WMTULSA, OK
TATTOO ARTIST

WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Inside the work.

Notes on tattoo art, the decisions inside a composition, and the work that brings those ideas into view.

Stories behind the work

A black-and-gray mountain landscape framed by dense pine trees and curved decorative details on the arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Mountain and Nature Tattoos: Building a Landscape on Skin

Plan a mountain or nature tattoo with clear foreground, distance and flow. Explore William Martz's landscape tattoo and waterfall drawing for a larger project.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: sacred heart of jesus.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Heart Tattoos: Sacred Heart or Anatomical Heart?

Understand the difference between Sacred Heart and anatomical-heart tattoo imagery. Compare William Martz's drawings and choose a clear religious or personal reference.

Read the story ↗A red rose tattoo with layered petals and green leaves, shown in several views.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Rose Tattoos: Choosing Black and Grey or Color

Compare black-and-grey and color directions for a rose tattoo. Explore William Martz's red rose tattoo and stem drawing to decide what should lead.

Read the story ↗A red butterfly tattoo near the wrist, with dark wing edges and small pale markings.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Butterfly Tattoos: Color, Fine Lines and Personal Meaning

Compare color, delicate linework and floral butterfly tattoo ideas. Explore William Martz's red butterfly and chrysanthemum study before choosing your design.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray compass tattoo combined with palm trees and a coastal scene.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Compass Tattoos: Direction, Travel and Personal Meaning

Explore compass tattoo ideas through coastline and floral compositions by William Martz. Decide whether direction, a place or a personal journey should lead.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray skull composition with an antique-style clock above it.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Clock Tattoos: Time, Memory and the Choice of a Reference

Give a clock tattoo a clear purpose: a particular time, a memory or the passage of time. Explore William Martz's clock tattoo and fractured-clock drawing study.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: archangel with sword and scales.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Angel, Archangel and Cherub Tattoos: Choosing the Figure

Compare a winged warrior, an angelic portrait and a cherub-style design. Explore William Martz's drawings and choose the figure and meaning for your tattoo.

Read the story ↗A circular Aztec-inspired sun motif tattoo in black and gray.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Aztec and Mesoamerican Tattoos: Start with the Right Source

Plan an Aztec-inspired tattoo with an identified source. Explore William Martz's Sun Stone imagery while keeping Mexica, Maya and broader Mesoamerican contexts distinct.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray Medusa portrait with snakes coiling around the head.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Medusa Tattoo Meaning: Myth, Interpretation and Your Own Choice

Explore Medusa tattoo meaning without assigning a story to the wearer. Compare William Martz's tattoo and serpent portrait study, with classical-art context.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: bearded god with lightning.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Greek Mythology Tattoos: Gods, Warriors and Classical References

Separate mythological gods, historical warriors and classical-style portraits when planning a tattoo. Explore William Martz's lightning figure and helmet work.

Read the story ↗A colorful Buddha portrait tattoo built around turquoise, violet, and warm red highlights.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Buddha and Lotus Tattoos: Meaning and Respectful Reference Choices

Plan Buddha and lotus tattoo imagery with attention to its source and religious context. Explore William Martz's color tattoo and clearly labeled drawing study.

Read the story ↗Blackwork dragon tattoos extending from the chest over both shoulders to the back, with their bodies curving beside a central sword tattoo.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Dragon Tattoos: Choose the Creature Before the Placement

Compare paired dragons and a long-bodied floral dragon in William Martz's work. Choose anatomy, reference tradition and placement before adding detail.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: phoenix with magnolia blossoms.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Phoenix Tattoos: Personal Renewal, Black and Grey or Color

Turn a phoenix tattoo's renewal theme into a personal design brief. Compare William Martz's floral phoenix studies and discuss black and grey versus color.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: hannya mask with maple leaves.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Samurai and Hannya Tattoos: Two Different Subjects

Understand the difference between a samurai image and a Hannya mask before planning a tattoo. Compare two clearly identified William Martz drawing studies.

Read the story ↗Two koi fish curve toward one another in a circular tattoo composition.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Koi Tattoos: Meaning, Swimming Direction and Color

Explore koi tattoo meaning without fixed color or direction rules. Compare William Martz's paired koi tattoo and lotus study for your own design in Tulsa.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray wolf portrait combined with mountain peaks and forest shapes.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Wolf Tattoos: Personal Meaning, Forests and Mountains

Explore wolf tattoo ideas through mountains, a close portrait and floral framing. Use William Martz's work to connect your chosen meaning with a clear design.

Read the story ↗A forward-facing tiger tattoo in black and gray.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tiger Tattoos: Realism, Armored Characters and Floral Ideas

Compare a realistic tiger portrait with armored and floral tiger design ideas. Explore William Martz's work and choose the kind of tiger tattoo you want.

Read the story ↗A close-up owl gaze tattoo with orange eyes and finely shaded feathers.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Owl Tattoos: Meaning, Portraits and Floral Designs

Compare an owl's gaze, a full bird and floral framing in tattoo design. Explore William Martz's owl tattoo and drawing study before planning your own piece.

Read the story ↗A skull tattoo with rich red areas inside and around the open mouth.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Skull Tattoo Ideas: Mortality, Dark Art and Personal Meaning

Compare skull tattoo ideas through William Martz's crimson skull, floral composition and darker imagery. Separate personal meaning from the choice of visual style.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray lioness portrait with small star-shaped accents around the face.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Lion Tattoos: Meaning, Styles and Placement in Tulsa

Explore lion tattoo ideas through a lioness, a roaring portrait and family imagery. Compare William Martz's work and choose a direction for your Tulsa consultation.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray forearm tattoo featuring a lion with a crown of thorns and a cross.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Can Color and Black-and-Grey Tattoos Work Together on One Arm?

Plan color and black-and-grey tattoos together through spacing, contrast and repeated accents. Discuss a mixed-palette collection with William Martz in Tulsa.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: phoenix among lotus flowers.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Can a Vertical Tattoo Design Fit a Wider Placement?

Moving a vertical tattoo idea to a wider area usually requires composition changes. Explore wing, flower and tail relationships in William Martz's phoenix study.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray leg tattoo featuring a skull in a cap and headset, military equipment, and lightning, shown in a full view and a close-up.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Design Study, Finished Tattoo or Healed Photo? Know What You Are Viewing

Distinguish a tattoo drawing, an on-skin result and an identified healed photograph. Read William Martz's design collection and portfolio without confusing their evidence.

Read the story ↗A maple leaf tattoo filled with a swirling night sky, blue brushlike marks, and golden stars.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Choosing a Tattoo Beyond the Trend: A Personal Design Check

Separate a tattoo trend from the visual details you actually want to wear. Use a short design check and William Martz's work to clarify your preferences.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: sukuna and yuji.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Two Anime Characters in One Tattoo: Plan the Relationship First

Plan a two-character anime tattoo by choosing hierarchy, expression and recognizable features. See William Martz's Sukuna and Yuji drawing study.

Read the story ↗Gomez and Morticia Addams appear together inside a heart-shaped black-and-gray tattoo.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Two Faces in One Tattoo: Planning a Couple Portrait

Plan two faces within one tattoo by checking expression, contact and available space. William Martz's Gomez and Morticia piece shows a compact portrait arrangement.

Read the story ↗A colorful skull tattoo framed by red roses and green leaves.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Skull and Rose Tattoos: Decide Which Subject Gets the Spotlight

Plan the balance between bone, flowers and leaves in a skull-and-rose tattoo. William Martz's color composition offers a practical example of competing focal points.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: fractured roman numeral clock.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Clock Tattoos: Check the Time, Numerals and Missing Pieces

Check clock hands, Roman numerals and fragmented edges before approving a tattoo design. Explore William Martz's fractured-clock study as a visual reference.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: anatomical heart with mandalas.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Anatomical Heart Tattoos: Choosing Structure, Ornament or Both

Plan an anatomical-heart tattoo by choosing how much structure, symmetry and ornament you want. Explore William Martz's heart-and-mandala drawing study.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray realistic portrait tattoo of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Religious Portrait or Symbol? Choosing What Your Tattoo Should Show

Compare a religious portrait with a symbol-centered tattoo before choosing references. William Martz's Crown of thorns illustrates the role of expression and detail.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray geometric leg tattoo combining dotwork petals, interlocking cubes and repeating star patterns.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Can You Bring a Friend to Your Tattoo Appointment?

Ask about guest arrangements before bringing someone to a tattoo appointment. Plan support, privacy and design decisions without assuming the studio's policy.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: dragon among flowers and clouds.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Dragon and Flower Tattoos: Keeping the Creature's Shape Clear

Plan a dragon-and-flower tattoo around a readable head, continuous body and purposeful blossoms. Use William Martz's design study to discuss what should lead.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: koi with lotus and waves.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Koi, Lotus and Waves: Simplifying a Tattoo with Three Moving Parts

Plan a koi-and-lotus tattoo by choosing the fish's direction, the flower's role and the amount of water. Explore William Martz's drawing study.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: samurai mask with katana.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Samurai Mask or Armored Figure? Choosing the Focus of Your Tattoo

Compare a mask-centered tattoo with a full armored figure. William Martz's samurai design study shows how armor and a sword change the space the composition needs.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: rising phoenix.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Phoenix Tattoo Designs: Planning Wings, Tail and Upward Movement

Compare the width of the wings and flow of the tail in a phoenix tattoo design. William Martz's Rising phoenix study offers a clear starting point for placement.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: medusa and serpents.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Medusa Tattoos: Decide Whether the Face or the Snakes Lead

Plan a Medusa tattoo with a clear face, readable snakes and room for expression. Compare the priorities in William Martz's Medusa and serpents drawing study.

Read the story ↗A portrait tattoo of a dark-coated dog with upright ears, bright eyes, and its tongue showing.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Asking for a Break During a Tattoo Session

Discuss breaks and a clear stop signal before your tattoo session. A practical guide to communicating discomfort and session expectations with William Martz.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray lion and cub tattoo, shown from two angles.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Lion and Cub Tattoos: Planning a Family Image Without Crowding It

Plan a lion-and-cub tattoo around the relationship between the faces, their scale and surrounding space. Explore William Martz's paired animal composition.

Read the story ↗A colorful hummingbird tattoo reaching toward a slender flowering stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Hummingbird Tattoos: Give the Bird Somewhere to Move

Plan a hummingbird tattoo through wing position, beak direction and the space around a flower. See William Martz's colorful hummingbird composition.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: luna moth with blossoms.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Moth or Butterfly Tattoo? Compare the Shape Before the Symbolism

Compare wing shape, body position and floral framing when choosing a moth or butterfly tattoo. Explore a drawing study from William Martz's design collection.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray mountain landscape tattoo with pine forest, a deer on a rock and adult-and-child silhouettes walking together.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Landscape Tattoos: Choosing the Details That Make a Place Personal

Plan a landscape tattoo around a specific place, route or memory. William Martz's mountain composition shows how figures, trees and distant peaks can share a design.

Read the story ↗A maple leaf tattoo filled with a swirling night sky, blue brushlike marks, and golden stars.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Painting-Inspired Tattoos: Giving a Night Sky a Clear Outline

See how William Martz's Starry maple holds a painterly night sky inside a leaf. Plan the outer shape and essential color relationships for an art-inspired tattoo.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray forearm tattoo featuring a lion with a crown of thorns and a cross.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

A Color Accent in a Black-and-Grey Tattoo: When One Eye Leads

Explore how a small color accent changes attention in black-and-grey work. William Martz's lion portrait uses a pale blue eye within a shaded composition.

Read the story ↗Two black-and-gray realistic big-cat portraits arranged across the chest, one snarling and one calm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Roaring or Calm? Choosing the Expression of an Animal Tattoo

Compare open-mouth, calm and alert animal portraits before choosing a tattoo reference. William Martz's paired predators illustrate how expression changes a composition.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray lion and cub tattoo, shown from two angles.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Which Way Should an Animal Tattoo Face?

Choose animal tattoo direction by gaze, movement and placement rather than a universal rule. Explore William Martz's Lion & cub as a composition reference.

Read the story ↗A maple leaf tattoo filled with a swirling night sky, blue brushlike marks, and golden stars.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Does Your Tattoo Need a Personal Meaning?

A tattoo can begin with a story, an image or a visual preference. Learn how to explain what matters without inventing symbolism for your consultation with William Martz.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray geometric leg tattoo combining dotwork petals, interlocking cubes and repeating star patterns.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Negative Space Between Tattoos: When Leaving Skin Open Helps

Understand how open skin separates tattoo shapes and changes visual rhythm. Use William Martz's Pattern in motion to discuss spacing before adding more detail.

Read the story ↗A purple butterfly wing paired with small blue flowers and a fine curved stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Delicate Floral Tattoos: Keeping the Stem, Petals and Skin Distinct

Plan a delicate floral tattoo with clear stems, readable petals and intentional open skin. Explore William Martz's butterfly-and-flower composition.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray calf tattoo of a skull beneath pointed Gothic ornament with glowing candles below.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo Numbing Cream: Ask Before You Apply Anything

Ask about numbing cream before your tattoo appointment. Understand the FDA's warning and separate the artist's session policy from individual medical advice.

Read the story ↗A painted Pennywise clown portrait with a pale blue forehead, yellow eyes and dark violet shadows on a canvas easel.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Horror Character Tattoos: Choose the Expression Before the Effects

Plan a horror character tattoo around expression, silhouette and readable detail. Use William Martz's Pennywise painting as an art reference, clearly identified as a painting.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray leg tattoo featuring a skull in a cap and headset, military equipment, and lightning, shown in a full view and a close-up.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Special Operations Soldier Tattoos: Keep the Subject Accurate

Plan a special operations soldier tattoo with clear references for equipment and expression. Explore William Martz's skull-faced soldier composition in black and grey.

Read the story ↗Two views of a black-and-grey memorial tattoo showing combat boots, a rifle, a helmet and a Memento Mori banner honoring fallen comrades.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Military Memorial Tattoos: The Battlefield Cross and Fallen Comrades

Understand the boots, rifle and helmet in a battlefield cross memorial tattoo. See William Martz's Memento Mori tribute to fallen comrades and plan a personal design.

Read the story ↗A curved black-and-gray ornamental tattoo following the collarbone.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Covering Musical Notes with a Celestial Collarbone Tattoo

See how William Martz's celestial collarbone cover-up relates to the original musical-note tattoo, with completed photographs and a clearly identified process view.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray leg tattoo featuring a skull in a cap and headset, military equipment, and lightning, shown in a full view and a close-up.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Planning a Leg Tattoo: Which View Should Carry the Main Subject?

Plan a leg tattoo around its strongest viewing angle, then connect the other sides. See William Martz's special operations soldier composition and healed view.

Read the story ↗Two black-and-gray realistic big-cat portraits arranged across the chest, one snarling and one calm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Paired Chest Tattoos: Balance Without Making Both Sides Identical

Compare symmetry, expression and visual weight in paired chest tattoos. William Martz's Twin predators shows how two animal portraits can relate without matching.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: dragon among flowers and clouds.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Planning a Back-Piece Tattoo: Choose the Main Image First

Plan a back-piece tattoo around one clear subject, shoulder-to-waist flow and an agreed project scope. Explore William Martz's dragon design as a starting point.

Read the story ↗A purple butterfly wing paired with small blue flowers and a fine curved stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Patchwork Tattoo Sleeves: Plan the Gaps Before the Fillers

Building a patchwork sleeve? Decide which gaps to preserve, which pieces need room and when filler helps, using William Martz's artwork as a design reference.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: classical warrior and temple.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

What to Check Before Approving Your Tattoo Placement

Check size, direction, visible edges and neighboring tattoos before approving placement. A practical consultation checklist illustrated with William Martz's work.

Read the story ↗A curved black-and-gray ornamental tattoo following the collarbone.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

What to Wear to a Tattoo Appointment: Plan Around Placement

Plan clothing around tattoo placement, access and comfort. Use a collarbone piece to understand what to discuss before your appointment with William Martz.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: cosmic woman and ringed planet.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Bringing an AI-Generated Tattoo Idea to Your Artist

Turn an AI tattoo image into a useful reference: check anatomy, overlapping shapes and placement before discussing a custom design with William Martz in Tulsa.

Read the story ↗A stag beetle tattoo with branching mandibles and an ornamental pattern across its shell.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why tattoos stay in skin even while cells change

Tattoo permanence involves the dermis and pigment-holding cells. Explore what a landmark mouse study found, and what it cannot establish about human tattoos.

Read the story ↗A red butterfly tattoo near the wrist, with dark wing edges and small pale markings.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why tattoos fade: pigment, light and the limits of a photograph

Tattoo fading has several possible explanations. Learn what dermatology guidance and pigment research establish, without a universal lifespan for every color.

Read the story ↗A horned cattle skull surrounded by detailed flowers, leaves and small buds in black linework.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why a Tulsa Tattoo Studio Needs the Right Building Use and Occupancy

A tattoo license does not settle Tulsa zoning, construction or occupancy questions. Learn why a studio move or conversion needs address-specific review.

Read the story ↗A maple leaf tattoo filled with a swirling night sky, blue brushlike marks, and golden stars.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Sun protection for healed tattoos is skin protection first

Understand sunscreen labels, clothing and shade for healed tattooed skin, including why water resistance and a high SPF do not mean all-day protection.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: rose with flowing stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoos, pregnancy and breastfeeding: what uncertainty actually means

Read the evidence on tattoos during pregnancy and breastfeeding carefully: distinguish missing research, known tattoo risks and an individual exposure assessment.

Read the story ↗A slender floral vine with shaded blossoms and sweeping curved stems along the arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattooing and Permanent Makeup: Why Oklahoma Uses Different Licenses

Oklahoma treats tattooing and medical micropigmentation as different licensing categories. Similar tools do not mean identical qualifications or services.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: elephant with magnolia blossoms.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why a tattoo can react long after it was made

Tattoo allergies can appear early or years later. Understand the difference between ink reactions, product irritation and a diagnosis that needs a clinician.

Read the story ↗Blank side-view arm template for planning tattoo placement.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Digital tattoo mockups: a useful preview, not a prediction

What a digital tattoo mockup can reveal about placement and composition, and why a convincing screen preview cannot guarantee a finished tattoo's appearance.

Read the story ↗A finished black-and-gray raven cover-up with layered feathers and barbed wire on the forearm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Cover-up color and optics: changing what the eye recognizes

Why a tattoo cover-up is more than painting over an image: pigment in skin, visual contrast and the difference between redesigning and removing ink.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: roaring lion side portrait.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo copyright: the drawing, the photograph and the agreement

How US copyright applies to original artwork, why paying for a design does not settle every right, and why tattoo photographs raise separate questions.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: rose with flowing stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Preserving tattoo design archives: drawings, photographs and context

How paper care, photographic storage and digital preservation can protect tattoo design archives while keeping authorship, dates and image context connected.

Read the story ↗A red anatomical heart above a pointed stained-glass-inspired window in a vertical forearm tattoo.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why an Oklahoma Tattoo Studio Asks for ID and Keeps Consent Records

Learn why Oklahoma tattoo rules require identification, informed consent, health questions and confidential records—and what each step is for.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: sea turtle and flowers.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Swimming after a tattoo: a pool, a lake and the ocean are not the same exposure

Why a fresh tattoo should stay out of swimming water, how pool and coastal-water risks differ, and why a waterproof covering is not a healing certificate.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray nautical composition combining a compass, rope, and an anchor.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Sailors and tattoos: the history behind the maritime imagery

Explore sailors' tattoo history through naval records, Gus Wagner's travels and preserved shop artifacts, with care around familiar symbol legends.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray compass tattoo combined with palm trees and a coastal scene.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Route 66 and Tulsa tattoo culture: a real connection without an invented legend

See how Route 66's documented Tulsa history, roadside imagery and present-day tattoo businesses intersect, without inventing a historic tattoo movement.

Read the story ↗An ornamental lotus tattoo with layered petals, fine shading and symmetrical curved details.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Opening a Tattoo Studio in Tulsa: The Approvals Behind the Door

A Tulsa tattoo studio needs more than an artist license. Understand state establishment approval, newspaper notice, local permits and inspection.

Read the story ↗A delicate linework stem with small flowers, buds and leaves near the wrist.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Ötzi and the oldest tattoos: what archaeology can actually tell us

Ötzi's tattoos and the Gebelein discoveries reveal ancient body marking, while showing why the oldest surviving evidence is not the beginning of tattooing.

Read the story ↗A green prickly pear cactus with pink flowers inside a red geometric frame.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why Oklahoma Tattoo Shops Publish Newspaper Notices—and What Changed in 2024

Oklahoma changed tattoo-shop notice and location rules in 2024. Understand the old requirements, the new one-time notice and renewal exceptions.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray floral tattoo with large overlapping blooms and shaded leaves.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Oklahoma's tattoo ban: how prohibition gave way to regulation

The documented history of Oklahoma's tattoo ban, the 2005 legislative debate and the 2006 shift toward licensing and public-health oversight.

Read the story ↗A stag beetle tattoo with branching mandibles and an ornamental pattern across its shell.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

What an Oklahoma Tattoo Artist License Actually Covers

Learn how Oklahoma licenses tattoo artists, how artist and studio licenses differ, and what a license can—and cannot—tell a Tulsa client.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray butterfly tattoo with open wings, pale spots and fine wing veins on the arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

How a Tattoo Apprenticeship Works in Oklahoma

Oklahoma distinguishes students, licensed apprentices and independent tattoo artists. Explore the training pathway and what those stages mean.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: anatomical heart with mandalas.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Medical alert tattoos: a visible message with important limits

Medical alert tattoos can express important information, but visibility is not verified medical direction. Read the evidence and limits of relying on ink.

Read the story ↗Two koi fish curve toward one another in a circular tattoo composition.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Japanese tattoo history: when printed heroes carried images on their skin

Explore the connection between Edo-period woodblock prints, Kuniyoshi's Water Margin heroes and the history of Japanese pictorial tattooing.

Read the story ↗A horned cattle skull surrounded by detailed flowers, leaves and small buds in black linework.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Indigenous tattoo traditions begin with specific people and places

Learn why Māori tā moko and Sāmoan tatau require their own cultural context, and why Indigenous tattoo traditions cannot be reduced to one style.

Read the story ↗A finely shaded palm tree tattoo with small lettering beneath its trunk on the upper arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Can a Tattoo Artist Work from Home or a Mobile Studio in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma requires authorized tattoo locations and restricts mobile units. Learn why a clean spare room or portable setup is not enough.

Read the story ↗A close-up tiger face tattoo on the forearm, rendered in black and gray with a pale blue eye.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Fresh and healed tattoo photos answer different questions

Fresh and healed tattoo photographs record different moments. Understand what each can show, why matching conditions matter, and what a photo cannot diagnose.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray mountain landscape framed by dense pine trees and curved decorative details on the arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Guest Tattoo Artists in Oklahoma: Why a Visiting Artist Still Needs Authorization

Guest spots and conventions involve separate artist and location approvals in Oklahoma. Learn why an out-of-state license is not the whole answer.

Read the story ↗A single fine-line flower with long curved leaves placed along the side of the lower abdomen.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tulsa's early tattoo studios: what the records actually show

Follow documented early Tulsa-area tattoo studios through oral history, a 2006 newspaper and business records, without inventing a first-ever shop.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: tattoo cartridge with skull and smoke.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

The electric tattoo machine began with a different kind of pen

Trace the electric tattoo machine from Edison's document-copying pen to Samuel O'Reilly's 1891 patent, and see what surviving equipment can reveal.

Read the story ↗A close-up tiger face tattoo on the forearm, rendered in black and gray with a pale blue eye.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Black and grey tattoo history: the communities behind a global style

Explore the Southern California and Chicano history of modern black and grey tattooing through museum research and Freddy Negrete's own account.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: mountain waterfall and pine trees.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoos and MRI: tell the team instead of skipping the scan

Tattoos and permanent makeup belong on MRI screening forms. Understand reported reactions, the importance of disclosure and when to alert the technologist.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: roaring lion side portrait.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Leave moles visible: tattoos and the value of a readable skin exam

Learn why tattoo designs should leave moles and monitored spots visible, what a skin self-exam can reveal, and why changing marks need medical assessment.

Read the story ↗A delicate linework stem with small flowers, buds and leaves near the wrist.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Can you donate blood after a tattoo in Oklahoma?

Current tattoo-related blood donation guidance from Our Blood Institute and the Red Cross, including Oklahoma licensed facilities and individual screening.

Read the story ↗Large fine-line lilies and flowing leaves extending over the shoulder and toward the collarbone.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

What Oklahoma Tattoo Studio Inspections Look Beyond

Oklahoma tattoo inspections address facilities, hygiene and records. Learn what they examine and why an inspection is different from an artistic review.

Read the story ↗An ornamental lotus tattoo with layered petals, fine shading and symmetrical curved details.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

How Tattoo Studio Complaints Work in Oklahoma

Learn where to raise an Oklahoma tattoo hygiene or licensing concern, what details help and why a regulatory complaint differs from an artistic disagreement.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: tattoo cartridge with skull and smoke.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Sterile, Disposable, Clean: What Those Words Mean in a Tattoo Studio

Understand single-use tattoo supplies, sterilization and clean work areas under Oklahoma rules—and why those terms are not interchangeable.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: koi among waves and blossoms.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo stencils and freehand drawing: different kinds of design guides

A stencil is a guide, not a finished tattoo. Explore transferred drawings, hand-drawn stencils and on-body planning without ranking one method as more original.

Read the story ↗A colorful hummingbird tattoo reaching toward a slender flowering stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

How laser tattoo removal changes pigment rather than erasing a surface

Explore where tattoo pigment sits, why laser wavelengths matter, how the body participates in removal, and what laboratory research can and cannot establish.

Read the story ↗A circular clock tattoo with Roman numerals and a ribbon reading Carpe Diem on the upper arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why a Tattoo Artist Can Refuse an Appointment Involving Alcohol

Oklahoma rules prohibit tattooing people under the influence. Explore the difference between a booking, valid consent and an appointment that can proceed.

Read the story ↗A curved marlin tattoo with a long pointed bill and a patterned back, rendered in black and gray on the arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo references: learning from an image without copying its identity

A closer look at tattoo reference images, visual research and attribution, with a distinction between studying a subject and repeating a finished design.

Read the story ↗A maple leaf tattoo filled with a swirling night sky, blue brushlike marks, and golden stars.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo photography: what lighting and filters change

Lighting, white balance and polarizing filters influence tattoo photographs. Learn how to read the representation without assuming every vivid image is deceptive.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: tattoo cartridge with skull and smoke.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Liners, shaders and magnums: what tattoo needle names describe

Tattoo needle names describe grouping, diameter and intended use. Understand liners, round shaders and magnums without mistaking equipment labels for results.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: torii gate and mountain landscape.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Why tattoo museums and archives preserve more than pictures

Tattoo archives preserve drawings, tools, photographs and personal records. Learn what these collections reveal and why provenance changes the story.

Read the story ↗A colorful upper-arm landscape with dark mountain peaks beneath a luminous cosmic sky.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

FDA-regulated does not mean FDA-approved tattoo ink

Understand U.S. tattoo ink oversight, color additives, MoCRA and why cosmetic registration or a listing number is not an FDA approval certificate.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: mountain waterfall and pine trees.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo ink recalls: why the bottle and batch matter

Understand tattoo ink contamination alerts, why sealed bottles are not proof of sterility, and how brand and lot details make a safety report useful.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: rose with flowing stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo infection warning signs: pay attention to the direction of change

Learn which tattoo changes need prompt medical attention, why an infection cannot be diagnosed from appearance alone, and what information helps assessment.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: koi among waves and blossoms.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo flash sheets: the artwork on the shop wall

Discover how tattoo flash sheets presented designs, circulated between artists and became historical evidence preserved by libraries and museums.

Read the story ↗A red butterfly tattoo near the wrist, with dark wing edges and small pale markings.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Walk-in or custom tattoo? Two different questions

Walk-in describes timing; custom describes design. Explore the difference through tattoo flash, personal compositions and William Martz's Tulsa portfolio.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray upper-arm portrait of a figure wearing a detailed feathered headdress.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tulsa tattoo reviews: what the stars cannot show

Read Tulsa tattoo reviews alongside real artwork: what detailed experiences reveal, how artist and studio reviews differ, and why the portfolio still matters.

Read the story ↗A finished black-and-gray raven cover-up with layered feathers and barbed wire on the forearm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tulsa tattoo prices: the value inside the work

William Martz looks at tattoo prices in Tulsa through design, scale and artistic fit, with respect for your budget and no claim that expensive means better.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray mountain landscape framed by dense pine trees and curved decorative details on the arm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tulsa tattoo history: the change that made studios legal

Explore Tulsa tattoo history through the 2006 legal change, artists' oral histories and the difference between a city's culture and its official records.

Read the story ↗A forearm tattoo combining a skull with a large sunflower in black and gray.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Forearm tattoos in Tulsa: composing for an arm that moves

William Martz looks at forearm tattoo composition in Tulsa: direction, focal points, open skin, and the different views revealed when an arm turns.

Read the story ↗A curled sleeping fox tattoo surrounded by leaves and small flowers.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Mood in a tattoo: what makes an image feel strong or quiet

William Martz explores mood in tattoo art through skulls, foxes and flowers: how contrast, gesture and color make an image feel forceful, restless or quiet.

Read the story ↗A red rose tattoo with layered petals and green leaves, shown in several views.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tulsa tattoo conventions: learning to look at the work

Tattoo conventions offer a close look at artists, drawings and different visual approaches. Explore Tulsa's scene without confusing an event listing with a recommendation.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray compass tattoo combined with palm trees and a coastal scene.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tulsa-inspired tattoos: a city in the details

Tulsa tattoo inspiration can begin with Art Deco rhythms, a familiar landmark or a personal memory. Explore how a local reference becomes a composition.

Read the story ↗A red rose tattoo with layered petals and green leaves, shown in several views.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Traditional tattooing: the strength of a clear image

Explore the visual language of American traditional tattooing: silhouette, outline, color and familiar motifs, with a close look at William Martz's rose work.

Read the story ↗Black linework design: elephant with magnolia blossoms.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Can You Get a Tattoo Under 18 in Tulsa—even with Parental Permission?

Oklahoma prohibits ordinary tattooing under eighteen. Learn why parental consent for piercing does not create permission for a minor’s tattoo.

Read the story ↗Arm placement study: buddha and lotus.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo sleeves in Tulsa: giving the whole arm a composition

William Martz considers tattoo sleeve composition in Tulsa: focal points, transitions, open skin, and how individual images can belong to a larger design.

Read the story ↗A lion portrait framed by red and blue flowers and green leaves in a vertical color tattoo.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo near me in Tulsa: when the artist is worth the drive

William Martz reflects on choosing a Tulsa tattoo artist, the work that makes a longer drive worthwhile, and why distance alone says little about quality.

Read the story ↗A curved black-and-gray ornamental tattoo following the collarbone.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Hourly rate or project price: how a tattoo takes shape

Understand hourly tattoo rates and project quotes in Tulsa through scope, composition and the difference between a defined piece and an evolving project.

Read the story ↗A small bouquet of sunflower-like blooms and leaves drawn in fine black lines on the forearm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Tattoo aftercare in Tulsa: William's daily care guide

William Martz's daily tattoo aftercare guide: gentle washing, careful drying, thin product application, Aquaphor considerations and signs to seek medical care.

Read the story ↗A colorful hummingbird tattoo reaching toward a slender flowering stem.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Small tattoos in Tulsa: deciding which details deserve the space

William Martz explores small tattoo design in Tulsa, focusing on silhouette, spacing, color and the details that give a compact composition its character.

Read the story ↗A finished forearm cover-up of a textured skull surrounded by orange, yellow, and red flames.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

What should stay when an old tattoo changes?

Rework or cover-up? William Martz’s portfolio offers a way to think about preserving an old tattoo’s identity, changing its subject, and connecting nearby work.

Read the story ↗A black-and-gray upper-arm portrait of a figure wearing a detailed feathered headdress.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

When a name stops reading as a name

Name tattoo cover-ups in Tulsa: how letter spacing, heavy strokes and a new silhouette affect the design, with a real lettering transformation by William Martz.

Read the story ↗A portrait tattoo of a dark-coated dog with upright ears, bright eyes, and its tongue showing.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Memorial tattoos in Tulsa: choosing the detail that carries the memory

William Martz reflects on memorial tattoo design in Tulsa: portraits, words, familiar objects, and the visual details that can make a remembrance personal.

Read the story ↗A butterfly tattoo in black and gray with spread wings and fine vein-like detail.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Matching tattoos in Tulsa: a shared idea with room for individuality

William Martz considers matching tattoos in Tulsa: shared subjects, complementary compositions, and designs that feel connected while standing on their own.

Read the story ↗Arm placement study: buddha and lotus.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Custom tattoos in Tulsa: how an idea becomes a composition

William Martz explores custom tattoo design in Tulsa: choosing a visual focus, working with references, and composing an image for the body that carries it.

Read the story ↗A finished black-and-gray raven cover-up with layered feathers and barbed wire on the forearm.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

A different tattoo, or a different relationship with the ink?

Considering a cover-up or tattoo removal in Tulsa? Compare the artistic goals, review a real transformation, and understand what needs medical assessment.

Read the story ↗A finished forearm cover-up of a textured skull surrounded by orange, yellow, and red flames.WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

A color cover-up needs somewhere for the light to live

A color cover-up in Tulsa begins with placement, contrast and the existing ink. William Martz’s skull and flames show how a bright composition takes shape.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

When a portrait becomes a cover-up

Strength & continuity replaces bold lettering with a face and an elaborate frame. It is a useful exception to the difficulties portraits often present.

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Why texture matters in a cover-up

Feathers, bone and flames offer different ways to interrupt old shapes. Two cover-ups show how useful texture works inside a readable composition.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

The gaze beneath the crown of thorns

A religious portrait can communicate through expression, texture and a few identifying elements. Crown of thorns holds those elements close to the face.

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Words have a shape before they are read

Lettering occupies space as well as carrying language. Carpe diem connects a phrase with the imagery of passing time.

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One character, two scales

The Vegeta tattoo combines a large face and a smaller full-body figure, using the shift in scale to build a vertical composition.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

An animal portrait needs more than fur

Companion and Lion & cub show how ears, gaze, muzzle and the relationship between subjects carry recognition before surface detail.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

A flower is also a gesture

The orchid’s curved stem and open petals show how botanical forms can create movement without filling every part of the composition.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

How a skull becomes an atmosphere

Gothic Vigil combines a skull, pointed architecture and candles. The mood comes from their arrangement as much as from the subject.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

From petals to impossible cubes

Pattern in motion moves between organic-looking petals and interlocking geometry, using contrast and repetition to connect the leg.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Ornament draws with the body

Celestial ornament follows the collarbone, while Pattern in motion changes rhythm down a leg. Placement becomes part of the pattern.

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Illustration gives a tattoo its own visual world

A skull in military headgear and the raven use recognizable subjects, strong silhouettes and selected textures to create different kinds of imagery.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

What makes a tattoo portrait recognizable?

Expression depends on relationships between features. Strength & continuity brings a face into focus within an elaborate frame.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Realism begins with the larger shapes

A lion and cub demonstrate how silhouette, expression and value organize realistic detail before individual hairs become visible.

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A fine line needs space around it

Delicacy comes from the relationship between line, detail and open skin. A floral composition makes that relationship visible.

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Color can build a face

Fire in her gaze uses warm fields, blue accents and dark fragments to make color part of the portrait’s structure.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Black and grey: where depth begins

Crown of thorns shows how a gaze, a beard and a crown can hold different levels of detail inside one black-and-grey portrait.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

A cover-up belongs to the whole arm

The skull-and-flames cover-up shows how a new piece can connect with neighboring imagery instead of reading as an isolated patch.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

The stencil is where two tattoos meet

The raven cover-up at the placement stage reveals something the finished photograph cannot: how a new drawing sits across an existing image.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Black and grey cover-ups: darkness needs structure

The raven and the portrait in Strength & continuity show two ways to organize dark values without losing a recognizable subject.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

A cover-up changes the design problem

Covering an old tattoo involves more than choosing a darker image. Size, texture and the freedom to change the composition create different possibilities.

Read the story ↗WILLIAM MARTZ / JOURNAL

Before the raven: reading the tattoo underneath

A faded rose, a new silhouette, and the feather structure that connects them. The first part of a cover-up happens in the composition.

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