Charm City Tattoo

Reviews 5

KA

Kaitlin Yent

I contacted Jacki about a week before going in for my tattoo. She was very responsive, replying to my emails and returning my calls very promptly. I had been planning and designing my new tattoos for over a year and spent a few months looking for the artist I wanted in Baltimore. I spoke with several who didnt seem to care much about my appointment or my ideas. No one replied quickly , if at all, and no one seemed to want to have a conversation about my design--which was very specific and very detailed. Jacki was not only interested in my appointment, but very interested in my ideas and design. We had a great long phone call to talk about the initial ideas and make the appointment. I went in for my appointment with my own drawing and tons of photos of ancient works of art (im an art historian) that inspired my design. We took our time going over all the ideas and inspirations and started drafting right on my body to make sure I was happy with the size and proportions. There was no rush at all, Jackie was very professional and focused on me and my time with her. As an art historian who dabbles in art myself, I had a great time working with another real, true artist on this. Jacki has an incredible eye for aesthetics and was able to give me exactly what I wanted. She improved on my design without changing it--making sure the design was still mine. She helped me compromise on things I wanted that wouldnt work and gave me great advice that I dont think other artists are as honest about. The hygiene and safety aspects were the best I have ever witnessed and beyond reproach. Ive never spoken to another artist who took cleanliness and care so seriously--the way it should be. This is the only place to come in Baltimore if you want true artwork. Thank you, Jacki!

---

PA

Patrick Carroll

I was planning to get a tattoo for a long time and the time finally came. What I had in mind had a particular meaning - not something that every frat boy youve ever met has. I started hunting around for a place with a good reputation. I wound up going to a place in a hipster neighborhood with a cool sign out and a lot of flash on the walls. I talked to the artist whose work seemed most like what I had in mind. I talked to him for about 5 minutes, he said hed get back in touch, and a week or two later I gave up and started looking for somebody else. He did me a favor. I wound up finding Jacki. Her shop has no signs out, no generic tribal thiss and tiger thats on posters on the walls. The stuff that is on her walls is obviously her work, and personal. She will sit down with you with a pencil and a pad. She will balance what you want with what works. What you get, nobody else will have. It will be good, and it will be done by somebody who obviously cares a whole lot about the quality of her work. Youll even learn some stuff. And she has good taste in music. Turns out what I had in mind wouldnt have worked. What I got was cleaner, simpler, and more like what I wanted than what I wanted. My second is just healing in. Jackis just different. She put my first tattoo on and I expect shell put on my last. (That guy I talked to at the other shop? Finally got back to me weeks later. What he did was jam two ideas I had together with no editing or thought. And added some color. It looked like crap.)

---

JO

John Docherty

Both my wife and I got our first tattoos at Charmcity, and we were both really happy with the professionalism and expertise of Jacki. From beginning to end, the experience was excellent. Jacki talked in very clear terms about her expectations, listened carefully to what we were looking for, and simply made us feel comfortable that we were dealing with an artist who really cares about her work. I talked to Jacki about getting a lion rampant on my calf (the heraldic symbol for Scotland), and I brought examples of tattoos that were close to what I was looking for. Jacki then created a design that turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. She took the time to get to know me and tailored her artwork to my ideas. I never felt as though there was a disconnect between what I had in mind and what Jacki envisioned. My wife had a cherry blossom bough on her shoulder, and again the process was exactly the same. In fact the artwork on my wifes tattoo is the best Ive ever seen. The colors are perfect and the design great. One other thing that I also appreciated about the experience is that Jacki is meticulous with hygiene. She has very strict rules about her work area, and its clear she cares that everyone leaves her studio healthy and happy. Ive already been back for my second tattoo and will return for a third without hesitation (once Ive figured what that next one will be!).

---

CA

Caity Shaffstall

My boyfriend and I finally decided to get the first pieces of our "to-be" sleeves and opted to do this while visiting Baltimore for a show. Having never been to the city, we did our research and found Jacki... which has to be hands-down one of the best decisions we have made. Jacki is an artist that has been in the business a long time, and this shows not only through her art, but also in the way she relates to her clients. Jacki walked us through her process and explained that she does work she is proud of and will not compromise that for anything (which we greatly appreciated). She showed genuine interest and involvement through the entire back and forth process that we put her through as we decided on the artwork we wanted. :) - She is detailed with her work -Thorough with her research into her clients desires and personality -Prompt with returning emails/phone calls -and most of all true to herself, her art work and her beliefs. Highly recommended! Do not be turned off by the location either! While her new studio is in what appears to be a "different" side of town; it is a side of town that you might not have experienced had you not been led there by this wonderful, hidden gem of a business. -Highly Satisfied Clients Kent and Caity **Sorry it took us so terribly long to get this up online Jacki!

---

PC

PC M

Im pretty damn happy with my little tat from Jacki. I went in with a basic idea of what I wanted and together, Jacki and I refined it to be the image I wanted tattooed on my body. She was helpful in bouncing around ideas and was patient with my requests that wouldnt work (she explained why and we came up with other ideas that would work). I warned her that when we got to the actual tattooing I was likely to turn green on her, which I did, but she helped me power through it, all the while telling us some pretty damn funny stories (she is well traveled and has a lot of them!) and put in some good tunes (The Dead Can Dance, King Crimson, Bowie, etc). Evidence of her talent cover the shop walls and she has impeccable standards for keeping the shop and the equipment CLEAN and STERILE!! When you sit in her chair you get her full and undivided attention. She takes her craft seriously, which is refreshing in the glut of wanna be tattoo artists out there who I wouldnt trust with my art of my physical health. By the time I left I was a little sad because I felt I was leaving a new friend. Baltimore is not by a long shot, my favorite city or even a city that impressed me all that much but I would very much consider seeing Jacki for another project at some point.

---

---