Making skin a work of art
Following the lead of many celebrities, musicians and famous athletes, tattoos are becoming more accepted by society and subsequently many young people are expressing themselves through various forms and styles of body art.
Joe Higgin, tattoo artist from Perfect Image Tattoo in London, and Victoria Malin, manager of Blue Dragon Tattoo also in London, have both experienced a shift in the perception of tattoos throughout their time in the industry.
“In the late 80's it was basically a lot of skulls, the Motley Crew rock scene that were getting tattooed,” said Higgin, who has been tattooing in London for 21 years, said.
The specific types of tattoos that the majority of people want come in phases as well.
“We went through a phase with arm bands, they were very big with guys,” said Malin, who took over management of Blue Dragon in 1997 after her father retired. “We do a lot of tribal with solid black-type of designs, a lot of Old English lettering and a lot of portraits as well.”
According to Higgin the tattoo industry is going full-circle in terms of trends for tattoos.
“Old school is coming back,” Higgin said. “We had been doing a lot of kanji Japanese symbols, tribal work and arm bands. Old school with a modern twist is becoming more popular now and body placement of the tattoos are becoming more important for people as well.”
The decision making process of getting a tattoo, and the background research into getting a tattoo are two aspects of the industry that tattoo seekers are becoming more savvy with according to both Higgin and Malin.
“The artists are a lot more interactive with the customers now,” Higgin said. “People will have a general understanding of what they want and will let the artist manipulate and incorporate their own style into the design. Before, people would say ‘this is what I want, do it'.”
Malin said that some people need guidance in selecting the right tattoo for themselves.
“Most of the time people have a real good idea of what they want, but surprisingly enough there are a lot of people that have no idea,” Malin said. “You have to go through, what exactly are you looking for, what meaning does this have to you, and kind of point them in the right direction.”
The demographic for the majority of tattoo customers range between 18 and 40-years-old, with both Higgin and Malin saying most of their customers are women.
“Seventy per cent of my clientele is women,” Higgin said.
“Most of our clients are women, between 18 and 40,” Malin said. “A lot of flowers, butterflies, fairies, that sort of thing but completely different type of clients then when we first started out (Blue Dragon first opened in 1984).”
Higgin added that the rationale for Perfect Image setting up their shop in London, was because of the large student population from Fanshawe and the University of Western Ontario.
According to Higgin and Malin, the unacceptable image and persona of tattoos has been abolished, and the popularity of tattooing in North America has increased thanks in large part to the mainstream success of various television programs focusing on tattooing, most notably “Miami Ink.”
“People talk about tattoos more,” Higgin said as a result of programs like “Miami Ink. “Tattoos are not as low-brow as they used to be. You never would have seen ‘Miami Ink' on A&E 10 years ago.”
“They are definitely more accepted, you see the tattoo TV shows and celebrities, so that has really helped make them more acceptable,” Malin added. “It has definitely been positive, with ‘Miami Ink' on TV, everyone seems to watch it, people talk about it all the time, and even families come in having watched it, so that has definitely helped.”
Perfect Image Tattoo and Body Peircing is located at 691 Richmond Street in London, and can be reached by telephone at 519-434-6080. Examples of their artists work can be viewed online at http://www.perfectimage.ca.
Blue Dragon Tattoo and Body Peircing is located at 273 Wellington Street, London, and can be reached at 519-434-4706. Examples of their artists work can be viewed online at http://www.bluedragontattoo.com.
Joe Higgin, tattoo artist from Perfect Image Tattoo in London, and Victoria Malin, manager of Blue Dragon Tattoo also in London, have both experienced a shift in the perception of tattoos throughout their time in the industry.
“In the late 80's it was basically a lot of skulls, the Motley Crew rock scene that were getting tattooed,” said Higgin, who has been tattooing in London for 21 years, said.
The specific types of tattoos that the majority of people want come in phases as well.
“We went through a phase with arm bands, they were very big with guys,” said Malin, who took over management of Blue Dragon in 1997 after her father retired. “We do a lot of tribal with solid black-type of designs, a lot of Old English lettering and a lot of portraits as well.”
According to Higgin the tattoo industry is going full-circle in terms of trends for tattoos.
“Old school is coming back,” Higgin said. “We had been doing a lot of kanji Japanese symbols, tribal work and arm bands. Old school with a modern twist is becoming more popular now and body placement of the tattoos are becoming more important for people as well.”
The decision making process of getting a tattoo, and the background research into getting a tattoo are two aspects of the industry that tattoo seekers are becoming more savvy with according to both Higgin and Malin.
“The artists are a lot more interactive with the customers now,” Higgin said. “People will have a general understanding of what they want and will let the artist manipulate and incorporate their own style into the design. Before, people would say ‘this is what I want, do it'.”
Malin said that some people need guidance in selecting the right tattoo for themselves.
“Most of the time people have a real good idea of what they want, but surprisingly enough there are a lot of people that have no idea,” Malin said. “You have to go through, what exactly are you looking for, what meaning does this have to you, and kind of point them in the right direction.”
The demographic for the majority of tattoo customers range between 18 and 40-years-old, with both Higgin and Malin saying most of their customers are women.
“Seventy per cent of my clientele is women,” Higgin said.
“Most of our clients are women, between 18 and 40,” Malin said. “A lot of flowers, butterflies, fairies, that sort of thing but completely different type of clients then when we first started out (Blue Dragon first opened in 1984).”
Higgin added that the rationale for Perfect Image setting up their shop in London, was because of the large student population from Fanshawe and the University of Western Ontario.
According to Higgin and Malin, the unacceptable image and persona of tattoos has been abolished, and the popularity of tattooing in North America has increased thanks in large part to the mainstream success of various television programs focusing on tattooing, most notably “Miami Ink.”
“People talk about tattoos more,” Higgin said as a result of programs like “Miami Ink. “Tattoos are not as low-brow as they used to be. You never would have seen ‘Miami Ink' on A&E 10 years ago.”
“They are definitely more accepted, you see the tattoo TV shows and celebrities, so that has really helped make them more acceptable,” Malin added. “It has definitely been positive, with ‘Miami Ink' on TV, everyone seems to watch it, people talk about it all the time, and even families come in having watched it, so that has definitely helped.”
Perfect Image Tattoo and Body Peircing is located at 691 Richmond Street in London, and can be reached by telephone at 519-434-6080. Examples of their artists work can be viewed online at http://www.perfectimage.ca.
Blue Dragon Tattoo and Body Peircing is located at 273 Wellington Street, London, and can be reached at 519-434-4706. Examples of their artists work can be viewed online at http://www.bluedragontattoo.com.
