RACHEL GILBERT
Fine Artist, Tattooer, Owner
About
Rachel’s journey with tattooing began in 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsinβlong 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. Rachelβs work often blooms from natureβs quieter cornersβdelicate flowers, juicy fruits, curious bugs, elegant birds, and charming little sea creatures with faces you canβt 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 workβwhether itβs a full tattoo cover-up or a βtattoo faceliftβ to breathe new life into something old and faded. She believes tattoos should make you smile every time you catch them in the mirror. Lifeβs too short for tattoos that don’t make you happy.
When she’s not in the studio, Rachelβs 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 tattoosβso come ready for a serenade.
I invite you to contact me for a consultation – letβs work together to create something unique and beautiful!
In a few months I`ll have been doing this crazy job for 25 years,
and it`s not lost on me how lucky I am
to have so many amazing clients who keep coming back,
who keep recommending me to others, and who generally just keep me going.
Thank you.
*in progress*
We got a great start on Paige`s wonderfully whimsical sleeve!
Yes - these are Sourpatch Kids wearing raspberry hats and riding on dinosaurs.
Amazing.
Bring me all your wacky tattoo ideas, I`m so here for them!
Thanks for a great day!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #whimsicaltattoo #foodietattoo #portlandtattoo #oregontattoo
A sparkly little blue button for Darcy π
Yes, I do small tattoos, too!
#rachelgilbert
#inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo
@wntrcross always comes up with the best ideas!
"Bad Religion Bear" or "Pooh on Fire"? Either way, what fun! Thanks for another great day!
Let your imagination run wild! If you have a wacky tattoo idea, tell me about it!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #winniethepooh #badreligion #boyonfire #whimsicaltattoo #musictattoo
Dandelions and gnomes and hedgehogs and mushrooms ... Oh my!
Thanks for a magical day, @oregon_jai !
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #whimsicaltattoo #gnometattoo #naturetattoo
Monsters Ball - 20+ contemporary artists explore the idea of what it means to be a monster...
Opening night party
Friday October 3rd
4-9pm
Kick off spooky season right! See you there!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #gallerynight #artnight #artopening #monsters #lifeisshortbuytheart
Kudos to Sean for sitting like a real champion for this tattoo! Way to go!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #portlandtattoo #oregontattoo
Obviously in-progress, but well on our way!
Thanks for a great start, Hannah! Can`t wait for next time!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #inprogress #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #putabirdonit
Just a little sneak peek at Jeana`s epic octopus...
Full view coming soon, stay tuned!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #octopustattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
MONSTERS BALL is the next big exhibition coming to Witching Hour Tattoo!
20+ contemporary artists explore what it means to be a "monster"...
Opening party Friday October 3rd, 4-9pm.
Be there, or Beware!
π§π»πΉπππ
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #artopening #gallerynight #monstersball
Thanks for a great day, Tascha!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #morecowbell #whimsicaltattoo
We`ve got a ways to go yet, but we`re making awesome progress on Kristin`s cover up sleeve!
Thanks for the patience and trust with the process!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #inprogress #coveruptattoo #whatcoverup
Fun new floral additions to Mandy`s arm!
A beautiful tribute to family pups past, present, and future π
Thanks for a great time!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #floraltattoo #botanicaltattoo #naturetattoo #gardentattoo #pnwtattoo
Chrysanthemum cover-up for Kristina!
#beforeandafter #tattoocoverup #whatcoverup #rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo
π€Get it on your calendars!
π€We are kicking off spooky season right! π€Join us Fri Oct 3rd for MONSTERS BALL, a group show exploring what it means to be a monster....
π€Don`t miss the grand reveal party, it`ll be a blast! (But if you do, the works will be up on display thru November)
π€ Further info found on our website, www.witchinghour.tattoo
π€See you there!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #gallerynight #artnight #localart #portlandtattoo #spookyseason #monsters
I had to dig up a few favorite photos to send in for an upcoming magazine interview, and I came across all these lovelies from over the last year or so....
(These are only a very small handful of my favorite recent-ish projects, there are too many greats to post them all together!!)
I am just the luckiest gal ever, that I actually get paid to do awesome stuff like this! What a life!
Thank you, everyone! πππ
Keep `em comin`!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo #whimsicaltattoo #anthropomorphicanimals #portlandtattoo
*in progress*
Has a great day today doing this super chill tanuki!
Great vibes all around, thanks for another awesome day, @sailor_steph7 !
A sweet little orca buddy
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #sealifetattoo #oceantattoo #orcatattoo #underwatertattoo
A little sunflower facelift for Dolly!
#beforeandafter
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #tattooglowup #tattoofixup #tattoofacelift
Hydrangea cover up on the swell-bo for Caitlyn today!
She handled it like a true badass!
Thanks for another great day!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #beforeandafter #tattooglowup #tattoofacelift #tattoofixup #coveruptattoo #whatcoverup #floraltattoo #botanicaltattoo
There`s still a lot to do, but we got a fantastic start on Kristin`s cover up sleeve!
Stay tuned for more progress updates...
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #beforeandafter #coveruptattoo #whatcoverup
I had a great time working with @borrowed_times_pdx on this tattoo facelift!
Black and grey and simply not my forte, but Travis has a flare for it! So he handled finishing/refining this portrait.
Color and covers are my jam, so I tackled reworking the frame and the flowers.
Big thanks to Jessie for being open to the idea of a collaborative project and the trust it required. We both greatly enjoyed working with you!
And thanks to Travis for being an excellent project partner!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #tattoocollab #tattoocoverup #tattooglowup #tattoofacelift #tattoofixup
A few more beautiful blue tiles for Lauren`s lovely leg!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #tiletattoo #pdxtattoo #oregontattoo
Just a little *healed* octopus, popping up to say hi!
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #underwatertattoo #sealifetattoo #octonation #octopustattoo
Thanks for a great day, Mandy!
Sweet dog roses for sweet doggos!
#inkstress #rachelgilbert #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #oregontattoo #pdxtattoo #naturetattoo #botanicaltattoo #floraltattoo #whimsicaltattoo
From inspiration to final product....
These two goofballs kept me laughing the whole time!
I wish I had more time for painting projects...
#bostonterriersofinstagram #bostonsofinstagram #bostonterriersforever #trekellpets2025 #trekellartsupplies
Thanks, ladies! You are all so awesome!
ππ»π
#rachelgilbert #inkstress #tattoosbyinkstress #witchinghourtattoopdx #witchinghourtattoo #portlandtattoo #oregontattoo #boobee
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
