War Horse Tattoo

Dana is incredible! Did some color work on my back and he made the color mix perfect to turn out correct under my skin. I was apprehensive at first but it turned out to be even better than I imagined. I never wanted to get more than one tattoo but my experience with Dana was so great that I’m considering it now!

This review is LOOOONG overdue! From my earlier review, you know that I did not get my tattoo from O’Reilly’s in Santa Cruz. Instead, I met with George after an exhaustive search on who I would allow to give me, my one and only tattoo.
I made an appointment with George and as soon as I walked into his «office», I knew that he was the guy for me. He had all the requisite reference material and posters that told me he was the man for the job. After talking to him and having him draw out a sketch for me, my hunch was confirmed. He NAILED it.
First of all, George is a cool ass dude. The kind of guy you could sit back, have a beer with and shoot the sh*t. For the MANY hours we were there, we talked about everything from family to Star Wars to Walking Dead to me just silently crying in pain. No judgments!
The shop itself is IMMACULATE. I had no qualms about bringing food in there and having chowing down. Be nice to your artist, if you’re going to be there for a long time, bring him some food.
I’m not gonna lie, getting a tattoo HURTS, especially where I got mine, but the end result was worth it. I cannot recommend George enough. IF I were to ever get another one (not likely), he would be the person I would entrust.
BTW, by now, you may be wondering WTH my tattoo was, so I’m posting a picture. In case you can’t see it, it’s a cross between Dungeons and Dragons and Star Wars… Geeked out, I know.

Great job on my hibiscus! And it shows on my dark skin! Lol. Clean and professional attitude here.

I got my first tattoo in April of 2015 by Greg! Everything went smoothly and the place is so clean! I’m definitely going back to Greg for my next one. Also, it was priced super fairly!

I have two tattoos now from Greg dyer, and plan on getting as many more as I can from him! Both of the tattoos he did on me healed flawlessly, and the colors are super bright as well as rich. He also told me of a totally different way to heal my tattoos that nobody had ever told me before, and that helped a lot!
The shop is beautiful, as you can see in the photos, and Greg is also a very talented painter, you should ask to see some of his stuff… And maybe if you’re lucky you might even be able to purchase one.
Greg will take the time to make you a nice tattoo no matter how big or small you’re wanting it, and he’ll make sure you’re comfortable through out the entire process. He also has a great sense of humor which helps, because being tattooed by someone boring stick in the mud jamoke is just awful.
You can find him on Instagram like I did to see more of his portfolio. His name on there is @tacomonster
Everyone else in the shop is also overly nice and super talented. All the tattoos I saw were amazing.
You can’t go wrong at warhorse!

5+ stars all around! Super professional, thorough, clean, friendly and reasonably priced. Cannot recommend Dana and Greg enough! I got tattooed by Greg and my sister had Dana. Both of us were very impressed and will definitely be back for more in the future!

I had decided to get my first tattoo & came to war horse tattoo & spoke with Greg, he gave me some very good information on the tattoo placement I wanted. I went back the next weekend & had my first tattoo done. shop is very nice, very clean & organized & Greg is very nice. I had a great experience!

I got my first tattoo done here by the owner, Greg. Super cool, super chill guy, took me as a walk-​in, but I suggest making an appointment unless you don’t mind waiting. I went in around 2:30pm and he had me come back at 7pm. He was still working on another guy and I ended up waiting 45 minutes. But I’m super patient so I didn’t mind at all. It gave me a chance to get use to the sound of the equipment, and there was paperwork. Not alot, just some basic questions about yourself and making sure you weren’t on drugs or drunk. I just got something super simple, an outline of a butterfly on my wrist, to see what it felt like. Greg was really gentle, so the pain wasn’t nearly that bad. The shop itself was super clean. They only do tattoos so it’s really quiet. The shop is located right on the corner of Parker and Telegraph, so they have nice big windows which I liked because I went by myself and I didn’t feel closed in, or like they were going to take advantage of me. I made sure to give him a big tip for working me in, and being so nice, he was very appreciative. I’d definitely recommend this place. I’m for sure gonna go back for another one.

I just got my first tattoo done by Dana and it was amazing. He took my design and concepts and turned them into a masterpiece. He was very calm and collected the entire time which soothes any rattled nerves (not that mine were I swear). I also like how he isn’t afraid to give his opinion on the piece. Dana gave just enough guidance to combine our visions into one. I can’t wait to go there again for my next piece!

Where to start…
First, the shop is incredible. It’s huge, clean, and comfortable.
The artists and staff are all pretty friendly and chilled out. They took me as a walk-​in, Greg drew up a sketch for me based on what I’d brought in, and he nailed it. He helped steer me away on my design in the areas where it wouldn’t work, and really amped up the things that were important to me (a really striking bright blue).
I was really satisfied with the whole process. Greg did fantastic work, and he did it quickly. He’s a pretty calming presence when you’re being tattooed as well.
I think for the quality of the work they did the price is a steal. I’ll definitely be back to have Greg do some more tattoos for me.

I can’t comment too much. I don’t know tattoo shops. I know this one is huge, clean, beautiful and well-​appointed.
I came in today, on a whim, and got my very first tattoo from Dana. Dana is the absolute man. First of all, he was so, so gracious with me being a first-​timer. He says he loves working on first timers. So I got there at the right time.
Dana knows dark skin. I’m Latino, so I’ve always been a little wary about doing a tattoo just on a color basis. But he did a very nuanced blue that goes from dark to pop and I love really really love. It’s going to darken, but he’s already accounted for that.
All in all, very happy. I’m so lucky that my impulse happened to come to me in front of such a great shop.

Love Warhorse and Cameron Miller!
This review was written based on my first experience.
I arrived at warhorse after scouring the internet for the perfect artist for my first tattoo. I was looking for a realistic yet animated style and good shading work/​color usage.
The shop itself is decorated with all kinds of artwork, including some of zombies and LOTR images, and (my favourite) a taxidermy bat above George’s station. Cozy waiting area, too!
Cameron was available when I walked in and we discussed the modified version of the image I had brought in and was hoping to get inked on me. I was nervous because 1. It was my first tattoo 2. I wasn’t sure how to communicate in a concise way how I wanted to modify the image/​what details were particularly important to me, and 3. It was art done by an artist and I wanted the image to look right but wanted Cameron to be able to put some of his flair in the piece.
After talking with him, he drew up the image and we started tattoo-​ing. He is wicked rad and chatty but focused on his work, which is arguably the best way to pass time in a situation that can be uncomfortable.
I was SO HAPPY with the piece when it was finished. I still love it and remains my first and favorite tattoo. Cameron has done all four of my pieces and I actually won’t see anyone else since I’m terrified to let anyone else ink me.

I had the honor of getting my first tattoo ever done by George Campise. I did a TON of research (like years worth) and I knew he was the one even though the artwork I wanted isn’t his usual style. George was very accommodating with my ideas and it took several months before I could get an appointment. During that time, I changed my mind on the artwork and introduced a totally different concept to him because I wasn’t ready to have my first tattoo be as big as the original design I wanted. George was kind enough to make the changes without charging me more and was very nice about it.
I was nervous the day of the appointment, but George’s laid back attitude and gorgeous shop put me at ease. When it came time to tattoo, George walked me through the process and the tattooing itself was actually very relaxing. The artwork is exactly what I wanted and more and I couldn’t be happier! It healed perfectly with no issues and I have sensitive skin too.
I love Warhorse and even though Berkeley is an hour drive for me, I plan to come by in the next few weeks to get a really small tattoo because I know whoever I get there will be quality. Thanks George!

Got my first tattoo here the other day! Super professional — Im so glad I went here for my first tattoo. Pricey compared to tattoo parlors in other cities but this is a college town so I wasnt expecting to get a good deal.

4.5 stars, easy.
Cleanest, gorgeous tat shop. It’s more like an art gallery than an ink joint.
Paul Bosch is the man– I love his black/​grayscale work, and his style matched what I wanted my black swan to look like. I was going for a traditional style with feather detail and just a pop of color and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.
The artists are all so nice– no nonsense and you could tell they all work well together. $ 100 deposit that applies to your last session. Mine took two sessions and takes up pretty much my bicep and top of the shoulder. Spent about $ 800 total for custom work, including tip. Pricier than other shops, but you get what you pay for and it’ll be on you for-​evuuurrr (sandlot voice).
With that being said, I took ½ a star off for not accepting debit/​credit cards. It’s a bitch to be carrying all that cash or getting cash from the 7 – 11 across the street. I hate carrying more than $ 40 at one time. I could see it becoming a bigger deterrent for me if I took public transportation. 2 hour street parking, both metered and unmetered options.
I haven’t gotten any smaller tats or flashes here, but I’m assuming the hourly rate/​price would be different.
Check them out!

Awesome place to get a tattoo. Shop is run by some solid professional people, and has great artwork! Cam Miller has done a few pieces for me and they’ve all turned out really nice! Stop in and check it out.

I’ve walked past War Horse Tattoo so many times, entranced by the beautiful store behind the shaded windows and WHT motif on the door. I knew for my first tattoo, I wanted to get it done here. Could not be happier with my experience!
The first thing about War Horse Tattoo is that the store interior is GORGEOUS. Beautiful gothic artwork in ornate frames, ceiling-​to-​floor mirrors, long black curtain drapes, tasteful rock music selection… even the bathrooms are beautifully designed, with art pieces, aromatic reed diffusers, and plush paper towels. If you’re sensitive to your surroundings, War Horse Tattoo really sets the mood to get something beautiful on your skin.
Additionally, this parlor is SANITARY unlike other shops that have a grungier vibe. The counters are so clean you could probably lick them. Sometimes when I walk past War Horse Tattoo when they’re closing, I see them cleaning up– they look borderline paranoid about it, which in my books is a good thing.
Next, the ARTWORK is truly breathtaking. Their artists have portfolios that you can flip through while waiting. The details, coloring, and shading are actually like paintings recreated on bodies.
A few tips:
— Drop in for a free consultation first, they’re very open and honest about giving feedback on your ideas and letting you know what to expect
— Store minimum price of $ 100, no matter the size
— Can make an appointment with a $ 100 deposit, but honestly I was able to walk-​in on a Saturday with no problems at all, so advance booking doesn’t seem necessary
— I worked with Cameron. I was very set about what design I wanted, so he didn’t have any artistic licence, but he was a pleasure to work with anyways. Cameron accepted credit card

What else can you say about this place? It’s freckin’ awesome! I now totally understand why there are so many 5 star reviews after going here.
First off, I love the tattoo I received from Cameron. I walked in on a Saturday afternoon, he greeted me and I told him I was a newbie but had an idea of what I wanted. He looked at the artwork I provided and said no problem. I came back the following Tuesday to get it done.
The shop is beautiful, spotless and very sterile. I actually think it’s cleaner that most doctor’s offices. What I love about this place is they only do custom work… you won’t find a book of images to choose from. This enables you to be creative and come up with something that truly represents you. Cameron understood I was new to this and answered all my dumb questions. Once he was finished, he gave me a really informative after care card to take with me and and recommended some specific brands for me to get.
Cameron did a kick ass job and I’ve already referred him to a friend of mine. The only issue I have to deal with now is my mom isn’t speaking to me since she didn’t want me to get a tattoo. She freaked out when she saw the video of me getting «inked» on Facebook. LOL!
Thanks Cameron and War Horse! You guys ROCK and I’ll be back for more «ink» before you know it. Oh, and this time I won’t Facebook it so mom won’t know. :)

When I took the bandage off my first rib tattoo, I cried because of the disappointment in what I was looking at.
When I took the bandage off my NEW rib tattoo (a coverup) by Steve, I cried because it is so beautiful and perfect.
It feels like everything fell into place so I could get this beautiful piece done. I didn’t have an appointment, but decided to try for a walk-​in anyway. I really wanted to get the moon (as it looked on a certain night that means a lot to me) on my ribs to cover up something else that wasn’t originally done the way I’d wanted. Steve was free and after a few minutes with my reference photo, he was ready to start. I thought I had an idea of how painful a rib tattoo was gonna be, but I definitely underestimated it. Steve was super cool with me being kind of a wuss about it. After taking a break, we got to talking enough to kinda refocus me on something else, and the last bit was much easier to get through than I think it would’ve been had I not been distracted.
Steve did an AMAZING job. I’m literally giddy with excitement at how good my moon looks. I went in thinking I’d get something more photorealistic, but nervous about it looking too harsh. Steve used opaque greys and the style looks sort of painted (that’s the best way I can describe it). I didn’t realize it until I saw it after we were finished, but this is EXACTLY what I wanted. This tattoo means so much to me and I can’t imagine how devastated I’d feel if it didn’t turn out right. But thank god everything came together just right. Cause I am IN LOVE with my moon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As my epic road trip was winding down, I wanted to get a tattoo to remember this trip by. I searched all over Berkeley and decided to come by War Horse and we couldn’t have made a better choice.
Without calling or making appointments, I didn’t expect to be able to get anything done at such late notice. I stopped in anyway at almost closing time and met with Cameron and Paul who are both totally AMAZING and awesome to stay late and work with what I wanted. They are both super nice, hilarious, patient and talented.
War Horse, as everyone here has already mentioned, is extremely clean, comfortable, and very spacious. You can definitely tell they have put a lot of effort in every little detail with this place. This may be silly, but I really appreciated that their «after care» instructions wasn’t just photocopied on a cheap piece of paper. :)
I live in So Cal, but will definitely come back to Cameron for future ink. ;)