The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
American Outlaw Tattoo offers quality artistic expressions
For people looking to get a tattoo, American Outlaw Tattoo, located in the heart of downtown Amherst, focuses on giving its clients quality artwork.
Bob Keiuf, owner and tattoo artist at the business at 164 Park Ave., said he found different ways to stay busy when he had to close down for the novel coronavirus.
“We closed for two months,” Keiuf said. “We tore everything down and redecorated the walls.
“I painted one of the walls yellow and some style to certain spots. We also had a bunch of art that had been collected, so we reorganized that and hung it up.
“We embroidered a rose on one of the curtains. It was all things that we had wanted to do for a while. I was just trying to stay productive and motivated.”
High demand
Keiuf said there was high demand for tattoos when he reopened.
“We opened May 15, and we got slammed,” he said. “I actually had two months worth of appointments already booked before we shut down.
“We also had people buying gift cards and people putting deposits for when we reopened. When we reopened, we had a lot of people that were excited, that wanted to schedule a tattoo, and I had to tell them I couldn’t get them in for a while.
“I’m currently booking for August. We are also looking for another artist to help out. There are just two of us right now, so I’m taking applications.”
Keiuf said the business is taking all of the safety precautions needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I’m scanning clients’ foreheads to check temperatures as they come in,” he said. “I’m are asking clients to wear masks.
“We are also wearing masks and gloves. We are sanitizing everything before use, and we are also using an iPad for folks to use as they checkout to avoid the old system of people passing around a clipboard.”
Keiuf said Amherst has been a great place to do business.
“I’ve been in Amherst for three and half years,” he said. “I was originally in Grafton. It was a great place to get started, but it’s a pretty small town, not a lot of business out there.
“Amherst has been great. I love it here. I just bought a house around the corner and the community is really supportive. We try to get involved with different stuff going on in the community, so it’s been great.”
Unique designs
Keiuf said the shop takes pride in doing unique, special designs.
“We offer tattooing and piercing,” he said. “We prefer to do an American traditional design, but we can do anything.
“We aren’t a huge fan of someone showing us something on the phone if it’s someone else’s work. We will take that, and make something close to it. But we make it our own because we don’t want to copy somebody’s artwork.”
Keiuf said tattooing is a real passion for him.
“I was always interested in art as a kid, but I never considered tattooing,” he said. “One day, I was asked to do a tattoo for someone.
“I probably shouldn’t have, but it turned out really well. I then went to get my apprenticeship. I did a three-year apprenticeship and went from there.
“I was working at a CNC shop at the time. I actually took a paycut when I started because I was making pretty good money, but it was something I really felt passionate about.”
Keiuf said he wants the best tattoo for a client, even if it doesn’t come from his shop.
“We really want the client to get the tattoo they want,” he said. “So, we may even refer you to another shop if it’s a design I don’t feel I could to the best job with.
“That satisfaction for them is the most important thing for me. Not all shops can say that.”
Keiuf said he loves being at the shop.
“Running the shop, everyday is different,” he said. “There is always something new, but I like that. I don’t want to always do the same designs all the time.
“You never know what you will be doing weekto-week, but I love it. I’ve made a lot of friends, and Amherst is a great community to be in.”