Nathan Emery’s Dogpatch Tattoo

Very creative artist! Love Nathan’s understanding of Hawaiian tattoo designs. He was able to cover up an old tattoo. If you want a great artist who takes the the time understand your need them visit Nathan!

I was on vacation in San Fran looking for a tattoo when I cam across Nathan Emery. I was highly impressed with his traditional Hawaiian tattoos. I was interested in a quarter sleeve where I currently had an abstract Egyptian tattoo. I wanted a sleeve that would dress the space around and down my arm with the Egyptian tattoo at the core. Nathan and I met, discussed where I wanted the tattoo, and how I wanted the meaning from my Egyptian tattoo to be carried over into a design similar to his Hawaiian technique. At that time he began explaining the different meanings behind all the various bands and styles used in traditional Hawaiian tattooing. Together we embarked on a journey of understanding and meaning. I asked that Nathan freehand a tattoo using bands and a design that would captured the themes and meaning we discussed. The kicker, as many of you might know is a sleeve no matter the size takes time and Nathan was fully booked that day. I was only in town for another day and it was going to take about 7 hours by his estimation. We talked and he said he’d come in on his day off to do the tattoo. I was moved by his commitment and at that point knew I made the right decision. I came in the next day, and sat for 7 grueling hours at the end I had the most meaningful tattoo of all my ink. Nathan is a true tattoo artist, the kind people wish and hope for when they are seeking a great tattoo. The connection between him, the tattooing, and the customer’s vision is unparalleled. During the session we took a break, ate together, talked, and bonded. If I could give Nathan 10 stars I would but 5 is the most Unilocal will allow me to give. I am planning to fly back have the sleeve taken down to a half and who knows we might just keep going. Nathan stays in touch, offers a one time touch up, and is very good to his loyal customers. He takes great pride in his work and it shows.

About a year ago, I began my search for what I would consider to be the ideal artist — one who cares about the art they put on somebody else’s body, who will make suggestions to improve upon your ideas, and who will basically just be an artist when they work with you as opposed to somebody who is just churning out replications. After searching through MANY tattoo shops, I finally came across Nathan, who embodies the characteristics I spoke of earlier to a pin. Nathan is a trustworthy artist, and I felt comfortable telling him to be an artist and to basically have his artistic-​way with the ¾ sleeve I’ve gotten from him. He does phenomenal hybrid-​traditional Polynesian artwork, and every experience I’ve had with him has been thoroughly enjoyable — overall I’m extremely glad that I went to Nathan for this work, and I would recommend him to anybody who is looking to work with a creative, trustworthy, and honest artist — and I look forward to getting more work done with him. Thank you Nathan!

Words cannot express what i think of your artistic eye or brain. I appreciate you making my idea (for my tatt) into something mind blowing! Making it the way it is, turning out, it’s spectacular, a forever, sick ass, fuck yeah, incredible, beautiful piece! I’m totally in love with my tatt! Thank you SO MUCH!