In need of a place to help you crispen up your look? Search no further than downtown Mount Vernon, which has recently welcomed Crispy Tattoo: a new shop built upon a local’s lifelong passion for art and creativity.

The shop — located at 201 First St. NW. — officially opened for business in mid-June. Owner and sole artist Chris Bostwick, whose family moved to town when he was in sixth grade, is a familiar face within the community.

Although he has dabbled in fine line, floral and even watercolor tattooing, Bostwick’s favorite style to work with is American traditional due to its vividness, longevity and ability to capture different sensibilities. However, he is excited to work with each and every client to customize the perfect piece for them in their preferred form.

For Bostwick, being an artist makes up a huge part of his identity and encompasses who he is at the core. His passion for creativity stems from a childhood friend whose work inspired him.

“I had a good friend in elementary school who loved drawing,” Bostwick said. “He would come over, and we would just draw together for hours silently. I always thought he was the coolest and best artist ever, so I think I just was emulating him for a long time.”

As he grew older, this hobby quickly transformed into a career. Due to the encouragement and guidance of Laurie Zaiger, who taught him art in high school, Bostwick later decided to attend the Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri. Upon graduating, he moved to Brooklyn, NY, where he did silk screening and printed on skateboards; two completely different art forms from the one he professionally practices now.

“I’ve always been into art, drawing, all different kinds of mediums,” he said. “Back then, I never had any thought of being a tattoo artist at all.”

In 2019, Bostwick and his wife, Cathy George, decided to move back to Mount Vernon with their two children. Once settled in, Bostwick began experimenting with this new form of expression during his leisure time.

Upon receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from George — the first person he tattooed, aside from himself — and his friends, Bostwick decided to see where this talent could take him. He later began working with Ink Expression, where he held an apprenticeship for around four-and-a-half years before opening Crispy Tattoo.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from the shop owner over there, Adam [Oxley], which was great, because he gave me my chance to learn how to tattoo,” Bostwick said. “I’m super appreciative of him and what he gave to me.”

Bostwick has been kicking around the idea of opening his own tattoo shop since he began working as an apprentice. For him, tattoos are much more than just markings on the skin: they are storytelling devices that convey the human experience.

“A very simple, little drawing can tell a story,” he said. “Each drawing from the lineage that I like to draw from — American traditional lineage… they pretty much all have little hidden meanings and history of their own.”

After hearing it was up for lease, Bostwick remembers being tempted each time he walked past the empty space nestled within the downtown strip. Today, he calls it his own. However, he said it took a lot of physical labor to prepare for opening day, which took less than a month due to assistance from loved ones and individual dedication.

“I would say Chris had a very healthy obsession,” George said, chuckling. “Any moment he had to spare, he was back up here doing the next step. When he is excited about a new thing, he’s a man of action and keeps going until it’s done.”

Now that Crispy Tattoo is officially open, Bostwick is excited to leave his mark on the community that raised him for a large portion of his life; that is, with George at his side, who helps to run the more logistical operations of the business.

“For him to be master of his domain and make money off his art, I’m just so proud,” she said. “I’ve just never seen him more happy and himself.”

To start planning your next — or potentially even first — tattoo, contact Bostwick at [email protected] or (319) 305-1054. Those interested are also welcome to visit the shop in-person at any time.