Ryan Smokoska Tattoo's

08/18/2026

These cherry skulls were a lot of fun to create!!

07/31/2026

Made it to #3!! 💚

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote, share, comment, and support me throughout this entire contest. A special thank you to the people who nominated me in the first place and gave me the opportunity to even be a part of this. This is the first time I've ever been in a contest like this. To be included alongside so many talented artists is pretty rad! Looking back, I think art was always a part of who I was. I was the kid always drawing in school and sketching on my homework. Art class was always the one class that I gravitated to the most. My fascination with tattoos started at a pretty young age. I remember when I was a kid there were only a few tattoo shops in town and there was this mysterious glow that surrounded them that fascinated me and i knew it was something magical. Slowly my love for drawing turned into a passion for tattooing, and that passion eventually became the career I’m incredibly grateful to have today. A huge thank you to my amazing clients who continue to trust me with their ideas, their stories, and their skin. Every tattoo, every conversation, and every person who has supported me along the way has helped shape this journey.Thank you to my family for always believing in me, and especially to my wife for encouraging me to put myself out there and reminding me that my work deserves to be shared.
, I feel incredibly fortunate. Tattooing has given me so much, and I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to create, learn, and continue growing.

I also want to congratulate Raven who took 1st place and is also my neighbor at the Park trades center where my studio is located, and all of the other artists who were part of this contest. There was so much talent represented!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. The amount of support and encouragement I’ve received means more than you know. 💚 you guys rock!!

Kalamazoo just wrapped up its first-ever poll ranking individual tattoo artists, and nearly 11,000 votes came in. Raven Wynd took the top spot, with four others close behind.

07/31/2026

ATTENTION!! last chance to vote!! Help keep me in the race!! 💚

Kalamazoo is voting for its favorite tattoo artists this month, with dozens of local names on the ballot and one vote allowed per person per day.

07/30/2026

I drew this design and tattooed it about 15 years ago when I was still an apprentice. Recently, I had the chance to revisit it and add to it. Looking back at the original drawing, the first version of the tattoo, and where it is today is pretty cool. It's a reminder of how much can change with time, experience, and practice.
Every artist starts somewhere, and the only way to get better is to keep putting in the work. Still learning. Still growing. Still grateful for everyone who has trusted me along the way. 💚

07/29/2026

We’re down to the final days. Voting ends Friday at 5 AM, and I’m asking for one last push from everyone who has been supporting me. Every single vote truly matters, and if you’ve been voting for me, thank you. If you’re able to continue voting through the end, it would mean more to me than I can put into words.
This is the first time I’ve ever been nominated for something like this, and honestly, I never expected to even see my name on the list. Whoever nominated me, thank you. That alone was an incredible honor.
What has surprised me even more is the amount of support I’ve received since then. To have stayed near the top throughout this entire contest is something I never imagined. It’s honestly been a little surreal, and it’s only happened because so many of you have taken the time to vote, share my work, and encourage me along the way.
One of the things that means the most to me is simply being listed alongside so many incredibly talented tattoo artists. Kalamazoo is filled with artists whose work I respect, and it's a genuine honor just to have my name mentioned with theirs. Regardless of where any of us finish, being included in that group is something I'm truly proud of.
Tattooing has never been just a job to me. Every tattoo is a piece of someone's story, and every person who sits in my chair is placing their trust in me. That's a responsibility I've always taken seriously, and I'm grateful every day that I get to do what I love.
If you’ve supported me by getting tattooed, recommending me to a friend, sharing my work, leaving a kind comment, or casting a vote, thank you. None of this would be possible without you.
With only a little time left, I’m asking for one final favor. If you’re able to keep voting through Friday morning, I would be incredibly grateful. Your support has already taken me farther than I ever expected, and it would mean the world to finish this journey as strongly as possible.
Thank you all, truly. 💚

07/28/2026

When Batman needs a little backup 🦇🐻 Also, the contest has a few days left for your daily vote. Please help keep me in the running by voting and sharing with your friends! Link in the comments. Thank you all!!

07/28/2026

Really enjoyed bringing this one to life. I'd love to create more large scale floral pieces like this!

07/27/2026

Still really happy with how this one turned out. Traditional tattoos are always fun to tattoo, and I'd love to do more of them!

07/27/2026

Really happy with how this one turned out . I had a great time tattooing it!