Will color tattoos lighten more than black and grey?expand_more

Color often shows more visible change from fresh to healed because bright pigments start at higher saturation. Black and grey also settles — contrast softens slightly while blacks stay anchored in the dermis.

When should I worry something went wrong?expand_more

Spreading redness, heat, pus, red streaks, or pain that worsens after day three are infection signs — see a doctor. Patchy ink loss from picking scabs is different; prevention is easier than repair.

Can I prevent lightening in Las Vegas sun?expand_more

Keep fresh work out of direct sun until fully closed. After healing, daily SPF on exposed tattoos slows UV breakdown of pigment. Hydration and fragrance-free aftercare help in dry desert air.

Black and grey fantasy portrait tattoo with orange energy — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas

Original work · real clients

Studio gallery

Completed tattoos, original paintings, designs waiting for the right client, and piercing work shot in our Las Vegas studio — not stock photos. Joshua Cole on custom ink and fine art; Katelyn Cole on ear curation and body piercing.

Joshua Cole Joshua Cole Joshua Cole Joshua Cole Katelyn Cole In the studio

Joshua Cole

Tattoos & original art · realism guide

Katelyn Cole

Piercing & ear curation · piercing standards

Joshua Cole · Tattoos

Black & grey realism, portraits, and custom illustrative work from the studio lead.

Black and grey armored archangel with wings and sword on upper back. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Armored archangel wings sword back

Small temple and cheek tattoos

Black and grey all-seeing eye with FUCK LUCK banner and money bags on forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — All-seeing eye luck forearm

Black and grey realistic skull stacked beneath a detailed eye on the forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Skull and eye forearm realism

Hourglass with money bags, eye, and smoking pistol sleeve on upper arm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Hourglass luck gun arm sleeve

Fine-line howling werewolf outline tattooed above the ankle on lower leg. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Fine-line howling werewolf ankle

Detailed black and grey armored archangel with feathered wings on shoulder blade. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Archangel wings shoulder blade tattoo

Cursive Beauty script with crossed rose stems on inner forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Beauty script roses inner forearm

Ornate cross, realistic eye, and skull stacked down outer forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Cross eye skull forearm stack

Red and black Superman S shield tattoo on a man's left temple. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Superman shield left temple tattoo

Realistic all-seeing eye with FUCK LUCK banner on outer bicep. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Fuck luck all-seeing bicep

Three clients display fine-line ankle tattoos of a figure, pin, and star. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Fine-line ankle tattoos trio

Vertical forearm piece with ornate cross, detailed eye, and skull below. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Cross eye skull forearm piece

Black and grey cross, eye, and skull forearm tattoo on brown skin. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Cross eye skull brown skin

Realistic human eye above a shaded skull on medium-tone forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Realistic eye skull forearm

Three-quarter black and grey skull with smoky shading on forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Shaded skull forearm close-up

Full forearm cross, eye, and skull sleeve on darker skin tone. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Cross eye skull darker skin

Beveled ornate cross above a realistic eye on outer forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Ornate cross realistic eye forearm

Smoky black and grey eye above skull realism on outer forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Smoky eye and skull forearm

Whimsical mushroom, ghost, and cherry blossom fine-line foot tattoos. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Mushroom ghost blossom foot tattoos

Norse Odin portrait sleeve with Viking ship and red lightning bolts. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Norse Odin Viking ship sleeve

Color realism portrait of face-tattooed man revealing gold grillz artwork. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Color realism gold grillz portrait

Valkyrie winged helmet upper arm

Matching black-grey calf portraits of Lil Peep and a tongue-out rock singer with neck rose — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Black and grey rapper calf portraits

Black-grey Egyptian woman with scarab headdress and Eye of Horus mark on neck — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Egyptian goddess neck portrait tattoo

Heavily tattooed artist donning pink gloves inside Work of Art flash-lined studio — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Artist preparing gloves in studio

Black-grey veiled woman with ornate crown and clasped praying hands on forearm — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Veiled crowned woman realism tattoo

Realistic eye inside a triangle with swirling smoke ribbons, black-grey forearm piece — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — All-seeing eye triangle tattoo

Realistic blindfolded woman with collar, chain and wrist shackles in black-grey ink — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Black grey bondage portrait tattoo

Color realism red rose with soft green halo and cursive Alexis script on inner forearm — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Red rose Alexis name tattoo

Soft-shaded black-grey rose tattoo on temple beside a small outline heart on cheek — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Black grey temple rose tattoo

Black-grey veiled woman with ornate crown clutching fabric on upper arm, halo backdrop — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Veiled crowned woman shoulder tattoo

Odin portrait with gem helmet, gear monocle and lightning bolts wrapping shoulder and arm — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Odin mechanical eye lightning tattoo

Black-grey Icarus-style falling angel with spread feathered wings on leg, fine-line shading — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Falling winged angel realism tattoo

Fresh black and grey Medusa realism forearm tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Medusa portrait fresh

Healed black and grey memorial eagle tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Memorial eagle script

Black and grey roaring lion tattoo with thorn crown — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Roaring lion with crown of thorns

Black and grey Icarus falling angel tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Icarus falling angel

Black and grey dove realism tattoo on shoulder — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Dove in flight

Norse Odin half sleeve with orange lightning — black and grey realism by Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Norse Odin half sleeve

Black and grey all-seeing eye in triangle with smoke ribbons — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — All-seeing eye triangle

Black and grey roaring lion thigh tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Roaring lion thigh portrait

Full Norse sleeve — Odin portrait, longship, and runes with orange highlights — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Norse full sleeve narrative

Color realism lipstick kiss mark tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Realistic lipstick kiss mark

Eric Draven Crow tattoo with gothic quote — black and grey illustrative work by Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — The Crow portrait tattoo

Fresh lipstick kiss mark tattoo in studio — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Lipstick kiss mark session

Illustrative three-eyed demon with lyric text — black, grey, and red by Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Three-eyed demon forearm

Illustrative demon tattoo session detail — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Demon piece in progress

The Crow Eric Draven in circular rain frame — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — The Crow stained-glass frame

White ink detailing on illustrative demon tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Demon tattoo white highlights

Joshua Cole · Tattooing

Joshua at the machine — real in-studio sessions only, not stock or portrait shots.

Joshua Cole carefully tattooing a client's temple during a head tattoo session. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Joshua Cole head tattoo session

Joshua Cole applying a fine-line ankle tattoo with a rotary machine. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Joshua Cole fine-line ankle work

Joshua Cole inking a geometric star stencil on a client's forearm. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Joshua Cole geometric forearm stencil

Joshua Cole tattooing at Work of Art Las Vegas studio — Tattoo session in progress

Joshua Cole tattooing illustrative demon and text piece — Work of Art Las Vegas studio — Joshua tattooing lyric piece

Joshua Cole at work on custom illustrative tattoo — Work of Art Las Vegas — Studio session in progress

Joshua Cole · Original art

Paintings and illustrations behind the tattoo designs — fine art before the needle.

Detailed stipple-shaded blooming rose with thorned stem, black-grey tattoo flash — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Black and grey rose tattoo design

Color Pennywise portrait with cracked forehead, ruffled collar and Losers Club below — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Pennywise clown horror illustration

Framed color drawing of blonde dreadlocked singer screaming into a mic with smoke swirl — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Framed dreadlocked singer portrait art

Original grim reaper violin painting on canvas — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Grim reaper with violin

Original chameleon painting — Joshua Cole fine art, Work of Art Las Vegas — Psychedelic chameleon painting

Joshua Cole · Designs to book

Original concepts and inspired pieces Joshua wants to tattoo — screenshot the one you want and book a custom session.

Grim reaper with purple cloak and glowing lantern — custom design by Joshua Cole, available to book — Grim reaper with lantern

Grim reaper over chessboard and war scene — inspired custom concept Joshua Cole can tattoo — Reaper chess battlefield

Dark illustrative horror rabbit — inspired custom concept Joshua Cole can adapt for your placement — Horror rabbit concept

Gothic skull and feminine portrait in ornate frame — Joshua Cole custom design, available to book — Gothic skull & portrait

High-contrast illustrative character design — inspired custom concept Joshua Cole can adapt — Illustrative character concept

Gothic portrait holding skull in cathedral frame — inspired custom concept Joshua Cole can adapt — Gothic portrait with skull

High-contrast skull illustration with graphic lens flare — Joshua Cole custom design, available to book — Skull with lens flare

Katelyn Cole · Piercing

Ear curation, facial piercing, and implant-grade jewelry — documented in studio.

Color Superman S shield with smoke accents on left temple near eyebrow. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Color Superman temple with smoke

Katelyn Cole ear piercing session — Work of Art Las Vegas — Ear piercing in studio

Bridge, septum, nostril, philtrum and cheek piercings with silver jewelry — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Curated facial piercing jewelry display

Smiling client with magenta curls, septum ring, nostril stud and cheek piercings — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Client portrait with septum piercings

Fresh helix stud and gold starburst lobe earring shown on two separate client ears — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Helix and starburst lobe piercings

Curly-haired client smiling after septum ring as piercer needles the columella below — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Septum piercing session in studio

Spiked septum horseshoe with nose chain and symmetrical black chest filigree tattoo — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Spiked septum and chest ornament

Silver industrial barbell through upper helix cartilage on short-haired client ear — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Fresh upper cartilage industrial bar

Smiling client showing fresh conch and lobe studs beside colorful butterfly shoulder tattoos — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Conch and lobe piercing smile

Flat and conch cartilage studs

Close three-quarter portrait showing silver labret below lip and matching eyebrow stud — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Labret and eyebrow piercing closeup

Smiling woman in camo cadet hat with small silver nostril stud and hoop earrings — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Nostril stud on smiling client

Matching bilateral earlobe piercings

Blonde client ear with three flat helix studs, conch barbell and dangling lobe crystal — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Triple flat conch lobe ear setup

Blonde freckled client with silver industrial barbell and decorative gold lobe hoop earring — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Industrial bar and gold hoop

Ear curated with twin helix crystals, gold tragus hoop and square-cut lobe stud in studio — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Curated helix tragus lobe piercings

Katelyn Cole ear curation piercing — Work of Art Las Vegas — Ear curation work

Katelyn Cole preparing sterile piercing setup — Work of Art Las Vegas — Piercing setup in studio

Katelyn Cole facial piercing — Work of Art Las Vegas — Facial piercing work

Katelyn Cole body piercing — Work of Art Las Vegas — Body piercing work

Healed ear piercing by Katelyn Cole — Work of Art Las Vegas — Ear piercing healed result

Implant-grade jewelry piercing by Katelyn Cole — Work of Art Las Vegas — Jewelry upgrade

Katelyn Cole preparing piercing jewelry — Work of Art Las Vegas — Piercing session prep

In the studio

Our workspace, storefront, and studio life — no artist portraits mixed in here.

Guest admiring framed portrait art in the Work of Art studio gallery. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Guest viewing studio portrait gallery

Studio grid collage showing color, blackwork, and realism tattoo samples. — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Studio tattoo style grid collage

Collage of smiling women posing before flash-covered walls holding small blue gift bags — Joshua Cole, Work of Art Las Vegas — Studio group celebration with clients

Inside Work of Art Tattoo & Piercing Las Vegas — Work of Art studio

Work of Art Tattoo & Piercing studio Las Vegas — Studio interior

Book with the artist you saw

Custom tattoos start with a consult. Piercing appointments include placement planning and aftercare for desert heat.

Book appointment Flash under $100 Designs to book Offsite bookings

Real work from this studio

Real client piece

Black & grey lion thigh

Artist

Joshua Cole

Time

Two sessions, ~12 hours total

Placement

Outer thigh

Healed result

Blacks stayed saturated; no muddy grey wash in the thigh bend.

Aftercare note

Desert-climate aftercare handout included — see our healing guide for saline and sun rules.

Collector wanted a large lion with open skin for highlights — not a solid black fill. We mapped contrast for desert sun and scheduled a second pass after the first layer settled.