Work with a professional tattoo artist with 10+ years of experience. Private studio ranked among the best tattoo shops in Austin, Texas for Japanese traditional tattoos and black & grey realism. Inspired by the beauty hidden in darkness, nature, ukiyo-e, and floral patterns. Founder of Red Lantern Collective in Austin, TX.
Let’s turn your story into art that flows with your body and your being.
15,000 hours experience ⟁ 2,500 + healed pieces ⟁ 1-Day Reply Time
If you’ve outgrown walk‑in flash and want art that still turns heads decades from now—welcome. I create pieces where beauty and darkness trade whispers: blooming peonies hugging a reaper’s hood, koi that glide beneath flowing waves, intricate dragon sleeves that channel the spirit of Edo period Japan. Every line is placed so the tattoo breathes with your body and your life story.
Tattooer since 2015 ⟁ Founder @ Red Lantern Collective ⟁ Free 6-week perfection check & touch-ups
I’m Tyler C—15,000+ hours, more than 2,500 healed pieces, and a habit of chasing mastery wherever it hides. I learned black‑and‑grey from West‑Coast legends, studied Japanese traditional tattooing with some of the world’s greatest, and keep a sketchbook full of skulls & bones, flowing dragons, and blooming florals. My work is deeply rooted in precision, passion, and storytelling.
Private Studio ⟁ Trained by Masters on 3 Continents ⟁ Tattoos in Austin, San Diego, in NY
The work I do is 100 % original, whether it’s a custom design made just for you or my original hand-painted flash.
Bold line work, dynamic flow, and layered symbolism drawn from ukiyo-e masters. Expect dragons that flow with your body and floral patterns that move and breathe with every step you take. It’s the most refined tradition in tattooing—and I approach it with reverence, structure, and deep training from masters of the style.
Soft gradient shading, surreal skulls, and florals that look like they could wilt. Perfect for pieces that demand striking features yet subtle depth. I’m not necessarily your guy for Renaissance statues and such. I can do it, but I focus on the more surreal side of realism. Check my portfolio to see how I approach realism.
No copy-paste tattoos. Just unique pieces built from scratch to reflect your story, your style, and your season of life. Every piece is shaped by consults, research, and close collaboration, then drawn precisely for your body. My goal isn’t just to make something cool; it’s to make something true—a design that couldn’t exist without you.
Share your idea. Rough or well-honed. Together we’ll map the flow, placement, and budget so you know exactly what you’re stepping into.
15,000 hours experience ⟁ 2,500 + healed pieces ⟁ 1-Day Reply Time
If you saw something you love in my portfolio, let’s create a 100% original tattoo that loves you back. I’d be honored to take that journey with you.
Private Studio ⟁ Trained by Masters on 3 Continents ⟁ Tattoos in Austin, San Diego, and NYC
Tattooing is alchemy. It turns memory into matter, feeling into form, vision into verifiable truth. To me, this art form is sacred. These are the values I hold to in practicing this art:
Tattoos should feel inevitable on your skin: made to be there, something inevitable and infused with your essence. Your new tattoo will resonate with the respect, care, and curiosity I bring to your vision.
From stencil to healed photo, I relentlessly pursue perfection in my artistry and client experiences. I promise you this: I will care as much about how your tattoo looks as you do (probably more).
Honoring Japanese forms while layering personal symbolism with modern design and shading techniques honed as a renowned black & gray realism expert. Whether you decided to get straight Japanese traditional work or a blended approach, you will have an exceptional piece of fine art on your body.
Guiding without ego, weaving humor into hard moments, matching your energy and meeting you where you are. Your one-of-a-kind tattoo will be rooted in genuine curiosity and care for who you are.
This philosophy helps me offer the best tattoo experience possible: this isn’t just art, it’s alchemy. What does it look like when I’m living these values through my client work?
Story Time: Recently, a client walked in with a photograph of her late father and stories of his love for Japanese art and culture. We took that information and created a custom piece that honored her father while staying true to her own personal style. Here’s what she shared about her experience:
Reach out and schedule a call or studio chat. Zero pressure, just honest guidance on concept, style, and cost. You’ll walk away crystal-clear on whether I’m the right artist for your vision.
Tattooer since 2015 ⟁ Founder @ Red Lantern Collective ⟁ Free 6-week perfection check & touch-ups
Five steps, one focused journey to greatness. No guesswork, no ego.
Drop a two‑minute form with ideas and references. I reply within one business day—often sooner—so momentum never stalls. You'll love the professionalism, promptness, and sincerity I bring to every interaction.
We get on a phone or Zoom call—or meet up in the studio—to hammer out a shared creative vision and riff on placement, scale, and budget. I build a mood board that bridges your before (idea) to the envisioned after (living art).
I sketch broad shapes, then sharpen details on a 3‑D body mock‑up so you see the flow before ink touches skin. While I don't share designs before the day of tattooing, your design will be ready when you arrive.
Private studio, curated soundtrack, timed breaks, good vibes. My technique is smooth—most call pain a 5 out 10. We work until our goals for the day are accomplished and we both love the results.
Leave with a healing kit and direct DM line. Six weeks later you’re invited back for photos and, 9 times out of 10, I’m going to see something I’d like to fine-tune before you ever notice a thing—because perfectionism is cheaper than regret.
⟁ The result: a healed tattoo that feels like it belongs on your skin.
Tucked in a quiet North Austin studio near The Domain, Red Lantern Collective feels more gallery than parlor—clean lines, warm light, and a layout that invites creative clarity and flow. Our studio is home to a collective of deeply passionate and intentional artists, each dedicated to elevating the craft, inspiring one another, and holding space for work that means something.
We’ve built a studio where everyone—from first-timers to full-sleeve veterans—is treated with warmth, clarity, and calm. It’s inclusive by design, private by structure, and supportive by practice. No loud buzz of chaos. No random interruptions. Just steady, grounded work where the human connection is as prioritized as the ink itself.
Our goal? For you to leave with more than a great tattoo that will get compliments and admiration. We want you to walk out more in alignment with yourself—marked by art that was created with purpose and held with care.
Other studios chase volume. We chase mastery and timelessness. Here’s why clients rank us among the best rated tattoo shops in Austin TX:
No walk‑in chaos; every piece is booked, meticulously researched and planned, and sketched for you.
I schedule a six‑week check because I’m pickier than you. Clients virtually never ask for touch ups, but I'll suggest we do one if I see the tiniest room for refinement. Free of charge.
From full‑back Japanese dragons to photorealistic roses to surreal skulls; "Japanese traditional tattoos" isn’t a menu item here. It's a craft I study. I mastered black & grey realism and have expanded my repertoire into the world's most mature tattooing tradition. My work blends the profound stories and styles of Japanese with cutting-edge modern realism.
$250/hr; day rates for marathon sessions, and meticulous consulting and exploratory process to help us understand the all-in investment of time, money, and sheer love for the creative process. All quoted up front.
If you’re exploring Austin, Texas’s best tattoo shops and want a grounded, intentional experience, my approach is probably what you’ve been looking for.
Curious if your idea fits? → Book a Free Consult
The most common questions are addressed below.
Got something else on your mind? Drop it in the consult form. Answers land in your inbox fast.
Click Book My Consultation, fill the 2‑minute form, attach any loose references, and hit send. I respond within one business day with next steps and available dates. No automated hoops—just a real human (me) replying quickly so your idea keeps its spark.
I charge $250/hr. During our Vision Call (or better yet, in-person consultation in the studio) we scope size, detail, and session count so you know the total investment up front—no surprises, ever.
I tattoo by appointment only on Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat, 12 – 7 PM. That window gives us long, focused blocks—no cramped 90‑minute rush jobs—so the art and the experience both breathe.
Yes, it has to, but we’ll get you through it. My steady machine speed, soft hand, and scheduled micro‑breaks keep pain around a 5 out of 10 for most clients. We’ll breathe, laugh, snack—whatever keeps you steady. (I’ll never “just keep going” if your body needs a pause.)
You leave with a sealed Life‑Proof kit: cleanser, Hustle Butter, and a step‑by‑step guide. Clean twice daily, thin balm, zero pools or sun for two weeks. DM me a heal‑progress pic any time—I actually love seeing the journey.
No, and that’s intentional. Every tattoo is designed for a specific person and placement, so we plan, prep, and book dedicated time. That’s how I keep a near‑zero touch‑up rate.
Absolutely. I am here to help anyone from any walk of life experience creative expression through the artistry of tattooing. I adjust contrast, line weight, and shading values so the piece reads beautifully on every melanin level—because great art isn’t one‑tone‑fits‑all.
Private loft space, concierge‑level communication, 15 000+ hours of craft, and a perfectionist follow‑up where I’ll offer a free tune‑up if I see even a whisper of fade. Clients call it the most thoughtful tattoo experience in town.
Leave with a professionally bandaged tattoo, a step-by-step care guide, and my direct line for real-time questions. At six weeks we review the healed piece; if I think a line needs love, I book a free touch-up. Because perfectionism is cheaper than regret.
I split time between Austin and my hometown San Diego, with guest residencies in New York City and the occasional destination session (3+ days, larger projects only). Ask in your inquiry if you want me to meet you where inspiration strikes.
If you’re looking for a masterpiece from an award winning tattoo artist that’s true to your tattoo vision and personally meaningful (or just awesome to look at)—and you check these boxes—good news. You’ve got a skilled artistic partner ready to make magic happen.
