Looking for a tattoo? Go to Dan.

Looking for a tattoo? Go to Dan.

There are artists you meet in life who don’t just do the job, but they completely rewire how you think about the craft. Dan Kline is one of those artists.

I met Dan on March 1st, 2018, which I call my “annual bad day.” That year, I was deep in a personal headspace, trying to memorialize my grandmother in a way that felt honest, raw, and uniquely mine. I had one thing in mind: a Trash Polka-style owl. And let me tell you, in 2018, finding someone in the Lehigh Valley, hell, even in Philly, who could do Trash Polka well was damn near impossible.

Then my girlfriend at the time (who’s now my wife, so clearly she’s always had good judgment) told me I needed to go see Dan. And when Jen says this is the guy, you listen. She’s a discerning canvas; she doesn’t trust just anyone to put permanent art on her body. Her endorsement of Dan was so strong that I stopped scrolling and started dialing.

I walked into Kline Family Ink, not totally knowing what to expect. I had this idea in my head, and it mattered to me more than most things ever have. Dan showed me his initial idea, and I knew right then that I was in the right place. We tweaked the design together, fine-tuning it over a conversation and Photoshop edits.

Two sessions later, the tribute owl to my grandmother was born. That, and a newfound friendship with Dan and my admiration of his work.

That tattoo was the first of many.

Since then, I’ve worked with Dan on literally thousands of tattoos—okay, maybe not if you only count big pieces, but if you include all the little “Ha”s that make up my Chaos Sleeve? We’re probably pushing four digits.

Yes, the “Chaos Sleeve.” It’s the right arm that Dan and I have poured our madness into over the years. It’s got everything—animals, cartoons, hyper-realistic portraits, made-up monsters, abstract concepts, and totally invented designs that came straight out of my brain and landed in Dan’s hands. There’s no better showcase of the full range of Dan’s style and skill than what’s on my body. I am basically a walking Kline Family Ink portfolio, and proud of it.

Our best work together? It’s always the stuff that starts with, “Hey Dan, I have an idea…” I bring him the vibe and the style I’m thinking, and he does what he does best—he makes it real. Better than real, actually. Remarkable, literally. People remark on my tattoos daily.

There’s the owl that sprawls across my chest and shoulder—still one of the most meaningful pieces I have. There’s the bouquet of bladed weapons across my opposite shoulder, a piece that looks as dangerous as it feels symbolic. And then there’s the Joker. God, the Joker.

Dan and I built that piece from scraps—bits of old Batman comic panels, a few classic Joker illustrations, and a whole lot of chaotic energy. We finished it with a “blast over” of Ha Ha Ha’s, which at the time, Dan had never done before. He just shrugged and said, “Let’s try it.” It worked. It more than worked—it became iconic.

And then there’s the stuff that came out of nowhere—random flashes of inspiration during our sessions that turned into entire pieces. Stuff that had no real-world reference. Stuff we invented on the spot.

Dan’s not just a tattooer—he’s a collaborator, a storyteller, and a creative partner. He doesn’t just listen to what you want; he hears what you mean. That’s a rare thing.

Now don’t let all this chaos fool you—Dan’s not just a master of the surreal or abstract. He’s incredibly skilled in American Traditional, too. Bold lines, timeless color palettes, clean execution—he’s got it down. I’ve got a few of those on me too, because variety is the spice of life… and also, because Dan can do literally any style you throw at him.

There are very few people in any profession I recommend without hesitation. Dan Kline is one of those people. I’ve sent tons of folks to him over the years, and I’ll keep doing it, because I know that no matter what they ask for—photorealism, neo-traditional, trash polka, illustrative, black and grey, full color—Dan can do it. And he’ll do it at a level that floors people.

I get stopped every single day for my tattoos. No exaggeration. People want to know who did them. They assume I’ve been traveling to New York or LA or some trendy studio with a waiting list longer than your arm. I always tell them the same thing:

“He’s right in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. In a strip mall. Kline Family Ink. Look him up.”

The reactions are always the same—jaw drop, slight disbelief, then immediate interest. And honestly, that’s part of the magic. You don’t have to go to a big city to get big city quality. Dan’s putting out world-class work right here in the Lehigh Valley, and most people don’t even know how lucky they are to have him so close.

Some fan favorites from my collection? The Joker gets a ton of love. So does the Betty Boop, Magnum P.I., They Live, and ice cream tattoo, they’re cheeky and fun, but still sharp as hell. My Rick from Rick and Morty always gets a double-take. The Indian headdress on my knee is another show-stopper, an absolute powerhouse of detail and linework. Every single one of these tattoos? Dan’s work.

Yes, I bring my ideas. Yes, I contribute to the vision. But these tattoos exist the way they do because of Dan’s hands, Dan’s eyes, and Dan’s relentless commitment to getting it right. A prime example being my David the Gnome tattoo. An image from the cover of a book my grandmother had. I brought that image to Dan, and he somehow xeroxed it onto my skin, another one I get compliments on regularly.

If you’re thinking about getting your first tattoo—or your fiftieth—you don’t just want someone with technical skill. You want someone who’s going to give a damn. You want someone who’s going to take your concept, your story, your weird Pinterest folder of inspiration—and turn it into a piece of permanent, wearable art that you’ll be proud to carry for life.

That’s Dan Kline.

If you want to talk about trust? I’ve trusted Dan with every inch of available space I’ve got left. We’ve spent hours upon hours together, talking through concepts, cracking jokes, surviving the COVID years one tattoo at a time. This isn’t a transactional relationship—it’s a creative bond. That’s what Dan offers. And that’s what you’ll get when you walk through the doors of Kline Family Ink.

Dan’s not just a tattoo artist. He’s an artist, period. He’s also a good human, which frankly is just as important when someone is driving ink into your skin for hours at a time.

So if you’re looking for someone who can take your vision, no matter how vague, complex, or wild, and make it real? Go to Dan. If you want a traditional eagle with bold lines? Go to Dan. If you want something photorealistic that looks like it walked off the page? Dan. If you want a cartoon, a collage, a concept piece, a full sleeve of mayhem? Dan. Every. Single. Time.

You won’t regret it. And if you need proof, just find me and ask to see my arm.

I’m not just a fan of Dan’s work. I’m walking around with it every day.