Words: Flo Balderson
Injecting ink into my body isn’t a new experience, but this time, it felt different right from the start. We kicked things off with a concept meeting, which gave me space to ramble and try to articulate the picture I had in my head. Travis was incredibly patient, staying with me through my long-winded descriptions.
At one point, I paused mid-blab to realise he’d already mocked up an entire mood board based on everything I’d said. From there, he sent me three different versions of the design, each photoshopped onto my arm so I could get a clear sense of how it would look. It was such a thoughtful detail and it made me feel completely involved in the creative process.
The majority of my previous tattoos have been impulsive, random holiday decisions. But since moving back to Jersey late last year and turning 26, I felt ready to commit to an artist, someone I could trust, and bounce creative ideas off. We quickly bonded over the therapeutic potential of mushrooms and shared some nerdy, deep-dive chats.
When the day finally came, I arrived at the studio, excited but slightly nervous. There is always a bit of pre-tattoo jitters when you are waiting to see something you’ve imagined come to life in such a permanent way. But I felt calm the moment I walked in. Travis greeted me alongside his gorgeous dog, Cyrus, and the space instantly put me at ease. Bright and warm, it was the complete opposite of the stereotypical dark, intimidating studios we all grew up with. No stuffed crows here, just a big pink sofa and lots of herbal tea.
The studio really reflects Travis: calm, kind, and chill. His energy carried into the whole session. I even noticed that he uses recyclable paper for his clinical materials instead of the usual disposables. It’s a small detail, but it shows how much thought he puts into everything, not just the art. As we prepped, we looked at a few stencil sizes together. He gently explained how each one would heal and suggested a size without being pushy. He kept reminding me it was my tattoo, and that I needed to feel happy with it.
Once the stencil was in place and we were both happy, we got started. I lay in a comfy position, and we chatted while he worked. His technique was super gentle, and with numbing cream, I barely felt any pain. The two hours flew by. There is a level of trust that you must have with your artist which is like no other, particularly when the tattoo is important to you.
I chose to have a butterfly tattooed, we decided on a paper kite butterfly, also known as a rice paper butterfly. The paper kite represents metamorphosis and freedom from limiting beliefs or emotional burdens, a reminder that transformation can be peaceful and unhurried. It does not always require struggle. That you are free to fly exactly as you are, in all your authentic beauty.
From start to finish, the whole process has been seamless, I’m already planning more pieces at Seven Tides Tattoo Studio. I couldn’t recommend Travis enough, his professionalism, artistry, and energy make him a brilliant tattooist.
@seventidestattoo / seventidestattoo.com
