Today we’d like to introduce you to Tye Harris.
Hi Tye, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My tattooing journey began 20 years ago at 19 years old. Growing up homeschooled in West Texas and then near Victoria, I never took art classes, but once I discovered music and tattoos, a whole new world opened up for me. I taught myself to tattoo (not the right way to do it, folks!). Once I realized it could be my escape from a factory job and I could make a living, I made my way into a shop. From there, I eventually found my style and spent many years traveling to conventions and shops around the world to put myself out there & learn from some of the best. My wife, Becca, and I met at a tattoo convention on the Queen Mary in Long Beach in 2014. I was already living in Kyle, and after a couple years of continuing to travel, we knew opening a shop here just made sense. Since then, we’ve seen countless talented resident and guest artists call our studio home, as well as meeting some truly wonderful and loyal clients we now call friends. We set out to create a top notch tattoo experience for every guest that walks through our doors, and it’s been a privilege to be part of a great community that values and appreciates small businesses.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think any small business owner can attest to the unique stresses that come with the job, especially if your business made it though covid, so we’re certainly not immune to that. Looking back, when we opened our doors in 2016, there was a fair amount of ignorance about running a successful business. That being said, I’m not sure we would have created what we have if it wasn’t for the initial naïveté.
The important thing for us has always been adaptability and a willingness to learn. Our focus has always been fostering community amongst our clients and team. That mindset has made tackling the difficulties manageable. It’s by no means easy everyday, but working alongside people you love definitely helps.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in black and grey realism and portraits, so that connection to people has always been something I appreciate with the job. Any tattoo artist can attest to the connection client and artist share, but there’s something really profound and meaningful about creating a portrait of a loved one or bringing a meaningful image to life on the skin.
There’s something deeply therapeutic about honoring someone that way, so it’s always a privilege to be a part of that. Whether it’s a family portrait or working on a wildlife sleeve, getting to know my clients and hearing their stories is one of the things I appreciate most about the job. Amongst a sea of talented artists, if there’s anything I’m most proud of that’s out of the norm amongst tattoo shops, it would be valuing these relationships outside of professional duties and encouraging my team to do the same.
What matters most to you?
The goal is always to deliver a positive & memorable experience for each guest, from the quality of the tattoo to ease of scheduling, it’s really important to us to make the experience of getting a tattoo as painless as possible. In order to be successful, it’s important to always be looking to the future. So we aim to create loyal customers that will continue to visit us for many years to come. Despite living in the era of social media, we take great pride in many of our referrals still coming from word of mouth. So, going above and beyond when it comes to customer experience has always served us well.
Life is hard enough. Getting a tattoo should be a fun break from reality, but it’s also an intimate experience. Fostering relationships while valuing the artistry is something we hope sets us apart.
Pricing:
- $50-$500 deposit to schedule
- $100 shop minimum
- Some artists charge hourly: approx $250/hr
- Others charge by the piece (contact via website for quote)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.facesinthedark.com
- Instagram: @facesinthedarktattoo
- Facebook: Faces in the dark tattoo
- Other: TikTok: @facesinthedarktattoo
