Tattoos by Jake Reynolds

Tattoos by Jake Reynolds Madison, WI based tattoo artist with 10+ years of experience. Op-art, 3D optical illusion, color realism, black + grey realism, & mash ups. A: My first tattoo.

Contact me to collaborate on your next tattoo design! Email to book: [email protected] Q & A with Jake: Get to know your tattoo artist

Q: How long have you been tattooing? A: A little over 10 years. Q: What got you into it? I have “Cure H. D.” on the inside of my lower lip. Q: Why? A: My dad had Huntington’s Disease. He passed away when I was 27. He was a great dad. I was so lucky to hav

e such a great dad. I made a video about it; you can see it here:

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F21704372%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0hxCWR5U4Ii3JTQT8aJApTcz18Y6iVAS5l5IIxtLXt_O5lgVZ23IuLV5o&h=AT2T38uJE8av1BmA_Je2hW_3J-n6m5ueIkrLPI3MrDoVEYWpGRE02sMvB1Ok7NjJpTN2Fh4hH8KLNwMpriBTesW33bGgiH5IioeTkkXVzZh-vj2WH70XKNWVIsClrKksB9U

Q: Has this inspired you to do many tattoo’s recognizing loss or disease? A: Yes, I’ve done some memorial and mastectomy tattoos. Q: What are your favorite types of tattoos to do? A: I really enjoy doing op-art, 3D optical illusion, color realism, black and grey realism, and mashing up a combination of these styles. Q: Are there any tattoos that you can’t or won’t do? A: I won’t steal cultural styles, for example Polynesian or Indigenous tribal/traditional tattoo. I also won’t do any hate tattoos… and I don’t like trees. Q: Haha why? A: I prefer to do tattoos with depth. Trees are always flat. Q: Do you have a favorite tattoo that you’ve done? A: Whatever tattoo I’m doing that day. Q: Do you have any tattoo heroes or people you find inspirational? A: My buddy Jed Leinkes who passed away. I learned a lot from him and I liked sitting with him. Q: What is the longest session you’ve ever done? A: Hmm, needle to skin…. I once tattooed someone from 6 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. the next morning. It was a large, complex tattoo that involved a stencil that was really tricky to place so the outline had to be done all in one sitting. Q: How many tattoos do you have? A: I have 4 inside my mouth and hopefully one on my entire body but that’s currently a work in progress. I’d rather being giving tattoos than receiving. Q: Where did you go to school and what for? A: I went to UW Milwaukee for a Bachelor of the Arts. I wanted to become a high school art teacher. Q: What inspired you to do that? A: My own experiences with art class in high school. My art teacher/art class experience saved my life. It was at a time when my home life was centered around my fathers illness and I felt very powerless. Being in art class on a daily basis gave me a place where I had an outlet and some say in how things happened. I wanted to be able to give that same experience to the next generation.

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Swipe to see the old tattoo!Now that hunting season’s wrapped and snowmobiling season’s kicking off,...
12/04/2025

THROWBACK THURSDAY! Swipe to see the old tattoo!

Now that hunting season’s wrapped and snowmobiling season’s kicking off, here’s a throwback to a buck rework I did in January 2023. Big thanks to Deric for trusting me to revive his old piece with a new background, border, and added leaf details for extra depth. If you’re looking to transform an older tattoo, shoot me a DM.





With all the snow lately, it feels like we’re all living inside a giant snow globe. ❄️ I recently had the privilege of d...
12/02/2025

With all the snow lately, it feels like we’re all living inside a giant snow globe. ❄️ I recently had the privilege of designing this half-sleeve for Anne—a cozy dragon curled up with a good book. When the weather gets wild, there’s nothing better than slowing down and getting lost in a story. ❄️ Grateful to Anne for letting me turn such a thoughtful idea into a half-sleeve.

11/29/2025

It’s beginning to look a lot like Hoth,
Everywhere you go…
And the heaviest sight to see
Is an AT-AT marching free,
Stepping through the snow…

Here’s a throwback tattoo from a galaxy far, far away — July 2020 — when I got to design two snowspeeders tripping an AT-AT during the Battle of Hoth. This was one of the first pieces where I built a 3D frame to separate the background from the foreground, and it totally raised the tattoo’s midichlorian count!

If you’ve gotta ‘speed out’ in the snow today, take it slow. No need to rush around like Han Solo trying to defrost Luke inside a Tauntaun…

Here’s a Thanksgiving throwback ‘turkey’ tattoo I did back in June of ’22. Thought I’d share this fierce hawk piece just...
11/27/2025

Here’s a Thanksgiving throwback ‘turkey’ tattoo I did back in June of ’22. Thought I’d share this fierce hawk piece just in time for the holiday. I’m grateful every day for the clients who trust me with big, meaningful work like this. Hope everyone gets a moment to slow down, recharge, and enjoy the day. 🦃🦅
Thankful for the art, the stories, and all of you





11/24/2025

What are you listening to when you’re trying to get a good lift in? Recently, I would put on “I Will Survive” because I’m trying to make them good Gloria “Gaynor’s” Anyways, I think timing is a funny thing. I saw, the other day at the gym, a quote that read, Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time” - Notorious RBG, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And it just so happened, I finished tattooing RBG’s infamous collar that same day. Know your worth, don’t accept less. Dissent.

SUNDAY FUNDAY! Got to work on some meaningful ink for my buddy Rob! Inside arm features personal symbols, outside showca...
11/23/2025

SUNDAY FUNDAY! Got to work on some meaningful ink for my buddy Rob! Inside arm features personal symbols, outside showcases my take on a Jesus portrait. Thanks for the creative freedom, Rob! Stoked to finish your backpiece and hear what’s next

11/18/2025

Here’s a heart-and-skull mashup I got to do for Morris — had an absolute blast putting my own style and flavor into this one. Big thanks to Chris for the killer idea and for giving me the freedom to run with it!

11/16/2025

Todd Snider was a soulful, witty alt-country troubadour known for his razor-sharp storytelling and heartfelt songs. He passed away on November 14, 2025, at age 59 after complications from pneumonia — a heartbreaking end following a recent violent assault and hospitalization. Here’s a piece I created for my buddy Alex, blending two of his all-time favorites: the Grateful Dead’s iconic Stealie and Todd Snider’s Wheel.

11/13/2025
 !Still one of my favorites — a 3D mandala I did for my friend Elisabeth back in November 2020. I’m always looking for w...
11/13/2025

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Still one of my favorites — a 3D mandala I did for my friend Elisabeth back in November 2020. I’m always looking for ways to push depth and dimension in my tattoos, and this one really hit that mark. Thinking about something in this style? Hit me up in the DMs!

Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served — your courage, sacrifice, and dedication protect the freedoms we hold dear. Thank...
11/11/2025

Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served — your courage, sacrifice, and dedication protect the freedoms we hold dear. Thank you for your service.

Back in December of ’22, I had the honor of finishing this half sleeve for a career veteran who proudly served in both the Navy and the Army. When he first reached out, he had a whole vision for the piece — but by the time we sat down for the consultation, he’d narrowed it down to just a rope and a compass. After being told by several artists that his original ideas wouldn’t work, he humbly asked for something simple. Instead, we decided to bring his full story to life — a design that truly captures his years of service, dedication, and pride.

It was an absolute honor to create this piece for you, Hilgy.

11/10/2025

Super Bowl… SUPER BOWL?! We'll be lucky if Jalen doesn't "Hurt" us tonight! I say "us," because as the substitute water boy, maybe Luke Fickle will put me in as starting quarterback and we'll have a chance. Anyways… Here's a tattoo I did way back in 2020 when Covid was a thing. And the phrase "put me in, coach" was on all our minds. I know it was on the mind of this season ticket holder, who not only has a Packer tattoo but also, a little itty-bitty Bears logo too if you look close enough. And the only thing worse than losing to the Bears, was that record setting "sister-kisser" of tying the Cowboys earlier in the season… Anyways, let's hope the gosh darn Packers pull it out tonight and beat the defending Super Bowl champs. And as Mosephus would sing, or Hank Jr. to most; “Are you ready for some football? A Monday night party?!

Address

2201 Eulalia Street
Cross Plains, WI
53528

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 7pm

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