Black Swan Tattoo Company Updates & Information
Straightforward content for the tattoo enthusiast
Irezumi goals can be achieved in Austin, Texas - one session at a time
We often see really inspirational photos of full body Irezumi tattoos from Japan, where it all began. It can feel out of reach, impossible, expensive… even painful to imagine the time and commitment it took to achieve. But how inspired are you to make it happen for yourself?
Large scale tattoo work requires a dedication to persevere, through the tedious minute after minute of needle annoyances on your skin. Whatever motivates you to get tattooed; to look cooler, transform, grieve, express yourself, add some color to a blank slate, to tell a story… it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of your plans. It all comes down to you in the tattoo room with your artist, pushing through discomfort to make your way to the finish line one session at a time.
A common concern when approaching a new large scale tattoo design is can I sit for a longer session? If you want it, you will - and you can prove to yourself that you are capable of doing hard things to get what you are after. Some people prefer to sit in the moment and relax to get through each appointment, others bring headphones and zone out to their preferred music, and of course the client who needs to talk a bit to distract themselves. Each person will find a way to make it happen, but it requires patience and follow through to get the results in those stunning photos of adorned, patterned bodies.
Once you have a concept in mind and you’ve considered options to land on a general idea - we offer a chance to discuss your tattoo goals at our studio; which is free and no obligation to move forward. Some people are ready to book right away, and others need time to mull things over before launching into a project; there is no pressure either way to commit. But information goes a long way; and gathering more details on what your plans include gets you closer to making them a reality.
If you are local to Austin, Texas and hoping to discuss your tattoo ideas; click here to find a time on our calendar to come in for a complimentary consultation.
For our traveling clients out of area, you can either submit an inquiry form here to start the process; or simply select a consultation appointment from the calendar and we can host a virtual call for clients out of area. You can also visit our FAQ page for general information and frequently asked questions in the meantime. We are here to help however - and if you haven’t read through our Google reviews from our awesome clients; scroll to the bottom of this page to read through some of our client’s experiences getting their large scale Japanese work done.
Testimonials from some of our large scale project clients on their experience making their tattoo goals happen with us.
Japanese Color Koi Tattoo Sleeve : finished in 3 full day sessions.
Double Koi Tattoo Sleeve: water and wind bar background with sakura blossoms.
A common question we get from new clients is how long does it take to finish a tattoo sleeve? There are many variables involved such as subject matter, the size of the person’s arm and the amount of detail the client has in mind for their overall style direction. But for something like this example of a Japanese inspired double koi sleeve (from wrist to the top of the shoulder) three full day tattoo sessions is an accurate estimate. The first session involves drawing the design on to fit the client’s body/musculature and tattooing the outline with some initial shading. The second session is dedicated to background and ongoing shading work. And in this case, the third and final session was adding color to the koi and cherry blossom elements. For the initial sleeve start session a full day booking is required to allow proper time to get the entire sleeve design laid out. But for clients who are newer to getting tattooed and a bit apprehensive to sit for additional full day sessions; it is easy to switch to half day visits for the ongoing work after the first full day to chip away until the sleeve is complete. Of course we always suggest a consultation to confirm the details for each client’s specific plans; so get in touch to get more information for planning your next tattoo!
Freehand tattoo sleeve finished in three full day sessions.
Custom tattoo sleeve featuring two koi fish, florals and background.
Austin Studio Tour
Black Swan Tattoo Company is the private studio of Jason Metka which relocated to the East Austin, Texas area from Oregon in 2023. With 19 years of professional tattooing experience, Jason enjoys crafting custom freehand designs drawn to fit the contours of each individual client. Creating an exclusive experience focusing on high quality work with customer service as our top priority. The first step is to schedule a consultation to discuss your project goals in person at our studio location. Consultations are complimentary and no obligation to book, simply an opportunity to get more details regarding your plan prior to making any booking commitment. If you’re looking for clean, professional, one of a kind tattoo work - we’d love to hear from you!
Freehand designs from start to finish…
After an initial consultation to determine each client’s goals for their project; the design will be drawn directly on the tattoo area the day of the appointment. Freehand designs custom fit for the individual’s body and ideas. For some this may be the first time they have had this freehand experience for a tattoo process. Over the years we have collected many videos and photos of the drawing process and how it translates to the finished product. This visual allows clients to get a better idea of where their project journey begins. Here are a few examples from beginning to end to showcase the final result of the freehand process! Excited to connect with our new clients here in Texas, get in touch to set up your consultation for future plans!
One year shop anniversary!
One Year Shop Anniversary - Black Swan Tattoo Company - Medford, Oregon Tattoo Shop
It’s been one year since we opened our doors for business here at Black Swan Tattoo Company and we couldn’t be more stoked! We are so grateful to all of our clients who have put their trust in our business and come through with rad projects. Thank you again for coming in to get tattooed, spreading the word about the work we do here and having a good time with us here at the shop! Looking forward to another year spent with great people making fun tattoos!
All photos courtesy of Hannah Bee Photography Collective - www.hannahbeephoto.com
Ongoing Project Progress…from Jason Metka
Large Scale Progress Project Update - Jason Metka - Black Swan Tattoo Company
Availability updates for Jason & Rok…
We are so excited that our visiting guest artist Rok has decided to continue making regular visits to tattoo here at Black Swan Tattoo! His specific future appointment availability will be announced as we secure the next trip’s dates each month. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Rok during one of his guest spots here at the shop; please reach out using our contact form with any specific reference images or details to allow us time to reach out to him to confirm the booking details.
As of 8/27/2021 our soonest tattoo appointment openings for Jason are going to be in December; although occasionally we have cancellations or clients needing to reschedule creating limited sooner session opportunities. We have adjusted Jason’s booking availability down to 4 days a week. As of October he will be working Friday through Monday, and the shop will be closed Tuesday through Thursday. Due to limited schedule availability and being booked out so far; we are currently unable to add smaller tattoo designs to the calendar as appointments. For smaller tattoo designs we consider more of a walk in design, we recommend calling the shop on a given day you would like to get tattooed to see if we are able to get you seen after our scheduled appointments for the day. As always, we are happy to answer any specific booking questions or inquiries regarding your plans. Feel free to reach out at any time using our contact form, email address, text or call to get in touch with Chloe directly for all scheduling needs.
Schedule Availability Updates…
Schedule Availability Updates - June 2021
Thanks to our dedicated clientele our soonest appointment availability is currently in August (as of 6/1/2021). If you are interested in starting a new project with Jason, we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as you are ready to come in to discuss your plans with a consultation. We are typically booking out about 2 months in advance, so keep that time frame in mind when considering your options.
Since starting Black Swan Tattoo Company in January we have been open 6 days a week, closed only on Tuesdays. However, we are now in the process of transitioning to being closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays as of August 2021.
Due to limited schedule availability and a high volume of inquiries, we are only able to take on larger projects to the calendar at this time. For smaller tattoos we would consider more of a “walk in” design we suggest giving us a call on a given day you would like to be tattooed to see if we have time to get you in after our scheduled appointments.
As always, we welcome any specific questions or inquiries via email, text or phone call to get more detailed information about your plans.
9 days to create Black Swan Tattoo company…
Creating Black Swan Tattoo Company
Having only nine days to get the shop remodel done was cutting it close, but we got it done! If you are in the area stop by and let us know what you think. Or give us a call to set up a consultation to discuss your new tattoo plans, see you soon!
