Cover-Up Tattoo Artist in NYC
Got a tattoo you've outgrown? Color is one of the best tools for a cover-up — dense, saturated artwork can bury old linework in a way that fine-line black-and-grey usually can't. Josh Dietz reworks old and faded pieces into custom color designs at his NYC studio.
What makes a good cover-up
Three things decide it: how dark and how big the existing tattoo is, where it sits on your body, and how much new space you're willing to give the new design. Cover-ups almost always need to be larger and denser than the original.
Some pieces are better off getting a few laser sessions first to lighten the old ink. Josh will tell you that straight rather than talking you into something that won't heal well.
Rework vs. full cover
Not everything needs to disappear. Sometimes the smarter move is a rework — keeping what's still good, rebuilding the rest, and adding color and background so the whole area finally looks intentional.
Common cover-up subjects: florals, animals, chrome and metal effects, portals and backgrounds, large-scale organic designs that hide hard edges, and anime tattoos in NYC built in the same dense color tattoo style.
Send a photo to get started
Use the booking form and attach clear, well-lit photos of the existing tattoo along with the idea you have in mind. You'll get an honest read on whether it's coverable as-is, what size it would need to be, and what it will cost.
No judgment about the old tattoo — everybody has one.
Ready to make it real?
Send over your idea, placement, and budget. Josh follows up with a concept, timeline, and next steps.
Start your booking