Black Anvil Tattoo Shop

I’m from the east coast and it’s difficult to find a great artist who will do a small tattoo on short notice. It’s my good luck to have found Brent at Black Anvil for the tattoo I wanted. Brent scheduled me within the time of my visit to San Diego and did a terrific job. Very pleased with his work. Highly recommended.

I was searching for the right artist to assist me with a cover up. After stopping in a few shops in North Park and Normal Heights, I pretty much gave up. Then, I ran into Black Anvil and decided, one last shot. Walked in and met RJ, explained what I was looking for and he said something very «artistic» and said «no problem.» I knew he was the guy set up and appointment. A week prior to my appointment, I sent him a few ideas/​images of different tattoos that stuck out to me and asked that he use his creativity to draw something up. I walked in and BAM! He nailed it!!! His vision was even better then what I had in mind. The final product is absolutely amazing. The lines, the colors, the shading… everything. I have recommended him to anyone that I can.
Highly recommend RJ at Black Anvil!

Real cool shop! Getting some work done, pretty quick laying some ink, highly recommended!!!
Not just a tattoo guy but an artist you can check out the cool paintings around the shop.
Coming all the way from San Francisco to check this guys work and so far I’m really happy with the work!

Absolutely best tattoo shop, I come at least twice a month great guys here, feels like family!

I absolutely love this place. RJ is my tattoo artist, my sisters, my boyfriends, my sisters friends, etc. He is the only person I trust to tattoo my body where it is seen ;) His machines are custom built by himself and he isn’t heavy with the machine if you know what I mean. His artistry is legit as well as his overall customization for pieces that get brought in from Pintrest, online, etc. The atmosphere of this place rocks as well and all the artists that own the business are just amazing. Make an appointment, stop in and have a consult– don’t expect a walk-​in session tho… good artists mean booking in advance and paying for their artwork.

Best place to come for a tattoo. I have gotten some of my best work here. These guys become family to you they really know what they are doing and are friendly to all colors. Lol RJ is my main man this guy knows his stuff, So do the other artists they are great. If you want to have a great experience for your first or just another tattoo for you then come here it’s «The Best» thanks guys for the good times and the ones to come.

My fiancé and I stumbled upon Black Anvil a couple years ago since it’s pretty close to our apartment. We immediately liked the vibe of the shop, and all the guys in there were super friendly and willing to answer the questions we had. My fiancé had all these crazy ideas for the kind of piece he wanted, and since he isn’t the best at describing things in detail, we were really needing an artist that would just «get it» as far as the style and look we wanted. We are so lucky to have met RJ, because he is awesome! He’s done a few pieces for my fiancé over the past couple years, including a full sleeve, and has successfully covered up some old tattoos that other shops said couldn’t be done. RJ is a miracle worker, in my opinion. He is always friendly, professional, and mindful in his art. He cares about the client, respects your time and doesn’t over-​charge like some SD shops do. He’s also funny as hell, and as a woman I never feel disrespected or uncomfortable hanging out there, like I have in other shops with all-​male artists. Basically, you can’t go wrong coming here. All these guys rock!

I had gone a few years without getting some work done and it was time, a friend of mine referred me to Greg Bartz and Black Anvil about 8 months ago and 2 major pieces later, I am working on a 3^rd. They are a great group of guys, clean shop and all the artists are great. I have been getting work done for a long time and my experiences at Black Anvil and with Greg, are the best I have had so far. I HIGHLY recommend this shop.
Michael Warner

Got an awesome American Bison piece from RJ, clean lines, good art, good price & good people.

Very disappointed with this shop. I was recommended here by a good friend an a family member. I contacted RJ via email to see if he would be interested in tattooing myself and my wife on our anniversary. When I contacted RJ he mention that he was not available on that day but he was available the next day. We were ok on waiting an extra day. RJ then contacted me a couple of days later and mention that he had an opening on our anniversary day. I made some changes to my schedule and gave RJ the Ok. I email all the details and pictures of what we wanted and I asked if he needed more info to let me know. RJ confirm our appointment and sent me the address of the shop. On the day of myself and my wife walk in at the schedule time. RJ had not taken the time to look at what I had emailed with plenty of time. He then told us that it would be a few minutes to get the stencil ready. I was like cool we will sit here and wait. After an hour of waiting RJ was still working on the stencil. So myself and my wife decided to go and grab some coffee. I then notice something weird was going on. Like something was going on in his mind. We then stepped out of the shop to grab some coffee. When we get back he is still working on it then another hour goes by and he finally finished. He starts getting the equipment ready and he gets a phone call on a phone that never rang. All of the sudden he is not sure if he should leave or if he should stay. One of the other tattoo artist al of the sudden screams, fuck that bro you have to leave. While holding a burger and tattooing a customer. Then another tattoo artist tells him to leave while putting on deodorant. At this point I am like what? I am really upset but I am still cool because I am there with my wife. He then asked for my number to reschedule the appointment, again. I walk out and I shake his hand as I walk out. Was very dissapointed with RJ. I taught I was dealing with a professional shop. If you are looking for a professional shop I recommend you go somewhere else. Don’t waist your time. After I spoke with my friends that had recommended me to RJ they did mention that he could be shady like that. If RJ would have been straight up with us when we got there I would have been ok with it. But to have us wait two hours an then give us a bogus excuse really made me upset.

One word sums up how my experience went with Greg Bartz, Awesome.
When I turned 18 I walked into a shop in PB, picked something off the wall and had it placed on my lower back… This tramp stamp has haunted me ever since. I’m now 30 and was still very ashamed of this tribal tramp stamp so my boyfriend of 5 years (who has had a lot of work done by Greg (all which looks amazing) finally talked me into getting it covered. I was a little hesitant since I had a horrible experience with the artist that did my first one.
Long story short, Greg took my idea and made it better then I could have ever imagined. I can not say enough good things about Greg and this shop. I ended up getting my whole back done, I still have a few more sessions to go, and my tramp stamp is gone for good! I no longer have to be ashamed of it. I cannot thank him enough.

I use to have friend that got all his work on his arm done by RJ Grijalva. After I was convinced I wanted my next piece done with him I made a appointment and came here to Black Anvil.
Kudos on the actual interior shop with the light blue wall color and the decorations. Nice dark hard wood flooring and everything about it is clean and professional. It’s a nice place to be as you’re getting tattooed.
RJ has done my past 5 tattoos and I am always very happy with what he creates when I pitch him ideas. He is creative and a talented artist and tattooer. He makes pleasant conversation and is very welcoming.
Shoot them a email or call by phone to make a appointment. Very flexible with appointments and I am always happy with the prices I am charged for my tattoos.
All the fellas here are friendly and make a great time.

This is my 5^th tattoo and by far the most intricate. I retire from the Navy next year and wanted a «diggity» tattoo to show off. The 1^st stage is done and other than being a little high (my fault:)) it demonstrates RJ’s excellent work. He redrew the image on paper 3 time before I was happy and placed it on my arm twice before I was happy. The anchor and dolphins are beautiful and in 2 weeks I will go back to get the background finished. The place as a whole was nice and very clean. The conversation reminded me of being underway and time flew by. I’ll be back to those guys several times before I leave San Diego and IF I ever get another tat I’ll consider coming back. For right around 5 hours in house and the quality of his work I feel like I ripped RJ off! Hopefully I can make up for it…

For my last four tattoos I’ve used a different artist/​shop every time. Now I’m pretty sure as long as I live in the area I’ll be going back to Black Anvil and seeing RJ for my tattoo needs.
The shop is really open and inviting, not intimidating like some other shops I’ve been to. RJ drew up a design for my half sleeve that I’d been thinking about getting for almost a year, and just based on a small idea I gave him, he took it and drew it better than I’d imagined myself. Very talented guy, and by the portfolios of the other artists I can say they all are super talented as well.
Definitely stop by here, talk to them, you won’t regret it.

Looking to close off my 40 the with a tattoo. Wanted something odd done. A zombie bee. They nailed it. Love this place. When back in San Diego I will be booking another appointment.

I’m so pleased with my experience at Black Anvil Tattoo. Brent Hefner did a great job covering up some regrettable old ink with a beautiful dogwood blossom. The shop is clean, loud and funky, just like a tattoo shop should be. Brent is a talented artist and has an open chatty personality that makes the hours spent in the chair pleasurable. I’ll be back for more soon! Thanks Brent!

These guys are amazing. Especially Greg Bartz. Awesome designs and creativity. Spectacular line work and color. Greg’s work is something you want on your body permanently.

My fellow Marines know exactly what this tat is. Exactly what I was after. Most comment on the rope detail.
Brent thanks for a great job. I’ll be in for another you may work your artistic magic on. This one was special, albeit plain, it makes the right statement.

Ever like someone or something so much that you don’t want to share, especially when you encounter an amazing tattoo artist who isn’t over 6 months out? I know I’m probably shooting us in the foot right now, but the person who brings out my selfishness is Greg Bartz and the place is Black Anvil Tattoo Shop.
My husband needed a repair/​fix/​bailout/​oh-​god-​help-​me from another artist’s crap work … they didn’t see eye to eye on the design, so the craptoo artist paid him back by making the face of one of the pieces look just like Alice the Goon from Popeye. Not kidding, it was bad, but we’ve promised not to rat him out on Unilocal,but he deserves it.
Anyway, Greg Bartz did a fantastic job stifling a laugh when he saw «Alice» as we called her. He knew exactly how he could fix it and then what he could do to the background of the calf sleeve to make it pop. It turned out amazing with his excellent shading techniques, monk-​like patience, and supreme ability to make a thought a reality.
My husband liked Greg’s work so much that he’s now having him do a full color calf sleeve on the second leg. He has spent hours upon hours with Greg and he finds him to be friendly, fair, gifted, and above all, they share a common vision.
So, when I’m finally ready to take the dive, please Greg, remember me when you’re 6 months out!

We came in to get two tattoos: one for my boyfriend, and one for our friend. The host was very nice, getting our information, and giving us the STORES information and organizing accordingly. Our overall wait was fairly quick, though I know its not the tattoo artists fault but rather the magnitude of the tattoo before us.
I don’t remember the guy who did the tattoos, but he was very friendly. He was personable, and talkative, while remaining very professional. He seemed to know how to tattoo, and the correct procedures, and was able to answer my nervous boyfriend’s question (for this would be his first tattoo!).
So overall, Black Anvil seems to know what they are doing, and are a group of friendly people.