I started collecting tattoos in 2013 and I haven’t really stopped. However, you would think that I would already have completed my first arm sleeve by now, eight years later, but it’s quite an expensive vice. Plus, it’s so freakin’ painful. It’s not true that it gets better the more you get tattoos. The physical pain seems to worsen, but thankfully, the magic remains the same.

While I don’t consider myself heavily tattooed yet, I’d like to call myself a tattoo collector with an immense respect for my tattoo artists. They are dear to my heart, and I’m taking this opportunity to put the spotlight on them. 

 

Ann Savage

Recommended designs to get from her: Portraits, realism, colored, feminine and soft

I have two pieces from Ann: a tiny swallow on the left side of my neck and a lighthouse on my outer forearm. The latter holds a profound meaning that marks a freak accident I had that could have easily taken my life if not for God’s mercy and grace.

Both pieces are supposed to be done in the American traditional style, but since Ann’s expertise is realism and portraits, they are definitely not strictly American trad, but merely inspired. Even if Ann’s strength is not up my alley stylistically, I still wanted her to be the one to do my lighthouse for a special reason: she is a good friend who happens to be one of the best tattoo artists in town.

This is also a testament to her versatility as an artist and a solid stamp on our five-year friendship. Our sessions are always a joy because the pain is somewhat overshadowed by our non-stop chitchat and her warm, motherly energy. When she’s not at work or judging tattoo contests, she’s at home with her five kids or keeping her wellness routine with yoga. 

Instagram: @annsavagetattoo | Contact: +63 917 720 5846

Joe Black

Recommended designs to get from him: Wall-to-wall colored 

Joe Black, Ann’s husband, is the total opposite. He is super quiet and has earphones on while he works. Well, at least for my piece that he worked on for nine hours straight. He did my first large piece: the four roses on my upper shoulder and arm. He designed the artwork and packed in the color, while Anthony did the linework in the first and previous session. The flowers always get people’s attention because of their dark tones and striking placement. Joe shines in wall-to-wall colored pieces with red as the main color, which he can pack in really well.

Don’t let his RBF fool you; he’s a very nice and soft-spoken stand-up kind of guy. We’re always greeted with his shy smile whenever we visit their shop. He also spends the majority of his time managing and running several branches of their apparel company, ASTee. Check them out!

Instagram: @joeblacktatto0 | Contact: +63 917 720 5846

Anthony Gargoles

Recommended designs to get from him: Anything that requires achingly perfect lines or circles (the bane of every tattoo artist)

Anthony is one of the artists in the Ann Savage shop. When he did the lines on my flowers, he was just starting out. It lasted for six hours and it was the start of him realizing his great potential. He’s a tattoo artist who works slowly but surely with results that you’re always certain will come out as excellent.

If crisp, clean lines and unmistakable technical application are what you’re looking for, Anthony is your guy. He’s basically a human printer. Anthony has a very light aura about him with his perpetual smile and laidback personality. He really doesn’t seem to get bothered by anything. 

Instagram: @anthonygargoles| Contact: +63 917 720 5846

Coimax

Recommended designs to get from him: Illustrative, biomechanical, black work, black and grey, big pieces (i.e. for the back and sleeves because he likes doing them)

The first tattoo I got from Coimax was unplanned, while the second one needed all the planning in the world. It’s one of the latest pieces I have, which is a vibrant yellow-green snake that coils around and fills the awkward spaces in my forearm. Stenciling it on my skin was really a challenge and he took his time to make sure the placement was correct.

I have such a deep appreciation for his creative process because he likes to listen to his clients’ stories and ideas while contributing his own professional artistic opinion. Also, I’m so grateful he said yes to my design because the focus of his practice is really black and grey with his blacks richer than usual, bringing amazing contrast to his pieces.

While his work is dark and intense with palpable energy, he can be an old-fashioned romantic as well. He did Carlos’ (my boyfriend) cross tattoo, among others, which was meant to be matching with mine, and he was clearly inspired by it, teasing us endlessly. Despite our heads shaking and my eyes rolling, the outcome has always been excellent. I believe he is underrated and that everyone needs to know his name. 

Instagram: @coimaxtattoo | Contact: +63 999 438 4747

Rheed (Lauronilla)

Recommended designs to get from him: American traditional

The sole piece I have from Rheed is an American traditional gypsy woman, designed by Carlos – his name is going to come up a lot on this article – on the lower part of my arm, sitting right above my elbow. It’s the first trad piece I have that defined the theme for my first arm sleeve. I haven’t followed the theme to the T, but c’est la vie.

I’m just happy we have a tattoo artist in Cebu who specializes in American traditional, a style that is very rich in history and has also evolved over the years. Rheed clearly gets this aesthetic with his work reflecting the dynamism of it. He’s also such a cool guy who cycles a lot when he’s not drawing on people with needles.

Instagram: @rheedish | Contact: +63 977 470 3369

Kiyo (Tawara)

Recommended designs to get from him: American traditional flash (“Flash” means he has pre-existing designs you can choose from.)

My other legit American traditional piece is by Kiyo, who’s based in Manila. It’s a medium-sized rose on my inner forearm and it’s probably one of my favorites. I had it done during the Savage Ink International Tattoo Convention at one of the city hotels here in Cebu last 2019. It was a different, yet neat experience for me as I picked from his flash sheet on the day just like how you would in American traditional tattoo shops.

To say the experience was especially painful would be an understatement. In true trad style, it was done very quickly and the needles used were very thick for them heavy lines. The satisfaction I felt when the two and a half hours were over was heavenly because the rose turned out to be beautiful in a style I really love. With Kiyo, #boldwillhold indeed!  

Instagram: @kiyoxmag | Contact: kiyomag.art@gmail.com

Daniel “Sandino” Lezama

Recommended designs to get from him: Black and grey, realism

Based in Dumaguete, this tattoo artist-slash-gamer is an unassuming and shy fella. He spent a few years tattooing in Sweden, where he certainly picked up some tricks. Dino, as we call him, did one tiny tattoo on me (a sword piercing through paper) designed by Carlos again, and a raven on my inner forearm, which was a cover-up of a previous script tattoo that I shall not expound on. (He did most of Carlos’ left arm sleeve also.)

Dino is a jack of all trades, jumping from one style to the next with finesse. However, his black and grey work is truly something else. There’s not much to say about this man of a few words except that he is as reliable as you’d want a tattoo artist to be. 

Instagram: @sandinota2 | Contact: sandinotattoo@gmail.com

Carlos “Los” Canga

Recommended designs to get from him: Illustrative, neo-Japanese, neo-American traditional

I told you his name would come up a lot. (Confused? Scroll back up to #4 and #5.) Aside from designing tattoos for me, he has now been literally putting them on me. So far, I have four pieces from him with an additional one or two more coming before we proceed with my left arm sleeve.

Of the four existing ones is an unfinished American traditional hand holding a love letter on my inner arm, my most dreaded area to be tattooed. It’s been pending completion for three months now simply because I do not look forward to going through the particular pain it brought. It wasn’t just physical, but also emotional. Being tattooed by your significant other can stir up complicated feelings; it’s the weirdest thing. It’s like giving and receiving hurt to and from your loved one willingly. I can’t explain succinctly.

Anyway, despite all that, Carlos does beautiful original, illustrative work. I may be biased, but he has the portfolio to back it up. He’s been drawing all his life but has only been tattooing since February of this year. I mean?! (He’s going to hate me for this.) Being the committed geek that he is, he pores over each design with an almost manic focus, resulting in thoughtful pieces that have his heart and soul. 

Instagram: @loscarlostattoos

I hope this list gives anyone out there thinking about getting a tattoo an idea of where to go. The listed individuals are a huge part of my tattoo journey (ugh, it sounds so cheesy) and I am forever grateful to them.

There’s one more artist I’d like to collect from to complete my right arm sleeve, and that’s none other than Carlo “Crol” Gabiana, whom Carlos got his start with actually, which is such a blessing. My elbow ditch is the only part that’s left empty because it’s a challenging area to tattoo. However, it’s probably how fate deemed it to be because I heard Carlo say he likes tattooing that particular area. I’ll leave the reason to him. My confidence in his work is already a given because, needless to say, he can do any style as well as the next hands down.

This is just the beginning of a bright future for my body and the (most likely) full suit it will have. I can’t wait to collect more from these tattoo artists again or from others I look forward to knowing. ‘Til then, I have Carlos, which isn’t a bad deal at all.