Chuck Kapise is working on a tattoo earlier this month.
Opening of a new studio in Twisp
When most people walk into a tattoo parlor, they at least have an idea of ​​what they want. Maybe they have a sketch or a favorite picture or quote.
For Chuck Kapise, who opened Heart of the Valley Tattoo Studio at Twisp earlier this fall, this is the starting point.
“My favorite thing is just giving someone something better than they thought they would be. An idea in their head that came to life, â€he said. “It may take five or six attempts for someone to get exactly what they want, or what they couldn’t imagine, and then you finally get it. This is what I like to do for me.
Kapise and his family have been visiting Methow Valley for years, although they recently lived in Gold Bar, and he had a tattoo parlor in Sultan.
“We’ve been wanting to move here for probably a good 10 years now,†he said.
The family moved to the area last fall, in part to spend more time with the family. This summer, they bought her stepmother’s house, and Kapise started looking again for options to get a tattoo.
He first thought of running a mobile store from a motorhome, but the vehicle turned out to be somewhat unreliable. When he heard there was space available in Twisp’s Third Avenue living room – he already knew owner Christi Moore – it struck him as perfectly fitting.
“I really love the space, I love the place, I love the people,†Kapise said. “I grew up in a small town. It’s the same feeling as the hometown, Freeport, Maine, where I grew up.
Kapise was also drawn to the region’s art scene and the progressive, community-oriented, ecologically conscious nature of the Methow Valley.
“When you live in a progressive place, of course, there are always people who will fight it because they don’t want change, and I don’t want change either unless it’s something positive. “, did he declare. “It’s a lot more artistic, it’s a lot more inspiring than where I was.”
Tattooing is a great way to get to know people, Kapise said. A good tattoo artist takes the time to speak with a client, understand what they want and why, and consult with them on any changes to improve the tattoo.
“That’s why I love tattooing. I get to know people, I get to know what they want and I work with them to build something, whatever they think, which also teaches me a lot, â€he said.
Kapise has his own unique, psychedelic style, featured on canvases in his shop, but he said he enjoys adopting most of the styles his clients want for their body art – after all, they’ll wear it for a long time.
Kapise started tattooing in 1997, but in 1991 he was drawing designs for another tattoo artist in his home state of Maine.
“He was giving me tattoos for free, so it was a nice little exchange,†he said.
After moving to Washington, he worked at Primeval Ink in Monroe to learn the trade through a five-year apprenticeship. He tattooed in other people’s stores for a while and then started his own. When your work is on display in the city, word of mouth referrals work wonders for businesses, he said.
“If you are a good artist, you will do well,†he said. “I try to do my best and I fight against myself.”
He takes particular pride in a clean, safe store and a meticulous process.
“I just know what I’m doing,†he said. “I’m doing it the best and the right way that will be safe for everyone. This is my first concern, it is safety and cleanliness.
