Dustin Kaiser is a man of many talents. He’s an accomplished musician, magician, tattoo artist as well as a traditional artist who works in acrylic , graphite, pyrography, and pretty much anything he can get his hands on.
Several years ago, his work was featured at a local tattoo shop. When he went to retrieve leftover pieces at the end of the month, the owner asked if he would be interested in serving as the shop apprentice. Initially, he was apprehensive but gave it further consideration because of the opportunity for reliable income when compared to painting or drawing. Two years later, Kaiser opened the doors to Cardinal Ink, a tattoo studio / art gallery at the Great Lakes Mall.
“I have always been a businessman at heart, and I’ve thought about opening up a shop in the mall for years. I felt like it was time for me to make a move, so it seemed like it was fate for me to start up this new journey,” said Kaiser.
In addition to tattoos, customers can find a variety of custom artwork to purchase from a number of local artists, including commission pieces of everything from a drawing of a loved one to a granite engraving of your pet.
Kaiser admits that the transition from traditional art to tattoos wasn’t easy and he has advice for those breaking into the business.
“It is the hardest thing I have tried to tackle in my life. Before you transfer onto skin you must have the fundamentals of art down first. I feel that too many people come into the industry that want to tattoo but aren’t truly artists first,” he says.
As for those who are looking for an artist, he encourages people to get to know the art first.
“Look and make sure they tattoo the style of work you want to get. Do not chose the person who charges less money unless they are a better tattoo artist,” he advises, “So many people go to someone who can ‘Do it cheaper’. These are the same people who come back and ask if I can cover up work that was poorly done. Tattoos are on your body for the rest of your life, spend the money and get a quality piece of art.”
When asked why he chose Mentor, he had this to say, “Living in Mentor and having most of my clientele from Mentor, it just made sense really. I’ve worked closely with the city on plenty of other endeavors and have only had positive experiences. They have been truly great. I appreciate the love and support!”
And, the City thanks Cardinal Ink for their investment in our community. We wish you continued success in the future.
Cardinal Ink’s official grand opening is November 7, 2020. This is an appointment-based business open most days from 12:00 PM to 7:00 but available outside normal business hours. Learn more by following them on Instagram or by visiting their website (coming soon) at www.cardinalink.com.