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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2019)
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 // 7 Oh, the thinks you can ink! Hold Fast Tattoo offers custom work, design By EVE MARX FOR COAST WEEKEND H old Fast Tattoo in Seaside is celebrat- ing their nine-year anniversary this May, but Brandy Rea and Jennifer Knox have been tattoo art- ists in Clatsop County for years. “I arrived in Clatsop County in October 1999,” the Oklahoma-born Rea said. “Tattooing was a nat- ural for me; I majored in art in college.” Rea and Knox met 20 years ago in a local tat- too shop. Long before they became business partners, the two became fast friends. “I did my fi rst profes- sional tattoo in 1996,” Rea said. “It was a rose.” Knox describes herself as the “dorky girl from Califor- nia, always reading or doo- dling.” Both women enjoy interacting with clients to come up with the perfect work to indelibly mark their bodies. “I enjoy people, although I am naturally an introvert,” Rea said. Hold Fast Tattoo, at 611 Broadway St., is a large, wildly creative space. There is a 1,500-square-foot main lobby with high ceilings ideal for displaying artwork by local and regional artists. There’s even a movie screen. Custom work is the stu- dio’s main focus. Clients start the process by setting up a consultation with one of the three in-house artists. In addition to Rea and Knox, there is a male artist, Jere- miah Gingerbeard. A nonre- fundable deposit starts your drawing; the artist will work with you on your piece until Tattoo artist and piercer Jennifer Knox of Hold Fast Tattoo works with a client on a cover-up. MORE INFO For details about pricing and other pertinent mat- ters, log on to holdfasttat- toocompany.com or call 503-738-4055 to set up an appointment. Follow the shop on Instagram and Facebook. Brandy Rea, one of the proproetors of Hold Fast Tattoo, says her focus is on custom work. Eve Marx photos Jennifer Knox works with a client at Hold Fast Tattoo. ^ it is rendered just how you want it. “We do photorealism, we do animal portraits, we do Americana, we do black and gray,” Rea said. “We love doing cover-ups.” She said when a client enters a tattoo studio, they’re not just buy- ing a tattoo, they’re buying an experience and memories. The name Hold Fast is an old sailor expression. “Sailors would get the words ‘hold fast’ tattooed on their knuckles,” Rea said. “Meaning ‘don’t let go.’ It’s also a double entendre.” She allowed that get- ting a tattoo isn’t a painless experience. “It hurts, it feels like a cat scratch,” Rea said. When asked if certain parts of the body are more painful to work on than oth- ers, she said it depends on the individual. Some areas mlanting Educational Seeds within Our Coffunities Watch for upcofing live cooking, yoga & art classes Eve Marx The interior of Hold Fast Tattoo on Broadway Street in Seaside. Mr.niceguy.wellness Mr Nice Guy 19 Locations Statewide - Find us on: of the body fade faster than others, such as fi ngers, or behind the ear. Also, very small tattoos don’t hold up as well as larger ones. While the studio can handle walk-ins if an art- ist is available, appoint- ments are recommended. To prepare for your appoint- ment with the needle, it’s recommended being well hydrated. Eat an hour or two before your appointment and refrain from imbibing intox- icants for at least eight hours prior. The state of Oregon requires anyone getting a tat- too must be 18 or older and have a valid government-is- sued ID. “Your tattoo process requires several steps,” Rea said. “Giving us time to work with you ensures what you get will be perfect.” CW • LARGE CBD SELECTION Receive up to • VAPE PENS your your purchase when you donate canned food supplies. • GLASS and ACCESSORIES 15% OFF Additional Coastal Locations: ASTORIA • 690 Olney Ave • 503-741-3420 ASTORIA • 730 Bond Street • 503-741-3666 ROCKAWAY BEACH • 656 US-101 • 971-306-1313 ONLINE ORDERING FOR ALL LOCATIONS AT MRNICEGUYOR.COM
