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Tattoo artist Jesse Kane is excited to bring the first licensed, professional tattoo parlor Sanders County has ever seen. Opening for business just last week, Kane has a few scheduled appointments and is hoping to share more of his artistic ability.

Kane is Till Valhalla Tattoo Company's sole tattoo professional and brings more than 15 years of experience with him. He is a native of Great Falls, where he worked at Bill's Tattoo and More, but has most recently lived in Lansing, Michigan, where he worked for Liquid Tattoo before relocating to Thompson Falls.

"I have been an artist my whole life," Kane said. "I was a creative kid, but school killed it for me, they pushed that there was no money with art." But Kane started spending more time with family members who were tattoo artists, mainly his well-known cousin Freehand Robert. "The more I hung with him, the more I realized that you can make money with art."

"This may not be the most stable job," Kane continued, "but it is my passion. I have followed the stable jobs and it just doesn't feel right. I chose to take rewarding over stable."

Kane spent two years as an apprentice to achieve his dream. "Although it was stressful, working without pay and doing all the jobs the artists did not want to do, I wouldn't change it for a thing," Kane reassured. "It actually prepares you for dealing with everything, like dealing with (difficult) people."

Although his preference is to draw his own renditions of skin art for his clients, Kane will re-create images that are brought in to him. "Tattooing used to be about drawing and art, the Internet has changed this because I do not get to do tats to the full extent of my ability," Kane said, explaining why he truly enjoys clients who allow him to create a masterpiece for them. It is not original when clients "pull an image off the Internet and won't stray from that."

It typically takes about one hour to complete a tattoo that is the size of a hand, Kane said, although detail and other features can affect length of time. He added that he charges a rate of $100 per hour, although with larger jobs, he has been known to cut a deal on that $100 per hour price.

"I've worked on people for eight hours straight, but that's been few and far between," Kane stated as being his longest continuous session. "If my attention span goes, I stop." He said that usually most people need a break after four to six hours of work.

"Everything I use is single use, disposable, factory sealed and sterilized," Kane stated, reiterating his commitment to providing cleanliness. He also shared that Shawn Sorenson, Sanders County Sanitarian, has inspected and licensed the facility.

With that, Till Valhalla Tattoo Company is ready to fling some ink. The only provision is that customers must be 18 years of age, no exceptions. Kane will not work on anyone who does not bring in valid identification proving they are of age. He also does not do body jewelry, he simply sticks to tattooing.

As for now, Kane is taking walk-ins, but that could change as business progresses. He is ready to give customers their first-time tattoos, fill those with skin art addictions, or make fixes to existing tattoos that are just not up to snuff.

Kane arrived in Thompson Falls five months ago and purchased the parlor almost immediately. "I came back to have a relationship with my mom," commented Kane. His mother, Autumn Brooke Trainer, and father, Scott Eldridge, travelled a lot while serving as military police officers, but they have retired in the area and Kane wanted to be able to spend more time together.

Till Valhalla uses the Eternal Ink line, which the company reports to be composed of mainly organic pigment, is all natural, vegan and is regularly tested for quality and compliance. Kane has used this product for years and feels it is one of the best out there.

Valhalla, the grand hall where fallen heroes find a place of glory, happiness and honor, was the selected name for the parlor, honoring Kane's great-grandmother who was straight out of Norway. Kane holds great respect for his ancestry and the Nine Noble Virtues: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Self-Reliance, Industriousness and Perseverance, which are posted on the front window.

Kane can be contacted at (406) 403-3118 for more information or to schedule an appointment. His work can be seen on Facebook.com/tillvalhallatattoocompany.