Three resident artists. One collector-quality studio.
Fine-line, blackwork, Japanese traditional — and the highest hygiene
standards in Austin. Consultations are always free.
By Appointment
APP Member Studio
Free Consultation
Founded
2016
Founded
Resident Artists
3
Resident Artists
Years in Austin
9+
Years in Austin
Average Rating
4.97★
Average Rating
Resident Artists
Three artists. Three worlds.
Each artist at Void & Vein brings a distinct specialty and an
uncompromising standard. Every piece begins with a consultation — no
rush, no templates, no shortcuts.
Fine-Line
Fine-Line & Botanical
Maya Reyes
Fine-LineBotanicalMicro-Realism
Maya's work is built on patience and precision. She spent three years as a medical illustrator before pivoting to tattooing in 2017 — and it shows. Her botanical fine-line pieces are sought out by collectors across the country, with a waitlist that regularly stretches six months. She works exclusively in black and grey and takes no flash walk-ins.
Damon has been tattooing since 2013 and joined Void & Vein at founding. His signature is bold blackwork with architectural precision — sacred geometry, mandala-inspired designs, and neo-tribal pieces that hold their contrast for decades. He's a stickler for linework: every piece he takes on gets a custom design session before ink touches skin.
Ryo trained under a horimono master in Osaka for four years before moving to Austin in 2019. His Japanese traditional work — dragons, peonies, koi, and waves — follows classical composition rules while integrating modern colour saturation techniques. He is one of the few artists in Texas who does full-coverage Japanese bodysuits by commission.
We don't rush the process. Every piece that leaves our studio
reflects hours of thought before the first needle pass.
1
Request a Consultation
Submit your idea, reference images, and preferred placement via the
booking portal. Consultations are free and typically last 30–45 minutes.
We review every request within 48 hours.
2
Custom Design Session
Your artist creates a design tailored to your concept and body placement.
You'll see the stencil before any ink touches skin — and revisions are
part of the process, not an extra charge.
3
Your Session & Aftercare
Arrive hydrated, fed, and rested. Your artist walks you through the
stencil placement, confirms you're happy, and begins. You'll leave with
a printed aftercare sheet and direct contact access for questions.
We follow — and exceed — Texas Department of State Health Services
standards. Every room, every tool, every visit.
✦
Autoclave Sterilization
All reusable equipment is sterilized in a Class B autoclave after every use. Spore tests run weekly with results on file.
◈
Single-Use Needles
Every needle, cartridge, and ink cap is used once and disposed of as regulated biohazard waste. No exceptions.
◇
APP Member Studio
Void & Vein is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and follows the highest industry safety standards.
◉
Licensed & Inspected
All artists hold current Texas Department of State Health Services tattoo artist licenses. The studio is inspected annually.
Prep Checklist
✓Eat a full meal 1–2 hours before your appointment.
✓Stay well hydrated — drink water the day before and morning of.
✓Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours prior.
✓Wear (or bring) clothing that provides easy access to the placement area.
✓Moisturize the skin in the area daily for one week before your session.
✓Get a good night's sleep. Long sessions are easier when you're rested.
Client Stories
Collectors speak.
★★★★★
“Maya spent two hours on the initial design consultation before a single needle touched my skin. The botanical sleeve she created is something I get stopped for on the street every week. Truly once-in-a-lifetime work.”
★★★★★
“Damon's blackwork is architectural in the best way. My geometric chest piece has crispy lines that haven't faded in two years. The studio is clean, professional, and the aftercare instructions were the most detailed I've ever received.”
★★★★★
“Ryo is an absolute master of Japanese traditional. He redesigned my concept entirely during our consultation and the result is infinitely better than what I walked in with. My rib koi is regularly reposted by major tattoo accounts.”
★★★★★
“The hygiene and safety standards here are next-level. Everything is single-use, the autoclave logs are visible, and the room was spotless. As someone with autoimmune issues, I can't recommend this studio enough.”
Aftercare Guide
Protect your investment.
The best tattoo artists can only take the work so far — aftercare
determines how the piece heals. Here's everything you need to know.
Your artist will wrap your fresh tattoo in medical-grade plastic wrap or a second-skin bandage. If using plastic wrap, remove it after 2–4 hours, gently wash with unscented antibacterial soap and lukewarm water, pat dry with a clean paper towel, and apply a thin layer of unscented moisturizer. If using a second-skin bandage (like Saniderm), leave it on for 3–5 days — it does the work for you.
Surface healing (when the skin looks and feels normal) takes 2–4 weeks. Full dermal healing — where the ink settles into the deeper skin layers — takes 3–6 months. During this time your tattoo may look slightly dull or cloudy; this is completely normal and resolves as healing completes.
For the first two weeks, moisturize 2–3 times daily with a thin, even layer of unscented lotion (Lubriderm, Aveeno unscented, or CeraVe work well). Avoid petroleum-based products like Vaseline — they can suffocate the skin and draw out ink. The goal is "just moisturized," not greasy.
No swimming for at least 3–4 weeks. Fresh tattoos are essentially open wounds, and submerging in chlorinated pools, lakes, or the ocean introduces bacteria and chemicals that can cause infection and fade the ink unevenly. Showers are fine — just keep them short and avoid direct high-pressure stream on the tattoo.
Yes — peeling and mild itching are completely normal parts of the healing process, usually appearing around days 5–10. Do NOT pick or scratch the peeling skin. Let it fall off naturally. Picking can pull out ink and cause patchy healing. If the itching is intense, lightly slapping the area (rather than scratching) helps relieve it without damaging the tattoo.
Keep the tattoo out of direct sunlight during the entire healing period (2–4 weeks). After healing is complete, apply SPF 50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever the tattoo will be exposed. UV radiation is the primary cause of tattoo fading over time. Long-term sun protection keeps colours vivid and black ink crisp for years longer.
Black and grey tattoos typically heal more predictably — the ink settles without significant colour shift. Coloured tattoos, especially yellows and reds, may look more intense during healing and settle to a slightly softer tone once the top layer of skin regenerates. Saturated colour work by Ryo typically takes the full 3–6 months to fully reveal its healed saturation.
We ask that all clients wait a minimum of 8 weeks before returning for a touch-up. The skin needs full surface healing before we add more ink — working too soon causes trauma to tissue still in recovery. Most of our work holds beautifully without touch-ups, but if you notice any light spots or uneven areas after 8+ weeks, reach out through the booking portal.
Eat a full, nutritious meal 1–2 hours before your session. Low blood sugar during a tattoo can cause lightheadedness, nausea, or fainting — especially during longer sessions. Bring snacks for sessions over 3 hours. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand — it thins the blood, causes excess bleeding, and affects how the ink settles. Stay well hydrated.
A healing tattoo will be red, warm, and slightly swollen for the first 2–3 days — this is normal inflammation. Signs of infection include: increasing (not decreasing) redness after day 3, pus or unusual discharge, hot skin around the tattoo, red streaks extending from the site, fever, or a foul smell. If you experience any of these, seek medical attention promptly and contact us so we can document the case.
Questions about your healing?
Every client leaves with a printed aftercare sheet and direct access to their
artist via the studio email. Don't guess — reach out.