Welcome to Elvis Tattoo Shop ~ Nashville’s premier tattoo destination, just a short drive from downtown Nashville. I’ve created a clean, friendly environment where clients can feel comfortable and relaxed. With over 20 years of experience as a tattoo artist and Army vet, I bring talented artistry and attention to detail to every piece I create.
Whether it’s your first tattoo or your latest masterpiece in a growing collection, I’m here to deliver a personalized experience where bold ideas meet timeless execution ~ all in a laid-back, professional location you’ll want to return to.
To get started, just fill out the form and let’s chat about your idea! 👉
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Hi, I’m Jason “Elvis” Martin, a tattooer since 2003, versed in all styles. I excel at work that crosses boundaries between styles, from modern black and grey realism to vibrant and bold neo-traditional tattoos.
I co-starred in TV’s Marked: Military and have a reputation for making tattoos that stand the test of time.
Bring me your ideas and inspirations. We’ll work together to turn them into a tattoo that turns heads, capturing the essence of your inspiration, that you wear with pride for life.
As a seasoned tattoo expert with over two decades in the industry, I’ve built a reputation for precision and artistic intuition.
If you love my work, that’s a great indicator that I’m the right artist for you.
Beyond that, I like to work with clients who have a clear concept of what they want. They have at least a sense of the imagery to include and the style they want. They might have some examples from my portfolio that are a good match for their desired aesthetic. They might have other sources of visual inspiration to show me where to head with their design. They aren’t wishy-washy, changing what they want as the process unfolds. And they trust me with their idea. They hand over the reins of the design and let me work through the details.
If this is true for you, let’s work together! I can already tell you before ink meets skin that you’re exactly the type of person I love creating great art for.
Looking for something to express yourself? To commemorate some event in your life? Or just look awesome? You may have a detailed vision or only the nugget of an idea. Or perhaps you like something in my portfolio and want something like it. Whatever it is, whatever the motivation, let’s turn it into an impeccable piece of body art!
I love tattooing animals, skulls, flowers, nature scenes, and stylized faces. These days, I really enjoy working with religious and spiritual subject matter. While I’m open to all walks of life, if you’re looking for a Christian tattoo artist, I’m your guy! And as an army vet and co-star of “Marked: Military”, I also do a lot of flags, eagles, and American military imagery.
That said, I like to work with all kinds of subject matter. My attention to detail, commitment to quality, and pride in my work are second to none which is why many clients consider me among the top tattoo artists in the Nashville area. So you can trust that no matter your idea, if I accept it, it’s going to be rad!
Put in your contact info to start. Then submit the details of your idea now or later. If they don't come through in a couple hours, I'll send a link to finish on your own time. Share what you want, where you want it, how big you want it, etc. Upload inspiration images. I'll make sure I have everything I need to make a rad tattoo. Then, I provide a link to pay your deposit and choose a date that works best for you. I’ll send you a calendar event for your date and reminders via email and text.
Many tattooers start the design the morning of your appointment. I almost always start ahead of time. Often, I send something for feedback before your appointment. It depends on complexity and layout of your idea. Nowadays, I usually use digital tools on the iPad for at least part of my process. If it's realism, I will bring in some realistic imagery you’ve brought or that you or I have found. If it's neotraditional, I will sketch up the tattoo or those elements of it by hand.
When you show up for your appointment, you’ll find the shop inviting and the tattoo process as painless as possible. I only work with one person per day, so the focus is solely on your tattoo. We’ll do the deed and you’ll be treated like a rockstar. Whether you want to have quiet and privacy to hang out and chit-chat, I'll match your vibe and make you feel right at home. We have chargers for all kinds of phones, snacks, drinks, and more. Want us to order and food from DoorDash? We’ll order for you. Just ask for what you need!
The moment you’ve been waiting for! You have an amazing piece of body art that you’re ecstatic with. It is going to turn heads! It’s Instagram worthy AND it’s going to stand the test of time beautifully. Now, I send you on your way with high-quality aftercare, clear instructions on how to use it to heal your tattoo, and a goodie bag. You have my contact info to reach out with any questions or issues.
That’s not quite the end! You should hear from me, starting typically after a couple of days. I'll check in and see how you’re doing and if you have any questions. Then, I’ll also follow up after a month or so and make sure your tattoo has healed perfectly.
I don’t do any tribal tattooing, except in rare cases where it’s a small element in a bigger piece. I have a huge range of styles I can do and blend in and build on. But working within a native traditional style as a non-native does not seem appropriate to me.
Other than that, if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want, I may not accept your tattoo. There are lots of types and styles of artists and the same is true of clients. Maybe you aren’t sure of your idea. Or you are going to want a ton of changes throughout the process. Or you have stylistic requests outside my aesthetic range. In those cases, I’m not the right artist for you.
Many clients have had bad experiences with other tattoo parlors and artists. Often, the artist wasn’t professional or respectful. Or they felt gouged, like they didn’t get the value they paid. You’ll never have those negative experiences or outcomes with me. I create custom tattoos you’ll love for life while creating positive experiences getting them.
You won’t have any regrets when leaving my shop. And you won’t find anyone more dedicated to blowing you away with a rad tattoo that looks great forever. Find out how I got so many 5-star reviews and why my clients come back again and again!
Is that a vibe you’re down with? Then let’s enjoy creating some art together.
My private studio is located northeast of Nashville, Tennessee inside Salon Boutique at The Streets of Indian Lake.
Still have questions? Here are a few more details you might be curious about.
I’m excited that you’re ready to move forward with your custom tattoo! We’re going to make something rad that’s true to you and your vision.
The best way to move forward is to book straight onto my calendar. You can find options with details on how long to book on my scheduling page.
You can also schedule a consultation here.
You can also fill out this tattoo idea form if you’re the kind of person who likes to cover all the details. It’s like a little workbook (except more fun) made to guide you to get clear with me on what you’re after, with option to upload inspiration or photos of the area to be tattooed.
Or if you want to chat it out but don’t want to wait for one of my available consultation spots, give me a text or a call at (629) 299-0611.
Thanks for your interest! Talk to you soon.
I’m open Tuesday through Saturday. Here’s the breakdown:
Tuesday to Friday: 12 PM – 8 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 7 PM
Sunday & Monday: Closed
If you’re looking for a specific time, feel free to reach out — I don’t accept walk-ins, I book by appointment to keep things personal and focused.
My tattoo scheduling page includes options for different session lengths. Each has a description to help you choose the right amount of time for your appointment, as well as the full cost for that session.
Keep in mind that if you book a shorter session and another client is scheduled after you, we’ll need to wrap up on time.
Tattoos may take multiple sessions to complete. Especially complex or large tattoos. Choosing between longer session options often is a matter of how long you feel you can sit to make progress on a bigger piece. If you’re unsure how long to book, consider the complexity of your design and how long you feel comfortable sitting.
An 8-hour appointment is ideal for big pieces or if you’re traveling and want to make substantial progress in one sitting. Otherwise, choose 6 for big pieces.
If you’re still unsure what to book, or you want to get an estimate for the final cost of the finished piece, schedule a consultation with me.
My hourly rate is $250, with a minimum of $150 for smaller tattoos. For longer sessions, I offer discounted rates at 4 hours ($950), 6 hours ($1,400) and 8 hours ($1,700).
My rates reflect over 20 years of experience, a high rate of client satisfaction, and my use of top-quality, vegan and organic products. Plus, for 6+ hour tattoo sessions, you’ll be provided a meal of your choice from any delivery service. No matter what, I dedicate my full attention to each client, ensuring a VIP experience with every tattoo.
By the way, I offer Buy-Now-Pay-Later options through Klarna, Afterpay, or Affirm so you can spread out the cost if you would like to.
Have questions to talk out with me or just want to put our heads together around your creative vision? Schedule a consultation with me! I look forward to talking about your idea.
Absolutely! If you’d like to discuss your idea, get an estimate for time and cost, or figure out the best session length, I strongly encourage you to schedule a consultation.
Just start the process of sharing your tattoo idea, then you’ll get access to my calendar to schedule time to speak, either on the phone call or at my studio.
Or if you’re ready after you’ve shared your idea and are viewing the available session options, you can book your tattoo session online now. Let’s create a rad piece of art you’ll be proud to wear for life!
While the ideal way to proceed with a consultation is by first filling out the form linked above, you can also skip that step if you prefer and schedule a consultation now here.
I include high-quality aftercare packs for all clients. They have everything you need to heal your new tattoo. You won’t find a lot of people who give all this. You’ll have aftercare instruction sheets, medical-grade bandages, and an ointment pack. The bandages are key. They save your clothes, save your sheets, you don’t have to worry about your dog or cat licking your healing tattoo… All the headaches that come with traditional aftercare products are not a factor. And it’ll heal amazingly!
Your tattoo will be bandaged twice, starting at the shop. I give you a verbal rundown on care and assure you not to hesitate to reach out with any and all concerns. And, you can come by if you want to get the first bandage changed out. Some clients prefer this if it’s in a hard-to-reach spot or they simply aren’t comfortable with the application.
I break the full process down on the home page, but in short: share your idea using the form on my site and I’ll follow up within two business days to discuss next steps.
From there, you’ll get reminders in advance of your appointment and you’ll leave with an aftercare kit and a tattoo that fills you with pride!
Have other questions? Fill out the form on this page to get the conversation going.
The products and supplies I use are cruelty-free and vegan, when at all possible. All my inks are organic and cruelty-free. My tattoo needles are a high-end and more costly brand. They work flawlessly and make it easier to create a perfect tattoo. Aftercare is very important to me. The care packs I provide are costly to make but well worth it. They give clients everything needed for a great outcome and experience from the end of the session to a healed tattoo.
It’s pretty subjective. Depends on who gets it and where. My suggestion: don’t worry, if it hurt that bad, I would not have all these tattoos! I’m a bit of a softie, myself. And, clients tell me I have a light hand. I’m very mindful of clients’ pain. And keep an eye on their expression and breathing to make sure they’re doing well.
Plus, I provide numbing spray to ease the discomfort.
Think of it this way: it’s not going to hurt once it’s done! It will be worth the pain when you have that awesome tattoo you’ve been wanting.
An artist from my shop, Darren, and I co-starred in the Military edition of the Marked TV series. In it, we learn about and tattoo the stories of veterans and active duty military, competing with each other in each episode to see whose tattoo design gets picked by the service member for putting on their skin for life. You can learn about the show in this YouTube video.
Right now, I focus exclusively on tattoo work — no piercing services are offered at this time.
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