yesterday I did a thing...
well... actually... I just sat there
and
James Hughes did a thing!
on Super Bowl Sunday I took a trip to downtown Bethesda and stopped by Bethesda Tattoo to get some ink that I had been wanting to get
now... I did not walk in
but I could have
as they do have "walk ins"
this was planned... this was scheduled...
I had an appointment just like someone gets an appointment for the dentist
James Hughes has been an established tattoo artist for decades
I know this because
decades ago James was recommended to me when I got my Star Tattoos
James was already an established tattoo artist when I got the stars decades ago
he only has more years and more tattoos under his belt since then
so in the fall when Dean and Grant were in the talking stages of their Brothers Tattoo Project I suggested James Hughes
to be honest... I recommend a few different people
I gave the boys options
I pointed Dean and Grant to a few different friends' tattoo artists Instagram Pages
they got to view the art of Mike King Tattoo, Shawn Brown of Whistlestop Tattoo, and then lastly James Hughes of Bethesda Tattoo
allowing them to find an artist who's work appealed to them
and that they felt would be best achieve their artistic tattoo goals
Grant was doing more research than Dean
all three of the artists have skills and styles that appealed to Grant
Grant liked the stuff by Shawn Brown
Grant liked the work by Mike King
and
you guessed it...
Grant also liked the art of James Hughes
in some ways... it was a toss up
all the artists worked in a variety of styles and could have met Grant's needs
Grant leaned towards James Hughes in Bethesda
to some degree... it may have been based on location
Baltimore was too far... Hyattsville is unknown to Grant...
Bethesda is where the grandparents live
location had Grant leaning in on Bethesda Tattoo
Grant looked more closely at James' work
Grant started to talk about his brother tattoo project with James
they talked over email about the image... the placement... the project...
Grant enjoyed the exchange with James
just as Grant was confident with James' skills after viewing his online portfolio
then it happened...
home for the Christmas Holiday from Boston University Grant made his tattoo appointment
I thought that the boys would go to the tattoo shop on the same day
maybe get the tattoos back to back
but it was not scheduled that way
Grant went over Christmas Break
James and Grant worked on the design together
then they made it happen
Grant enjoyed the experience
James has a cool "bed side manner"
Grant plays some guitar... James is a guitar player
etc. etc. etc.
I dropped Grant off and passed through
I am not sure what they talked about
but Grant did leave the tattoo studio very pleased with the ink on his arm and voicing that he liked James and enjoyed the whole experience
I think Grant walked out feeling like "James is my guy... that is my tattoo guy..."
I bet Grant will return to James for a future tattoo
James is a mixture of Tattoo Artist and Therapist
a week or so later Dean had his tattoo appointment
the boys each got a koi fish
the two koi fish stand alone
but together they form a Yin Yang
cool tattoo project
Dean is a different human being than Grant
so... he had a similar but different experience
Dean also enjoyed the tattoo experience with James Hughes
Dean is more of an introvert
which often keeps his opinions short
his synopsis of an experience can be as short as a sentence or even just a few words
Dean also enjoyed James Hughes
Dean was stoked about how the tattoo looked when it was done
all this tattooing in the house was exciting
I had been tattooed by James many years back
I had been wanting to get a cicada tattoo
so... when seeing James I mentioned this
James of course invited me to make an appointment
which I did
so... although I did not get a koi fish
I did get a tattoo on the same part of my body by the same tattoo artist
which sort of brings me into the brothers tattoo project
just as my boys were
I am stoked about the execution
the tattoo looks amazing
just what I was looking for
I had sent James a few images... it was a short discussion...
I selected the one I selected and James knocked it out of the park
the tattoo experience is funny
it is mood altering
it is a weird thing
something about it is mood altering
I am beyond pleased with the cicada tattoo by James Hughes
his talents are top notch
the size... the placement... it is clean and simple
it goes with my personal tattoo style
the boys are also excited about their tattoos
and really
their tattoos were more of a commitment
they are younger
their ink sneaks out of the short sleeve shirt
the tattoo is a life long commitment
there is an element of trust given to the tattoo artist
James Hughes has skills, taste, talent, and a professionalism that offers up a sense of calm and trust
I would recommend James Hughes of Bethesda Tattoo to anyone looking to get some ink
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