Mystic Art Tattoo

I don't know what kingrb88's problem is either. Here is the TRUTH...\r \r Tom & Brenda have been kind to me every time I've been near them. I've had 3 pieces done by Tom and, EVERY TIME, Tom has told me about how long it would take and what his current hourly rate was. I knew, going into the tattoo, what I would be charged per hour. He does NOT start the clock until he starts tattooing and I have NEVER had Tom charge me for more than his materials when he has to touch something up. That is a COURTESY he provides his clients with. It is NOT always the tattoo artist's fault that a client needs touch-ups. In my case, I have a lot of fine stretch-marks from my 3 pregnancies and tattooing over them causing the ink to feather a little bit. That is NOT Tom's fault. It's just how I heal. He has agreed, without hesitation, to touch up those spots for me... and I appreciate that. Also, Tom is a TRUE artist. He doesn't specialize in flash art. He specializes in custom pieces. He designs what will become a part of you forever. That is kind of awesome... seeing as there just aren't many people capable of doing that. So many tattoo ""artists"" only work off of flash... or are horrible artists. Tom just doesn't work that way. He believes in quality work and, again, I am thankful.\r \r If you still don't think Tom is worth seeing, consider this. My mother's first (and only) tattoo was done by Tom. I took her to him and I got a matching one. My son's first tattoo was also done by Tom. It is a large piece and was a custom design that Tom drew specifically for my son. He took into consideration that he was using almost the whole upper arm and that it was my son's first tattoo so he made sure to leave spaces in case my son wanted to add on later. He said he was making sure he still had some good ""real estate."" I don't think I've ever seen a tattoo artist that was concerned about that but I think it's awesome that he considers those things. My son's piece featured a very large feather and 13 birds. Tom ALSO designed a coordinating piece for me. He made me a feather with a ribbon tied around it to commemorate my son's 18th birthday. The idea is to add a feather (of a different type) for each of my daughters when they hit 18 too. It's a beautiful tattoo and I love that it has a future purpose. There is something to look forward to!\r \r Tom also did my largest piece...\r \r Look, I'm just saying... Tom and Brenda are loved by many. Tom's tattoos are proudly worn by many. His customers are RETURN customers and he refers to us as ""his people."" His only goal is to create beautiful art and, so far, I've only ever seen him accomplish that goal. His pricing is fair. His treatment of his customers is fantastic. Even better, he is an HONEST artist. If he doesn't feel comfortable with something, he tells you. For instance, if you want a tattoo on the bottom of your foot, Tom will tell you why that's not the greatest idea. He's not the type to take your money and give you a tattoo he KNOWS will fail. He has more integrity than that.\r \r No one is saying you HAVE to choose Tom but I think you'd be a fool if you didn't, at least, consider him for your next tattoo.\r more

When I first walked in to Mystic Art Tattoo I was greeted by Brenda. She was extremely nice and made me feel welcome. I showed her and Tom the design that I wanted and they both made suggestions about how it could be improved on. It is a rather difficult portrait of my daughter as a fairy in an oakleaf. I wanted lots of color and it to be large. I gave them the work and set up a time to come back and look at it. When I came back the drawing had taken a new life. It incorporated much of the original, but had been sized to fit onto my arm. When I went in for my appointment it was nice to be able to discuss the colors and details without feeling like I had no choices, as I have at other places. Tom was really nice during the whole process. My tattoo is rather large and we both decided it would be better done in two sittings. I am gladly going back to get it finished. As for the price, I think that Tom and Brenda are very fair. If you are going to get any kind of body modification done well, it should NOT be cheap. Trust me, I've gotten cheap tattoos and no of them come close to this one. I think the person that wrote about them having you come back to get more money out of you is probably an idiot. Tom has you come back because he wants to make sure the work is healing nicely and that it doesn't need to be touched up. If you buy a car and you bring it in for maintenance, do you expect it to be free? That is crazy. If you want world class work and in an intimate atomosphere, you should go to Mystic Art Tattoo. If you are getting a portrait you would be crazy to go anywhere else. They are the best. more

In 2007 I was stationed in the USA for 6 months conducting some training. I was based at Fort Lee Virginia, and decided to get another tattoo as a momentum of my trip to the USA, I wanted to surprise my wife with a portrait tattoo of her. I had a look around and after receiving some advice I sort out a tattooist that was recommended to me. I thought this would be a reputable tattooist but as it turned out I did not get what I was expecting, it was crap, I wanted it on my upper left thigh but he talked me into getting it on my upper left arm (that should have been the alarm bell). As you know it is hard to fix a tattoo once you have it. I then asked another tattoo shop Colonial Heights and ask if they could do a cover up and then do my portrait. There was no hesitation in being told that the best for portraits in Colonial Heights was a guy called Tom at Mystic Art Tattoo. I proceeded to find Mystic art and upon entering was greeted by Brenda (Tom?s wife) who immediately made me feel welcome and very comfortable. I explained my situation to her and she then asked Tom to take a look at my crap portrait and also the picture of what I wanted. Tom was more than helpful and more than willing to help me out with a cover up and a new portrait. I left the shop with an appointment and a feeling that I was actually dealing with someone who not only new there stuff but actually cared for me and what I wanted. I returned for my portrait on my upper left thigh and was not disappointed in Tom?s work he captured every aspect of my wife?s picture and every one that I show it to comments on what an excellent job it is. We spoke at length of what to do as a cover up for my crap portrait and as I am an Australian we decided to do a Ned Kelly (he was an Australian Bush Ranger). Tom did the research and came up with the design and once again I was more than happy with what he had come up with, so in the chair again for another tattoo and once again I was more than happy with his work. I was so happy with his work that I booked in for another tattoo, I already had a tattoo of a man riding a shark on my upper right arm, so Tom put some surf under him and a sun in the back ground, once again I was not disappointed in his work.I was so impressed with Tom?s work that when I returned to Australia, I felt that no one could match his work and did not want anyone else to tattoo me. My wife and I decided to take a holiday to the USA in 2010 and I just had to go and see Tom and Brenda and get another tattoo. For years I have wanted to get something in remembrance of my family history with the military so I sent a rough idea of what I wanted to Tom and booked in for another session. I knew that Tom would come up with something spectacular and was definitely not disappointed. Toms work is so detailed that every one I speak to comments on the workmanship. Not only is Tom?s work excellent but as a couple they are one of the most loving and caring couple that my wife and I have met. My wife and I feel that we have made a very special friendship with Tom and Brenda and still stay in touch with them even from Australia. I will not let anyone else in the world tattoo me now and am saving for another trip back to Mystic Art. I believe that the expense is well worth it and have already got ideas for my next tattoo. If you want crap work then do not go to Tom but if you want work that is outstanding and people will comment on then go and see Tom and Brenda, I promise you will not be disappointed. more

I am not sure what kingrb88's problem is, but Tom and Brenda are great people! Tom has brought two eight year old Corvette emblem tattoos back to life. He did such a great job that I had him do two more tattoos for me a month later. All of my tattoos are Corvette emblems and the National Corvette Museum logo. Tom has a rare ability to make these technical tattoos very accurate and realistic. His prices are very reasonable and his work outstanding! I strongly recommend talking to Tom before having anyone else do your ink work. more

After waiting until I was in my fifties to get my first Ink I found Tom at Mystic Art Tattoo to be the right artist for the job ! He is a true artist with vision that sees beyond what you think you want your piece too look like, and offers enhancements not for the sake of the almighty dollar but to give you a true piece of art . I also found him to have integrity that was lacking in other shops in the area , If you are looking for work from someone that could care less about the end result and is only interested in the next job then go to any of the other shops in the area. BUT if you want caring and quality work see Tom I believe you will come away very satisfied. more

I've had ""artists"" from all over the country work on my body, though as I got older I slowed down considerably and for the last half decade, stopped altogether. When I met and married my wife I wanted to give her something more meaningful than words (as well all know vows aren't necessarily what they used to be) and I found a picture I took of her and decided I wanted to have it tattooed on my chest. I looked around on the Internet, having only lived in VA for a few years, I didn't really know my way around. I found Mystic Art's site, perused the portraiture work and was amazed. I drove to the tattoo shop without an appointment and met both Tom and Brenda. I could tell right away that these were people that I wanted to work with. They were both so honest and open and friendly. I'd always heard that ""southern folk"" were kinder than those of us up north, but I'd never experienced any real difference until meeting these two. Tom looked over the picture and said that he would try his hand at a drawing and give me a call. Like the poor review above, Tom did not talk price, but that was because he wanted to make sure he could do the work! I instantly respected him for that. I have 28 tattoos on my body and some of them were done by people who ""promised"" they could do the work and then completely botched the job. There's nothing like wearing the work of a poor artist on your body for the rest of your life! Within a week I got a call from Brenda telling me that Tom had finished the drawing and I went in to see it. I was astounded--the drawing looked even better than the photo! I'd never seen anything like that before. I scheduled a 3-hour appointment for the next day at the industry standard rate of about $100 per hour. When I went in to get the work done I brought my wife, which probably made Tom a little nervous to be tattooing under the gaze of the person whose face is was putting onto my chest, but the work was brilliant! It took only two hours and was a very intricate piece (my wife has beautiful long and curly hair!) and I was so happy with it that I welled up. Within a week of the idea I had the first tattoo I ever considered ""art"" and a gift for my wife that no one had ever given to her before. I simply can't understand the negative review above. Maybe the reviewer doesn't understand what real artists do. Tom was as dedicated to my piece as though he were putting it on himself. Such care and consideration! I suppose if you're looking for an impulse tat, something cheesy like a heart on your ankle or a ""tramp stamp"" you could visit one of the dozens of shops set up in the same area as Mystic Art, but if you want something you're forever proud of, needled into you by a real artist--someone who will care for your tattoo as much as you do--then visit Mystic Art and talk with Tom and Brenda. You won't be disappointed! more

Ok heres the deal.. Tom and Brenda are very nice people. Maybe a little too nice? I've gotten work done by them and lets just say this place is a little hard to deal with. If Tom gets his mind on something that is completely different than what you actually want, its very hard to change his opinion and mind. And no one likes to sit there, and be criticized while getting a tattoo that YOU want that the artist just doesnt like personally or thinks his opinion on what you should get is actually better than yours. Each time you step in the door here you will fork out at the least $300. Thats a fact. Whether you are getting something big or small, your gonna be spending at least $300. They even charge for touch ups to existing tattoos that THEY did! I've never come across a place like this in my years. Dont get me wrong Tom is a damn good artist when he wants to be, but the reality of it is, is that your gonna get ripped a new a**hole when you deal with this place. He obviously has been around the block and knows his own tricks to get more $ out of you. He has his ways. Very rarely will you negotiate a price before hand. He always names the price after the tattoo is complete. And all too often he will start on a piece and leave it half finished, knowing that you must come back to him to finish it. Which will be yet another $300. When he knows and you know damn well that he could have finished this piece in one sitting. But no, a $200 tattoo turns into a $600 tattoo!! Just some words of warning, be on your toes at this place. Dont let them get you. My suggestion would be to bypass this establishment all together and find another artist. Pros: good artist when he wants to be Cons: BAD BUSINESS PEOPLE more

Tom is the talented artist that does the tattooing and Brenda is the very nice lady who does the appointments. I've had a few tattoos done by them and love the work. I have a back piece in progress that Tom designed. The detail and color are phenomenal! Pros: Professional, Friendly, Beautiful Work Cons: Wait for Appointments more