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Black & grey realism
Nick McKnight
Best tattoo artist in Brunswick, Georgia. Nationally award-winning realism, Ink Master alumnus, nineteen years at the machine. Black and grey with touches of realistic color, from the early years to last week. Tap any piece to see it larger; healed work is labeled, because that's the version you live with.
Portraits, wildlife, pets and memorial pieces are most of what I do. If you don't see your idea here, that's not a no: bring the reference. Looking for something small and delicate? That's Kaitlyn.
Rates
Simple pricing, no surprises
You pay for machine time, not the clock on the wall. If anything needs attention after healing, that's on me.
Standard session
Calculated by actual machine run-time. Breaks, stencil changes and conversation are free.
Skip the Wait
A four-hour priority session that bypasses the waitlist and moves you to the front of the books. Every hour after the fourth is billed at $299.
- Touch-ups are free. Always.
A tattoo is forever, and it's a piece of my portfolio for just as long. If anything needs attention after the healing stage, making it perfect is my responsibility, never at your expense.
- One client per day
Your appointment is the whole day, so you're never rushed and never waiting on someone else's chair. It also means a no-show costs a full day of work, so please treat your date like the day it is.
- Free consultation
Subject, placement, size and reference are settled before you ever sit down, by message or in person.
About Nick
Nineteen years, four seasons of Ink Master, one standard
Nick McKnight is a nationally award-winning realism tattoo artist with 19 years of tattooing and 12 years of professional piercing experience as a shop owner. His high-detail black and grey work, accented with touches of vivid color, took him to Ink Master (seasons 2 and 3), Ink Master: Redemption (seasons 1 and 4), and a win on the Ink Master Cupid's Ink special.
Outside the studio he's a photographer, documentary filmmaker and a nutritionist specializing in longevity protocols. That carries straight into his tattooing: the same evidence-based standard for what goes into a body, and a simple rule: he will never use anything on a client that he wouldn't use on himself.
Safety and health first. Third-party-tested ink free of carcinogens and heavy metals, independently tested lead-free needles, sterile water, surgical-level aseptic technique, and medical-grade wrap instead of plastic. The full standard.
What to expect
From first message to healed tattoo
Consultation
Send the inquiry form. We settle the subject, placement, size and reference photos, and you get a date. Free, no deposit required to talk.
Design and stencil
Be picky. Please. This is your body for life, so don't settle for "close enough." Speak up on every detail of the stencil; we don't start until it's perfect.
The session
One client, one day. Sterile setup, lab-tested inks, lead-free needles, and as many breaks as you need.
Healing
Healing is half the work. You leave with an aftercare kit and a step-by-step guide, and free touch-ups if anything needs it once you're healed.
Safety and health first
A higher standard of clean
Tattoo ink isn't FDA-approved, so it's your artist's job to know exactly what's going into your body for life. We've done that research so you don't have to, and both chairs run on the same standard.
Third-party-tested ink
REACH-compliant pigments, lab-tested and certified free of the heavy metals, carcinogens, azo dyes and preservatives that third-party testing has found in some popular ink brands.
Independently tested, lead-free needles
Some cheaper needles have been found to contain lead. Ours are independently tested so they don't.
Surgical-level aseptic technique
Nick trained in surgical-grade sterilization protocols, including Glo Germ cross-contamination training, which uses a UV tracer to show exactly where invisible contamination spreads, and the whole studio runs on those protocols.
Never plastic wrap
Fresh work is never covered with Saran wrap. You always get a medical-grade breathable adhesive membrane that keeps bacteria out while the skin breathes.
Sterile water only
Tap water never touches the process. Pharmaceutical-grade sterile water for ink dilution and skin prep.
Aftercare, handled
You leave with a custom aftercare kit (pH-balanced wash and organic balms) and a detailed digital guide for every stage of healing.
Start here
Book a session
Tell me what you have in mind. I read every inquiry myself and reply directly; the first consultation is free.