Walking into Marigold Tattoo and ART Studio is like walking into a cleaner, more private version of your artsy friend's living room.
An armoire houses various colors of inks. Art, both purchased and created by Marigold's owner, Kari Cadenhead, adorns the walls.
Adding to the homey atmosphere is Cadenhead, herself, a 35-year-old mother, tattoo artist, seamstress and painter, who immediately makes you feel at ease.
"This is a very private studio and a very calm atmosphere where people should feel comfortable," Cadenhead said. "I want it to be the place people go to that don't go to tattoo shops."
The small east-side studio opened in December in an artist's community called The Hive on Wilmot Road.
Marigold specializes in traditional tattoos, scar cover-ups, stick and poke and, most recently, areola restorative tattoos for breast cancer survivors.
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Cadenhead trained in the A.R.T. (areola restorative tattoo) method, a style of tattoo that creates the optical illusion of a 3-D nipple — created by Canadian artist Stacie Rae Weir.
Nipple tattoos are done in a way to where they look three dimensional.
"It differs from other nipple tattooing," Cadenhead said. "The nipple tattooing that is already standard in the community is very flat and very unrealistic and so we're trying to make a new standard of the most realistic tattoos...So people feel like they're whole and not scarred."
Cadenhead first heard of the art form when she lived in Germany. Her coworker was very passionate about it and wanted her to learn, but she never got the chance.
"So, when I had the opportunity here to start tattooing again, I knew I wanted to add that to the mix because I try to be helpful to the community when I can," Cadenhead said.
Her art background helps Cadenhead manipulate shadows and highlights to create nipples that look 3-D. They are custom designed for each client based on their skin tone.
At the training workshop she got to see a wide range of reactions from the women who received the tattoos.
"Reactions range from very calm and serene to very emotional, crying," Cadenhead said. "It seems life affirming. After the workshop I was very happy that I started doing it because of being able to give that to someone. Because essentially it's an amputation. Not all women feel like that and they become happy with their bodies, which is great. But for the women who want it and feel they need it, it's good to have."
Helping people love themselves through body art is part of what Cadenhead loves about what she does.
"I've worked on scars from surgeries like tummy tucks and c-sections. I've tattooed a gunshot wound once on a domestic violence survivor. All kinds of stuff," Cadenhead said. "People with self harm scars. I've covered lots of those. It's somber to do. It adds a level of seriousness because often those are times in their lives they don't want to remember but they need to to not go back there, so it's making something beautiful out of something that was hard. It helps them love themselves I think."
Kari Ann Yale had a tummy tuck scar covered by one of Cadenhead's tattoos and she said it makes her feel beautiful.
"I am able to wear jeans, shorts, panties or a swimsuit and instead of a huge scar I have a beautiful piece of art to show the world," Yale said. "It makes me feel like me."
Stick and poke
Another of Cadenhead's favorite style of tattoo is the old-school stick and poke method, in which ink is applied to the skin using a needle attached to a wooden handle. The style is trendy right now.
Stick and pokes are simple and usually pretty small.
One afternoon earlier this week, Cadenhead added the finishing touches to a floral stick and poke tattoo she just finished on the fingers of Bridgett Scofield.
Scofield says her fingers hurt from the poking. But, she loves it and is definitely coming back to do the other hand.
Cadenhead gently applies a plastic wrap around each finger to protect them from bacteria while they heal.
"You can keep this on as long as you want to," Cadenhead tells her client.
Stick and poke is almost meditative for Cadenhead.
"I love doing that so much because it's quiet and peaceful," Cadenhead said. "I like the simplicity of it."
Cadenhead has been tattooing for about 12 years but only started the stick and poke method about two years ago. Her first client was herself.
"I love the history and the ceremony of it," Cadenhead said. "I went to school for anthropology so I feel like I'm closer to my ancestors."
An example of a stick and poke tattoo.
Booking an appointment
Tattoos are done by appointment only.
Cadenhead usually only books one appointment a day so whoever comes in gets her full attention.
The newly-offered nipple tattoo service is being done at an introductory price of $300 for both sides. That includes a consultation, tattoo appointment and a follow-up appointment about ten weeks later.
Website: marigoldtattooaz.com
Email: cereusartsaz@gmail.com
Phone: 306-0605
Address: 326 S. Wilmot Road, suite A100
