Tattoos
American traditional and black and grey are what Eric is known for, but between the two artists the shop covers realism, new school, lettering, colour work and cover-ups. Custom every time — nothing off a wall.
See the work →
Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
Sixteen Years ofSteady Hands
The Widow’s Son Tattoo Co. is a tattoo and piercing shop on Grosser Road in Gilbertsville. Custom work only, by appointment, from two artists who will tell you straight whether your idea is going to hold up in ten years.
The shop
A Small Shop ThatDoes It Properly
Eric Estrada opened The Widow’s Son after more than a decade behind a machine, and he still does most of the tattooing here himself. Tom Kelly works alongside him in black and grey realism and new school. Denise Kemmerling-Haag handles the piercings.
Because it is appointment only, nobody is waiting on a stool while somebody else finishes. You get the artist, the room and the time the piece actually needs. If what you are asking for is not going to work, you will hear that too — it is cheaper than a cover-up.
What we do
Two Chairs, Two Trades
Tattooing and piercing under one roof, both by appointment.
Piercings
Ears, nose and the rest, done by Denise Kemmerling-Haag. She talks you through the placement and the healing before anything is opened, and she does not rush it.
See the work →
Owner · 16 years
Eric Estrada
Owner, and the reason most people walk through the door. Sixteen years in, he takes on every style but is at his best in American traditional and in black and grey — bold lines, clean black, work that still reads across a room a decade later. He is also the person people bring their worst old tattoos to.
- American traditional
- Black and grey
- Cover-ups
- Lettering
- Colour
Artist
Tom Kelly
Black and grey realism and new school. Portraits, skulls, animals and the kind of shading that only comes from doing a great deal of it — and then the other direction entirely when a piece calls for heavy line and saturated colour. If you have a photograph you want turned into a tattoo, Tom is the one to ask for.
- Black and grey realism
- New school
- Portraits
- Nature and animals
Portfolio
Recent Work
A handful of pieces from both artists. The full gallery is labelled by artist so you can tell whose hand you are looking at.
The process
How Getting Tattooed Here Works
Four steps, no mystery.
01
Send the idea
Use the quote form or call the shop. Tell us what you want, roughly where it is going on you, and how big you are picturing it. A reference picture helps more than a paragraph.
02
We talk it through
One of us comes back to you with an honest answer: whether it will work at that size, in that spot, in that style, and who in the shop is the right person to do it.
03
Book the date
We are appointment only, so the chair is yours for the whole session. A deposit holds the date and comes off the price of the piece on the day.
04
Sit down
Eat something first and bring a photo ID. We draw, you look at it, and nothing goes on your skin until you are happy with it.
Reviews
What People Say AfterThey Sit Down
These are real Google reviews, quoted word for word. Two of them are shortened, and nothing has been reworded. If you have sat in one of our chairs, we would be glad if you added yours.
“I’ve been going to Eric since early 2013. He’s my go to for tattoos. Hasn’t done a bad piece on me yet… Eric’s also a great resource for cover ups.”
Job Hill
Local Guide · Google review
“I recently went in for a flat piercing and had gotten a helix and nose piercing done by their piercer a couple months back as well, great experience! Talked me through the process very professionally.”
Vanessa Rolon
Google review
“Got an incredible tattoo today. I came in wanting the symbol of a female warrior and with his creative design and embellishments I came out with something even better! I couldn’t be happier! Light handed and an eye for detail. Great place. Very clean and reasonably priced. I will definitely be back!”
Kelly
Google review
Swipe to read more
Call or Message
Appointments
Appointment only. Call the shop or send the quote form and we will find you a date.
Come see us
Ready When You Are
Call the shop, or send the idea across and we will come back to you with an honest answer about size, placement and who should do it.
610-323-4626