House of Tattoos is Privately Open to the Public

Layers of clothes are coming off quicker than ever this season and this weekend House of Tattoos gave Toronto a reason to show off some extra skin.  Via Facebook last week, a message unveiling the details of a “Tattoo party” event struck our Curiousity.  Offering simple tattoos for low prices to celebrate the opening of a private studio in Corktown (22 Bright Street, just east of Queen and Parliment),  Kay and I (Dominique) clicked attend to find out what this new place was all about.  Whenever you see a business in a house usually your first impression is “how sketchy…” For this studio though, that was NOT the case, as soon as we walked in the door we were among friends. The walls were red and black, and unlike the typical downtown shop, there was nothing tribal framed on the walls or snake tanks weighing down the room. It was relaxing. We had a great chat in a warm environment and the artists were engaging and friendly. The passion in their voices and the banter about their art was a nice change from the peircingly cold and unfriendly studios of the past. They describe the fulfillment they get from happy masterpieced clients and really emphasize a love for their careers and their craft.

Karen AKA Kitty Sixx, closed down Sister Salvation, her all girl tattoo shop in the west end last winter and traded it in for a home studio just off the beaten Queen Street East path. Rocking a badass Junko Mizuno pony girl on her sleeve and confident in her work, Kitty “got sort of tired of the whole shop mentality”. Together,  she and her business partner Josh are “pushing away from the standard ideas of tattooing and focusing more on bringing art back to people.” They’re really into custom work and with the rise of private tattoo studios in the city, House of Tattoos is a great alternative to the cliché ‘airport’ style downtown shop. Nestled between the homes of a jewelry designer and a musician, and at the crook of Corktown’s whirly and historical Bright Street, they cater to the masses. “We get a lot of working, middle class types coming through and we’re able to offer much more affordable pricing. Shops charge a lot and we don’t have that overhead anymore. It’s really nice. ” Like guerilla rock shows, this environment focusses less on business and more on art.  “I kinda felt like running a shop was more like babysitting. There’s no rush feeling anymore. I’m a lot calmer now and can sit up late and draw at night.”  “If you get a good tattoo you’re going to tell a hundred people, if you get a bad tattoo you’re going to tell a thousand people” a reminder from Josh.  Judging by their canvases, House of Tattoos is in the know and worth the trek east.

If you want to get inked in a welcoming and warm environment, stroll over to Bright Street (just east of Queen and Parliment) and see Josh or Karen or shimy shout at (647) 688-5245 to book an appointment. We highly recommend this studio, believe your eyes.