When Andreanna Iakovidis inserts a cartridge into her tattoo machine, it’s more than a technical step. It’s part of her craft. The cartridge she uses holds nine tiny needles—four on top, five on the bottom—arranged in a flat edge.
“That shape really helps pack color in,” she explains.
Iakovidis specializes in illustrative realism, a tattoo style known for its lifelike, dimensional imagery and intricate detail. Her artistic roots trace back to her teenage years, when she began painting with oils.
“What I naturally created with paintbrushes, without any formal training, has probably influenced me the most,” she says. “At this point, it’s just what comes out of my body.”
Originally from Queens, Iakovidis moved with her family to Lake Placid as a child. She later left for college and eventually settled in Los Angeles.
“I just didn’t come back,” she recalls. “There wasn’t a specific reason—I just wanted to explore the world.”
In Los Angeles, she worked for years as a decorative artist before transitioning into tattooing. But by 2019, with her parents aging, she felt it was time to return to Lake Placid. The COVID-19 pandemic solidified that decision.
Soon after, Iakovidis began envisioning her own tattoo studio. She remembers driving past a small building on Saranac Avenue and instantly knowing it was the right place.
“We had to do a full gut and renovation of the space,” she says. “I was very grateful for my background in interior design—everything just came together.”
Opening the shop was a leap of faith. With no existing tattoo studios in Lake Placid, Iakovidis wondered if the community would embrace it.
“I asked myself, ‘Is there even a market for this here?’” she recalls.
She opened her studio in January 2023—and found her answer quickly. Not only did local clients come through the door, but customers also traveled from as far as Kentucky and Montreal.
“You have to perform every single time,” she says. “There’s no room for off days. You’re creating something permanent, and someone is watching your process every moment.”
Unlike many professions, tattooing allows little margin for error. Beyond the technical pressure, there’s often an emotional layer—especially when clients seek memorial tattoos.
“It becomes my job to comfort them, to honor the person they’ve lost in a way that matches the love they had,” Iakovidis says. “That’s a big responsibility.”
Still, the work is deeply rewarding. For Iakovidis, every tattoo is a collaboration, a creative puzzle that must consider both the client’s vision and the physical form of the human body.
“I’m finding flow within the confines of what I’m given,” she says. “It’s all part of the puzzle.”
And when her work is done, her clients walk away not just with ink, but with a piece of art they’ll carry for life.
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