Van Cleave Aesthetics

Every tattoo carries meaning, but some carry an entire family history. Mochi’s portrait was created as the newest tribute to the beloved dogs who have filled her mom’s life with love, laughter, and companionship.

Mochi is a saddleback Shiba Inu, a breed admired for its fox-like beauty, spirited independence, and unmistakable personality. Shibas have a wonderful way of making you laugh when you least expect it. They’re clever, expressive, mischievous, and endlessly endearing, equal parts dignified and downright goofy.

Mochi has brought all of that into her family’s life. She is sweet, full of character, and so completely adored that she simply had to take her place alongside the other beloved dogs who have shaped her mom’s heart and home.

I believe the most meaningful tattoos are the ones that celebrate love, and there is nothing small about the love we have for those who walk beside us on four legs. It was a privilege to create this portrait and preserve a little piece of that bond forever.

Thank you to this dog mom for trusting me with such a special tattoo. ❤️

This client came to me as a referral from his cousin. He want originally sure what he wanted to cover his existing tattoo, but after we talked for a bit, he shared that he wanted to represent one of his favorite verses with a symbol of strength and renewal. The challenge was coming up with a design that felt true to his path as well as using subject matter that would also adequately cover the existing infinity symbol with the red hearts. The solution was a tiger with his favorite flowers - the beautiful roses - and his verse that together provide a combination of soft and strong that encourage him to press ever forward.

Concepting and ideation are parts of the design process that I deeply enjoy. It’s all about teasing out hints and clues to what will empower you to be your most authentic self, then translating those clues into a larger framework of appropriate visual ideas.

What do you think? Is this an effective cover up tattoo? Swipe to the next frame to see where we started.

We’ve been working on this arm for a while and here you can see her healed butterfly at the top (she says it’s her most complimented piece!), her healed botanical piece at the bottom, and her brand spanking fresh and new dimensional horseshoe between the other two big pieces. She has plans for at least one more to balance out the arm on the back side and then we’ll see! It’s always my pleasure to sit with Lauren Tysco. Looking forward to the next piece. 🫶

For his 55th birthday, he decided it was time for a new tattoo, the first one he had gotten in many years.

He and his wife made the trip from Kansas City and spent hours in my studio while we brought this intricate piece to life. Every detail was intentional, and every conversation we had during our time together brought me more understanding of this man who has truly lived.

This is the tattoo of someone who has collected stories, adventures, and experiences in a way few people ever do. A larger-than-life personality with an equally large heart and, as the tattoo suggests, a wonderfully sharp sense of humor.

His wife happens to be someone I went to high school with, and together they have walked through an extraordinary journey. The kind of journey that spans continents, challenges expectations, and includes overcoming what should have been a fatal illness. They faced it together and came through the other side with remarkable grace, resilience, and perspective.

They are two of the most genuinely caring, curious, and big-hearted people I have had the privilege to know. The way they see the world is entirely their own, and spending time with them is always an adventure in itself.

Creating this piece was an honor. Not just because of the tattoo, but because of the person wearing it.

Grateful for the time, the stories, the laughter, and the opportunity to create something meaningful for a man who has already lived a remarkable life. It was a privilege to spend the day with this wholly unique creature. ❤️

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Most people think they’re coming in for a tattoo. Sometimes, they’re actually starting a story that unfolds one piece at a time.

I had the honor of giving this marvelous creature her first tattoo, her second tattoo, her third tattoo and her fourth tattoo. The first time, she might have been little nervous and unsure of what to expect but she was ready. Fast forward to tattoo number four, and this latest piece marks her biggest and most meaningful one yet.

Her latest piece is this gorgeous shoulder floral design featuring three roses in different stages of bloom that represent her mother, herself, and her younger sister. 🌹

What I love most about this tattoo is its quiet elegance. Instead of bold reds, we chose softer blush tones that allow her natural skin tone to show through, and they create a feel that is feminine, sophisticated, and completely unique and will soften lightly as they heal over the next six weeks. The effect is subtle, meaningful, and absolutely perfect for her.

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It’s that time! Only a few appointments available the last week in May, so JUNE BOOKS ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN! We’re excited over here in anticipation of SUMMER!☀️🌊👙⛱️

Today’s piece was created for a woman whose heart is shared in hallways, classrooms, and the lives of hundreds of students who know they’re seen because of her.

She’s a vice principal, a mentor, and a steady presence in education… and at the end of the day, she’s also a devoted dog and cat mom to a full, loving home. Her fur family and her sweet husband (who stopped by during the session) round out a full, meaningful life that balances structure with softness so beautifully.

Work like this is always more than aesthetic. It’s identity, translated into something permanent and intentional. This tattoo was designed to remind her of the things she loves as she navigates the duality between home and work, personal and professional. Her fur babies are the nurturing, grounding energy she carries with her from home to school and back again.

Thank you for bringing me this beautiful, delicate, and personal piece, . It was an honor to bring it to life for you! 🐶🐱🤎✨

Thank you to for making my sign dreams come true. I’ve got more plans in the works for my hanging sign! Stay tuned. 💖