Custom Tattoos in
Gilbertsville

American traditional, black and grey, realism, new school, lettering, colour and cover-ups — drawn for you, by appointment.

How we work

Custom Only

There is no flash wall here that you pick a number off. Every tattoo starts with your idea and gets drawn for your body — your proportions, the way the muscle moves, and how the piece is going to sit next to whatever you already have.

Bring reference. Photographs, other tattoos, a sketch on the back of an envelope — all of it helps. You do not need to arrive with a finished design; that is our job.

Styles

Styles We Work In

Between Eric and Tom the shop covers most of what people ask for. If your idea sits between two of these, say so — that is usually where the good ones are.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a raven perched on a red rose, in traditional style on an upper arm

American Traditional

Bold outline, a limited palette and shapes that stay readable forever. Eric’s home ground — roses, daggers, panthers, ravens, and anything that ought to look like it was always there.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a black and grey skull in a feathered headdress on an upper arm

Black and Grey

Everything carried by black ink and how far it is pushed down. Skulls, smoke, portraits, religious work and the soft end of realism. Both artists work this way.

Tattoo by Tom Kelly at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a black and grey dog portrait

Realism

A photograph turned into skin. Tom’s specialty: animals, portraits and detail work built up over sittings rather than rushed in one.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a comic-style character in saturated colour on a shoulder

New School

Heavy line, exaggerated shape, saturated colour and a sense of humour. Characters, and anything that is supposed to make people grin.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — We the People lettering on a banner across a forearm

Lettering and Script

Names, dates, verses and quotes. Placement and spacing matter more here than anywhere else, and we will take the time to get it hanging right on the body.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a watercolour-style portrait on an upper arm

Colour

Full colour pieces, sleeve panels and portrait work. Colour ages differently than black, and we will tell you honestly how a given piece will hold on your skin.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a black and grey demon mask across a chest

Cover-Ups

Old work, bad work, or somebody else’s work. Send a clear photo in daylight and we will tell you what is possible — sometimes that means a cover, sometimes a rework.

Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a solid blackwork armband with a woven pattern

Ornamental and Blackwork

Symmetry, pattern, and solid black used as a shape in its own right. Armbands, chest pieces and ornamental panels.

The appointment

What to Expect

01

Send the idea

Use the quote form or call the shop. Tell us what you want, roughly where it is going on you, and how big you are picturing it. A reference picture helps more than a paragraph.

02

We talk it through

One of us comes back to you with an honest answer: whether it will work at that size, in that spot, in that style, and who in the shop is the right person to do it.

03

Book the date

We are appointment only, so the chair is yours for the whole session. A deposit holds the date and comes off the price of the piece on the day.

04

Sit down

Eat something first and bring a photo ID. We draw, you look at it, and nothing goes on your skin until you are happy with it.

Come having eaten, wear something that lets us reach the spot, and bring a photo ID. If you are unwell on the day, call us — we would far rather move the appointment than tattoo somebody who should be in bed.

Portfolio

Work From the Shop

Pieces from both artists. The gallery has the rest, labelled by artist.

Full Gallery
Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — black and grey praying hands with a name and a date on a forearm
Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a colour portrait in a feathered headdress on a shoulder
Tattoo by Tom Kelly at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a horned skull with web work
Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a Norse warrior in colour on a shoulder
Tattoo by Tom Kelly at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — black and grey cherubs on the ribs
Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a bird and dagger piece in full colour on a shoulder
Tattoo by Tom Kelly at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — a bare tree in red blossom with exposed roots
Tattoo by Eric Estrada at The Widow's Son Tattoo Co. in Gilbertsville, PA — black and grey lettering down a calf

Come see us

Tell Us the Idea

Size, placement and a reference picture is all we need to give you an honest answer.

610-323-4626
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