freshen up the existing piece to make it look new again.

Do you tattoo over scars?

Yes, provided enough time has passed for it heal sufficiently. Depending on the severity, I may suggest waiting at least 12 months to allow for adequate healing.

May I use numbing cream or pain relief?

Oral pain medication taken before, during, and after the tattoo process is acceptable and even recommended; however, I strongly discourage the use of numbing cream. It can affect the tattoo and healing process and as such, it isn't covered under my touch-up policy nor any of my discount offers. I would much prefer you book according to your pain threshold, and take oral pain medication. If you choose to use numbing cream, please inform me before the appointment. 

Do you tattoo persons with ____ condition?

Please discuss any skin or medical conditions with your GP first. Skin or medical conditions affecting the tattoo or healing process will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You should also inform me of any mobility issues beforehand. 

Is your tattoo ink vegan?

To my knowledge all of the stencil products, tattoo and aftercare products, and ink I use are vegan.

Do tattoos hurt?

Yes. Pain levels vary based on the area, pain threshold, and your ability to zone out or endure it. Expecting some discomfort usually helps manage the experience, as I find most people who overestimate their pain threshold generally struggle.