Randall Croley inside Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Croley is an independent tattoo artists who has owned and ran his own business for 12 years. Randall has 20 years worth of experience to back up his record as a tattoo artist. He currently has his own location in the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood. His business is named Silent Wave Tattoo Studio.
Randall Croley's workspace in Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Croley uses this space to work on new designs and sketch out designs for his clients. His space is covered with signs and demon masks that relate to Asian Spirituality. Above his workspace is a painting of the Buddha that Randall painted himself. Randall is also a painter, which is what he did before tattooing, and spends his spare time working on paint projects. He gets requests from people to create one for them that he declines, "I like to separate what I love to do for fun and what I already do for a job, which is why I tell people no. But if they want to buy what I already made I will work something out with them", he states to me.
The inside of Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Silent Wave Tattoo Studio is located in the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. Randall Croley has had this location specifically for 4 years. Inside the space are multiple paintings, a cleaning station, a bookshelf, his tattoo space, a collection of spiritual items, and many other items.
Randall Croley gives a tattoo at Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Croley wasn't always interested in tattoos and the art of tattoos. He used to not fancy the fact you couldn't go by your own creative flow. Another point made was that black people in his time and tattoos weren't always accepted. That used to shape his perspective on the career path. It wasn't until he got his first tattoo over 20 years ago by his mentor, who once made him give a tattoo to a client and told him he was going to do it, before he began tattooing.
Randall Croley (left) with his client Sam (right) at his workspace in Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Much like every other tattoo artist Randall meets with his clients before he starts a session. Randall and Sam begin to start discussing and researching images and ideas for Sam's multiple tattoos. After which, Randall begins using his light table to sketch out what the client wants.
An Urban Ink Magazine on Randall Croley's bookshelf at Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Randall has a bookshelf full of tattoo magazines and other personal readings. He has these Urban Ink magazines because it has some of his work in them, which helps accredit his work and skill as a tattoo artist. Being in magazines like Urban Ink means a lot to tattoo artists as this magazine showcases the artist and their work/skill. Only artists with the most notable skill are mentioned in magazines like Urban Ink.
Randall talks to his friend Jeff at Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Jeff walks into Silent Wave Tattoo studio to strike a conversation with Randall during a break. Jeff is a long-time friend of Randall's, they went to Withrow High School together. Jeff comes in to visit Randall to talk and check up on him from time to time, while appointments need to be made to meet with Randall, his doors are open to friends no matter what time of day it is.
Randall Croley's Bodeva, which is set up inside Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Croley described this Bodeva to me as a Spiritual Altar that connects one to the spiritual guides, which was also used by black people/slaves as well so they could practice their religion in private before they were forced to convert. Randall has a heavy belief in a Pro-Black and Islamic modeled faith, which is the Five-Percent Nation. While he expresses his beliefs with African Spirituality in the set up of his shop, he doesn't let it influence his style of how he tattoos or his interactions with his friends/clients.
Jeff (left) and Sam (right) share a laugh during a conversation inside Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Jeff starts to engage in conversation with Sam and asks her about her aspirations and other things in life. They get deep into conversation about human connection and other anecdotal life stories. This space is a space of art and connection, a true safe space for both artist and friends/clients.
Sam gets a Queen Bee tattoo behind her ear at Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Sam is a client and friend of Randall. She goes to Randall because she trusts his work and they have a great relationship. Randall is very versatile in terms of locations on the body he can tattoo on, the back of the ear is a different angle to tattoo on.
Randall Croley dips his needle in a cup of water to clean it off during a session at Silent Wave Tattoo Studio on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Once the ink dries off, Randall cleans it off in water before he gets a new dip of ink. Randall likes to use and collect vintage-styled, loud-noised tattoo guns as a part of his equipment.
Randall Croley gives his last tattoo of the night at Silent Wave tattoo on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. As Croley finishes his work with his client after the previous tattoos he takes a look at her other tattoos upon a request. While Randall does do new work and designs he also specializes in cover ups and touch ups for his clients. He does this final touch up on a lifeline tattoo for his client Sam before he closes up the shop for the night.
Randall Croley debriefs before he closes Silent Wave Tattoo Studio for the night on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Over-The-Rhine. Being an independent artist and this being your direct source of income, you work till late hours of the night, just to cover the many expenses of ink, new equipment, and taking care of your family (Randall has 2 kids). He is constantly working and before he leaves he checks his phone for more clients and ideas, he states that he is "the busiest person you will ever meet", which he lives up to during my time with him.
