Our Tattoo Studio
OPEN DOOR
VOLUTA TATTOO–FINE ART TATTOO STUDIO’S UNMARKED ENTRANCE IS OFTEN LOCKED. YOU CAN’T CALL; APPOINTMENT REQUESTS ARE SCREENED BY EMAIL. THE ARTISTS LET US IN. B Y C H R I S T I NA V E R C E L L E T T O
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(1) Prayer
candles adorned with Prince, Conan Lea’s (front, center) “spirit animal.” (2) Daniel
Skolz’s paintings of lemons show how a common object appears different in a new context. “It
reflects its surroundings … not unlike humans,” he says. Daniel (left) likens tattooing to commissioned art. “It lets me connect with people meaningfully.” (3) Brandon
Lea (standing), Conan’s younger brother, creates
his handiwork entirely digitally, unusual in the business. He’s rarely without his sketchbook, aka iPad. (4) This beacon
signals an artist is in via a soothing glow. “The more at home, relaxed the client feels,
the better the process goes for everyone,” says Conan. (5) Conan was
trained by “the great sci-fi and fantasy illustration gods of our era” in renowned Illustration Master Classes. Their books fill
these shelves. “Whether a client wants to erase an angry past or get their sexy back, our job is visual storytelling.”
Conan has seen Eternal Ink made and trusts its quality. “It matters what you put under people’s skin.” (7) Voluta built
(6) Only custom
tattoos are crafted in this hidden atelier a bit south of Broad Ripple.
lamps that are easy on the eyes. Tattooing demands fullspectrum, directional light that
reflects only where needed. (8) A painting by
Alison Aether of Colorado, a frequent guest artist. They’re vetted on talent, experience, and kindness. (9) Sarah
Reynolds (right) translated a
Forest Rogers sculpture into an oil painting. Incredibly, Sarah only began painting during quarantine. (10) Lush greenery, like Dragon Trees, enlivens the space. Sarah’s the resident plant maven.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | IM
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