RACHEL GILBERT
Fine Artist, Tattooer, Owner
About
Rachel’s journey with tattooing began in 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—long before the world was awash in tattoo reality shows and on-screen dramatics. Drawn by the magnetic pull of creativity and community, she made her way to Portland in 2007, where she found inspiration among a vibrant collective of artists and a city that truly values the craft.
Her signature style? Whimsical 3D realism, infused with vibrant color and ornate detail. Rachel’s work often blooms from nature’s quieter corners—delicate flowers, juicy fruits, curious bugs, elegant birds, and charming little sea creatures with faces you can’t help but love. Even skulls, in her hands, become elegant relics, wrapped in pearls, framed in flourishes, and maybe accompanied by a surprise ladybug or two.
Rachel is also a go-to artist for transformative work—whether it’s a full tattoo cover-up or a “tattoo facelift” to breathe new life into something old and faded. She believes tattoos should make you smile every time you catch them in the mirror. Life’s too short for tattoos that don’t make you happy.
When she’s not in the studio, Rachel’s likely on a joyride in a vintage VW, singing at the top of her lungs (karaoke or not), scuba diving into another world, or doting on her absurdly cute dogs (and yes, she will show you photos). Fair warning: she sings while she tattoos—so come ready for a serenade.
I invite you to contact me for a consultation – let’s work together to create something unique and beautiful!
I`m excited, honored, and honestly a little scared to have my little lettering projects up on the gallery walls next to some really heavy hitters in the scene...!
Come see all the amazing art at our next gallery show - WRITER`S BLOCK - A Celebration of Typographical Arts!
You won`t want to miss the opening night party - over 30 confirmed participating artists means a helluva party! 4-9pm at Witching Hour Tattoo!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #letterwriters #signpainters #gallerynight #writersblock
Some still shots of Stacey`s arm so you don`t have to suffer through my video skills....
Thanks for looking!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #gardentattoo #whimsicaltattoo
Celebrating 20 years together in the sweetest way!
Thanks for letting me do these cute crustaceans for you both!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #sealifetattoo #underwatertattoo #crittertattoo #matchingtattoo #friendstattoo #couplestattoo
Finishing a really fun large project is always bittersweet...
On the one hand - Yay! We did it!
On the other hand - Aw, it`s over?
Huge thanks to Stacey for all her patience and trust as we worked through this absolutely delightful tattoo!
Bring me ALL the nature tattoos!!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #oregontattoo #pdxtattoo #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #whimsicaltattoo #gardentattoo
I ♥️ doing tattoo facelifts!
Sometimes you like WHAT you have tattooed, you just don`t like HOW it looks. I can fix that 👍
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #beforeandafter #tattooglowup #tattoofacelift #tattoofixup #oregontattoo #pdxtattoo
I love reworking and adding-onto existing older work. Tattoo facelifts are my jam!
Thanks for the trust, Stephanie!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoo #witchinghourtattoopdx #beforeandafter #tattooglowup #tattoofacelift #tattoofixup
And a couple of still shots, in case you can`t stand my video skills!
#octonation #oceantattoo #octopustattoo #oregontattoo #rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #underwatertattoo #sealifetattoo #whimsicaltattoo #pdxtattoo #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo
I could not be more excited about this spacey, iridescent octopus with Camelia flowers!!
🐙🌸🌌
Many thanks to Angelina for another fabulous project and fantastic company 💖
More like this, please and thank you!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #oregontattoo #pdxtattoo #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #underwatertattoo #sealifetattoo #octopustattoo #octonation #oceantattoo #cephalopodtattoo
*in progress*
A little decorative tile work for Lauren! Now this is my kind of home improvement project!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pnwtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #tiletattoo
Just a cute little bunny, eating junk and reading smut!
This is just part of the whole, full reveal yet to come...
Thanks, Michelle, for always having the most fun ideas!
#witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #anthropomorphicanimals #whimsicaltattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
Just a little teaser of the progress we made on Ryann`s underwater arm piece!
Thanks for another great day!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #inprogress #octopustattoo #octonation
By @inkstress
Mostly healed look at Dolly`s awesome owl!
Thanks for a fun project!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #naturetattoo #crittertattoo #owltattoo #floraltattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
Some lovely lavender for Jessy!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #floraltattoo
Got a great healed shot of Patricia`s harmonica! Thanks again!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #healedtattoo #oregontattoo #pdxtattoo
Yes, I love doing small tattoos, too!
Thanks for a great time, Sonny 🐦
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #putabirdonit #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
I was so happy to do this beautiful bunch of blue-ish butterflies for Samantha!
Thanks for a lovely day!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #whimsicaltattoo
Floral cover up by @inkstress
Big thanks to Sunnie for all her patience and trust as we worked through this fun project! Thanks for a great time!
Life is too short to accept tattoos that don`t make you happy!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #coveruptattoo #whatcoverup #beforeandafter
While we are very grateful that @wntrcross did NOT end up losing his leg, we still adore the ginger-Clint cookies!
Thanks for another fun tattoo project, and stay safe out there!
PS I love doing food tattoos!!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #cookietattoo #foodietattoo #foodtattoo
By @inkstress
A super zen fishing fox! Just over part of @sailor_steph7 `s lovely leg project!
Thanks for another great day!
Bring me ALL the anthropomorphic animals!!
#rachelgilbert
#inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #crittertattoo #anthropomorphicanimals
Baby badger and cicada by @inkstress
What a fun day! Thanks, Robin, for this adorable project!
#rachelgilbert
#inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #crittertattoo #naturetattoo
Always let your true colors shine!
Roly poly bugs by @inkstress
Thanks for another fun day, Amber! You rock!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #oregontattoo #pdxtattoo #witchinghourtattoo #naturetattoo #crittertattoo #bugtattoo
More progress on Cat`s kick-ass cover up!
Thanks for another great day!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #beforeandafter #coveruptattoo #whatcoverup #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo
Manatee by @inkstress
Part fresh, part healed, I got to do a little touch up on this sea buddy and it was so nice to see him again!
I`m always down for weird, whimsical, anthropomorphic animals, bring `em all to me!!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #sealifetattoo #underwatertattoo #whimsicaltattoo #manateetattoo
It`s only 1 week until our next gallery opening (✨"Solstice Light"✨) AND my birthday!! 🥳
As part of the celebration I`ll be selling these decorative little storage boxes I made! 🎁
Perfect for jewelry, DnD dice, miscellaneous souvenirs, etc...
Check `em out on June 7th, 4-9pm, at Witching Hour Tattoo!
(If you have to miss the big party, the artwork will be on display until August - but please don`t miss the big party!)
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #womanownedbusiness
In progress work by @inkstress
More progress on Angelina`s lovely octopus!
Thanks for another great day!
So close to complete.....
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #octonation #octopustattoo #sealifetattoo #underwatertattoo #floraltattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
Re-centered a star that was knocked off course by a broken collarbone, and added a couple of bee body guards to keep it in place!
Big thanks to my longtime dear friend and constant supporter @avg.cadaver , I wouldn`t be where I am today without you 🖤
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #beforeandafter #beetattoo
Witchy book stack by @inkstress !
So many thanks to Brianna for bringing me this fun, spooky project!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #witchytattoo #bookstattoo #spookytattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
Before and after!
Big thanks to Caitlyn for another great day reworking her existing sleeve!
Already looking forward to next time!
Life is too short for tattoos that don`t make you happy! Get `em fixed!
#witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #beforeandafter #tattooglowup #tattoofacelift #tattoofixup
Thank you, Lyndsey, for all your trust and patience while we gave these birds a facelift and a new floral home! Enjoy!
Life is too short for tattoos that don`t make you happy - fix it up!
#beforeandafter #tattooglowup #tattoofacelift #tattoofixup #rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo
A progress shot of Ali`s underwater arm...
Can`t wait to do more!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #inprogress #underwatertattoo #sealifetattoo #aquatictattoo #seaturtle
