Stanislaus County’s first mobile tattoo shop makes event memories last forever
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Dying Art Tattoo launched Stanislaus County’s first licensed mobile tattoo shop.
- Event packages range from $700 to $2,250 with custom flash tattoo themes.
- Owners plan to operate locally until April 2025 before relocating out of state.
If you think marriage is forever, wait until you hear about Stanislaus County’s new wedding (and other events) vendor.
Dying Art Tattoo studio owners Richard and Kristyann Ruiz have opened the county’s first mobile tattoo shop — available for weddings, birthday parties, concerts and other gatherings, as well as flash events and private sessions.
The couple were financing a cargo van for their side business: party supply rentals. When they transitioned out of that, they still had to make payments on the van, so needed something to do with it.
Richard Ruiz began selling and delivering tattoo supplies with the van when he thought, “Why don’t I just tattoo in here?”
“We built everything for less than $3,000,” he said. “I did a lot of tattoo trade work. I had a lot of supplies around my house. The dental cabinet that’s in there, my wife and I drove down to Fresno where somebody was upgrading their pediatrics (office).”
A generator keeps the van’s air conditioning going, and everything else runs on an inverter setup.
How does getting tattooed in a van work?
The Ruizes mobile tattoo shop is licensed through the state and has a Stanislaus County health permit.
Time is limited to book the tattoo van for Stanislaus County events. Richard and Kristyann Ruiz are leaving their Sisk Road studio in the hands of another artist and taking their van when they move out of state in April.
There are three ways to book: on the Dying Art Tattoo website, by sending a message on Instagram or by visiting the studio at 3600 Sisk Road, Suite 4C.
Customers can book one of three packages: the hourly experience, the signature event package or the all-day tattoo takeover.
The hourly experience is $350 per hour with a two-hour minimum. It comes with a custom flash sheet designed for your event theme, one licensed tattoo artist and unlimited tattoos from the flash sheet during the booking window.
A flash tattoo is predesigned, Ruiz said, and placed on the body as shown in the image. For large events like weddings or Friday the 13th events, Ruiz said he can do about three flash tattoos in one hour.
“If they’re hiring us for a wedding, I design that whole flash sheet just for their event,” Ruiz said. “Maybe they’re getting the groom’s name or a last name or bells, or something in that realm.”
The signature event package has a $1,600 flat rate for up to five hours. It comes with the same things as the hourly experience, and the van will travel within 50 miles of Modesto.
An “all-day tattoo takeover” costs $2,250 and can be booked for up to eight hours. It comes with one licensed tattoo artist, expanded flash options or dual-themed flash sheets, unlimited tattoos from the sheets during the booking window, and optional social media promotions and an event recap feature. With this package, the van will travel within 100 miles of Modesto.
The van can also be booked for personal, private sessions.
For more information, visit dyingarttattoo.com/mobile-tattooing.
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM.
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