May 07, 2003 News & Views » Cover

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The Rise of Body Art 

A rebellious artform becomes (almost) mainstream

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"We don't tattoo any kind of racially related tattoos. That's really it," says Steve Huntsberry.

"What line?" asks Little John of Greensboro's Little John's Tattoo. In a way, he may be onto something. If one is willing to make a permanent record of a reprehensible belief, at least he or she will be easier to spot.

So, how does an industry that is finally starting to get respect grow while also trying to weed out the less-than-talented speculators that are sprouting up everywhere? One way is by educating the consumer. Know the history of your tattoo, they say. Ask around. Most importantly, look at the artist's work."The industry is seeing more and more artists with formal art training, and no, skin is not always an easy canvas to work on," says Vernon. "I've met phenomenal artists who couldn't adapt to skin. Formal training has made better artists, and with some, better tattooists, but at the same time there are artists out there with no training that are just as good if not better than the others. I really think it depends on the person."

"You definitely have to be some kind of artist before you can do tattoos," agrees Huntsberry. "If you can't draw on paper, you certainly can't draw on skin. And just because you can draw on paper doesn't necessarily mean you can paint on skin. It's a big difference, and it takes many years to truly understand the medium. I've been doing this 10 years and I'm still learning."

"Art training is very important -- the more the better," says Little John. "I encourage everyone who's interested in becoming a tattooist to get a sketchbook and just draw. I'll be taking art classes myself this fall."

Even with the artistic and popular growth of tattooing, the locals we talked to say a good portion of their clientele still wants the same kinds of tattoos -- if they're going to be rebellious and express their individuality, it seems, most folks want what's hot, perhaps forgetting that they'll soon have a permanent reminder of whatever trend they're chasing.

"Tribal art has always been popular, because it's the best neutral style of tattooing," says Huntsberry. "It can be bold or delicate, masculine or feminine, good or wicked. Portrait style work is more popular now than before since the caliber of artist has been raised to a new level. You can tell when people just aren't sure what they want, or if they even want one at all. I've suggested that they go home and think about it for a couple of weeks and see if they still feel like they want one. When you know you want one, you'll know it. It's better to wait and be sure than to get something you might regret."

"There will always be the old standbys -- hearts and names and roses, oh my! -- but there is no particular design that is more popular right now," says Vernon. "(It's) tribal one month, Japanese kanji the next. It's kind of hard to tell sometimes."

No matter the tattoo, all the artists we talked to agree that getting tattooed can easily become an addiction. Once you've decorated your skin, the taboo is broken, opening up a floodgate of possibilities. Unanimously, they also agreed on the biggest thrill they get from tattooing -- the gleam in people's eyes after seeing their new tattoo."The biggest enjoyment I get from tattooing someone is seeing them beam when they look at their new artwork," says Little John. "I get to cross the paths of many different people and create art for them that will be with them forever."

"To see the beautiful artwork alive in the skin is an amazing thing," says Huntsberry. "The best thing about tattooing someone is seeing their face after it's done, watching them look in the mirror at their new art and smiling. That little sparkle in their eye when they first see their new piece is worth more than I can express."

That sparkle is something that's attracting more and more people. In today's soundbite society, folks thirst for a little permanence wherever they can find it. And with the easing of societal mores on tattooing, folks everywhere -- and of every strata of society -- are lining up to have a visual record, a "you are here" marker of their lives. Some of them you might never have suspected.

"I first got tattooed when I was 18," DeMello says. "It hasn't hindered me at all in academia, although I'm by choice a part-time lecturer rather than a tenured professor. I think, if anything, my tattoos give me a little bit of an edge in dealing with my students, who are young, urban, multi-ethnic and, for the most part, pretty hip. Without them, I'd just be another white middle class professor!"

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