Joshua Roberts

I am 33 years old have grown up around tattoo shops since I was 17, was a full time musician for 15 years when covid-19 hit gigs dried up and I had to make a conscious decision to pursue something I’ve wanted to do all my life... maybe new to this but my experience in the underground world of body art is priceless, I am going to give it all I got to get my unique style of art out to the masses I’m starting with a Dollar & a Dream... hopefully I can just make a living and support my family in the time to come🙏🏿 I see both sides of the tattoo industry shops charging $80 for a 20 min lighting bolt tattoo I can say from experience that I have been a victim of this blatant up charge we see all across the nation in shops in America, I just want to do great work myself and put food on the table to provide for my family, I am a lover of all things art I would be lost with out it, I don’t want a bad tattoo coming from my hands at all I am a perfectionist at the end of the day, but realize that most people are living at paycheck to paycheck just like me,, I am here for the underdogs that want good work at a good price cause I understand the cost of supplies it’s very affordable to get high grade quality tattoo equipment for fair prices these days and I understand the respect of art and how hard it is to put a dollar sign before it, Don’t take this the wrong way I respect all the artist out there slanging killer ink, it’s phenomenal how far tattoo culture has come in the past 100 plus years, I am hoping to grow and always remember where I started stay humble and give customers a great piece of art that will look god for years to come, I know this is going to be a learning experience and a challenge but being an independent musician in the Midwest and a single father has already been a battle so I am battle ready to take on the challenges and obstacles ahead of me, I am determined to set a legacy for my family, it’s a risk I am 100% willing to face, so that being said -DOLLAR & A DREAM INK- is my passion and I am open for business! I am here to build relationships with clients and take their likes and inspirations and turn that into art that they can take everywhere I will be patient and take the time to listen to my clients and take notes so that We can come up with the near perfect price of art that represents them and makes them feel great every time they look at the art or get a compliment on it, I’m not looking to run a McDonald’s fast tattoo shop, I’m not looking to get somebody in for a session and rush thru the art without listening to the client to achieve the closest to what they envision their ink to look like and represent, I will be here to help with body placement which is something a lot of artist do not take into account form my personal experiences, sure you can just slap on stencils of transfer paper any where and just ink away , but everybody’s body is different lines can help contour with our body shape to make the tattoo really feel like it’s a part of them I am here to help with that, so it don’t look robotic and copied and pasted like everything else in life lol, I’m not trying to be the best artist or win awards I simply love art and want to help people out there get quality tattoos for a fair price, I have left many tattoo shops sick to my stomach when I pay $200 for a session and realize how much I got screwed then it’s not even a completed tattoo so it’s another $200 to finish a simple forearm piece not bashing artist sometimes it’s the shop owners taxing good artist that just want to do what they love “be an artist” I’m not at all bashing other artists it’s a dog eat dog world I get it... I’ve personally had 10 different shops and artist do my artwork 3 different states, I’ve had to have cover ups from artist that didn’t listen to me and were more worried about getting paid and closing shop to live their so called rockstar life style.... a $1000 later I still have an unfinished piece on my top sleeve... lol years ago when I got my first tattoo I got hooked @ the age of seventeen I wear my ink with passion and a story to tell along the way I want to give my clients the same experience and happiness that I have for my art even if some of it was rushed and I got screwed out of money it’s a story piece before you go out to the shop that has hype always look at other options, Im not sitting here bashing to try to take clientele from others I just want the next 17 year old me to do their research go in a shop and talk to them about what you are wanting if they don’t seem interested or chances are they are in the robot phase of and money is all they care about, always make sure it looks clean and tidy in that shop, safety is the most important thing when it comes to getting tattoos, just take your time look at their portfolio’s if available, do your own research cause remember that ink is for life unless you want to have a laser procedure done which can be very expensive and cover ups can rack up a big amount as well... thank you all bless you all my journey is just beginning hopefully you can be part of it -peace-love-& happiness..... DO YOUR RESEARCH! Stay safe, don’t let your 17 year old buddy start stabbing you with a gun, I’ve seen work these kids have these days where they have full sleeves that look like my 2 year olds coloring books, use your brains, blood borne pathogens can be deadly as well, “hasta la vista” humans ~JBERTS~ founder and dream chaser of DOLLAR &A DREAM INK