Welcome to
Making art to last a lifetime.
A modern tattoo boutique in the heart of Berkeley, with deep roots in the Bay Area body art community.
Look no further than Katie Mizuno and the artists at Dark Water.
Looking for your next
blackwork, geometric,
or illustrative tattoo?
Start your tattoo journey here.
Take the first step towards your next (or first ☺) tattoo by sharing your idea and preferred artist through our booking form.
Resident Artists
Meet your
COLOR |
ILLUSTRATIVE |
CYBER |
NATURE |
COLOR | ILLUSTRATIVE | CYBER | NATURE |
Josaline Green’s tattoos could come from worlds a thousand years in the future to eons past. She specializes in cyberpunk, neotribal and geometric tattoos that are designed to interact with individual anatomy and provide a new perspective on the way we view movement in the human form.
With inspiration drawn from the convergent spaces of technology, liminal spaces and ancient symbology, Josaline uses every tool at her disposal from 3D scanning to hand-drawn designs in order to create deliberate, immersive art that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.
Josaline Green
SURREAL |
FINE-LINE |
ILLUSTRATIVE |
SURREAL | FINE-LINE | ILLUSTRATIVE |
Kuya
Kuya creates tattoos that masterfully blend rigorous classical technique with imaginative vision.
His distinctive work features Renaissance-inspired imagery, elegant botanical and wildlife compositions, and meticulously rendered anatomical studies. Clients appreciate his refined aesthetic sensibility and technical precision, making him an integral member of our exclusive artistic team.
MICRO-REALISM |
NATURE |
FINE-LINE |
MICRO-REALISM | NATURE | FINE-LINE |
Lea (a.k.a. whiskitattoos) (she/her) brings a distinctive artistic vision cultivated during her East Bay upbringing, where she developed her natural talent amidst California's inspiring landscapes. After dedicating many years to elementary education, she has embraced her true calling in tattoo artistry.
At our atelier, Whiskie creates elegant designs inspired by the natural world, specializing in sophisticated botanical and wildlife compositions that blend refined detail with playful nostalgia. Her unique perspective and technical precision make her an exceptional addition to our curated team of elite artists.
Lea
FINE LINE |
ILLUSTRATIVE |
NATURE |
FINE LINE | ILLUSTRATIVE | NATURE |
Sago
Sago crafts surreal dreamscapes that blend natural elements with cultural influences. Her artistic evolution spans from intricate ballpoint pen drawings to expressive watercolor and acrylic paintings, now culminating in her pursuit of tattoo artistry—a longstanding professional aspiration.
A San Francisco native, Sago draws inspiration from diverse landscapes and her Chinese-Burmese American heritage. This self-taught artist communicates her unique vision in both English and Mandarin, reflecting the multicultural foundations of her distinctive aesthetic approach.
NOIR |
SCI-FI |
EROGURO |
CUSTOM ANIME |
SURREAL |
NOIR | SCI-FI | EROGURO | CUSTOM ANIME | SURREAL |
Born in the Pacific Northwest and raised in Korea + Bay Area, DUDURU comes from a symmetric cultural background of Western and Asian.
His art explores unconventional and contemporary realms within art, specializing in the captivating genres of eroguro, surrealism, and seductive sci-fi.
DUDURU
ANIME |
POP ART |
COLOR |
ANIME | POP ART | COLOR |
Stella Sanchez (a.k.a umbra.inks) specializes in custom work with a focus on black and grey accented by color pops, stipple shading, and playful, edgy designs. Her range moves easily between soft, detailed pieces and bolder statement work, with every tattoo built around the client's own story and style.
At Dark Water, Stella creates a chill, inclusive space that welcomes all bodies and identities, bringing a collaborative spirit to every session.
Stella
BIOPHILLIC |
GEOMETRIC |
LARGE BLACKWORK |
BIOPHILLIC | GEOMETRIC | LARGE BLACKWORK |
Lead artist and co-owner at Dark Water, Katie Mizuno is a cutting-edge geometric tattoo artist who draws from the shapes and textures of the natural world. Inspired by biophilia, Katie takes the soft and subtle patterns of flora and fauna and morphs them into abstract ornamental pieces.
She specializes in dot work, blackwork, shading, suminagashi, and blast-overs, and works closely with clients to create designs that flatter the contours of their bodies.
Katie Mizuno
Our specialties.
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![A floral, geometric and liquid suminagashi neck, chest, and arm tattoos by @katiemizuno]()
Large Tattoos & Body Suits
Transform your entire canvas with cohesive artwork that flows with your body. Katie Mizuno excels at these ambitious projects across multiple sessions. From full sleeves to complete coverage, large-scale work requires vision, commitment, and an artist who understands how pieces connect over time.
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![A person's upper leg and part of their shorts showing a black ink floral tattoo with detailed leaves and flowers on the thigh by Sago (@sagodripp)]()
Fine Line
Delicate linework requiring exceptional precision. Story, Lea, and Sago specialize in subtle, elegant designs - botanical details to minimalist imagery. Fine line work ages gracefully when expertly executed, creating sophisticated pieces that whisper rather than shout. Perfect for first-timers and understated elegance lovers.
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![Realistic tattoo of a detailed dragonfly on a person's upper arm, alongside a zebra and other animal tattoos by @whiskietattoos]()
Realism / Micro-Realism
Photographic detail on skin. Lea specializes in micro-realism's tiny masterpieces, while our artists incorporate realistic elements into larger pieces. This technically demanding style reproduces lifelike precision - portraits, nature, objects. Perfect for subtle placement or bold statements requiring accuracy.
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![Close-up of a tattoo of a woman's face with partial focus on lips and nose, featuring stylized black and gray line art.]()
Anime
DUDURU, brings authentic anime and manga to life. Understanding both aesthetic and emotional connections to characters, he creates faithful recreations, pieces with twists, and original anime-inspired pieces.
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![A person with long reddish-brown hair showing their back with large abstract black and pink tattoos covering their shoulders, back, and arms, against a plain light gray background.]()
Suminagashi / Smoke / Liquid
This Japanese-inspired "floating ink" technique creates designs mimicking water, smoke, and marble patterns. These fluid forms flow naturally with body contours, blending geometric precision with liquid movement. Katie Mizuno has mastered this rare artform at the highest level - while others may attempt it, no one delivers suminagashi quite like Katie at Dark Water.
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![Tattoo of a detailed purple and blue flower on a person's arm.]()
Color
While we're known for our blackwork, color has its place. Josaline brings vibrant palettes to life - from bold statement pieces to delicate color work, working across the full spectrum. DUDURU adds those perfect pops of color that make anime pieces sing. Every artist approaches color differently, so let's talk about what works best for your vision.
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![Destino tattoo inspired by Disney and Salvador Dali's short film. Tattooed by @kuyatattoos at Dark Water, in Berkeley, CA.]()
Surreal
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![Person with short hair and tattoos on their back and arm, standing against a black and white background.]()
Geometric
Among the Bay’s most sought-after geometric and blackout specialists. Katie Mizuno and Josaline Green master the full spectrum - from immaculate large-scale blackouts to intricate patterns that dazzle the eye. Their precise mathematical designs complement your body's natural lines, whether minimalist shapes or complex mandalas, grids, and organic patterns.
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![Black and white photo of a person's shoulder and upper arm with intricate floral and tree tattoos. The person is wearing a light, lace-trimmed garment.]()
Illustrative
Unsure of who to book with?
We’ll help you find the best artist for your tattoo project.
LATEST
When I returned to Dark Water Ink nine months later for three sessions to complete the chest and back piece, the experience shifted. This time, I came not to grieve but to celebrate. These sessions, which coincided with my birthday, marked a turning point—a celebration of the woman I had become: a breastless, tattooed, unapologetic force of nature.