Founder and lead tattoo artist. Portraits and pet portraits, colour realism, black and grey, fine linework, script and cover-ups. What connects them is an eye for shade, depth and contrast, and a refusal to rush a design that is not finished yet.
Free consultation. No deposit yet. Tattoo Lab: 5.0 from 490+ Google reviews
Eight pieces chosen to show the range rather than a single style: portraits, animals, Japanese colour, fine line, script, florals and a cover-up. Tap to zoom, save the ones you like.
All the featured pieces
Want it sooner? Kiran K may have earlier dates for small and black and grey pieces.
The most useful thing an artist does is say no to the version of your idea that will not age well. Being told that early is the difference between a piece you love in fifteen years and one you quietly stop showing people.
So you may hear that the lettering is too small to survive, that a placement will blur, that a cover-up needs a bigger design than you hoped, or that an idea belongs with a different artist. Every one of those conversations is free.
One real piece for each, and the gallery that holds more.
Portraits and pet portraitsThe eyes and the nose carry the likeness. Send the clearest, best-lit photographs you have, from slightly different angles.See realism →
Colour realismSaturated, layered colour that heals bright, planned for your skin tone rather than a screen.See colour →
Black and greyShade and contrast, from clean skin to solid black, so the piece still reads at a distance in twenty years.See black and grey →
Fine linework and small tattoosDrawn with the healed result in mind, and an honest word when a detail is too small to survive.See fine line →
Script and letteringLegible first, decorative second. Spacing that still reads after the lines soften.See fine line and script →
Cover-ups and reworksTen real before and afters on the cover-up page, and a straight opinion on whether yours will work.See the cover-ups →Vivek is an absolute master of his art.
I came in with a vision & picture as to what I wanted. After chatting with Vivek and him sharing some photos & knowledge we stayed along the same lines but with Viveks help we found exactly what I wanted.
I was absolutely amazed with his shop, extremely clean & Vivek was extremely professional & knowledgeable.
I am absolutely in love with my new tattoo! … the line work on the script and the texture on the cross are incredible. Vivek really took the time to map out the placement and ensure everything was exactly how I wanted it before he began. He was incredibly professional, efficient, and a pleasure to work with.
I had a shoulder and chest extension of my current Polynesian style arm tattoo done by Vivek at tattoo lab and the whole process from start to finish was flawless.
The founder and lead tattoo artist at Tattoo Lab, a tattoo and piercing studio at 221 Herring Cove Rd in Halifax, Nova Scotia. An all-round artist working across portraits, pet portraits, colour realism, black and grey, fine linework, script and cover-ups.
Send the booking form and name him in it, along with your reference photos, placement and size. For a walk-in, same-day or next-day slot, call or text 902-448-2211. How booking works covers the deposit, the ID to bring and the day itself.
Yes. Small and first tattoos are a regular part of his work, and they get the same drawing and placement conversation as a larger piece.
Most tattoos can be covered, and some should not be. Send a clear photo of the old tattoo with its size and placement, and you get a straight opinion on whether a cover-up will work, how big it needs to be, or whether a rework suits it better. The cover-up before and afters show real examples, and can my tattoo be covered up? explains what makes one easy or hard.
As long as it needs. The drawing is where a tattoo is really decided, so it is not rushed to fit a calendar. Your artist tells you when to expect the design and will not put a stencil on your skin until you have approved it. See how your design is drawn, step by step.
Consultations are always free. He will tell you what your idea needs to work, and whether he is the right artist for it, before any money is discussed.
Tattoo time is $150 to $250 an hour, depending on the artist. Large or highly detailed custom work can cost more per hour. Vivek’s rate starts at $200 an hour and goes up with the detail and scope of the piece. A custom design request is $100 to $200, credited to the tattoo. Prices exclude tax. Your artist gives you an estimate at the free consultation, before any deposit. Tattoo prices by size shows the brackets and typical hours, and what a high-end custom tattoo pays for explains the rest.
At Tattoo Lab in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also does occasional guest spots in Toronto, which is why his name sometimes turns up alongside that city online. Tattoo Lab has one studio, and that is where to book him.
Different people, different work. Every card opens their page.
Send your idea, rough size, placement, reference photos and dates. You will get a straight answer and a real plan.
