Daniel collins

Looking For a Different Style?

A man with a beard and tattoos on his arms wearing a cap that says 'Rose Tattoo' and a short-sleeved button-up shirt, sitting at a table with a background of plants and framed pictures.

@danielcollinsart

A Boston-raised tattoo artist who has brought his ink mastery to San Diego.

After starting an apprenticeship in Denver, Dan eventually relocated to Ocean Beach San Diego to finish apprenticing and begin tattooing at Chapter One Tattoo. Dan has worked at a number of shops across the country including the world famous Shamrock Social Club in West Hollywood before finally opening Rose Tattoo here in Point Loma.

With roots deeply embedded in the rich culture of the east coast, Dan has cultivated a unique style that seamlessly blends the finesse of fine line tattooing with the timeless allure of traditional designs focusing primarily on single needle style tattooing

His work brings together detailed illustrative techniques, historical tattoo imagery, and an appreciation for the artistic traditions that have shaped tattooing through generations.

With a particular interest in classic tattoo designs and imagery from the early days of American tattooing, Daniel draws inspiration from vintage flash, historical references, traditional symbolism, and the artists who helped establish the foundations of the craft. His approach combines the character and simplicity of historical tattoo imagery with the precision and detail of single-needle work.

In addition to fine-line tattooing, Daniel specializes in black-and-grey realism, creating detailed portraits, illustrative compositions, and realistic imagery with an emphasis on contrast, texture, and depth. Whether working from historical references or developing an original concept, he values thoughtful design and the importance of creating tattoos that remain meaningful beyond passing trends.

As the owner of Rose Tattoo, Daniel is committed to maintaining a shop that respects the history of tattooing while welcoming new generations of tattoo enthusiasts. Located in Point Loma, Rose Tattoo serves clients throughout San Diego, including Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Downtown, and the surrounding coastal communities.

Whether you’re a San Diego local, a college student, active-duty military, a veteran, or visiting Southern California, Daniel welcomes clients interested in fine-line tattoos, black-and-grey realism, and historically inspired tattoo designs.

If you’re looking for a single-needle tattoo artist or black-and-grey realism in San Diego, visit Daniel Collins at Rose Tattoo.

Respect for the past. Precision in the present. Tattooing for the future.

Visit Rose Tattoo in Point Loma, San Diego, California. Walk-ins welcome when available; appointments recommended.

Book with Daniel
Tattoo of a woman's face with flowing hair on skin.
Tattoo of a man's side profile with braided hair, a beard, and various words and tattoos on his face and neck.
Tattoo of two men shaking hands, one on fire, on a person's forearm.
Tattoo of a roaring tiger's head on a person's arm.
Black and white tattoo of a sailing ship with some symbols on the person's calf, with a hand wearing a black glove pointing to it.
Tattoo of a realistic dog portrait on a person's skin, with detailed shading and a checkered bandana around its neck.
Tattoo of a cherub wearing a cowboy hat, surrounded by a horseshoe and decorative elements, on person's upper arm.
Tattoo of a realistic anatomical heart surrounded by roses and radiating lines, with a syringe piercing through the heart and a snake coiled around the top of the heart.
Black and gray tattoo of a woman with long hair, wearing a cowboy hat, large hoop earrings, and a plaid shirt with rolled-up sleeves, holding a gun, with a decorative star and smoke pattern around her.
Tattoo of an elderly woman with short curly hair, wearing a dark shirt, resting her chin on her crossed arms.
A black and white photo of a woman wearing a patterned bralette and high-waisted denim shorts, with visible tattoos on her left arm.
Tattoo of a yin-yang symbol with a landscape and cityscape inside
Black and gray tattoo of a robotic female figure with a human face, wearing a helmet and futuristic armor, with detailed mechanical parts and a flowing garment.
Close-up of a hand with a tattoo of a skull on the thumb.
Black and gray tattoo of a panther's head with open mouth and fierce expression on person's skin.
Tattoo of a skull, a scythe, and a bird on a person's arm.
Close-up of a person's leg with a tattoo of a dog's face on the lower thigh.
Tattoo on upper arm featuring a woman’s face with flowing hair, a hummingbird flying nearby, a skull, and radiating lines behind the bird.
Close-up of a person's back and shoulder with extensive black and grey tattoos, including a lion, skulls, and floral designs; the person wears a black cap with yellow embroidery.
Tattoo of a skull wearing a pirate hat, with a pistol and a chain, on a person's upper arm.
Tattoo of a bearded man with glasses, holding a pipe with a skull engraved on the bowl.
A black and white photo of a person's chest with tattoos, including a butterfly with a moth face at the center, floral designs on the collarbones, and a stylized symbol on the right side of the chest.
Tattoo of a woman's profile with detailed hair and facial features on a person's arm.
Tattoo of a snake intertwined with flowers on a person's thigh.
Black and gray tattoo of a woman with a wide-brimmed hat, holding a gun, with a horse in the background, floral and decorative elements, on a person's thigh.
A person with a tattoo of a dinosaur skeleton on their forearm and a heart-shaped barbed wire tattoo on their wrist, wearing a gold bracelet.
Close-up of a person's chest with several black and gray tattoos, including a butterfly with a skull inside, a rose, a diamond, and other floral and abstract designs. The person is wearing a chain necklace, and the word 'LOVE' is tattooed above the b
Black and gray tattoo of a flower, snake, and ornate geometric designs on a person's thigh.
Black and gray tattoo sleeve featuring a woman with long hair, a man playing guitar wearing a sombrero, and floral elements on the arm of a person standing in front of a wooden floor and black and white screen.
Tattoo of a snake coiled around a flower on person's thigh.
A close-up of a person's hand with a detailed black and gray tattoo on their wrist and forearm, resting on a white surface.
A tattoo of a scorpion on a person's lower leg, with a rose tattoo below it.
Tattoo of a rose with leaves and a woman's face in a pot with vines, on a person's shoulder. Single needle fine line tattoo
Smile now cry later masks tattooed single needle fine line on the shoulder. Classic Chicano style art based on the Freddy Negrete design
Close-up of a person's torso covered with various colorful tattoos, including a detailed portrait of a woman with long hair and tattoos on her arm and chest.
Black and gray tattoo of a fierce dog with pointed ears, bared teeth, and a spiked collar on a person's arm. Based on the classic American traditional design
A tattoo of a black and gray rose with leaves on a person's upper arm. Single needle fine line black and grey tattoo
Tattoo of a tiger on a person's upper arm, with surrounding decorative elements and part of a phrase or quote.
Tattoo of praying hands with a heart pierced by a sword, surrounded by roses, on a person's forearm.
Tattoo of Our Lady of Guadalupe on a person's arm.
Close-up of a person's upper arm with a black tattoo of a skull inside a geometric shape, and a cat's face tattoo beside it. The person is wearing a white T-shirt with the sleeve rolled up.
Tattoo of a cat with bike wheels on the arm, with a skull in the design.
Tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe on person's forearm. The religious figure is depicted with praying hands and a serene expression, surrounded by rays of light.
Close-up of person's upper legs with tattoos of a roaring tiger on the left thigh and a roaring panther on the right thigh, wearing denim shorts.
Tattoo of a human heart with flowers and a sword, above the collarbone on the person's chest.
Black and gray tattoo of two horses' heads, surrounded by flowers and ornamental scrollwork, on a person's chest.
Tattoo on arm depicting four individuals wearing cowboy hats, with curly and straight hairstyles, and facial hair, underneath a script text.
Close-up of a tattoo featuring a snake intertwined with a rose and a fierce dog or wolf head, located on a person's upper arm or shoulder.
Tattoo of a black tiger on a person's back.
Black and gray tattoo of a dagger with decorative details on the skin of a person's arm.
Tattoo of a dog's face on a man's upper chest.
A person has a detailed black and gray tattoo of a dog on their upper chest, just below the collarbone.
Tattoo of a snake wrapped around a sword with wings on the arm.
Tattoo of a woman with a hat, holding scissors and a cotton swab, on a person's forearm.
A person's left hand resting on a white disposable sheet, showing a tattoo of a stylized rooster or chicken on the wrist.
Close-up of a person's hand and wrist resting on a white paper towel, showing a tattoo of a stylized animal, possibly a pig or a boar, on their wrist.
A person's thigh with a detailed black and gray skull tattoo and other tattoos below it, wearing black camouflage shorts.
Close-up of a person's arm with several black ink tattoos, including a detailed skull with horns and a flower, and part of a tattooed leg in the background.
A close-up black and white photo of a person's side, showing tattoos on their upper arm, side, and torso, including a large floral design inside a vase on their ribcage.
Close-up of a woman's face, neck, and upper chest in black and white. She has shoulder-length wavy hair, earrings, a tattoo of a bird on her neck, and a floral tattoo on her shoulder. The word "tendré" is tattooed on her chest.
Tattoo of a man's face with a stern expression wearing a uniform with a medal on the chest, located on a person's upper arm.
Tattoo of three fierce panther heads with an open mouth, sharp teeth, and detailed shading, accompanied by leaves and floral elements, on a person's thigh.
Tattoo of a snarling panther and a snake intertwined on a person's leg.
Tattoo of a skull with flames rising from the top, composed of intricate linework and shading.
Tattoo of praying hands on a person's hand and wrist, with an anklet around the wrist.