The Glass Cat

The minute you walk into Melissa’s studio, you can immediately feel her creativity and vibrant energy. From the carefully curated collection of art and quirky tchotchkes covering the walls to the Trolli gummies waiting for you at the front, every detail makes the space feel welcoming and uniquely her. Melissa is incredibly warm, engaging, and an absolute powerhouse of an artist. Not only did I leave with a fun tattoo featuring unbelievably clean lines and stunning color, but the entire experience was just as memorable as the artwork itself. We had such a great conversation throughout the session that the time flew by. If you’re looking for a talented artist who creates both amazing tattoos and an amazing atmosphere, Melissa is it!

Melissa Martell is an absolutely phenomenal tattoo artist!! She brought my fifth tattoo to life in a way I never thought possible. I design my own tattoos and usually collaborate with an artist to clean them up and make them more polished. I discovered Melissa through an article featuring the top 10 female tattoo artists in Cleveland. I was specifically looking for a female artist, and I was instantly drawn to the vibrant colors and stunning line work in her portfolio. I was thrilled when she agreed to take on my design. When I arrived for my appointment, I could immediately feel the peaceful and artistic atmosphere of the studio. During the beginning portion of my appointment, for the first half and hour or so, Melissa spent extra time making sure I was completely happy with the version she created from my design...which honestly turned out more perfect than I ever imagined. She was incredibly precise about the placement, carefully aligning it on my forearm to ensure everything was centered and flawless. Once we started, it was clear that Melissa is extremely talented. Her line work is incredibly sharp and clean, and her shading is beautiful. Although my tattoo is black and white, I’ve seen her color work and it’s just as impressive. I’m already dreaming up my next project for her! Melissa is not only a gifted artist, but also a calm, kind, and engaging person. I didn’t expect to enjoy chatting for two and a half hours while being tattooed by someone I just met, but our conversation made the experience even more enjoyable. I left with a beautiful piece of art and a positive, memorable interaction. When the tattoo was finished, I was honestly in shock—I’ve never seen line work so fine and detailed. That was one of my biggest concerns with this design and given that this tattoo was so very personal to me....and she absolutely nailed it. Everyone who sees it is amazed and immediately is asking by whom it was done! I usually go into a tattoo project knowing it might not meet my perfectionist standards, but this time, they were exceeded, by far! The entire experience was exceptional. I can’t recommend Melissa enough—she’s an incredible artist, and I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my tattoos from now on.

Melissa is an incredible artist, takes her time with her work, and it always comes out wonderfully. She’s very thorough with explaining aftercare, her studio is clean, welcoming, and she’s got a lot of art to look at while you’re being tattooed. Her work is very fairly priced for the amazing quality, she’s easy to talk to, and I look forward to getting more work done by her! Fresh vs. healed pics included