5 star rating
10/13/2010
Adam Hays is a genius.
Here is why: Over the course of the past year, he took the insane, shoddy tattoo work on my arm and turned it into a beautiful half-sleeve full of story books, forest creatures, and awesomeness.
The only reference material I took to him when we first met were the words from my mouth. When he showed me the resultant drawing, my jaw hit the floor. Then it hit the floor again after every session. I'm surprised I'm not injured.
The detail on my piece is intricate and engaging. I've gone from the girl who got the side-eye every time someone saw my arm to the girl whose arm gets grabbed often so people can gawk at its glory.
Overall, sitting for Adam was an amazing, highly collaborative experience. He is very open to--and free with--suggestions. He will tell you what works and what doesn't, and why. He will also tell you jokes, and about his monstrous amounts of love for both his wife and bacon. He has tons of reference material on-hand, in case you're unsure or just unprepared. Usually there's a movie on too, which is a good distraction from the pain if you have a long session ahead of you.
The shop is clean and covered in art. If you drop in on a Saturday, you might even get to meet Mike's Weimaraner, Sophia. Don't expect to drop in and get worked on immediately, though. Adam is usually booked because he's a superstar, so have your design in mind, and plan on an appointment three to four weeks off, depending on availability. Keep in mind that Adam's specialties lie more in the realm of traditional and Star Wars themed work, but his portfolio speaks volumes about the versatility of his talent.
To summarize: Go see Adam Hays. Right now.
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