Jonathan Dickson and Sarah Beans have added some new color and style to Fairport Harbor Village in the form of tattoos. Dickson and Beans, who are life partners, recently moved their business, War Paint Studios, to Fairport Harbor from Willowick. In addition to being co-owners of War Paint Studios, Dickson and Beans are professional tattoo artists who fulfill clients’ requests for body art. War Paint Studios opened June 14 at 322 High St., Suite B in downtown Fairport Harbor. Previously, Dickson and Beans had operated War Paint Studios at 31541 Vine St. in Willowick for about six years. The new location of War Paint Studios recently opened at 322 High St., Suite B in Fairport Harbor Village. Co-owners Jonathan Dickson and Sarah Beans, who also are the shop’s tattoo artists, previously operated War Paint Studios in Willowick. Dickson and Beans say they enjoy Fairport Harbor because it’s a community that truly welcomes and supports small businesses. (Bill DeBus – The News-Herald) Dickson and Beans said they decided to relocate their shop to Fairport Harbor because it’s a community that truly supports and welcome small businesses. The couple said they never got that feeling about the atmosphere for small businesses in Willowick. “We were coming up on the end of our lease agreement (in Willowick) and just had a feeling that we wanted a change,” he said. Beans also said she liked that downtown Fairport Harbor is filled with a variety of small, independently owned specialty shops. “Basically, we think we can help them (in promoting their businesses) and they’ll help us,” she said. Many of these merchants join forces several times each year under the title The Shoppes of Fairport Harbor and conduct downtown-wide events aimed at attracting many shoppers and giving them plenty to look at and purchase. “You can only accomplish so much on your own, but it’s always better when you can be part of something bigger,” Beans said. While Dickson and Beans like how a group of business owners can unite to strengthen the overall commercial district, the couple prefer to operate their tattoo business on a smaller scale. For example, when they moved War Paint Studios to Fairport Harbor, Dickson and Beans closed the Willowick shop, rather than attempt to run two locations. An example of a tattoo given to a client by Sarah Beans at War Paint Studios. Beans is a tattoo artist and co-owner of War Paint Studios, which recently moved to Fairport Harbor Village from Willowick. The shop’s new address is 322 High St., Suite B in Fairport Harbor. (Courtesy of War Paint Studios) Dickson and Beans, who live in Willoughby, are the only artists who give tattoos at War Paint Studios. Beans has 10 years of experience as a professional tattoo artist, while Dickson has been tattooing on a professional basis for six years. Tattoos are done at War Paint Studios on an appointment-only basis. The business also offers a tattoo request form on its website, which gives clients a way to schedule an appointment or consultation. Clients also are invited to submit photos of their desired tattoo, as part of the request form. “Everybody nowadays has a Pinterest folder of their tattoo ideas that they want, or they save the same kind of pictures elsewhere,” Beans said. It’s a good idea for prospective clients to send photos of tattoos that they are considering, even if it’s not exactly what they want, Beans explained. “Because at War Paint Studios, we like to draw original tattoos,” she said. “I don’t want everybody to keep getting the same tattoo. So if I can draw something original for you, I will.” If someone only has a mental image of a desired tattoo, they can schedule a consultation to talk about it in-person with Dickson or Beans. “We’re very much into heavy conversation before your big tattoo,” Dickson said. An example of a tattoo given to a client by Sarah Beans at War Paint Studios. Beans is a tattoo artist and co-owner of War Paint Studios, which recently moved to Fairport Harbor Village from Willowick. The shop’s new location is at 322 High St., Suite B in Fairport Harbor. (Courtesy of War Paint Studios) Before opening War Paint Studios at the building they rented in Fairport Harbor, Dickson and Beans spent about two months renovating the interior of the structure. “We did it all ourselves,” Beans said. “We were in here every day.” The couple remodeled the inside of their new shop in ways to create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere that also was bright and clean. An example of a tattoo given to a client by Jonathan Dickson at War Paint Studios. Dickson is a tattoo artist and co-owner of War Paint Studios, which recently moved to Fairport Harbor Village from Willowick. The new address of War Paint Studios is 322 High St., Suite B in Fairport Harbor. (Courtesy of War Paint Studios) “From the time we opened our first tattoo studio, I always said I wanted to be the tattoo shop you could take your mom to,” Dickson said.  “It’s always been, you walk in and feel welcome.” Last winter, Dickson and Beans began scouting out new locations for War Paint Studios when they took sideline jobs with the DoorDash food delivery service. “We knew we were thinking about moving (War Paint Studios) and it ended up being a very good catalyst to drive around all over Lake County and Geauga County,” he said. “Because we didn’t know where we wanted to move.” Eventually, the couple noticed a for-rent sign in the window of 322 High St., Suite B in Fairport Harbor. They contacted the landlord and got a tour of the building’s interior, and felt it had great potential as the new site of War Paint Studios. An example of a tattoo given to a client by Jonathan Dickson at War Paint Studios. Jonathan is a tattoo artist and co-owner of War Paint Studio, which recently moved to Fairport Harbor Village from Willowick. The shop’s new address is 322 High St., Suite B in Fairport Harbor Village. (Courtesy of War Paint Studios) In addition, Beans said she gained more insight on downtown Fairport Harbor by talking with Mary Hunt, who owns My World Better at 614 High St. in the village. My World Better is an art and wellness studio that features many classes, clubs and events. “Mary told me all about all the awesome people who own all the other shops,” she said. Beans added that she and Dickson are pleased that they chose Fairport Harbor as the new site of War Paint Tattoos. “We love it here,” she said. For more information about War Paint Studios, visit its website at warpaintohio.com; call 440-833-4376; or send an email to [email protected].