Cosmos Body Altar

Tattoos & Transformations by Arville

My name is Arville. I’ve been tattooing since 2017, and I create custom tattoos through a collaborative and intuitive process. My work focuses on designs that flow with the body and reflect personal stories. This includes marking transitions, celebrating moments of joy, bringing dreams into reality, and reclaiming parts of the body through coverups, reworks, or scar transformation.

Each session is approached with care and intention, informed by my training as a death doula and my commitment to helping people feel grounded and supported, no matter what they’re navigating.

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About Me

Connect with me on instagram to see what’s new @cosmosbodyaltar

𖤓‏𖦹𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭.𖦹𖤓 Further expanding on my Flow Series, these four available designs explore different pathways of energy through the body: connection, synergy, expansion and integration. 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 ~exp
Tea for two 🍵 ~ I was so stoked to do this piece!! Thank you Deja for the trust and wonderful conversations🫶🏽✨🌈 • • • #avatartattoo #iroh #toph
𝓖𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓕𝓵𝓸𝔀 ~ Always a wonderful time working with @crookyinbound 💚🦖🌱 Thank you for your presence and my amazing crochet plant babies 🥹🫶🏽🌈
Honored to do this piece for you🫶🏽 So much love for our animal companions. Life is fuller in their presence😌
꩜𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒓꩜ This piece first flowed through me at the beginning of opening the channel to create my Flow Series, and over two years later, it finally found its home on this wonderful alien wizard 🧙🏽‍♀️👽 Steph came into my life
• 𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆 • 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 1 I’ve been expanding on my Flow Series, and this continuation is centered around the Sacral. The center of our creativity, passion, pleasure, and desire. My intenti

Publications

Testimonials

  • I’ve honestly lost count of how many people have stopped me to compliment my tattoos, and every single time I’m so proud to say they were done by Arville. She’s done my chest piece, my leg, and the biggest pieces on my arm, and I genuinely can’t imagine trusting anyone else with my tattoos. Every piece means something to me, and she has this amazing ability to take my ideas and turn them into something even better than I pictured. That’s why she’s been my go-to tattoo artist for years. What I love most about Arville is that she doesn’t just tattoo—she creates. You can tell she’s passionate about her work and really cares about giving every client something unique. She takes the time to listen, bounce ideas around, and make sure you’re walking away with a custom tattoo that you’ll love forever. The quality of her work speaks for itself. The detail, the clean lines, the shading—everything is done with so much care. My tattoos have healed beautifully, and they’re still the first thing people notice. I’ve had so many strangers ask me who my tattoo artist is because they love her work. She’s also just an awesome person to be around. She makes every appointment feel comfortable, fun, and stress-free, which makes the whole experience even better. If you’re looking for a tattoo artist who is creative, talented, professional, and genuinely passionate about what she does, I seriously recommend Arville. Whether it’s your first tattoo or your tenth, she’ll make sure it’s something you’ll be proud to wear for the rest of your life. Thank you, Arville, for creating pieces that mean so much to me. Your art tells stories, starts conversations, and gives people something beautiful to carry with them forever. I can’t wait to keep adding more pieces with you.

    Minerva Pasion

  • To say that Arville is doing aligned and incredible work is an understatement. I have never had a tattoo experience where I felt more safe, calm, creative, and listened to than in this beautiful little space. The studio is sparkling clean and so inspiring. To be surrounded by such art and creativity really puts the experience of receiving a new tattoo over the top. Cannot recommend working with Arville enough 🙌🏼✨

    Gabbie Fouché

  • I had my appt with Arville on 9/19/26 and I must say I have decided she will be my continued tattoo artist for as long as I’m living in the bay area and for as many tattoos that I want to receive. She is patient, attentive, flexible, accommodating, communicative, and multi-talented. From the ambience of her shop (intimate and cozy) to her technique, this was an all around positive experience. I wish I had gone to her sooner for previous tattoos. She brought my vision to life in a manner I did not expect and left me feeling very satisfied with the end result. As a black dark skin woman, finding a tattoo artist who is actually knowledgeable in tattooing all skin tones & body types and showcases that in their portfolio can still be difficult to find. Arville showcases knowledge, talent, and creativity that shines through her work. Her style can vary and she is very adaptable. I personally value that in an artist. I also appreciated Arville’s expertise and willingness to brainstorm in order to ensure the best outcome. Arville even let me take a lunch break without issue! As for pain, everyone’s tolerance is different. Personally, I did not experience much pain. While there were spots that were more sensitive than others, at one point I was tempted to take a nap during my session, that’s how comfortable I was. Nevertheless, I was able to actively engage in conversation with Arville the entire appointment without issue. I will say, if you are experiencing discomfort or pain, advocating for yourself is important and Arville will definitely adhere to that advocacy. My tattoo is healing well and I have received many compliments on the work. Overall, a great experience and I will most definitely be back. I’m literally planning out my next appointment. Once my tattoo is healed, I will add updated photos. Thank you Arville! Highly recommend.

    Deja Alewine

  • Arville is a gifted, multifaceted artist. She intuitively knows just how to bring any idea to life in such a deeply spirited way. She is detail-oriented, considerate, and offers such a tender and safe space. With her, it is so much more than "just a tattoo", it is a sacred, healing, energetic exchange that is sure to leave your heart feeling a little lighter afterwards. I have had the honor of collaborating with her on 2 tattoo projects so far, and there are more to come. My pieces have healed beautifully and I haven't even needed a touch-up yet. That's how amazing she is at her craft. I highly recommend working with Arville!

    Ralyn Britton

  • Arville is an amazing artist and wonderful person. I cried when she revealed her design to me. It was so perfect. What a great experience for my first tattoo! I love it so much and she took such care to be sure it was just right.

    Kathy Bennett

  • MAGICAL is the only word that even comes close to describing the experience of getting tattooed by the one and only Arville! It is SO much more than just getting a tattoo - it is a deeply nourishing exchange of energy that leaves you feeling uplifted and filled at the soul level. Arville makes you feel so cared for, so seen, and so held. I gave myself over to her artistic vision completely, asking her to design a one of a kind piece that encapsulated my essence. I had no idea what the design would look like and I was truly blown away when I showed up for my appointment! Arville’s attention to detail, next-level fine line work and talent for designing truly unique and special pieces is beyond comparison. I wear my beautiful tattoo proudly and can’t stop thinking of other designs I can get just so I can be in Arville’s studio again!

    Tracy Persons

  • I’ve been going with Arville for 6 years now and plan to do so for many years to come. Arville has created such a welcoming safe space both physically and emotionally. While tattooing, she goes above and beyond to cater to any needs I may have, great conversations and really embody making an impact both in life and in art. She has created so many art pieces for me that have such deep meaning and always get complemented. She truly has a calling for tattooing, art, and more. Words can’t express how impactful she has been!

    Oscar Calderon

  • I’ve always had an incredible experience at the studio with Arville! The place was spotless — super clean, organized, and clearly well taken care of, which made me feel comfortable right away. Arville is not only professional and insanely talented, but also really easy to talk to. Conversation is always relaxed and genuine. She makes your whole experience feel personal. You can tell she takes pride in both her work and creating a great environment for her clients. I’m absolutely in love with all my tattoos by her and can’t wait to come back for the next one. Highly recommend Arville if you’re looking for quality work and good vibes!

    Kaitlynn Ruiz

  • Over the years, tattoos interested me, but never enough to actually get one. I could never think of anything that felt meaningful enough to wear for the rest of my life. I'm constantly evolving, and I wanted something that could evolve with me. As Arville's Dadda, I've had the unique privilege of watching her grow, not only as an artist but as someone with an incredible ability to meet people where they are. She has a gift for listening deeply and transforming a person's story into meaningful art. When I decided to get my first tattoo at 50, there was no question who I wanted to create it. Before the appointment, we had several conversations about where I was in life and what this season meant to me. When I arrived, she shared a few concepts. One of them immediately created a fire in my gut and a lump in my throat. I knew that was it. From that moment, I surrendered and let her work her magic! Our session felt less like getting a tattoo and more like sharing an experience. We talked, laughed, reminisced, watched a show, had lunch, and simply enjoyed being present. As both her Dadda and her client, I was in awe of the environment she creates. She has a way of helping people feel safe, seen, and comfortable enough to be themselves. The tattoo she created is more than beautiful artwork, it feels deeply personal. It fits my active lifestyle of running, cycling, swimming, Ironman training, and Bikram yoga, but more importantly, it reflects who I am in a way I could never have designed myself. This is only the beginning. I absolutely love my piece, and I'm incredibly proud of the artist who created it! Dadda

    Theautis Persons

  • I been coming to Arville for years! She makes her tattoo shop a safe space for her clients. I had nightmare experiences with tattoo artists in the past. I’m so happy to have found her. The way she nails the idea I have and executes perfectly. Her art is 100 percent original and I am in love with every piece of art she has blessed me with!

    Cassandra Hale

  • I have getting tattoos from Arville for over 3 years now. She’s creative as heck! She always blows my mind with how she interprets my ideas. Whenever someone asks about tattoos I always recommend her. She’s one of those tattoo artists that’s just fun to hang out with

    Taya Hickman

  • I was first introduced to Arville’s work through a friend’s coworker, and I immediately loved how versatile and creative all their tattoos were. Since then, I’ve gotten two tattoos from Arville—a sternum piece and a cheeseburger tattoo—and both times, they did an amazing job listening to what I wanted and using their artistic skills to bring it to life. They own their own studio, which is such a beautiful and calming space. Sessions are private, and Arville creates a super comfortable vibe—whether you’re in the mood to chat or just want to zone out, they’ll match your energy. Arville is definitely someone I’ll keep going to for tattoos. They’re thoughtful, incredibly talented, and just a joy to be around during the session. It’s a no-brainer. Get tatted by Arville.

    Monica Aceves Robles

  • This was my first tattoo, so I can only express my experience that was honestly as easy, and practically pain free as one could imagine. I had a line tattoo and Arville worked to ensure that the writing (in French) was as close as possible to the actual official French script font. She was encouraging and supportive throughout the process! Her studio was warm, inviting, and immaculate! I had no after effects in terms of pain and would recommend Arville to anyone! She's the best!!

    Lisa Nicholson

  • I'm in my 70's and never even considered getting a tattoo until now! Mostly I was afraid of the pain. But Arville was so professional and compassionate; she conidered what I was looking for and pointed me to a lovely abstract image that fit my personality. She conversed with me through the whole process and I was surprised when she was done. I hardly felt a thing! She's a talented artist and I would highly recommend her....and I am definately doing it again!

    Cathy Bruno

  • Arville is truly a phenomenal artist to get a tattoo from and I will ABSOLUTELY be coming back again and again. From start to finish she is so caring and attentive and I felt very comfortable to ask for any changes to the design during the process. She makes the space feel really inviting and continued to check in on me during the session. If you're looking for a new artists in Santa Cruz (or really in CA in general) I could not recommend going to Cosmos Body Alter more!!!! Already thinking of a new design so I can come back <3

    Nina Lewis

  • The tattooing experiences alone are worth everything. PLUS you get to leave with a beautiful piece of art to stare at forever 😍 it’s always an amazing collaboration of minds with Arville 😌 I love every piece she’s done!

    Amalia Chappell

  • I really can't gush enough about Arville and her shop. Not only is she an *amazing* artist who maintains peak sanitation and professionalism, but she has a deep respect for her clients. The space is absolutely beautiful, earthy, and calming, the exact opposite energy of most shops, yet exactly what you didn't even know you needed. Every session feels like therapy in the best setting ever. Always excited to do each new piece with her 💕

    Ashley Lewis

  • Very professional, kind, and able to work with a variety of body types. I was uncertain on what design I wanted and Arville worked with me to figure out what felt most meaningful and appropriate. They did the largest piece on my body by far, and I felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Arville is very personable and knowledgeable, as well as a beautiful artist that I would 100% get another tattoo from. Highly recommend.

    Derek Ching

  • Arville is the most talented artist I have had the pleasure of working with! Her tattoo studio is clean and welcoming, and she took the direction of both my tattoos and created beautiful designs that perfectly represented what I wanted done. Her line work is impeccable, and she really cares about creating an environment for her clients that is comfortable and safe. I can't wait to get tattooed by her again, thank you Arville!

    Kat Oldershaw