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Purple Thistle Tattoo

About Us

We're Purple Thistle Tattoo, and we've been a premier tattoo and piercing shop in Oelwein, IA, since 2022. We're locally-owned and locally-operated, and we specialize in black and gray, realism, traditional color, and cover-ups. We also offer custom tattoos, piercings, tattoo design, aftercare products, body jewelry, and more. We're looking forward to partnering with Waterloo, Independence, and West Union consumers to continue to offer a premier tattoo and piercing experience. We'd like to personally invite you to contact us to book your appointment, today!

COMING SOON: Get What You Get Tattoos!

Areas Served

Our Professional Associations

Chamber of Commerce

Our Certifications

Bloodborne Pathogens Certified
CPR Certified

Languages Spoken

English
Spanish

What We Offer

Our Specialties include:

Black and Gray
Portraits
Realism
Traditional Color
Cover-Ups

Our Services include:

Tattoos
Custom Tattoos
Tattoo Sleeves
Tattoo Design
Tattoo Finishing
Tattoo Touch-Ups
Custom Tattoo Lettering
Body Modification
Nose Piercings
Cartilage Piercings
Bridge Piercings
Eyebrows Piercings
Lip Piercings
Dermal Piercings
Nipple Piercings
Naval Piercings

Our Products include:

Aftercare Products
Numbing Ointments
Nose Rings
Body Jewelry

Testimonials

On 11/23/2024 Monte Graff had this to say:
Super customer oriented and awesome work with great prices!

On 10/14/2024 Kim Hoover had this to say:
Marcus is absolutely the best! If you want a great experience he’s that guy, made me feel comfortable, explained everything! Thankyou for a great tattoo ❤️

On 10/5/2024 Randy Hickey had this to say:
I want to thank the purple thistle tattoo for the awesome hospitality and thank Bella for the awesome new tattoo of my cat storm she did such an amazing job with detail. I will go back for all my tattoos and recommend purple thistle tattoo to anyone wanting tattoos Thank you Randy hickey

On 8/24/2024 Gume Rubio had this to say:
(Translated by Google) Good people stayed until late to finish the tattoo (Original) Buenas personas estuvieron asta tarde para terminar el tatuaje

On 7/2/2024 athrock had this to say:
Been to see Shawn twice now, very courteous and detailed-- he isn't done until you like it! Relaxed atmosphere, fun place to wait :) Testimonial written by athrock on this site.

Contact Us

Purple Thistle Tattoo
3 N Frederick Ave Oelwein, IA 50662
Phone: (319) 238-8212
Email: purplethistletattoo@gmail.com

Located across from Veridian Credit Union

Where To Find Us

Payment Types Accepted

American Express, Android Pay, Apple Pay, Cash, Personal Checks, Debit Cards, Discover, MasterCard, PayPal, Visa

Our Hours

Holiday Hours May Vary. Please Call For Details.

Monday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday: By Appointment Only

News

BIO COMING SOON!

Sage's journey with art began as soon as she could grasp a pencil, but her dedication took root at the tender age of 9. Throughout Middle and High School, she immersed herself in numerous art classes, honing skills that span from mixed media illustration to acrylic markers and watercolors. Her artistic passion draws inspiration from diverse sources including DC and Marvel comics, anime, manga, and above all, music, which profoundly influences her creative process.

Icons like Michael Turner and Stan Lee have greatly shaped Sage's artistic vision and appreciation for design. For her, tattoos are not just ink on skin; they are narratives that individuals craft to express their personal stories and emotions. As a tattoo artist, she finds immense joy in facilitating this creative and sentimental process, viewing it as therapeutic and empowering. Ink Therapy, as she calls it, allows individuals to express themselves creatively without defining their identity.

Sage's artistic journey continues with her upcoming enrollment at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, supported by a scholarship recognizing her talent and dedication. During school breaks, she looks forward to sharing her artistic vision through tattoo appointments, bridging her passion for art with her commitment to helping others tell their stories through ink.

Sydney possesses an artist's soul, perpetually drawn to various forms of art. From a young age, she found joy in expressing herself through drawing, whether on paper with paint, pencil, and marker, or on skin with ink.

For Sydney, tattoos hold profound significance, not only for their ability to enhance mental well-being by covering scars or memorializing loved ones but also for their unique capacity to instill beauty, confidence, and empowerment. In her view, every tattoo, regardless of style, holds potential; it's the design that determines its success.

To Sydney, the body is a canvas awaiting creative expression, a philosophy she's honed during her apprenticeship under Markus, whose mastery of black, grey, color and realism tattoos continues to inspire her. Among her influences are renowned artists like Jesse James from Evolve Tattoo in Waterloo, IA and Markus, the esteemed owner of Purple Thistle Tattoo & Piercing, who serves as both her mentor and a source of deep admiration.

Bella embarked on her journey as an apprentice under Markus over a year ago, where she honed her skills and developed a specialization in neo-traditional tattoos. Her passion lies particularly in crafting animal and memorial style tattoos. Bella views tattoos as profound expressions that forge connections, define identities, and showcase one's creative essence through chosen art forms.
She finds immense value in the tattoo community, believing that one can glean insights into a person's story through their tattoos. Bella approaches each client's interaction with sensitivity, adeptly matching their energy. When clients are uncertain or anxious, she instills confidence and ensures a positive experience, while their excitement fuels her own enthusiasm, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Bella draws inspiration from diverse sources, particularly leveraging Pinterest to meld multiple artworks into uniquely personal designs. She finds role models in esteemed tattoo artists such as Brock and Dustin from Driftless Soul Tattoo in Decorah, IA, as well as her mentor Markus of Purple Thistle Tattoo & Piercings, and Brock, under whose tutelage she trained.

Expires 1/1/2026

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