Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Cooksey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Scott. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My interest in tattooing began in the early 90’s; hanging out in Deep Ellum and being involved in the underground music and art scene. My best friend at the time had been tattooing for several years. I’d watch him tattoo in his makeshift private studio in the suburbs near Bill’s Record and Tapes. Paying close attention to this craft he had become so good at, I watched him work for some time and saw how advanced he’d become. I decided the time was right to get my first tattoo. What would the design be? As with many of my mates I was drawn to the imagery and meaning of skulls. Punk rock and metal music had also become important to me and such a part of everyday life. Taking into consideration all those things I knew were important to me, my good friend and I designed my first tattoo together. The finished product was of two skulls; one with a Mohawk and one with long hair – a perfect combination of all things most dear to me at that time. It was while getting that first tattoo that I decided to get into doing tattoos for myself.
My friend was very supportive of this epiphany I had about tattooing and helped me acquire tattoo machines and the supplies I’d need to begin. Tending bar at a rock ’n roll dive in Deep Ellum was my means of financial support at that time. After letting my bar customers know about my pursuit of tattooing, volunteers lined up to get beginner tattoos from me. If I wasn’t tending bar all night, I was tattooing simple designs in my makeshift tattoo workshop in my little rental house off of Greenville Ave during the day.
Teaching myself the craft of tattooing coupled with my hard work practicing on a willing (and slightly hungover) clientele during that time paid off when I got my first tattooing job in Deep Ellum. Tattoos were becoming more popular by the day in the late 90’s and all the tattoo shops downtown were busy. We were making pretty standard biker-style tattoos in those days. Tattooing had not yet splintered into the many amazing styles that are so prevalent today. Most of us in that shop were looking for a niche to get into with our tattooing – a style to come along or be discovered that each of us individually could be a part of. That special style came to me when I discovered the traditional sailor style way of tattooing. My untamed and dull style quickly changed into being very simple with bold, clean lines and simple color schemes. I began drawing and tattooing in a way that made the designs look timeless, classic, well thought out, and well executed. Clean, bold and classy!
I worked my way up from that first tattoo shop to the top tattoo shop in downtown Dallas in a matter of a couple of years. After many years of working in Deep Ellum I decided to take on a tattoo job in the suburbs across town. It was a bit unusual tattooing in the ‘burbs considering I’d always worked a “street shop” in the downtown area, but I made it home for several years. During my term at this suburban studio, Japanese style tattooing was becoming increasingly popular. Customers would come in asking for dragons, koi, samurai and more. My attitude was if I was going to be doing this stuff so frequently I had better get good at it. I had a feeling the Japanese style was going to get much bigger and I wanted to get ahead of the game in understanding and applying this style to the best of my ability. Studying, drawing, painting, and tattooing the Japanese style tattoo over the years has sharpened my tattooing skills immensely.
While putting in several years in the ‘burbs I realized working for someone else had become not for me. It would be difficult but I knew I could own and operate my own shop. In 2005 I opened Lone Star Tattoo in Dallas. Having kept the same work ethic and drive the shop has been successful since opening day. I’m happy to say that I always have plenty of custom work to do and I have a great crew of versatile tattooists that help hold down the fort and do amazing work. I continue to practice the art of the American traditional tattoo and the art of the Japanese irezumi style of tattooing that I have worked so hard at to understand and apply.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been some obstacles and challenges over the years in owning and running my own business. Not only am I the boss but I tattoo full-time. It’s like having two full-time jobs at once. That took some getting used to but I seem to have figured out a way to make it work.
I’d say the biggest challenge so far in owning my own business was the financial crisis of 2008. I saw all types of businesses close up shop for good around that time. The thing that kept us afloat through this was tightening our belts and offering special days where we would tattoo all day on one customer for a discounted rate. We were able to continue to do large scale tattoos at that time and still at a price that we felt it was worth the effort.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lone Star Tattoo – what should we know?
Lone Star Tattoo specializes in all tattoo styles but is more well known for our skills in American traditional and Japanese style tattooing. We’re also known for being a tidy and reliable establishment where you can get expert and accurate tattoo work. We take pride in maintaining a sterile, well-kept environment where you can get a safe, clean, well thought-out, and well-crafted tattoo.
What I’m most proud of in Lone Star is that our customers are customers for a lifetime. Also, having a solid work ethic and having high standards in the people I hire have kept the ship steady. These high standards are what has kept the shop’s reputation on top all these years. The shop runs itself when you have the right crew.
I personally take pride in giving my full attention and care to someone I will be tattooing or have done a tattoo on. I stay in contact through email and phone from the consultation planning and designing stage all the way through post-tattoo and taking questions on healing procedures all through the healing process. This often means getting a text in the middle of the night asking if I’s OK to wash the tattoo or put a certain type of ointment on it. I offer personal service that doesn’t stop at the front door.
Another more recent point of pride is during the days following hurricane Harvey our shop raised and donated almost $4,000 for relief effort. We also donate to U.S. veteran’s funds and animal humane organizations with the money we bring on our Friday the 13th special days we hold. Those are always a great success!
I think what sets us apart from other tattoo shops is our attitude and image. Our attitude is that we are here to be informative with the customer about the tattoo they have in mind – to guide them through every aspect, as in composing the design to helping them choose wisely in a design. In helping a customer through the early design stages of their very personal tattoo, we aim to apply a tattoo on them that they’ll always be pleased with. We prefer educating the customer in getting a tattoo that they’ll be happy with all their life rather than tattooing some “flavor of the week” design on them just to make a buck and get them out the door.
Personal service that doesn’t stop at the door is recognized by our clientele. They appreciate it and show it in the kind words they share about the shop on Yelp and Google reviews as well as the very generous tips they often leave. Thank you!!
Where many modern shops are adorned with framed “works of art”, espresso machines, elegant décor and TVs on the walls, Lone Star looks like a tattoo shop with hand-painted tattoo designs on the walls surrounded by weird & quirky objects you can check out and admire. And to me, gritty music is the soundtrack of getting tattooed, and you’ll likely find rock, punk rock, or metal playing on the stereo so you’ll feel like you’re in a proper tattoo parlor. We hope you will come on in, take a look around, meet our artists, and let us show you what we mean by a proper tattoo!
Contact Info:
- Address: 18804 Preston Rd. Dallas, Texas 75252
- Website: www.lonestartattoo.com
- Phone: 972-964-8100
- Email: lonestartattoo71@gmail.com
- Instagram: Scott Cooksey Tattooer
- Facebook: Lone Star Tattoo
- Yelp: Lone Star Tattoo – Dallas
- Other: www.scottcookseytattooer.com
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