Painting the Picture

Most of the time, what you see from us online is tattoos—and that’s how we like it. Our social media is meant to celebrate our clients and their stories, and to give people a glimpse of the incredible work our artists create every day. That’s usually where the spotlight stays.

I’m Tim, and I help run the day-to-day behind the scenes here at Thousand Oaks. I handle a little bit of everything—emails, scheduling, social media, content creation, photography—basically whatever it takes to keep things moving so our artists can focus fully on their craft. I’m usually in the background, making sure everything gets where it needs to go, which is probably why you don’t hear from me much.

But for our first blog post, I wanted to take a step out from behind the camera and share a bit about what this place means to me—and what we’re trying to build here.

I’m usually knee-deep in emails, scheduling, posting content, or capturing footage while the real magic is happening in the chairs around me. I don’t always get to share my perspective, and honestly, I’ve never been the “center of attention” type anyway. But being this close to it all has changed the way I see my city, and the way I think about what’s possible here in Springfield.

I grew up here. And for a long time, I didn’t see much beyond what was right in front of me. That’s easy to do in your hometown—it can feel small, or like the best things are always somewhere else. But over the years, especially through my work with Thousand Oaks, I’ve started seeing something different. Layers. History. Grit. Creativity. People who care deeply, even if they don’t always say it out loud.

When Chris Powell and Caity Powell opened Thousand Oaks Tattoos in 2022, the goal wasn’t to just start another tattoo shop. It was about planting roots. About building something meaningful right here in our own backyard. A space where people could feel welcome, be heard, and get something created just for them—not just another design off the wall.

That’s still what drives us. Every artist here brings their own unique style and perspective, but what ties them together is how much they care about the people they’re working with. Whether it’s someone’s very first tattoo or a multi-session project, they approach it with the same amount of patience and intention. It’s not just about making something that looks cool (though they do that constantly). It’s about listening, collaborating, and creating something that actually matters to the person wearing it.

A while back, I filmed a video with Tyler Hicks from Glass House Realty Group, who sponsored our Tats for Tots event. While we were talking, he said something that stuck with me:

“You have to paint the fucking picture.”

And that’s what this all feels like. Every client, every conversation, every design, every event—it’s all part of the bigger picture we’re slowly painting together. Not just for us, but for Springfield, and for anyone who walks through our doors looking for something real.

This blog is just another piece of that picture. A chance to pull back the curtain a bit and share the stories, the people, and the community behind everything you see on our page.

Thanks for being here. We’re just getting started.

— Tim Saul, Shop Administrator at Thousand Oaks Tattoos