A series of Gothic structures start from his shoulder blade and end at his wrist, all done with just a needle and ink. All of the sculptures were individually picked off old churches by Toby Phipps, the man with the tattoo.
Sean King and award winning artist, Phipps, are the tattoo artists at Black Sword Alliance. King and Phipps have known each other for about 25 years, and they have dedicated their lives to the world of art.
King was originally working for another shop until the owner, his mentor, decided to move to Oregon. King was then left with two options: work at another shop or start his own.
When King was asked why he didn't just begin to work at another shop, he explained that some of the shops he went to didn't have the same ethics that he did. They weren't exactly practicing good and clean tattooing.
King knew that it would be more time consuming and more expensive to own a shop, but he decided that he wanted to have a place where he could make the rules. This is how Black Sword Alliance all started.
The shop's name came from a combination of ideas, with alliance being chosen because of the group effort that takes place in the shop. As for the Black Sword portion, King had something else in mind.
"We didn't want the typical name; we wanted it to be almost vague," he said.
The world of tattooing is an art that only the most talented can succeed in. In regards to the start of his own career, King said he had always drawn, but he didn't know if he wanted to be a tattoo artist until he met his mentor.
At the time, King wasn't impressed with the tattoos he had seen. He was then introduced to various tattooists who had a different take on it and was able to see what he could do.
King said he had always thought he was great at drawing; however, his mentor, a world renowned artist and oil painter, told him differently. King also said he is always thinking about art; he's always drawing on various items.
"Tattooing really is a lifestyle; it's not a job, it takes everything," he said.
Tattooing has recently been growing in popularity and has become more widely accepted. Many Ball State students have their own tattoos.
Freshman Shelby Wright just recently experienced the art of tattoos, getting her favorite verse from the Bible on her side, "Love is patient, love is kind."
Sophomore Dalton Cambron has many tattoos and said he considers himself a great advocate for body modification. Cambron said his favorite tattoo is his half sleeve.
"It's a reminder of not to forget where I came from," he said.
Cambron offered advice for people who are considering getting a tattoo. He said the tattoo shop needs to be sanitary and cost should not be a top priority.
"You get what you pay for," Cambron said. "The work speaks for itself."
Phipps gave similar advice. He said someone seeking a good tattoo shouldn't base it on price. Instead, they should look at the portfolio of the artist.
Phipps won first place for black and grey large two years in a row at the tattoo convention in Fort Wayne, Ind. He has also been included in many tattoo magazines and various newspapers. He said his customers will get more out of their tattoo than what they paid for.
"You take this to the grave with you," he said.
Phipps attended Ball State around 1997 and at that time he stumbled into tattooing. He said he always had respected the art form and has been drawing since he could remember, but tattooing was not originally in his agenda.
When Phipps was attending Ball State, he bumped into a childhood friend and got a glimpse of the tattoo industry. He said it was the freedom and the diversity of the job that directed him toward tattooing.
Phipps said he enjoys his job because it's not an everyday routine; he's not punching a clock on a daily basis. He said he loves the diversity of the job and meeting new people every day. There's something different every day, he said, and he likes the freedom of being an artist.
There are many factors that someone should take into consideration before receiving a tattoo. Phipps said because a tattoo is permanent, you need to ask yourself if you are still going have interest in it 15 to 20 years from now.
There are some people who feel that every tattoo should have great meaning behind it, however, Phipps doesn't think that.
"I just like it for the artwork," he said.
King said he doesn't feel that all tattoos absolutely have to have meaning.
"I hang paintings on my walls at home," he said. "I'm hanging paintings on myself, I guess."
For more information on the shop, visit their Facebook page or visit the store at 1304 E. Princeton Ave., across from the Muncie Mall.
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