My name is Sofija Kamasi, I am Serbian hand-poke tattoo artist based in Chicago.
I work out of Dwelling Tattoo private studio located in Ravenswood, at 1770 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613.
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General information about my tattoo practice
Please read this page thoroughly before proceeding to booking a tattoo with me!
Hand-poked tattoo technique is slow and quiet, and overall it can be a very meditative experience for both, me and you. Tattoo is created by using just a needle and ink to slowly place a series of dots in the skin to form lines or fill. Tattoos done this way tend to hurt less and heal faster because it is less traumatic for the skin.
My designs and inspiration
My tattoo designs, and my art in general, are playful and are inspired by shapes, patterns and colors. Sewing, beading and jewelry making are also a part of my practice, and my ideas, very often, flow through all of these mediums.
My favorite reference to find inspiration in are ornaments, quilts, tiles, embroidery…
Different types of tattoos that I do
When filling in my booking form you will be asked to select what type of tattoo appointment you are looking to book. I separate them in three different categories:
Flash tattoos
Play compositions
Custom tattoos
Here is a little info about each of them:
Flash tattoos
Flash are my own designs that I have pre-made and are available for you to chose from. You can see all the currently available designs here. I have my flash categorized in two groups. Endlessly repeatable and Limited designs.
Endlessly repeatable designs, are smaller and simpler designs, that I love playing with and tattooing over and over again. You can chose to get them tattooed individually or as a part of a bigger Play composition (read more about this bellow).
Limited designs are usually more complex and I will tattoo them only 1-3 times, depending on demand and how interesting the design is for me to tattoo.
Note: I am always happy to change the colors of existing drawings and I do not consider it a custom request. We can look through my ink collection and choose your palette at the appointment, before we start tattooing you. My booking form will ask you if this is something you are interested in.
Play compositions
Play compositions are basically customized tattoo compositions made from a bunch of my available flash designs. These kinds of tattoos are so fun for me to do. The process of creating them is very collaborative and I love hearing your ideas. You can chose shapes and designs from my repeatable or limited flash and we can come up with a composition and a color palette that best suits your body, skin and already existing tattoo art. I like to build these together with you, when you come in for your appointment.
Possibilities are endless and I invite you to play, we can change colors or get rid of them. We can sprinkle them around, overlap them, fill the gaps between you tattoos or make a stand alone composition. Anything you can imagine.
When filling in my booking form, please feel free to attach screenshots of composition examples that I have done in the past, that you like the most. Building these designs can take a while, so to save some time I suggest you already look through my available designs and pick a handful you would like us to include in the final composition. You DO NOT need to send me each shape you would like to get ahead of time, just have a general idea which ones you are most drawn to.
Here are some compositions I really enjoyed making. If you wanna see more please check my instagram.
Custom tattoos
Custom tattoos are one-of-a-kind designs that are created specifically for you. My custom booking is limited and may not be available at every booking opportunity.
To spark your imagination here is a short list of the kind of requests that I enjoy working on. I will most likely say yes to designing tattoos inspired by any kind of textile reference, your grandma’s quilts are my favorite. Tile designs that have special significances for you are so fun to do too. Feel free to bring me historical photo references of ornaments, patterns or abstract art. I would love to do basically anything from or inspired by slavic folklore. I am also happy to make variations of some tattoo designs that I have done in a recent past (some examples are gradient vines and beaded chain designs…)
I am very selective when it comes to the custom ideas I take on. If I have too many custom requests at a given time or if I think I am not the best artist to translate your idea into a tattoo I might need to cancel your booking request and return your deposit.
Here are a few examples of recent custom requests I loved making and tattooing:
Custom chain tattoos
These chain tattoos became a very popular type of a design that I do.
And to make sure you fill your booking forms correctly I do realize that I need to share a bit more info about how these designs work.
The reason you can not find any similar designs in my available flash is because I do consider these pieces custom designs. I always draw them to match each client and their tattoo idea. Anything is possible. We can make them super colorful, or go for a grayscale palette. They can be as short as just a few shapes or go the length of your arm. These tattoos are beautiful stand alone pieces, but they are also amazing gap fillers, or blast overs and I love customizing them to fit your tattoo collection.
I love collaborating on these and I am always so excited to hear about your vision.
If you wish to get something similar tattooed please make sure to follow these instructions:
When submitting a tattoo request please select that you are interested in getting a custom design.
Attach a photo of the placement you are thinking of, and if you already have a very clear idea of the movement of the shapes please make a little sketch for me and attach that to the booking form as well.
Feel free to also attach screenshots of the tattoos I have done before that you like, and maybe add an example of color palette you are interested in. We will always discuss exact shades of color on the day of the appointment before we start with the tattoo.
The more info you give me, the easier it will be for me to understand your vision, and it will save us both a lot of time.
Pricing
I have a whole page with pricing information and examples here.
Types of Appointments
I categorize all my appointments into three different time frames:
Small tattoos (2h)
Medium sized tattoos (4h)
Big Tattoos (6-8h)
No matter what type of the tattoo design you are planning on getting, you will be able to chose between these three time slots. You can find more information about appointment types here.
How to prepare for your tattoo appointment
In the week prior to the appointment I would suggest you to drink plenty of water, sleep well, and just in case, avoid spending too much time in the sun (tattooing sunburned skin is NOT an option). Please make sure to moisturize the area in which you will be tattooed twice a day during this week. This is a very important step because dry skin is very difficult to tattoo. Avoid alcohol consumption on the day of and the day before the appointment, and please make sure to eat something before coming in. In addition, it is not recommended to have taken blood thinners (such as Tylenol) before, during or right after the session, as it may cause excessive bleeding. All these factors play a huge role in how well your skin accepts and heals the tattoo. For the appointment, it is best if you wear dark color clothes or something you don’t care to risk getting ink or stencil on, as they will not come out! Make sure that you are wearing clothes that will let us access the placement we are tattooing. I’d also suggest bringing water a bottle, some snacks and a book or headphones, in case you need to distract yourself.
Do you wanna make a change on your initial application
If anything from your initial application has changed, please let me know via email at sofijakamasi@gmail.com, ASAP as we may need to reschedule your appointment to allow for more time.
Cancellation/Rescheduling policy
If you need to cancel, please let me know at least 48 hours before your appointment so I would be able to fill the slot. Deposit on cancellations is NON-REFUNDABLE.
If you need to reschedule, please email me ASAP. I understand that things happen, and I certainly don’t want you coming in if you feel ill, if your financial situation has changed or if you are not in the right headspace for a tattoo. If rescheduled 48 hours before our appointment, there is no fee to reschedule and the original deposit will apply to the new session. If done after this time, you’ll need to pay another deposit to book a new session and the original deposit will NOT be applied to the session. This is to cover my time as it’s very difficult to fill a slot in under 48 hours. With all reschedules, I will try my best to reschedule your appointment to the near future, but it may be another few months before I can get you back on my calendar.
Please try to arrive on time to your appointment. Chicago public transportation is not the most reliable, so take this into account when planing your commute. In case you arrive earlier you can always hang in our studios waiting area. If you are running late, please email me ASAP to let me know your status.
Age requirement
You must legally be 18+ to get a tattoo, no exceptions! I will ask to see you ID when you come in for your appointment.
Bringing a friend to the appointment
I prefer to work one on one, only with the client, but I am okay with you bringing a partner/friend, if that will make you more comfortable. I know that making decisions regarding the tattoos and placements can be hard, but having too many different opinions can only cloud your own. There will never be any pressure to rush and my job is to help you choose a tattoo that you will happily be wearing for a long, long time.
Please indicate if you are planning on bringing a friend in the booking form.
Right after your appointment
Immediately after your tattoo, I always suggest drinking a lot of water, and getting something to eat! PLEASE do not go out drinking after your tattoo session. Alcohol is a blood thinner and will lead to increased blood, plasma, and ink excretion in your bandage which could cause healing issues if not properly addressed. Exercising is also not recommended right after the appointment, because sweating could also cause healing complications.
After care
All the after care information you can find here
Color inks I use
Typically I use a combination of Dynamic Ink, Solid Ink and Intenze Ink. I have a decent amount of bottled color shades but I am always happy to mix a few different inks to make a custom shade for you. Please do not hesitate to ask me if you would like to change colors of the design.
You can let me know if you are interested in doing so on my booking form, but I will always ask you if you wanna change colors when I start setting up my station. Colors can be very temperamental to use and depending on how well your skin is moisturized they can take a long time to tattoo. Even though most people recognize my work for my use of color, I also love working with black ink only. We can turn most designs in black or grayscale if that is something you would prefer. Please email me before our appointment if you need more information about the ink I use.
Color tests
Color tattoos are for everyone, and I am very confident in my ability to tattoo color on all skin tones.
If you aren’t sure about color ink or are worried about how it will heal in your skin, I recommend doing a color test prior to your appointment. Color test is basically a tiny tattoo that consists of colored dots or lines that I usually prefer placing in a discreet spot on your body. I recommend waiting at least 1-2 months, so we could see how the colors have settled in over time. If you are satisfied with how the colors are looking and you decide to book a bigger tattoo appointment with me, please feel free to do so through my booking form.
This service is free for those who self-identify as Black or POC. If you are not, the test is $50 and covers my time and expenses. In addition, this service does NOT come off the final balance of your tattoo.
If you have more questions or are ready to book a color test please send an E-mail to sofijakamasi@gmail.com.
Allergies and possible skin reactions
Allergic reactions to tattoo material are rare, but are still something you should think about. Please let me know ahead of your session if you are concerned about an allergy with my tattoo products. I do NOT use latex gloves and have alternative bandages to “second skin.”
Color inks can in very few cases also cause allergies, and these reactions may have a latency period varying from weeks to months or even years after the tattoo is inked. Red ink is infamous for causing the most allergic reactions out of all the tattoo colors. If this is something that worries you and you would like to schedule a color test appointment, before committing to a big tattoo, please email me.
In case you are experiencing an allergic reaction to the tattoo that I have given, you please let me know immediately as well as contact your doctor and/or dermatologist. You can always contact me at sofijakamasi@gmail.com.
Touch up policy
Touchups are available once your tattoo is fully healed (usually 6-8 weeks). This service will always be free of charge.
Touchups are subjective, and it is really up to you to decide if you would like to receive one. If you aren’t sure if you need a touch up or not, or if you are interested in booking a touch up appointment, please email me a photo of your healed tattoo to sofijakamasi@gmail.com so we could further discuss this.
Traveling and Guest spots
I love traveling and guesting in different cities but at the moment I do not have any planned trips.
Personal Safety Information
For the sake of everybody’s safety please do not come to your appointment if you are feeling ill in any way. If this happens email me as soon as you can and we will discuss your options. Face masks are no longer required in our studio. But in case you would prefer to be masked during our appointment, please let me know once you come in. We will have masks available.
Now you are ready to book a tattoo with me
Thank you for reading. I am excited to work with you!
Did I miss anything?
I am pretty sure I covered it all! But if you still have lingering questions or need clarification, please feel free to email me at sofijakamasi@gmail.com. I try my best to respond to all email inquiries.
