Just two centuries ago, Polynesians used to put color on sharp sticks and pound it into their skin with a mallet, to make what we today call tattoos. The word "tattoo" was borrowed from the South Pacific term "tattoo," which is the sound of the mallet banging into the skin.
In the late 1800s the electric machine used now started to rise. Tattoo artists started to use electric machines to do the artwork on people's bodies.
In 1961, tattoo parlors were banned because of the spread of Hepatitis. Tattoo artists were giving people tattoos and were not changing needles as they went from tattoo to tattoo. Laws are now being enforced and tattoo artists have to have a license.
To be a tattoo artist one has to study art and become familiar with art. Then, to get a license in tattooing, one has to be under an apprentice of art for at least two years to even be considered to perform on their own.
Most tattoo artists are already artists and have a passion for drawing.
"I've always been an artist, and I just felt like, Why don't I do something that I already enjoy," said Toby Phipps.
Phipps has been a tattoo artist for six years at Dragon Slayer.
By law, one has to be at least 16 years old with parental consent to be eligible to get a tattoo. But most tattoos artist do not consider minors.
"I prefer not to tattoo anybody under eighteen," said Phipps.
When tattoos were not popular, people could distinguish those who were sailors and those who were in motorcycle gangs. They were the only two groups who had tattoos in the late 1960s.
Today, tattoos are considered an "in thing" to do. Many people say that tattooing is a way of expression. Tattoo artists say that tattooing is a form of art.
"A lot of people in my family have tattoos and I always thought they were pretty neat. Then my mom said I could get one for my seventeenth birthday," said Crystal Winfrey, a sophomore on the track team. "My tattoos represent the person that I am."
On the other hand, many people prefer not to get tattoos.
"I don't have a tattoo because I am afraid it's going to hurt too bad," said sophomore Courtney Edmonds. "Plus, I think they are too expensive."
The prices of tattoos go up the bigger the tattoo is and the level of difficulty the tattoo will take.
The prices of tattoos start at $50. The most common tattoos today are tribal designs.
"I think that in the future, not only will teenagers and young adults be interested in tattoos, but everyone will be into tattoos," said Peter Boykin, another tattoo artist at Dragon Slayer.
If you're brave:
Dragon Slayer
(765- 288-7153)
2801 N Wheeling Ave.
Ground Zero
765-282-8342
1100 W. McGalliard Rd
Tattoo Studio
765- 284-8429
2500 W Kilgore Ave
Art & Soul
765-741-9116
1308 N Wheeling Ave
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