• Cowgirl Tattoo

    IG: @annasagetattoos

    Email: annasage@annasagetattoo.com

  • Books open usually every 4-6 months. The only way to book with me is to sign up for my newsletter. I’m extremely picky with customs and only accept a few inquiries. I choose clients based on my interest in the requested subject matter, if our communication styles feel compatible, if our availabilities match up, and if you have a realistic budget for the piece (pricing info below). I typically prefer to work on pre-drawn designs which are exclusively available through my newsletter which you can sign up for here. I send designs out 2-3 times a year.

  • Large birds, surrealism, large abstract botanicals and florals, matching or centered decorative pieces. I am NOT interested in tattooing other people’s artwork under any circumstance, text, geometry, floral bundles, random objects, or mountain scenes. I will not tattoo in color, unless it’s just a splash of red. It’s important to note that it’s common to reject red ink, because the pigment contains higher metal content which is more likely to cause a reaction than other pigments.

    As previously stated, I mostly tattoo pre-drawn projects that go out on my newsletter. I usually take 5-10 custom pieces per booking period. I only respond to accepted submissions at this time.

  • I have a $300 minimum, and tattoos are quoted by the piece depending on size / design / placement. The reason my minimum is high is because I don’t do small tattoos. I will specify if a flash piece is less than my minimum. A vast majority of the tattoos you see on my instagram were more than $300 - this price is reserved for smaller work. Full back / stomach / chest / sleeves cost much more. For reference, full back pieces and sleeves are typically in the $2000-5000 range depending on the detail because they take multiple full day sessions, usually 2-5. The cost is split between appointments and I’m always happy to space sessions out to make it possible for you. It is industry standard to tip. That being said, a tip is not necessary and should reflect your experience, as it is extra for the artist creating a safe and comfortable environment! My booking form has an “ideal budget” section, which I will accommodate in most situations. Please keep in mind that my rate covers my shop rent, taxes (over 25% of my income), equipment, supplies, and the time I spend on your piece (including drawing, emailing, scheduling, and pre/post-appointment prep). It is important to me to work on an honor based system, so please do not take advantage of me.

    Also, if we end up tattooing for most of the day (4.5+ hours), I always cap the day at $1000 and never go beyond that. Most often, pieces that run this high or higher are full day or multiple day pieces.

  • For BIPOC folk, I ask that you pay what you’re comfortable with on a sliding scale of $150-200 an hour. Though I do not do pre-screenings, please clarify that you are a BIPOC to take advantage of this policy! Please let me know what you will be paying ahead of time so I can financially plan for my month. I promise to do my absolute best and to always make space. Let’s talk!

    I will do everything I can to accommodate you within reason! I invite you to be honest about your circumstances and:

    Consider offering less if you:

    * Are a person (of color, queer/trans, disabled, fat etc.) who experiences discrimination and/or systematic oppression

    * Have many un-covered medical expenses

    * Are eligible for public assistance

    * Are supporting multiple dependents

    And please consider offering more if you:

    *Have a high paying job

    * Earn more money, especially due to the privilege of higher-education, skin color, class, racial & gender privilege, etc.

    * Have investments

    * Are traveling regularly, or for this tattoo

    * Have access to family money & resources in times of need

  • Let’s say I charge you $150 an hour. $30 of that will go to taxes. I spend about $20 on disposable supplies for each tattoo. $20 goes to shop rent. This brings us to $80. I spend EASILY the same amount of time drawing and doing administrative work as I do at your actual appointment. So this brings us to $42.50 an hour for all tattoo related work. That’s what I actually keep. And then, we must factor in one time equipment costs. Tattoo machines are $6-900 and it’s absolutely necessary as an established artist to have at least 3. My power supply cost $450. There are smaller, more frequent purchases such as furniture, stools, and headlamps as well. It’s important to keep my tools and equipment updated and efficient, so a good portion of that $42.50 an hour goes in to savings for these costs. Tattoo school in Oregon cost me $12,000, which I’m still paying off.

    I’d also like to mention that the act of tattooing is extremely difficult on my body, on top of curating an intimate experience in which we exchange energy. I suffer from chronic pain which is exacerbated by tattooing, and am energetically sensitive and easily worn out. This is a craft that I spend countless hours and years honing in on. To me, these things are valuable in many ways! I have to get frequent body work to stay afloat and physically able to tattoo. Tattooers are also in charge of our own retirement plans. Ultimately, most tattooers make a living wage, but it is important to consider all the aspects of our costs. I hope this brings clarity to why I charge what I charge!

  • Absolutely! Touchups are free if booked within 6 months of your original tattoo date. After that, it’s between $50-100 depending on size. It’s important to note that it’s normal for fine line tattoos to heal less consistently. As your tattoo heals, the skin pushes excess ink out through the top layer (the epidermis). Since less ink is inserted in to the dermis layer in fine line tattoos (the needle is smaller), less remains after healing compared to thicker lined tattoos. This is something to be aware of and accept before getting a fine line tattoo. Please only contact me for a touch up if you notice significant ink loss. If you’re not sure, feel free to send me photo and we can assess together. Ultimately, I want you to be completely satisfied with your tattoo!

  • I like working with folks who have chosen me because they resonate with my style and trust me to bring their idea to life without micromanaging. I completely understand the importance of permanently altering your body, trusting a stranger, and that it can be hard to let go. I am happy to make changes, but there is a balance of give and take that makes the process enjoyable / consensual for all involved parties. Strong communication skills are extremely important during the tattoo process from the very beginning of telling me about your idea, to the moment you walk out of our appointment and beyond. Please vocalize your desires, boundaries, and consent. If you struggle with communication, please let me know and we will figure out what works for you together! I will always do my best to pick up on cues as well. Lastly, please respect my time, my boundaries, my process, my artwork, my work space, and me as a person. I will do the same for you!

  • My deposit is $200. The deposit is non-refundable and goes towards the total price of your tattoo. If you need to reschedule, it’s up to my discretion if your deposit can be re-applied or not. Each circumstance is different, and please give me as much notice as you can! If you cancel altogether, you will not get that money back. Deposits cover the amount of time I’ve spent drawing, emailing, and scheduling for your appointment. I’ve had an incredible amount of cancellations, no-shows, and reschedules this year. An unprecedented amount. Since I do large pieces that are mostly a full day or more of tattooing, my income is severely affected when clients don’t/can’t show up. It’s also nearly impossible to find someone last minute to come in for a tattoo that would pay the same amount as the original scheduled appointment. This is the only policy I have to protect my time. I know how unfortunate it is for a client when something personal comes up and you lose that amount of money, and I wish it felt safe for me to be more flexible.

    If you are more than 15 minutes late without warning for your appointment, $100 of your deposit will no longer go towards the tattoo.

  • Yes, I typically send a mock up sketch of your custom design 1-2 days before the appointment. I expect that you have communicated as much about your design as possible so that we are on the same page before I draw. I understand that this type of tattooing takes a lot of trust, but ask that you let go and trust me as much as you can. Minor tweaks are totally ok, but complete re-draws require several additional hours of work and therefore will add $75-100 to your tattoo depending on the design. Like I said, please communicate as early and clearly as possible to avoid this situation because I guarantee it isn’t fun for either of us!

    In rare cases, I might choose to cancel our appointment altogether if a custom piece isn’t feeling quite right. It’s not personal! I will always refund deposits if I cancel on my own accord. I usually make this choice because I feel unable to meet expectations after sending a design, or if I’m struggling too much to create a design that I’m satisfied with. Ultimately, this is for the better for both of us, even though it’s a tough decision to make! I want both parties to be 100% excited to work on a permanent, body altering project together. Trust me, it makes the energy much better!

  • Cowgirl Tattoo is cash-only, and your deposit can be paid through Paypal!

  • Yes!

  • To get started, head over to my booking page to fill out a submission form! Please note that I am unable to fulfill all of the requests I get. If you've heard back from me, we can move forward with booking our appointment by scheduling a date and collecting a $100 deposit. I send a drawing mock-up within a day of the appointment. When the day arrives, we can look at the final design together, make any necessary tweaks, and tattoo! Never hesitate to ask to re - stencil the design as many times as you want.

    I also want to mention that I am always happy to meet you where you’re at in terms of talking or having a quieter appointment. Of course I’m human, and some days are harder than others, meaning that I might not be as talkative - but please don’t take it personally! It is important to note that I do work faster when I’m not talking, and some placements (like chest and sternum) require a quieter appointment. Don’t hesitate to communicate your needs and I will surely communicate mine! :)

  • Unfortunately, no. I create each piece to be a one-off, original design specialized for each client. However, I do offer a tattoo pass exclusively for folks who live far from Portland. You may ONLY choose from a few pages of pre-drawn designs. See more info on the Tattoo Pass item in my shop page!

    I also welcome inquiries involving designing flyers / album artwork, etc.

  • My main suggestion is to take good care of yourself the night/day before your appointment. Moisturize and clean the area you wish to be tattooed, drink lots of water, eat a good meal, and get plenty of rest! Avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine, or energy drinks as these substances thin your blood and can make the process more painful for you.

    It’s also important to consider your outfit depending on the placement of your piece. If you prefer to have more privacy or be covered up, bring a few clothing options and we can figure out what works best! We have dividers in the shop for privacy as well. I’m comfortable with nudity and will meet you at wherever you’re comfortable!

  • This question is always so hard for me to answer! Everyone’s body is different and there are factors that affect the time it takes me to tattoo you. Placement is a big one. Rib, chest, and stomach tattoos are exceedingly more difficult and can even double the price in comparison to an easier placement (generally, limbs are the easiest). Size and detail also play a big part. Obviously, a large piece will take more time and each added detail creates more imagery to tattoo. I do NOT race through any tattoo. I build up my line-work and depth with a lot of precision, so sometimes I work slowly. This is why I charge by the piece, not by the hour.