Off To The West
Wesley Tucker
Licensed tattoo artist in Portland, OR. He specializes in anime, vibrant colors, & a whimsical cartoon style heavily inspired by his childhood toys.☆ I offer free color tests for POC! Click here for more information.
Terms of Service
- When you are ready to submit a proposal, please go through the form linked at the top of the page, or send an email to [email protected]. I do not respond to or book through Instagram DMs.
- I work at a standard rate of $175 per hour. I also offer an optional $125 rate for POC! Let me know if you would like to opt into this when filling out your inquiry form.
- My minimum is $200 per appointment.
- I largely prefer cash, please come prepared!
- An $50 deposit must be placed in order to secure your appointment.
- Deposits are nonrefundable. If you need to reschedule your appointment, please notify me at least 48 hours ahead of time in order to transfer your deposit to another time! However, your deposit will be forfeited if you need to cancel all together.
- I generally only book 1-2 months in advance. Keep an eye on my Instagram page for updates!
- At this time, I do not offer in-person consultations. All questions can be answered through email or (if absolutely necessary) a Zoom call can be arranged.What subject matter do you love tattooing?
- Pop culture! Comic book & manga panels, Pokémon, movie references, etc.
- Animals big and small (especially canines, felines, and ungulates! Pets are more than welcome)
- Weaponry & metallic objects
- Plushies & toys
- Cryptids & other fantastical beastsIs there anything you won't tattoo?
- Vehicles & guns (exceptions made on occasion)
- Florals or plants. Flowers can be used as an accent within a design, but I don't tattoo exclusively flora
- Hyper-realism
- Hate speech/hate symbolism
- Geometric designs- Concerned about how certain colors will heal against your skin? I offer free color tests for POC.
More information can be found here
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I pay?
- I largely prefer cash. Deposits can be made through Venmo at the time of booking.Can I bring my friends with me?
- You may bring ONE other person with you! I prefer that you wear a mask to your appointment, as I will do the same.What should I do before my appointment?
- Stay hydrated! Drink water the day before & the day of your appointment. Get a good solid night's sleep. Eat a protein-rich meal beforehand and refrain from drugs & alcohol prior to your appointment (Oregon law dictates that I cannot tattoo an inebriated person under any circumstances). Please arrive freshly showered and wear clean, comfortable, and loose clothing that allows for easy access to the tattooable area.Why do I need to make a deposit? Will it go towards the final cost of the tattoo?
- Deposits solidify your time slot in my schedule & act as a design fee for custom pieces. If you're claiming a flash design, your deposit will be attributed towards your total at the end of the appointment.Do you charge for touch-ups?
- Nope, touch-ups of my previous work are completely free of charge!Will you tattoo this design I found on Pinterest?
- I won't directly copy another artist's work without written consent from the other artist. I prefer to tattoo my own designs & will prioritize clients who want my own work above all else. (Manga/anime/comic panels are my few exceptions!) However, I am willing to create something inspired by an image you found!Can you cover my scars?
- Scars must be at least 1-2 years healed. Please attach photos of the area you wish to be tattooed within your booking form/email so I can plan accordingly!How much should I tip after my tattoo?
- Generally, folks tip between 20-30% of the total! I love non-monetary tips too! Such as Pokémon cards, art, or baked goods (I'm allergic to mint, but have no other dietary restrictions.)If I'm traveling from out of town, how do I schedule an appointment?
- The same as usual! I am accepting out of state clients, so long as you are fully vaccinated & up to date with your boosters. Thank you so much for understanding!
About the Artist
Born & raised in a tiny town nestled within Oregon's Willamette Valley, Wesley was never seen without a pencil in his hand. He'd found his passion for art & creative spark at a very early age. While he'd always known he wanted to pursue the art, he wasn't sure how to go about it. He'd attended Portland State University as a fine art major for a little less than a year before deciding college just wasn't for him. He stepped away in the winter to reflect on his options, and around this time he had started to get tattooed more often.Willing to try anything once, he enrolled in tattoo school. Almost immediately he had taken a shine to the craft. He enthusiastically finished his studies, learning everything he possibly could, and made his way into the world.Wesley loves to collaborate with others to create permanent works of art. He enjoys meeting all sorts of lovely folks through his work. He's eager to learn and even more eager to geek out about literally anything under the sun with anyone who'll listen. From video games to comic books to late 80's time travel movies, drawing nerdy stuff is his greatest passion.
Free Color Tests for POC
If you are concerned about how certain colors will heal against your skin, I offer color tests to POC interested in exploring color tattoos completely free of charge!These are generally tattoos that will be no larger than 1" total and can be placed wherever you'd like (inner ankles tend to be the most popular area). Generally they will take less than 10 minutes to complete, and 2-3 weeks to fully heal. The shape of the design is entirely up to you! Simple lines & dots are most common, but the possibilities are endless!If you are interested, please e-mail [email protected] with the subject line "Color Test" and we'll schedule a time that works best for the both of us! I look forward to working with you!☆ Wesley
Request an Appointment
Currently Booking April/MayIf we have a multi-session tattoo in progress or you're looking for a touch up, you don't need to fill out this form. Just email me: [email protected]
I'm On Haitus!
I'm not tattooing at the moment, nor checking my emails, as I'm moving shops! Keep an eye on my Instagram (@offtothewes.t) for updates as to when I'll return!Thank you so much for your patience in the meantime. I'm looking forward to getting back to work soon!☆ Wesley
I'm All Booked Out!
Keep an eye on my Instagram stories (@offtothewes.t) for booking updates and last minute openings.Thank you so much for your interest and I look forward to working with you in the future!☆ Wesley
Book Your Appointment!
Aftercare
Properly taking care of your new tattoo is a crucial step in the healing process. Your artist is as sterile as possible to ensure your safety (and his!) It's important to keep your tattoo clean and healthy to avoid the risk of infection. Your artist will individually review aftercare instructions during your appointment, and will send you home with the following information you need to extend the lifespan of your stellar new ink!
Bandages
Each artist opts to bandage tattoos a little differently, and its important to follow their instructions to the letter first and foremost. That being said, the two most common bandage options are transparent dermal shields and absorbant medical pads.
Please notify your artist ahead of time if you are concerned about or have had a reaction to adhesives or latex in the past.
Dermal shields (aka Saniderm, Second Skin, Viewguard, etc.) are often used in the ICU to treat burn victims and act as an impenetrable, water-resistant barrier. It remains on the skin for 3-5 days to protect your tattoo during its most vulnerable stage of healing, and (because it's transparent) you get to show off your fresh ink to the world! However, the adhesive has been known to cause allergic reactions or flare-ups to those with pre-existing skin conditions.
Absorbant medical pads (or meat packs, as I like to call them) are black pads secured with a lightweight, self-adherent compression wrap. These bandages do not allow the skin to breathe as effectively as a dermal shield and will need to be removed within 4-6 hours after your appointment. These pads are often used in sensitive areas where the thin is very thin (such as in and around your elbow/knee ditches and your armpit) where the dermal shield is most likely to cause skin irritation. These contain little to no known adhesive allergens.
Healing with Dermal Shields
If your artist sent you home with a dermal shield bandage, you may start to notice a build-up of ominous murky fluid underneath. That is completely normal and to be expected! This is a lovely soup of ink, blood, and plasma that your body has expelled as it works to heal your fresh ink. Should you spring a leak remove or replace your bandage immediately after following steps 1 & 2. If the protective seal has been compromised, harmful germs will have free reign to get all up in your new tattoo's business.
1. Leave the dermal shield (saniderm, tegaderm, second skin, etc.) stuck to your skin for 3-5 days, and remove in the shower under warm running water. Pulling the bandage down & close to your body, much like you would a Command strip, is significantly less painless than if you were to pull away from yourself.2. With clean hands, gently wash away the ink & plasma that has accumulated underneath the bandage with unscented, antibacterial soap such as Dr. Bronner's 18-In-1 Hemp Baby Unscented Pure Castille Soap or Dial Gold.
Dr. Bronner's Soap
Curél Lotion
3. Allow your tattoo to air dry before applying a very very thin layer of ** fragrance-free white lotion** such as Curél or Jergens. I also recommend Crybaby Tattoo Products if you would like to support small businesses & prefer vegan alternatives.4. It's important to keep your tattoo clean and moisturized, however overdoing it can result in a pretty gnarly heal. You should only need to wash your tattoo after removing the bandage and be conservative with your use of lotion.5. Wear loose clothing for the duration of your healing journey. As tempting as it may be, do not pick at or scratch your itching and peeling tattoo! Any abrasive rubbing against your tattoo could result in ink pulling out or a poor heal.6. You can and should shower after getting a tattoo! However, refrain from soaking your tattoo (such as taking a bath or swimming in a pool, lake, or the ocean) until it has completely healed. Standing water is a playground for bacteria that will swim their way into your open wound and cause infection. Remember, clean and moisturized but not perpetually wet!7. Artists are as sterile as they can possibly be. That being said, one can never completely rule out the possibility of infection.
If you notice a green or yellow discharge coming from your tattoo, see a doctor immediately! These are big red flags for infection.8. It's best to shade your tattoo from sunlight as it's healing! Ultraviolet rays can cause the breakdown of pigments in the ink to accelerate, resulting in your tattoo fading much faster than usual. (Once healed) smear a healthy amount of sunscreen on your tats whenever you're out and about to ensure they stay bold and beautiful!Of course, should you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to me via email!