About Us

The King Ink Studio Experience

Bloodline of Success

"We got the chance to meet one of the best and most influential tattoo studios in town, Sri Lanka."
"They only said one thing to us: ‘It’s good to have tattoos.’ — King Ink Studio."

So, how did all of this start

Avisha (Elder Brother):
"Oh, it’s been a story I don’t think you or anyone would believe, because no one thought it would turn into something like this later, something that would become what it is now."

Banusha (Younger Brother):
"That’s right, we started this with only Rs. 8,000. At that time, we didn’t have anything else. We used—just an old-school machine to put ink and draw on skin. But we knew how to solidify this and make it for the long run. Our father was the one who planted this idea in our minds, and we just took action on it. In the beginning, our mother was deeply against it. I’m sure you understand why, as in Sri Lanka, this line of business is often seen as taboo."

Chamara (Founder & Father):
"We started this in the rented house we were living in, as a home-based studio. In the beginning, it was very hard to earn clients, and forget that, it was mainly difficult to learn the basics of tattooing, along with all the hygiene practices and clearance processes of the business, since there was no one else to teach us. This part is a very difficult situation. We were just three of us, untrained, not sure what to expect! I gotta say, it was fun, but at the same time, it was harder than we thought. But we did it. Look at us now."

"We made a lot of mistakes, even my sons, but we’ve always been there for each other. Even though my wife was against this, she backed us for a long way the way no record at the start."

"I gotta say, as a startup business at that time, we made our own wooden bed to lie clients down. We broke down one of our old safes, got some piles of wood, and (don’t know how we made our tattooed tool). The light we used for the tattoos was just a normal light meant for daily use at home, and we covered it with my wife’s kitchen lid, which she used for daily kitchen operations."

How did you think to start your own painting gallery?

“It’s always been there, the blood of artistry in our family, and we thought we’d give it the shot it was worth! If you’re asking me, my family history, they all used to put their thoughts into art—painting heavy, soulful, righteous pictures on temple walls.

My youngest son is more fine-line–like, like minimalist styles, while my elder son has a more expressive art style. Even when they choose tattoo sessions with clients, they choose separately—two opposite art lines—for different clients."

So, why not open your own art gallery?

Everyone can request their own customized work. We do accept art requests on various topics as well.

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