Meet Tom Veling
Tom has been tattooing professionally since 2009. He specializes in Classic and Traditional tattoo designs, but is not limited to that approach. He can also create a custom design for you in various styles including lettering, black & grey, illustrative, or fine line.
Tom holds himself and his tattoos to the highest standards. No matter the size, style, or subject matter, it is important that the tattoo is done in a way that it will hold up over time and look great in a family photo 20 years down the road. Tom is constantly learning and growing in his pursuit to create the best tattoos he can, while providing a unique and memorable experience for each client
Tom works mainly by appointment but is always happy to take walk-ins when available.
Before he started tattooing, Tom played music for many years, playing multiple instruments in many genres of music like punk rock, hardcore, jazz, classical, and hip hop. Forming connections through playing in bands led to exposure and exploration of different music, cultures, backrounds, and eventually tattoos. While still in High School, Tom began getting tattooed and hanging out at a renowned traditional tattoo shop in Sacramento, CA called American Grafitti. The time spent there getting tattooed and being a fly on the wall gave him his first true education of what real tattooing was all about. He fell in love with the culture, history, and magic of tattoo. Years of traveling and getting tattooed regularly led to learning and appreciating the rich history and traditions of tattooing here in the U.S. and around the world. In 2008, he was given an opportunity here in Pennsylvania to complete a formal tattoo apprenticeship. Since that time, Tom has traveled around a bit, tattooing in both walk-in and custom shops along side many great tattooers here in PA, and other places like San Diego, Sacramento, Oregon, and Guam. In March of 2021, Tom opened Small World Tattoo, which is the first shop ever established in Orwigsburg, PA.
