Fortune Tattoo

Quick service and very friendly! Steph did a great job. I would definitely go back to this shop if/​when in the Portland area.

For the past year and a half of my time here in Portland, I have wanted to add some ink. I’ve been itching, but alas, the funds have eluded me. The last time I had a little ink therapy was over two years ago in Dallas, Texas by a friend who has done most all of my tattoos.
It was time for more.
I have been to at least 15 different shops in southeast and heard of some other great shops around town. A lot of those shops have some serious wait time too. Not to say that I was able to just walk in here and get something done. I didn’t. I had to wait over two months.
I originally came in to Fortune over a year ago while I was still living in Buckman to see about getting some work done on an existing tattoo. Just some color touch up. I got prices and I was on my way. A few months ago I decided on a cover up to something existing and I went back in. I found out that the owner, Mikki, has been doing Japanese tattooing for many years and her book was perfectly in line with work that I already had.
Well, I finally made it in and she freehanded a design to cover up what I needed and made the work blend in seamlessly with my existing piece. I also got a second original small tattoo done of my own design. The price was right and it was a great experience that I will look forward to again. Thanks Mikki and the staff at Fortune.

Fortune is a world class shop, and it’s an honor to wear the work by Ms Mikki. who’s been tattooing for 25+ years, and has built a shop with the reputation to match her personal one. I’ve been getting tattooed by her for 15 years, and the work I got years ago looks as great as it did when she tattooed me. I can’t recommend Fortune enough, I will be back!

Fortune Tattoo has incredible artists that do great work in a beautiful shop. I have several pieces by Ms Mikki who always creates the perfect piece for me. Steph and Olivia have also added wonderful pieces to my tattoo collection. Mikki has great guest artists visit her shop and I always enjoy meeting them and getting work done from artists from all over the country. This is my favorite shop in Portland, it is beautiful, clean, professional and welcoming. If you are looking for a great tattoo, this is where to go. Mikki has so much talent and her techniques are so broad that any style of art can be turned into the perfect piece.

Positive things first…
On March 29^th of this year my sister and I were both finally free at the same time and decided that was the day we were getting Trillium Flower tattoos in remembrance of our dad. It seems same day tattoo appointments are hard to come by these days, but Fortune was open and happened to have an artist for each us — and at nearly the same time. Yes! One was Stephanie, she tattooed my sister. The other was a guy subbing from somewhere in the Mid-​West, also known as chain-​smoking-​talking-​on-​his-​cell-​phone-​kind-​of-​interested-​in-​working guy. I got him. Nice enough, once we got his attention. The shop appeared clean. It’s in a great location. It has fab reviews on Unilocal — 4 stars overall. Perfect, right?
And now the not so positive…
Over the course of the next few weeks, undenounced to each other until we recently connected for dinner, my sister and I each had terrible skin rashes and swelling. Not the normal post-​tattoo healing. I hadn’t even thought of checking with my sister to see how her tat was. My sister is tough, and Stephanie took her time and seemed gentle, meticulous. Why would she have had any issues? I had come up with excuses for mine; the guy was heavy handed, I thought, ok so that could be why the unusual swelling. Plus, I’ve had bouts of eczema (though not on my forearm where the tattoo is, in fact only on one of my hands). I convinced myself it was eczema despite my partner and co-​workers saying, dude — that’s infected!
My sister and I followed the aftercare instructions to the ‘T’, and neither of us are new to tattoos. So what happened?
* Maybe dad didn’t like our choice of memorial and thought it would be funny to smite us from the great fishing boat in the sky?
* Was it the ink?
* Was it the cleanser?
* The needles?
In retrospect why didn’t we call the shop to ask what’s up, or go in and have them take a look. Had we known of each other’s infections before they cleared up, we would have. We didn’t and I think it boils down to this, we each thought our bodies had a legitimate organic reaction not related to the tattoo experience, tools, or artists. Thought. Past tense.
We’re all healed and everything is fine so why Unilocal it now, a month and a half later? Because I have to know if anyone else has had this experience after being tattooed at Fortune, and if so, WTF?

I got my 2^nd tattoo in my life here last week and the experience was flawless from start to finish. Steph worked with me to make the tattoo exactly the way I wanted it. She was very personable during the entire process, especially helpful while getting it out on my ribs. Shop is super clean/​organized and very friendly. Highly recommended!

I wanted to walk in on my day off to get tattooed. I called around 12 and by 1:30 I was in the chair.
Stephanie was available for a walk I. She drew up an awesome flower, got the stencil on my shoulder and had it finished by 3pm.
She reworked the sketch 2 times for me and was super accommodating, making sure I got what I wanted (which wasn’t very clear because I wasn’t even sure what I wanted! I just knew it when I saw it).
She did an awesome job and we had awesome conversations about Portland, never having children and camping at the coast in the spring. Good time, good tattoo.
Go see steph! She had awesome flash ideas at her station.

This place is so amazing. We just went in to check prices and see how the place was and I must say that it’s one of the cleanest and well set up tattoo shops we’ve seen. Anyways my wife and mother in law were looking at getting matching breast cancer butterflies which worked out cause there was a last minute cancelation. The tattoo artist was able to get us a price and a drawing quickly. Turns out that the cancelation showed up while the artist was helping us and tried to get her to push us out and get her tattoo instead. The tattoo artist who turns out to be the owner of the shop told her no and continued to help us which I thought was awesome! Mikki is her name and she is the best. I would recommend this place to anyone even a first timer like my mother in law! Thanks Mikki we appreciate your work and your professionalism with that lame customer who put you in an awkward position!

Just an update on Gin Hicks. She is now at Icon Tattoo on N. Russell. Nothing against Fortune Tattoo. I only post this update, as my entire review was based on Gin. She’s still the best!

Took about 8 months worth of deciding when/​where and if I was going to get my 1^st tattoo. So glad I came across Fortune Tattoo, and specifically Olivia. From the 30 minute consultation all the way til the end (after 5 hours in the chair), she treated me so much professionalism that I can’t fathom ever going anywhere else.
She took a concept of 4 Hawaiian sea turtles and turned them into a stunning piece of art that I keep getting compliment after compliment after compliment on.
The whole staff (Steph and Marcus were there that day too) were freaking amazing and made a major process so smooth.
Thank you so, so much and I can’t wait for the next one in the future.

I lost my ink virginity at Fortune Tattoo, at the skillful hands of Steph. She did an amazing job, and as my friend said, was very ‘light handed’. I was nervous about the level of pain I had signed myself up for, even for the first timer small piece I chose. I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle Steph was and I am already brainstorming future ideas for her to work with me on!

Wow, Olivia is amazing!!! She was very kind and patient with me, which made the entire process much more enjoyable. I originally brought in an image I found online and when I came back for my appointment, she had sketched her own badass version of it. I was a little hesitant at first because I’m the type of person who needs a little extra time to adjust to changes. She was understanding and didn’t make me feel bad for needing a few minutes to think. Three hours later I was done, and the tattoo I saw in the mirror was stunning! I get questions and compliments about it all the time. I will definitely be coming back to Olivia for any future tattoos. I would also like to share how kind and welcoming the other tattoo artists were towards me while I was there. Fortune Tattoo is an all-​around great place to get tattooed!

When I moved to Portland I knew I wanted to find an epic artist to finish a sad, unfinished fish tattoo on my ribs (ow). After scouring the internet and instagram I came across Olivia. Her style is so unique. It’s sort of traditional but she really puts her own spin on things. She’s awesome. So I went to her and showed her my fish I had and explained I wanted some flowers and some water/​waves to fill it in and give it an environment. I was flexible and was really looking to her expertise to help guide me in the right direction with my tattoo. I trusted her instincts. She suggested/​asked if I wanted to add more fish which I hadn’t considered. I liked the idea so she said she would draw up some stuff.
When I came in for my appointment she had some flowers and fish drawn up separately– so they weren’t all connected in one big drawing. She then cut out each individual flower and fish and carefully placed them to not only go with my existing fish but to also flatter my body and give the tattoo movement. She later did the same thing with finger waves. It was awesome that she really too into account how the tattoo would flatter my body.
After 4 sessions of horrible pain (ribs suck), my tattoo is finished! It is so amazing I could cry. Olivia was so flexible and kind and easy to talk to. She’s fast too! I couldn’t believe how much she could bang out in 2 – 3 hour sessions. When my tattoo is healed I’ll post a completed picture. As of now I don’t more tattoo ideas but I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to Olivia.

What a great experience. Olivia was so kind, absolutely pleasant to be around. A great conversationalist and made me feel comfortable during the whole experience. This was my fourth tattoo, but the experience still stresses me out. Olivia made me feel comfortable throughout the process, offering intelligent and interesting conversation, not to mention, a beautiful tattoo. I’ll be visiting Portland from San Diego again to see Olivia when it’s time to get more work done. Thank you!

I’ve been getting tattooed for about 17 years now and finally found an artist and shop I feel comfortable in. During my visit the shop was filled with all women, which felt empowering. The owner seems to have created an inviting atmosphere for both artists and clientele. I went to Gin Hicks and can’t wait to return for more work and a lot of fixing previous artwork from old tattoos. I love her direct East Coast personality. She is focused, precise and completely unpretentious. I enjoyed all the artists in the shop and think they all serve different aesthetic preferences.
Easy street parking, directly on the bus route and lots of places close by to grab a snack or drink.

We all have bad days, but you NeVeR want to catch a tattoo artist on one of theirs. I was getting a tattoo enhancement, because my existing lotus was fading, as it was not outlined. I chose Ms. Miki because she clearly has some beautiful work and seeming knowledge of sacred art. We had a consultation and she asked me what I liked about my tattoo and where I saw it going as we were enlarging it. I showed her examples of her own work that I adored. We set the appointment and I asked to come back before the final sitting for a preview of what she had come up with. She said ‘no’, that she would have a few variations ready for me.
Day of the appointment. I arrive on time. Ms Miki doesn’t. Finally coming in over half and hour late, she has NO art drawn up for me. She says she’d rather «freestyle» it. I should have walked out then, but I was leaving the state the very next day and really trusted her work. In the end, what she tattooed on my arm is a MISFORTUNE. My one lotus then multiplied into three, sitting in a swamp of army green background.
It is all very flat, with no precision, no particular feature and no attention to detail.
I even stopped her at one point, saying it was not what we talked about. She assured me it would be good by the end. It wasn’t.
I tried reaching out to her about my disappointment after I had arrived in MT. She admonished me and accepted absolutely no responsibility for the lousy and permanent work she did. She told me to find another tattoo artist.
When I tried to see her upon two separate occasions in PDX she was unavailable to consult with me.
You won’t see my tattoo done by Ms. Miki in any of her portfolios.

How do I love Olivia? Let me count the ways.
Best artist ever, very attentive, detailed and a great conversationalist.
The store is really clean and has great vibes.
Fellow cat lover, you can’t go wrong with that.
She does amazing work, and fire on the mountain is next door for your hunger needs.
I have had a lot of artists work on my body, and she by far puts them all to shame. yet remains humble and is such a great person.
I have had a few friends get work done by her too, and all of them have had pleasant experiences.
Thank you for your art!

A friend of mine who has tattoos galore recommended that I check out Fortune Tattoo. Before I share my story of getting three tattoos done by Gin Hicks, I can tell you that no matter where I am in the world, I will track her down to get my next pieces done by Gin and Gin alone, that’s how amazing she is.
Living in France, but going to Portland for a short business trip, I decided to get in touch with Fortune Tattoo by phone and this is when I had the great luck to talk to Gin. Right away, I felt great vibe about her as she was friendly and very keen to understanding what I wanted to achieve. We set up an appointment during my stay in Portland, staying in touch by email. The first drawing I received was off the chain.
Working in the snowboarding industry, I am used to dealing with designers and artists, and the least I can say is that Gin is one of a kind for her passion for art, tattoos and providing the best experience that will last for a lifetime. Ot was obvious that she cared more about me and the art than just giving me a fast tattoo.
Before I met her I thought to stick with the inspirations I found for the three tattoos I was going to get done. However, the best advice I can give you is to let her add her creative touch and design tweaks because you can fully trust her on delivering masterpieces that will blow your mind. Sometimes, I can be a bit stubborn and I told her I wanted this and that on small details. While she respected all the major elements I wanted, she was firm with me when she thought some details would not age well or would not look good. I would have been stressed to let go with anyone else, but I decided to trust her expertise and I am so glad to have let her work her magic.
I decided to go for a full day of tattooing as I was only in Portland for the weekend. When I got in, I was greeted warmly by Gin and Mikki. I found the shop to be extremely clean and well designed. By any standard, the task I asked Gin to complete was challenging as she worked on me for 8 hours taking only a 15 minute break. I was the canvas and I could see her creating right before my eyes. Her professionalism, friendliness and experience made the sitting fun, enjoyable, relaxing, and stress free.
During the whole 8 hours process I she was extremely focused and she so determined to give me the raddest tattoos. She worked hard and efficiently to fit within my budget. She also gave me great advice on how to take care of my tattoos so they can last a lifetime.
I know I have high expectations of others and in my career only a few people have impressed me with their talents quite like Gin. She is by far the coolest and most dedicated artist I met and when I look at my tattoos, I am stoked to remember the friendly lady I got to meet and great tattooing experience I had. I would not be surprised that she made a big name for herself as a tattoo artist because not only she is extremely talented, but because she cares truly about her clients. Don’t overthink it! Just call her to get inked!

What I love about this place:
Ms. Mikki is a true artist. With the most gentle touch. Amazing spirit. Love and kindness radiate from her.
The shop is light, clean, inviting, friendly and organized.
As for my tattoo, I couldn’t love it more. I went to Mikki with an idea and emailed some pictures. What she came up with was beyond my highest expectation. We’ve completed 3 sessions and each time it is more and more beautiful. I’m not sure how it is possible, but its true. Green Tara just keeps getting better.

Just retired from 27 years of service with the Marine Corps. Looked up Fortune Tattoo and sent an email about getting a Marine themed tattoo. Ms Mikki recommend Olivia for the job. She hooked me up with an awesome tattoo depicting my time in the Corps. If you want a quality tat, this is the place to go.