08/31/2025
To my wife ❤️ Tomorrow is your last day the place where we met, the place where your dream of becoming a tattoo artist came alive, and the place where we built so much of our life together.
You walked in here years ago with nothing but your drawings after a dream you had and if people don’t know you, they don’t know that your dreams have a way of becoming reality. This one did. 3,053 tattoos later, you’ve become an artist who not only creates beautiful work but who carries a piece of herself in every single tattoo.
You started this journey with me on day one, before there were clients, before there was even paint on the walls. You believed in me, in us, and in what this shop could be. And through every up and down, every moment I doubted myself, every late night, every rebuild of the shop, you were right there. You didn’t just stand by me, you built this place with me. Dying Art Tattoo would not be what it is without you. You gave this shop its soul. You created a culture here, from the way clients show off their tattoos with pride, to the way laughter and music fill the rooms, to the way every artist here is pushed to hold themselves to the highest standard. You led by example. You taught us that art isn’t just about drawing, it’s about care, loyalty, accountability, and heart. You brought light and laughter into this place. You sang your little heart out while tattooing, you cracked a little jokey joke, you lifted people up when they were tired. You built friendships, created loyal clients, and poured yourself into this studio until your presence was woven into its very walls. I can’t even explain how proud I am of you. You’ve been featured in a magazine, you’ve made people proud to wear your art forever, and you’ve shown what it means to be a true artist. Through three shops, countless late nights, and all the ups and downs, she’s been my partner, my best friend, and a great mother to our daughter. Dying Art would not be what it is without her. I’m honestly brokenhearted but excited for our new life in Missouri. Kristyann, I love you, I’m proud of you, and I’ll always be grateful for the dreamer who built this world with me❤️