T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Mark Cates, left, and Jake Gorsuch, right, are the artists behind the recently opened Ink Factory Tattoo Studio at 19 S. Center St. Ste. 3 in Marshalltown.

Whether you’re brand-new to tattoos or looking to add more ink to your body, Ink Factory Tattoo Studio, 19 S. Center Street Ste. 3, may have just what you’re looking for.

Run by Marshalltown native Jake Gorsuch, the studio is celebrating its grand opening noon to 6 p.m. from May 6-11 with a meet and greet with the artists, refreshments, gift certificates and more.

Gorsuch worked for a few years tattooing in Des Moines before deciding to return to his hometown to open his own place.

“I took art classes in high school, and then I went to college a little bit for art. It’s always been kind of a side hustle — good friends and word of mouth,” he said. “I was working construction just a few months ago and then I just quit that and decided to pursue this full-time.”

Tattoo artist Mark Cates works alongside him, and Gorsuch notes, their skills complement each other. He is seeking a third person to round out the team.

“I have some people that get some crazy stuff, but I mostly do black and gray realism. Mark is more on the side of traditional color,” he explained. “I’d like to get somebody in here that can do a little bit of everything and I’m willing to train. I’m looking for an apprentice.”

He charges $120 an hour with a minimum fee of $80. Smaller tattoos take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to complete. He does have experience with marathon sessions.

“I do $1,000 tap out sessions. And so you basically show up at 10 a.m. and we design it and sit down and tattoo all day. And so I did one I think a month ago and we did it for nine hours. We take little five-minute breaks. It was both sides of his neck and one of his hands,” Gorsuch said.

He added that a pet peeve of his is when tattoo artists try to dictate what a customer should do with their body.

“I take on mostly everything. I like a good challenge. It’s all about making the customer happy,” he said.

He said getting tattoos on the neck and hands has been popular. He doesn’t like doing work over bones, and instead prefers working on arms.

“I like tattooing the arm. It’s the tightest skin. It’s easiest to tattoo. The biggest spot I would avoid is easily the stomach, just because they’re breathing and it’s so stretchy and they flinch. It’s not very easy,” he explained.

Realistic images set in black and gray ink never go out of style, he says.

“I don’t do a lot of bigger color pieces. I do a little bit of color, but I kind of try and stay away from it. It’s just not my style, really,” he said. “You have to really know color theory and how to blend colors.”

People can browse the “flash wall” of popular designs, or view the “want to do wall” for even more ideas. Most potential clients reach out to him via Instagram, Facebook or email to talk specifics.

“They’ll send me a reference picture of something and I’ll just get it done and send it back. I have some old school people that like to stop in for consultations,” he said.

In addition to tattoos, he plans to be set up for body piercings by next month. Ear and nose piercings are the most common. In the future, a selection of jewelry for piercings will be offered.

You must be 18 or older to get a tattoo. Parental consent is required for a piercing under age 16.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

Ink Factory Tattoo Studio is open daily from noon to 6 p.m. It may be reached at: 641-351-8568 and Jakegorsuch22@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram: @inkedupbyjake.