Cooper Blackledge did not set out at first to become a tattoo artist, but several parts of his life now seem to point in that direction.
Blackledge, a 2020 graduate of Council Grove High School, has opened Graveyard Ink Tattoos at 206 W. Main St. in Council Grove. A ribbon cutting for the new business is scheduled for Friday, June 12, at 1 p.m.
The business marks both a new venture for Blackledge and another young entrepreneur’s investment in downtown Council Grove. Blackledge said he closed on the Main Street building May 12 and has been working to prepare the space for his tattoo studio.
The front portion of the building will be used for Graveyard Ink, including the tattoo area and waiting space. Blackledge said the lower level has been remodeled, including new wiring, and the business has met health and safety requirements for a tattoo establishment.
There is space for another business to rent the back portion of the shop.
Blackledge’s interest in tattoos began early. He said he received his first tattoo at age 16 after coaching a Council Grove Little League basketball team. One of the parents was a tattoo artist and gave him a tattoo as a gift for coaching.
“I’ve always loved tattoos,” Blackledge said. “I love the personality aspect of it.”
After high school, Blackledge attended Hutchinson Community College, where he studied business and sales. He later worked in concrete and then in sales before deciding he wanted to pursue tattooing more seriously.
Blackledge said the idea took hold after his sister bought a tattoo machine from Amazon as a joke. He began practicing on fake skin and quickly found that he enjoyed both the art and the process. “Ever since I picked up that machine, I just fell in love with doing it, and the art of it, and the history of it,” he said.
In Kansas, tattoo artists must complete either an apprenticeship or training through an accredited school to become licensed. Blackledge said he first tried to follow the traditional apprenticeship route. He contacted or emailed 60 to 70 tattoo shops in Kansas over a period of four to five months but said he was unable to find a shop willing to take him as an apprentice. Blackledge said he came to understand that some shops may be reluctant to train someone who could later become a competitor.
That led him to a school in Miami Beach, Florida, where he completed an intensive two-month tattoo program earlier this year. Blackledge said he attended classes from about 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, learning from tattoo artists in Miami. The program also included training in bloodborne pathogens, sanitation, business practices and tattoo shop operations. Blackledge said the training reinforced his desire to open his own shop rather than work under someone else.
The pace of Miami also reminded him what he appreciated about home. “The small-town life is what brought me back,” he said, referring to Council Grove.
Blackledge said his earlier business training, work experience and tattoo education have all contributed to his plans for Graveyard Ink. He said the business side of tattooing matters, but the creative side is what drew him into the profession.
He said much of the work for a tattoo is done before a client ever sits in the chair. Clients may bring several reference images or ideas, and Blackledge then works to create a design that fits the person and the placement on the body.
“A lot of the time, people will send me three or four pictures,” he said. “I’ll spend three or four hours at night just drawing, piecing stuff together, figuring it out, how it flows with the body.”
Blackledge said he uses an iPad for design work, which allows him to draw, erase, adjust and combine ideas before creating the final tattoo design.
His own style leans toward traditional tattoos, which often include bold outlines and color, although he said there are many different tattoo styles. He also has an interest in black and gray realism, which has become popular in the tattoo indus- try.
Blackledge said his current rate is $125 per hour, with a shop minimum of $80. He said his hourly rate covers not only the time a client is in the chair, but also the behind-the-scenes design and preparation, along with the supplies needed for each tattoo.
He said those considering a tattoo may call, text or walk in to begin the process.
“I want people to do whatever makes them comfortable,” Blackledge said. “You can call, text, walk in, and we will literally just sit and talk about what you want, designing it.”
He said he can help clients think through design, placement and other details. Depending on the tattoo and his appointment schedule, a client may be booked for a later date. After the tattoo is completed, Blackledge provides aftercare instructions. He said the healing time depends on the size of the tattoo and the individual, but many tattoos take one to three weeks to heal.
Graveyard Ink Tattoos will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Blackledge said the later hours are intended to make appointments more accessible for people who work during the day.
The business phone number is 620-767-3131. The email address is graveyardink620@gmail.com.
The Main Street building also gives Blackledge room to consider future plans. He said the upstairs area eventually could become living space. It includes a living room overlooking Main Street, room for a bathroom and kitchen and a rooftop patio in the back, but it will require substantial renovation.
For Blackledge, the opening of Graveyard Ink is both exciting and intimidating. He is grateful for the overwhelming encouragement and support of family and friends. He said there have been many learning curves, but he is taking the process one step at a time.
He recalled advice from a college instructor who asked, “How do you eat an elephant?”
“One bite at a time,” Blackledge said.
That has been his approach as he prepares to open the doors of Graveyard Ink on Main Street.