I am sharing my experience to provide transparency for others considering this artist. I have had seven tattoos done by PonyWave, owner of Koru, and from the beginning I understood that her work came at a premium price point. Until recently, the majority of my tattoos were well executed. My most recent tattoo, completed three days ago, was a black and gray piece -she charged me a total of $4,500. I was required to book two full days (which I questioned), yet the second day consisted of approximately 1.5 hours of work for which I was charged an additional $2,000. I know pony’s work and she surely could have finished this in one sitting. The cost alone was shocking, and the final result is unsatisfactory. This tattoo was meant to be a delicate cover-up for a scar on my abdomen. I clearly communicated that I wanted something refined and subtle—not large, bold, or heavy. While the line work itself is technically sound, the shading is inconsistent: the leaves are extremely dark while the flowers lack sufficient shading, resulting in an imbalanced and unfinished appearance. When I asked for the flowers to be shaded to better match the leaves, I was told, “I thought you wanted it light,” despite the obvious mismatch. I live in Florida and she’s in LA and it’s not like I can go back so easy. In my professional opinion as a long-term client, the quality and outcome of this piece definitely do not justify the price charged. Over the past several years, I have spent more than $25,000 with this her, excluding airfare, hotel stays, and other travel expenses. Also, when I requested a touch-up on a tattoo done less than two years ago—which has looked poor since shortly after healing—I was refused and told that I am “too tan” and that correcting it would not help. This raises serious concerns about why that color choice wasnt discouraged initially. Throughout our history, communication has been minimal and impersonal, and typically initiated by me. Given the outcome of this last piece—I believe a partial refund would be an appropriate and reasonable resolution. Offering a refund would be a professional and good-faith gesture that reflects accountability and respect for a long-standing client! I am a small business owner myself and if someone doesn’t like something - we refund them immediately-no questions asked.
- First appointment: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (5 hours total), with approximately 4 hours of actual tattooing. Cost: $3,000.
- Second appointment: 12:30 PM to 7:00 PM (6.5 hours total), with approximately 3 hours of actual tattooing. Cost: $4,000.
Total paid: $7,000.
Throughout the entire process, I had no direct communication with Pony Wave. All communication occurred through her assistant via email.
Design Process Concerns
When I requested a design beforehand, I received what appeared to be a copy and paste concept that had clearly required very little effort. I communicated that I did not like the design and specifically expressed concerns about the placement of the orca. When I asked whether there were alternative concepts available, I was told by her assistant not to worry because Pony would create something I liked during the appointment.
At the appointment, Pony showed me the same design and asked what I disliked about it. After I explained my concerns, she spent approximately an hour revising it. The only significant change made was moving the orca lower on the design.
When I still did not feel satisfied with the concept, she decided to draw directly onto my arm. During this process, I stood for roughly 30 minutes while she worked. By that point, I had already been at the appointment for approximately four hours without any tattooing having started. In retrospect it seems like she purposely trapped me so I had to commit to moving forward. After investing that amount of time, I felt significant pressure and anxiety about rejecting the design again. Looking back, I believe the circumstances made it difficult for me to objectively evaluate whether I truly wanted the design before committing to a permanent tattoo.
Professionalism and Client Experience
Throughout both appointments:
- Pony wore headphones continuously while tattooing.
- She never once asked how I was doing or checked in on my comfort level.
- When I asked questions, she appeared irritated that she had to remove her headphones and gloves to respond.
As an artist myself I understand the need to be in the zone and fully focused however she didn’t give me much time or say in the collaboration to have questions or input.
- She made no effort to communicate with me or build any rapport.
- When I attempted small talk, responses were generally limited to one word answers.
- She never used my name and gave the impression that she had little personal investment in the client experience.
In addition, Pony arrived approximately 1.5 hours late to one appointment due to a delayed flight. While I understand travel delays happen, she never personally acknowledged the delay or apologized. Her assistant addressed it instead.
Concerns Regarding the Finished Tattoo
Beyond the experience itself, the quality and execution of the tattoo doesn't match the price I paid:
- The rose color I specifically requested is substantially different from the color I ultimately received.
- Approximately half of the leaves are outlined in black while the other half are not, creating an inconsistent appearance.
- The lighting and shading on the two flowers appear to come from completely different light sources.
- The overall placement does not flow well with the anatomy of my arm and lacks cohesion as a sleeve design.
- The composition feels disjointed rather than intentional and balanced.
These concerns are not minor preferences that developed after the fact. They are issues with execution, consistency, design, and communication that have left me deeply dissatisfied with the final result.
Given the substantial amount paid for this tattoo, the lack of meaningful communication throughout the design process, the disappointing client experience, and the quality concerns regarding the finished work, I do not believe the service I received reflects the level of professionalism or artistry that was represented.
PW is truly a gift! I feel lucky to have the opportunity to let Pony use my body as a canvas to reflect both my own experiences and PW's unique personality together with her ability to capture life as art!!
If you're lucky enough to have her choose you, then you'll understand!
