Today we’d like to introduce you to Arcola Creek Tattoo.
Hi Arcola Creek Tattoo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Arcola Creek Tattoo opened in 2012. At that time, Ryan was eleven years into his tattoo career. He began tattooing at “Tattoos by Buzz Jr.” in Jacksonville, North Carolina—just outside Camp Lejeune, where he was stationed as a Marine. Over the years, he tattooed all across the country, traveling from shop to shop in an ’85 Volkswagen Vanagon, and even tattooing in Mexico while surfing down the West Coast. His last stop was in Austin, TX, and by 2011 he was ready to come home.
That’s when he reconnected with Skye, who had just graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art. They decided to open a studio together—Ryan as the tattooer, and Skye using the space as a base for her freelance graphic design work. But it quickly became clear that Skye should be tattooing as well, and Ryan began her apprenticeship. The shop naturally evolved into a blend of their artistic styles: Ryan bringing a traditional, classic walk-in tattoo shop vibe, and Skye contributing an eclectic mix of influences from art history.
In 2022, they decided to grow the crew and brought Nicola Glen on as an apprentice. Nicola is a fast learner who spent a year drawing and painting classic tattoo flash and learning everything she could about running a shop and building a career as a self-employed artist. She began tattooing in 2024, and her work is clean, bright, and bold. Ryan and Skye are incredibly proud of her dedication and talent. With her background in history studies from Columbia University in NYC, Nicola brings a fresh perspective to the shop.
Together, the three artists create a cohesive mix of styles. Each of them brings a different sensibility to classic tattooing. They offer both walk-ins and appointments, and they prioritize client experience, transparency, and clear communication throughout the entire process.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most creative small businesses, the journey hasn’t always been smooth—but every challenge helped shape the shop into what it is today.
One of the biggest early hurdles was simply learning how to run a business while also tattooing full-time. Neither of us started out as business experts, so we learned everything the hard way: building systems, managing scheduling, and keeping the lights on while still trying to grow artistically.
We also opened the shop before social media played the huge role it does now. That meant a lot of ground-level hustle—word of mouth, community events, long hours, and slowly building trust one client at a time.
Like many shops, we’ve faced the unpredictability of being self-employed artists: slow seasons, economic shifts, and the constant pressure to evolve without losing who we are. And of course, the pandemic years brought their own set of challenges, from shutdowns to completely rethinking safety and scheduling.
Welcoming an apprentice also came with responsibility—making sure we could give Nicola the education, time, and support she deserved while still maintaining the flow of the shop.
None of it has been effortless, but the struggles made our foundation stronger. Each challenge pushed us to grow, refine our process, and stay committed to creating a shop that feels welcoming, sustainable, and authentic to our values.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Arcola Creek Tattoo, we focus on creating clean, high-quality, thoughtfully designed tattoos. Our work is rooted in classic tattoo traditions, but each artist brings a distinct perspective that makes the shop’s overall style unique.
Ryan specializes in traditional tattooing with a strong classic Americana and Japanese influence—bold lines, solid color, and designs that stand the test of time. An avid hunter and fisherman, he loves incorporating local floral/fauna into the traditional tattoo styles. With more than two decades of experience, he’s known for his reliability, technical skill, and the welcoming, walk-in–friendly shop atmosphere he’s cultivated since day one.
Skye’s work pulls inspiration from art history, illustration, and traditional and ornamental tattooing. She brings a more whimsical, decorative sensibility to classic tattoo elements, often blending traditional tattoo styles with historical influences. Her approach is detail-oriented, playful, and heavily design-driven.
Nicola contributes a fresh perspective, shaped by her academic background and her deep love for classic flash. Her work is bright, bold, and confident, and she’s quickly becoming known for her strong fundamentals and thoughtful approach to each piece.
What we’re most proud of is the environment we’ve built. Clients regularly tell us the shop feels calm, friendly, interesting and unintimidating. We prioritize transparency, communication, and making sure clients feel comfortable and informed from the moment they reach out to the moment they leave with a fresh tattoo.
What sets us apart is the combination of our different backgrounds and influences, all united by a shared commitment to craftsmanship. Our shop balances the feel of a classic tattoo parlor with the sensibilities of a small art studio. We offer both walk-ins and appointments, and we take pride in giving each person a positive, straightforward experience—whether they’re getting their first small tattoo or adding to a large collection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.arcolacreektattoo.com
- Instagram: arcolacreek_tattoo
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/arcolacreektattoo
