Where your story begins in ink—premium custom tattoos in San Diego.
Personalized tattoo creation based on your ideas, stories, and style preferences, with artist consultation.
Precise, detailed fine line artwork for elegant and minimalist designs.
Expert portrait tattoos in black and white, capturing realism and emotion.
Comprehensive sleeve tattoos and large pieces, designed to flow naturally on the body.
Professional reworking or covering of old tattoos to refresh and enhance your ink.
Personalized artist selection based on your style and vision to ensure the best fit.
Remains top-notch - another amazing experience at Chapter One this week. At this point, I can’t imagine going anywhere else. I wanted to rework and add to an old tattoo (1998 old) and had a vague idea of what I wanted to do going into the process. Cash really knocked it out of the park with his artistic vision and execution of the tattoo! Fantastic experience all around - customer service, welcoming atmosphere, great conversation - icing on the cake! I look forward to working with Cash again soon.
This was my second session with Drake Chiesa, and I didn’t even hesitate before booking my third appointment and that alone says everything. From the very beginning, Drake has an incredible ability to truly listen to your ideas, understand the meaning behind them, and then translate that vision into a tattoo that feels both personal and beautifully executed. Drake specializes in fine line work, and his attention to detail is exceptional. Every line is intentional, clean, and precise. That said, what really stands out is how versatile he is and how he’s able to work across multiple tattoo styles with the same level of skill and artistry, which speaks volumes about his talent and experience. Beyond the artwork itself, Drake is highly professional and creates a calm, welcoming environment that immediately puts you at ease. He takes the time to explain the process, check in throughout the session, and make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way. You never feel rushed or dismissed in your comfort and satisfaction are clearly a priority.
I have at least 50 tattoos, most are high quality. Still, I just received my favorite tattoo from Rodrigo at Chapter One. The artist match-up process that Chapter One does is flawless. Bravo. Rodrigo is clearly a pro at the style (black and white portrait) that the staff identified for my tattoo. He was able to knock out the piece so that best of all.. the price was reasonable. 5 stars (I’ll add a photo after healing)
I can't imagine a better tattoo experience than the one I had with Cash Scott at Chapter One Tattoo. I'm not a creative or artistic individual. So, I was leaning heavily on the artist to help create a unique and meaningful piece and Cash absolutely delivered. I met with Cash and told him about a couple basic features I wanted in the piece, then shared some events and stories from my deployment. Cash was able to encapsulate several of the big events I shared into single images and put them together in a way that tells my story. It was easy to see the vast amount of research Cash would do for each part we did. He learned about the capabilities, role, loadout, and feel of a plane we added which made for a much more realistic and visually appealing scene. I highly recommend Chapter One Tattoo and Cash to anyone; you will not be disappointed. Big thanks to Cash and everyone at Chapter One Tattoo. You all are truly wonderful and I greatly appreciate everything.
I cannot express how happy I am that I found Yvonne. I initially came to her to do a half sleeve on my arm, work in some other pieces I had and eventually that turned into a whole sleeve. She is extremely talented and truly listens to what you want in a tattoo and creates beautiful art. She made everything flow so naturally. The amount of compliments I have received stating I am “walking art” is all thanks to her. She also makes sure you are comfortable during the entire process because let’s be real getting tattooed for several hours sucks but completely worth it. She is also super friendly and just overall amazing person to talk to. Definitely helps with distraction. Thank you so much Yvonne for my amazing sleeve! I can’t thank you enough. You’re amazing and one hell of an artist!
Chapter One Tattoo is a premier tattoo studio in San Diego, CA, renowned for its exceptional artistry and personalized service. Specializing in custom designs across styles like fine line, black and white portraits, and sleeves, our talented artists—including Drake Chiesa, Yvonne, Cash Scott, and Rodrigo—listen closely to your vision to create meaningful, high-quality tattoos. With a 4.8/5 rating from over 326 reviews, we offer a welcoming, professional environment where comfort and creativity thrive. Whether it's your first tattoo or a cover-up, we help you start your ink journey with confidence and artistry.
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