TATTOOING:

What style and colours are you tattooing in these days?

After several years of tattooing, I have decided to focus on exclusively tattooing blackwork imagery, specifically in the engraving and stippling styles.

How do I book a tattoo with you?

To book a tattoo with me, please fill out my booking form found at the top of this website. This is also where you can ask to schedule a consultation with me if you would prefer to meet in person to discuss your project. Once I email you back, that’s the perfect place to then share any inspiration or reference photos you may have, and to chat further about your ideas. Please note that by filling out my booking form, this does not guarantee that I will be able to take on your project. I prefer to tattoo in specific styles that I am able to excel at. I do not take on watercolour, realism, tribal, or fine line projects. *DEPOSITS ARE DUE AT THE TIME OF MAKING AN APPOINTMENT* If you are unable to provide a deposit at that time, you will be asked to reach out again later when you are able to do so. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Do you tattoo on darker/more melanin rich skin and different body types and skin textures?

Absolutely yes! All skin colours, body shapes, and skin textures are NORMAL are welcome! Sweat is normal! Scars are normal! Stretch marks are normal! If you have any questions or concerns, such as a skin condition that may affect the healing of your tattoo, feel free to email me at colleen.fiddler@gmail.com so we can chat further.

How long have you been tattooing?

I was a tattoo apprentice for just over three years and I’ve been tattooing on skin since the Fall of 2022.

Where do you work?

You can find me at Prairie Witch Tattoo in the My Lofts Studios on Whyte Avenue - 10368 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 1Z8

*Please note that the studio does not accept walk in’s as our building has several locked doors. To keep up with my last minute bookings or walk in flash days, please follow me on Instagram! Our shop page is @PrairieWitchTattoo and my personal page is @ToughandTenderTattoo

What is your availability/schedule?

Currently, I do not keep regular hours as I like to, whenever possible, accommodate the needs of my clientele. Please note that I do not work past 9 pm. Once I have responded to your booking form to take on your project, we can discuss our schedules.

What parts of the body will you tattoo?

NO: heads/faces, ears, necks, or buttocks - Please note that I will tattoo hands and fingers only on clients with existing arm tattoos

What is your hourly rate?

*My current hourly rate is $200 per hour + GST

* Our studio also charges a $30 supply fee per client. This enables us to use Good Judy products in our efforts to reduce our use of single use plastic. We also have saniderm/second skin, snacks, tea, and stickers!

*Consultations are FREE of charge

What forms of payment do you accept?

I accept cash and etransfer as forms of payment.

Can I see my drawing ahead of time?

Absolutely! This is your body and I understand and can appreciate the anxiety and excitement towards an upcoming appointment! I completely understand wanting to see your drawing before the day of your tattoo appointment. I always send an initial sketch for client approval, and then a more detailed drawing later on. We can discuss any changes that you have at both stages. However, please note that excessive change requests do require a redraw fee of $20/hour. These changes include changing the subject matter, style, or overall composition to a piece AFTER approving the initial sketch.

Deposits:

In order to confirm your appointment booking and to pay for your drawing, you will be asked to leave a $100 deposit for sessions of 4 hours or less, and a $200 deposit for sessions of greater than 4 hours. A deposit is required via etransfer to colleen.fiddler@gmail.com in order to book an appointment. If you are unable to leave a deposit at that time, you will be asked to reach out again at a later date when you are able to do so. *Deposits are non refundable.

Your deposit will of course contribute to the overall total of your tattoo session’s cost. If you fail to show up for your appointment and do not cancel within the expected 48 hour time period, your deposit will be forfeited and a new deposit will be required to reschedule your appointment. If you decline to do so, any artwork that was designed will be paid for belongs to Colleen Fiddler of Tough & Tender Tattoo, and may become available for another client. Deposits are non-refundable. If you change your mind of “no show”, the deposit is forfeited to cover the time of administrative work, researching, drawing, and the cost of the supplies. The reason my deposit fees have increased are because working out of a private studio, if a client last minute cancels their appointment or “no show’s”, I do not receive any income for that day or the time spent drawing. A deposit covers this.

Cancellation Policy:

Please reschedule your appointment if needed providing a minimum of 48 hours notice via EMAIL to colleen.fiddler@gmail.com

If you cancel within 48 hours, your previous deposit is forfeited, and a new deposit will be required to reschedule your sessions. I understand that accidents and emergencies happen. If something happens the day of your appointment, please EMAIL me ASAP. (Do not send me a message on Instagram! It will go into my private requests folder and I will not see it.) If you don’t show up for your scheduled appointment, your deposit will also be forfeited. IF YOU ARE SICK, please reschedule your appointment and I will carry forward your deposit in full the first time. If you are ill a second time, I will retain 50% of your deposit.

What are some things I can do to prepare for my tattoo appointment?

  • bring your government issued ID (18+ only - no exceptions)

  • make sure you’re sufficiently hydrated and nourished (you can also bring snacks and drinks to your appointment!)

  • do NOT drink alcohol within 24 hours before your appointment

  • if you are going to be use other stimulants or medications in order to help you (numbing cream, CBD, etc.), please let me know ahead of time so that I can prepare for this experience with full disclosure and comfort) Numbing cream is not recommended for use when it comes to colour tattoos.

  • wear loose, comfortable clothing - potentially layers so you can adjust as your body temperature changes

  • shower before your session, and a few days before your appointment, consider exfoliating your skin if possible

  • do NOT shave the area getting tattooed as I will do that for you to assure there are no cuts

  • bring headphones, fidgets, video games (as long as it isn’t an arm/back/torso tattoo where you can’t move your upper body), or anything else that will help you be more comfortable - we have a studio wifi password so feel free to download some episodes of your favorite show or a movie if you would like! I’m happy to have you sit for a “silent session” or “semi silent session” if you prefer. (see details in my booking form)

  • come knowing that this is YOUR body and investment - I will NEVER make you feel guilty for wanting to change your drawing, take a break, asking to adjust and get more comfortable, etc. This experience is about YOU.

  • please let me know if you would like to bring a +1 to your appointment! I’m not comfortable with last minute people showing up, and my space is quite small, so I need to know ahead of time to accomodate for this.

  • *PLEASE reschedule your appointment if you are sunburnt or have any significant cuts or bruises to the area being tattooed outside of the 48 hour rebooking window. If you have to reschedule within 48 hours due to a sunburn or significant damage to the skin, you will be required to leave a new deposit to rebook an appointment.

  • Aftercare Instructions:

    All aftercare instructions will be provided verbally, and printed if requested, at the end of your tattoo appointment. Please adhere to all aftercare instructions. If you have healing complications, please consult a medical professional.

  • Touch Ups:

    Most tattoos shouldn’t require a touch up, but if your tattoo needs one, please let me know so we can book a session for you. Touch ups scheduled within 12 months/1 year of the original tattoo appointment are free excluding the $30 supply fee. Clients must wait 3 - 4 months after receiving the tattoo before getting a touch up, so that the tattoo can fully heal and settle into the skin. Therefore, after the healing period, clients will have approximately 8 months to book in for their complimentary touch up appointment. Again, ideally within that one year period.

  • Abandoned drawings:

    If you choose not to move forward with a drawing or a tattoo, that drawing is property of Colleen Fiddler at Tough & Tender Tattoo. All copyrights and properties remain in possession of Colleen Fiddler. Any abandoned drawings are able to be posted as available for a future client. You may not steal my artwork to be tattooed by another artist. Any art theft may result in legal action.

EDUCATION:

CV:
NAIT - Photographic Technology: 2009 - 2011

Grant MacEwan University - Fine Arts Diploma: 2011 - 2013

Tattoo Apprentice: 2015 - 2017 & 2022 - 2023

Do you think art school is worthwhile?

The short answer: Yes. It was a pivotal experience in my life and I'm grateful that I completed my two years in such an amazing program with the inspiring, supportive, and challenging teachers that I had. Being in that program forced me to significantly improve my fundamentals in a compressed timeline.

That being said, there are plenty of avenues available for exploration to learn the type of visual arts you would like to pursue. Schoolism is an incredible online experience and I also have taken many smaller classes over the years, from live model drop-in's, to a week long oil portrait painting class with artist Justin Ogilvie. There is also an unbelievable amount of information to be found on Youtube and Skillshare! I don't think art school is necessary, nor is it well suited to everyone's lifestyle or personality, let alone financially possible for many. However, having this on my resume has helped in finding art related volunteer positions and jobs. I was really lucky in that every single one of my teachers was engaging and dedicated to their students and our variety of needs. Art school was where I learned a lot of things about myself that I don't know if I would have anywhere else. It's definitely an experience where you get out of it what you put in. If I had the money to do so, I would absolutely return to complete a MFA, and I may even pursue this in the future. I was able to explore media like clay, wood, and plaster that I may not have otherwise. Overall, I'm glad I went into the program that I did. But by no means do you need a degree to be a professional artist.

SUPPLIES:

What supplies do you use for your traditional art?

Linocuts: Speedball Professional Relief Ink: Supergraphic Black (light fast & oil based, but water miscible so it’s easy to clean up). I also love Cranfield inks, especially the gold. I use Flexcut and Pfeil carving tools and a Flexcut sharpening strop. The paper I use varies, but I tend to use Fabriano cold press 140lb, which is actually unusual. Most printmakers prefer to use a smooth hot press paper, but I love the cold press texture and thickness. The linoleum I use varies, but I have lately been loving Speedball’s “smoky tan unmounted”.

Drawing: Staedtler Pigment Liners, Pigma Graphic Archival Ink pens, and Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils - For digital work I use the Procreate app.

Brushes: For watercolours and gouache I love the blue Princeton Select brushes. For acrylic and oil painting I favour the Princeton Art & Brush Co. Umbria brushes.

Paints: M. Graham & Co. gouache, Holbein Acryla gouache, and Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors. I favour Gamblin for oil paint and mediums like their Cold Wax Medium and Walnut Alkyd Medium.

Substrates: Fluid watercolor paper, Arches cold press paper, & Gotrick Masters Selection Wood Panels