“We’ve got it all covered,” stated “Blue” Bounds of Albany, IL, owner of Sleeve Weasels Tattoo. Five ink artists each have a skin art design specialty, such as “Japanese, New School, memorials, or portraits.” He added, “We like realism a lot.”
Bounds and co-owner Adam Tyler, Clinton, IA, were business partners for six years in Clinton. Previously, their tattoo parlor was in the Quad-Cities. In mid-June 2014, they moved into 105 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, formerly the home of Opie’s Tats.
Bounds said their customers live in area small towns, from Prophetstown, IL, north to Sabula, IA. Now they are located “smack dab in the middle” of the client base.
The men work by appointment only, from noon to 8:00 p.m., each day of the week. Call Sleeve Weasels Tattoo at 815-772-9199 or stop in to view your possibilities.
Pictured left-to-right are Mike DuBois, Polo, IL; Bounds; Tyler; Kalin Pierce, Clinton. Rock Falls, IL, artist Gabe Tapia was not present.
How does one become a tattoo artist? All tattooers begin as artistic illustrators. Still, they need mentors to perfect this medium. Bounds said they need to enter an apprenticeship under a skilled inker, ususally for a year. “You do small tattoos, and work on friends.”
Seeing “The Look” is a gratifying. This is the tell-all smile when the customer first sees their new tattoo.
Who inks the tattoo artist? Bounds admits he did portions of his left, inner forearm, “the parts you can get to.” Obviously, he is right-handed. Most often the men seek professsional tattooists at conventions, or they travel to individual studios specifically. The bonus is they get a good tattoo and learn a few things watching the process. “It is a learning experience” and they “see techniques” that make them better.
Bounds’s body hosts a “collection” of skilled artists’ works.