4530 Hampton Ave, St. Louis MO 63109 (314) 875-9075 cousinpaulstattoo@gmail.com

Artists

Meet Our Team

Laura Bonfanti

Artist & Owner

Laura Bonfanti, a tattooer, and the owner of CPTC, was born in St. Louis City and graduated from CVPA High School, class of 1991 where she majored in visual art, and minored in photography, creative writing and silversmithing. She began tattooing in 1996 when she realized she could take her interests in visual art, cultural anthropology, healing arts, and body adornment and combine them into work as a tattooer. Her career began under the apprenticeship of R. Hammer Madison and ‘Tatu’ Tony DiPietro. near Daytona, FL. It was here that she earned the nickname “BoraBoraLaura”.

When she moved back to St. Louis in 2010, she knew she wanted to be back home on the South Side for good. She is excited to welcome you to her studio in lovely SOHA. Her diversity of experience with many different, talented artists and varied clientele during her travels over the years have helped her hone her skills in a variety of styles and techniques. Custom work only, and no stand alone lettering with the except of traditional flash. Laura is focused on neo-traditional, both black and gray and color, black and gray ornamental, fineline/textural black and grey, neo-Japanese themes, and larger projects in general.

Amanda Pepper

Tattoo Artist

Amanda has been an artist her whole life. Drawing led to illustration, collage, painting, and then tattooing. She is fascinated with art as self expression, and believes the process of getting a tattoo can be a very personal and meaningful experience. Amanda is inspired by plants, animals, scenery, abstract art, and philosophy. Currently her focus is solely on custom original pieces that involve this theme of nature. Her tattoo work is typically colorful and soft, semi-realistic, with thin or minimal outline.

Currently, Amanda is in a time of transition and is not taking any new appointments. To keep up with Amanda and follow her work, visit her blog at bemycanvas.com

Mills S. (aka Needlegardens)

Tattoo Artist

Mills hails from St. Louis and feels privileged to also have earned their BFA from Maryville University, which included an impactful study abroad program in Italy that has influenced much of their art. As a trans, non-binary artist, they strive to create safe spaces for their clients and to be both accessible and approachable. Mills is currently focused in the ignorant style of tattooing – mostly linework pieces with a rebellious, tongue-in-cheek vibe. Check out Mills’ Instagram (@needlegardens) for available flash designs or contact them for a custom piece that suits your sense of humor.

Dan Buie

Tattoo Artist

Buie is a Tennessee transplant and general connoisseur of almost all things nerdy. Anime, comics, and science fiction are all passions of his, though he is versed in various different tattoo styles and is always open to a wide array of client design ideas.

Buie’s work is generally full of bold lines and bright colors, with a lot of work in traditional Japanese, pen and ink, and fun mashups of monsters and pop culture.

Outside of work, Buie enjoys woodworking, tinkering on bikes, exploring the outdoors, and hanging out at home with his partner Pami and their pack of fluffy dogs. Indoors, he also likes to spend free time studying up on traditional manga and Japanese works. He is a big fan of cartoons and comics and it shows in his work.

Buie is always happy to mix it up and create fun and interesting combinations in his work, be it nerdy or natural, anime or anatomical, and welcomes challenges and trust given to him by his clients. Send him a DM on Instagram or email him for scheduling.

Melissa Scherrer

Tattoo Apprentice

Melissa began her apprenticeship under the guidance of Laura Bonfanti in the spring of 2021 and has been tattooing since June 2021. Melissa was born and raised in St. Louis and has dreamt of becoming a tattoo artist for over a decade. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Art History from Arizona State University in 2020, and decided to pursue her dream of becoming a tattoo artist after graduation.

Melissa is inspired by botanical illustrations, animals (especially cats), ukiyo-e, Studio Ghibli, surrealism and abstraction. Melissa enjoys tattooing whimsical and colorful designs as well as fineline illustrative blackwork, and welcomes other styles of tattooing so that she can grow as an artist. Follow Melissa on Instagram @honeybee.tattoos to stay updated on available flash and current work.