There’s something I’ve been feeling for a while now—and if you’re a tattoo artist, you probably get it. When your creativity becomes your job, it can start to feel… contained. You’re still creating every day. You’re still doing meaningful work. But it’s all within the structure of appointments, client expectations, and finished pieces that live on skin. And that’s exactly why we started working on the Bone & Blossom zine.

When most people think about tattoo shops, they imagine buzzing machines, bold designs, and artists bringing visions to life. But behind the ink, there’s much more going on. At Bone & Blossom Tattoo Studio, we know that running a successful tattoo shop in Lombard, IL takes more than artistic talent — it requires balancing art, business, and community every single day.