Artists - Willamette St. Location
Krys grew up in SoCal and has been drawing since before she can even remember. Always knowing that art would be in her future, as she could never seem to stop, she recently finished getting schooled by Chris 51. She draws inspiration from everything and anything (even ceiling paint can have it's beauty), but leans towards creating themes of nature, cartoons/anime, skulls, and fantasy.
If Krys isn't arting away, she can usually be found outside reading or hiking. She hopes to see you on a trail or in the shop!
Krys Martin
Tattooing is so much more than art. It’s a vast spectrum of culture, language and history. Having my artistic roots and inspiration embedded deep the historic cultures from all over the world, especially in Scandinavian, Celt and Germanic traditions. I have spent years focused on graphic arts and historical recreations, a unique skill that I bring with me into the tattoo industry.
Kirby Smalls
Born and raised in west Eugene, Ryan Bollinger is “as local as it gets.” He attended Willamette High School in Eugene and knew from a young age that he wanted to be an artist when he grew up. As a young child, you could always find Ryan drawing, but he really started taking art seriously around the age of 15, when he would frequently watch his father get tattooed and immediately became hooked on the artform and the lifestyle that came along with tattooing. His mother was very supportive of his artistic aspirations and encouraged him to pursue his goal of becoming a tattoo artist.
When Ryan started tattooing at the age of 19 in 2004, he was the youngest licensed tattoo artist in Oregon at the time. Having traveled outside of the country a handful of times, Ryan is greatly influenced by different cultures and lifestyles. You can see heavy influences from the natural world in both his illustrations and tattoos, with a penchant for female figures and animals. Though he enjoys tattooing many different styles, he feels that his work is best described as "illustrative realism.” Ryan is inspired by the world of psychedelic art, with major influences being Alex Grey and Android Jones, and you can always find him immersed in some type of creative endeavor.
Ryan Bollinger
Born in Atlanta, raised in Indiana, and apprenticed in central California; Lily is bringing a unique smorgasbord of tattooing to Eugene. After finishing her freshman year at Indiana University in 2018, Lily relocated to Santa Cruz, CA to begin her tattooing journey. Spending days working in landscaping and nights either drawing or taking volunteers for small tattoos, she was eventually offered an apprenticeship at a shop that housed one of Santa Cruz´s most decorated artists. Black and grey realism and lettering were particularly popular amongst their clientele, as well as American Traditional. It led to a thorough education of the “west coast” style, in the form of an old school apprenticeship.
Lily draws influence from artists such as Mister Cartoon, Jose Contreras, Ram Navarro, Freddie Corbin, Flaks, and Nolan Hatton (to name a few). Lettering and black and grey realism are her specialties, and custom pieces are always welcome.
Lily Gilmor-Flint
I was raised in Utah and have been in Eugene four years now. I love this area. It is lush, gorgeous, and filled with nice, unique people.
Tattooing is my passion. I have been interested in tattoos from a young age and am finally living my dream. I love the surreal feeling of creating something others appreciate, cherish, and enjoy. Especially when it will be with you for the rest of your life.
I’m very infatuated with 14th Century woodcut, engraving, and etching artwork. I’m also influenced by the gothic and religious pieces often seen in manuscripts. I enjoy taking all of that and combing it with fantasy or modern-era elements to create unique characters and designs.
Brett Stewart
Rhys (Crabby Stabs)
Your our local shop goblin for the nerdy, strange and cute. Miss Nautilus is in their second year of tattooing. She favors a neotraditional and new school style but is always excited to take on a variety of projects. Inspired by everything from cartoons to sci fi to horror, Rhys especially loves doing macabre, fantasy, and pop culture tattoos, often finding a balance between creepy and cute.
They strive to make a safe space for all bodies to get tattooed and are honored to serve the body modification community of Eugene/Springfield.
Spawned from the Oregon wilderness where she lives with her spouse and new baby. When not tattooing they can usually be found playing dungeons and dragons or cooking spicy food.
Maddie is a Eugene native and has been tattooing since 2022, and working in the industry since 2016.
She prefers neo traditional and illustrative but loves tattooing most styles. She's got lots of flash available and is always taking inquiries for custom designs through email and IG.
Non tattooing fun facts about Maddie:
She had a baby in January, has 3 furbabies and is classically trained in vocal performance and piano.
Maddie Nicole
I grew up in Port Angeles, Washington, and have now lived in Eugene, Oregon since 2016. After studying anthropology and graduating from the University of Oregon, I turned my attention back to art in an effort to incorporate it into my everyday life through tattooing. In 2023, I had the privilege being one of the first students at Out of Step and started studying under the incredibly talented Ryan Bollinger.
Art has always played an important and integral part of who I am since I could hold a pencil. My earlier work was rooted mainly in graphite drawings and slowly branched into digital art, ink, and watercolor. Themes surrounding nature, wildlife, and fantastical creatures have always been at the core of what I gravitate towards, which I have carried into my career as an artist. That being said, I am always looking for new ways to expand my interests and capabilities, and I am honored to continue this journey through tattooing.
Kira X. Maddox
Born and raised in central California, I have been passionate about creating art of various media since I was a child. Specializing in clean fine lines, abstract design, and sometimes off-the-wall subject matter, my favorite media to draw with have been micron pens, sharpies, ballpoint pens, graphite, digital art, and now, the tattoo machine!
It is of the utmost importance to me to create an inclusive, respectful, and comfortable space for my clients. I recognize that the tattoo artist's chair can be a vulnerable space, and I do everything I can to foster clear and constructive communication with my clients to be able to provide the best result possible! I feel honored to be working with such a cool, collaborative, and intimate medium as tattooing. I strive to provide clean, safe, fun, and professional service and to deliver tattoos that my clients and I can be proud of. I am eager and passionate to continue to grow and evolve in this incredible art form!
Sydney
Growing up on farmland in Connecticut, I spent my childhood painting and drawing in my Grandmother’s barn. After moving across the country to Oregon, I started taking college level illustration classes at thirteen, acquiring my Associate’s Degree three years later. After continuing my education, I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Technology from The University of Oregon here in Eugene. Throughout the year following, I realized that working in corporate design diluted my passion for art, and sought change. After discovering Out of Step Tattoo Academy and studying under Ryan Bollinger, I rediscovered my love of concept art and found my new preferred medium: skin.
The core kingdoms of my artistic practice are animation, film, illustration, digital imaging, and most recently, using bodies as canvases. I am most fulfilled when making art that aesthetically rests in the gutter between awe and disgust, and often uses fungi, femininity, and fear as subjects. Making art allows me to escape perfectionism and process demure and morbid realities in vivid saturated color. I see my artistic process as “productive escapism” and seek to immerse others into my daydreams.
I am an independent and highly organized individual supportive of all people and possibilities. I love doing vivid colorwork, gradients, and high contrast pieces. My goal as a tattoo artist is to tackle anything a client wants with confidence, excitement, and professionalism. I am comfortable being uncomfortable and love a stylistic challenge.
