Ray, Island City's lead cover-up artist and Baltimore's best for cover-ups, takes most of the studio's cover-up clients. For new work, our four-artist team matches your idea with the right specialist.
A request is not a booked appointment. You choose whether to continue after the assessment.
Want new work? Meet all four artists →
Real before · process · after by Ray @ray_tattoos
Ray leads Island City's cover-up work. Three additional tattoo artists bring their own specialties, and our part-time piercer is available on selected days.
Ray takes most of Island City's cover-up clients and leads the studio's cover-up work. Island City is proud to present him as Baltimore's best cover-up artist, known for turning old, faded and unwanted tattoos into custom pieces clients want to show.
Bold color work with a focus on vibrant florals, animals and high-impact custom pieces.
Custom cultural and tribal work, including African and Caribbean imagery.
Custom cultural and tribal designs with strong linework and meaningful imagery.
Piercing availability changes by day. Call the studio before visiting so we can confirm the piercer's schedule and the service you need.
Tell us your idea and we'll match you with the right Island City artist.
Match Me With an Artist →Four tattoo artists with different specialties, led by Ray for cover-ups, plus a part-time piercer. We match each project with the right person in the studio.
Ray leads Island City's cover-up work. Send a clear photo for a free assessment before a consultation or session is scheduled.
Flat $1000. Includes free touch-up, numbing cream, and 1-year guarantee. Limited slots.
Two small tattoos sized to fit within a business-card area. Ask the studio which ideas and placements fit the offer.
Delicate floral, script, minimalist, and geometric ideas. Your consultation covers placement, scale, and line weight.
Saturated traditional, neo-traditional, illustrative.
Smooth gradients, portraits, religious + memorial pieces.
Traditional, neo-traditional, illustrative, geometric, japanese, blackwork. (We don't do photo-realism — for that, we'll refer.)
Part-time piercing availability for popular ear, nose and body placements. Call ahead to confirm the piercer's schedule and service availability.
Free for our work within 6 months. Small fee for outside work.
Cover-ups depend on the tattoo underneath. A photo-first assessment gives you a clear answer before you travel to the studio or pay a deposit.
Bright, even light and a straight-on angle help Ray see the old ink, color and placement.
Ray reviews what can be covered, what the new design needs and whether another step should come first.
If the project is a fit, you receive the recommended consultation or session path and available times.
No card. No commitment. Your appointment exists only after you confirm a time.
See the old tattoo, the work in progress, and the finished result before you decide to request an assessment.
The original tattoo Ray was asked to transform.
The new phoenix design placed and worked over the old ink.
The completed full-color phoenix cover-up.
No payment and no appointment created.
These posts come from Ray's connected Instagram business account. The Reel shows a real transformation; the photo post shows a real cover-up starting point and links to its original Instagram carousel.
A real @ray_tattoos Reel showing the starting tattoo and the finished floral cover-up.
View original post →
Open the original @ray_tattoos carousel to follow this cover-up post.
View original post →Have an old tattoo like one of these? Send Ray a clear photo for a free assessment.
Start My Cover-Up Assessment →“Ray covered up a name from a 10-year-old relationship. I was nervous but he made me feel comfortable, and the new piece is honestly better than I imagined. Worth every penny.”
“Best black-owned tattoo shop in Baltimore, period. The studio is clean, the energy is right, and Ray actually listens to what you want.”
“I'd been to 3 other shops about my cover-up and they all said the same generic thing. Ray gave me an honest look at what was possible and a sketch the next day. Booked immediately.”
“Fine line work that holds up on dark skin. I'd been told it 'wouldn't work' on me and Ray proved them wrong. Heals clean, stays sharp.”
Learn how to prepare for your black and grey tattoo consultation in Baltimore at Island City Tattoos on Park Heights Ave. Get practical advice today.
Learn how to prepare for a cover-up tattoo consultation in Baltimore at Island City Tattoos. Get expert tips from owner and lead artist Ray.
If you're searching for the best cover-up tattoo artist, you've come to the right place. We specialize in transforming old, faded, or unwanted tattoos into
Ray leads our cover-up work and takes most cover-up clients. Send a clear photo for his assessment, or call the studio for another artist or piercing availability.