Tattoos by Mariella / Pet portrait tattoos

Pet portrait tattoos in Knoxville

Some of the best tattoos are for the animals who shaped us. Mariella draws custom pet portraits in her full-color neo traditional style: bold outlines, rich color, and a little bit of the personality that made them yours. She tattoos privately at Born This Way Body Arts on Kingston Pike in Knoxville.

Recent animal work

How a pet portrait comes together

Send photos with your idea. The inquiry form takes up to five reference photos. The most useful ones are sharp, well-lit and taken at your pet's eye level, plus one or two that show their markings and coloring clearly. A favorite expression or pose is worth including even if the photo isn't perfect.

Tell her what you'd like around them. Neo traditional portraits are usually framed with something: flowers from your garden, a favorite toy, a collar tag, a birth flower, or a simple shape that sets them off. A plain, close-up portrait works too.

Placement and size. Detail in a face needs room to stay readable as the tattoo ages, so most pet portraits land somewhere around palm-size or larger. Forearms, calves, upper arms and thighs are popular spots. Mariella will suggest a size that keeps the details holding up for years.

Memorial pieces. Many pet portraits honor an animal who has passed. That's welcome here, and there's no rush in the process.

Cost

Pricing depends on size, placement and detail. Mariella replies to every inquiry with a quote once she's seen your idea and photos. See the FAQ for general pricing and booking details.

Where

Born This Way Body Arts, 6911 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, in West Knoxville near Bearden, an easy drive from Farragut, Oak Ridge, Maryville, Sevierville and the rest of East Tennessee. Mariella works by appointment, Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, with other times possible when arranged in advance.