Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2003)
Human canvas Conrinticd from Page 25 Sea Tramp, where Randall works in the evenings, is a “walk-ins” only shop that oper ates into the wee hours. By contrast, Medusa is open only afternoons and evenings, and Fish does a consultation prior to setting an appointment. In both shops, photos and examples of the artist’s work are readily avail able for viewing. “I really think it’s important to check out people’s portfolios,” Fish says, “and then if you find a portfolio you like, talk to the artist and see if you feel comfortable. It’s just like sex: You have to feel comfortable saying no, and you have to know that if you say no to someone, that they’ll respect that.” Both artists will do original designs, but they have different ways of applying the design to the skin. Randall freehand draws almost all the art with a toothpick and ink, creating a map directly onto the skin, whereas Fish will draw the design onto a stencil and then trans fer the image onto the skin. Once the actual tattooing process starts, the tattoo gun breaks the skin and deposits either black ink or col ored dyes and pigments underneath it. The most common question is, “Does it hurt?” Randall laughs and says, “If they didn’t sting a little bit, every wuss would have one and it would hardly be worth getting at all.” Still, the effect can be pleasant. “The endorphin rush puts you in a wonder ful place,” Randall says. “An endorphin rush will make you feel like you feel when you’ve been running a lot, laughing a lot, eating a lot of chocolate or something else that probably wouldn’t be proper to mention.” Cost can vary, and larger tattoos can some !X< i tnlmesi « • Northwest Nori hw est times take multiple visits. “Most shops in Port land have like $50 or $60 minimums and usu ally go by rhe hour,” Fish says. “Our shop’s $100 an hour.” Randall generally quotes a price for the job upfront. “You can get a decent star or some Kanji script for around $100. A nice monochrome por trait will probably cost you about $200. It depends on what you want, where on the body you want it, the kind of day your artist is having and whether or not it’s a dolphin.” nce customers have their tattoo, they walk out of the shops, sometimes never to return. “I’m proud of all the work 1 do, but at that point I’m kind of a vehicle," Randall says. “What the work is, it’s them. I just kind of help them achieve what they wanted.” Fish agrees. “As a tattooist I consider myself a service worker. It’s like an illustration job. It doesn’t represent me, so much as the person that’s wearing it.” According to Randall, “Tattoos are a time marker. Something they’ll look at in years to come and have a little glimpse of where they were. The sounds, the smells and one step along the path to the place where they are at that time. Tattoos are magic, definitely.” jH O lnUniform.net will sponsor a TATTOO AND PIERCING P arty — including best tattoo contest and piercing demonstrations—from 9 p.m. to 2 am. July 26 at the Eagle PDX and Club XES, 1300 W. Bumside St. A $4 cover charge benefits Outside In. M angels is a best-selling entertainment author m Portland. He has two tattoos by Jacki Randall and lusts after men with ink. Queer-friendly body shops Tattoos Medusa Tattoo and Gallery Tattooist: Fish 420 S.W. Washington St., Suite 202, 503-228-1008 Sea Tramp Tattixi Tattooist: Jacki 207 S.E. Grand Ave., 503-231-9784 Atlas Tattoo Tattooist: Jennifer 2935 N.E. Broadway, 503-281-7499 Atomic Art Tattoo Studio Tattooist: London 1410 N. Alberta St, 503-284-6688 Piercings Black Hole Piercers: various Eastside: 2946 N.E Glisan St., 503-231-0712 Westside: 12550 S.W. First St, Beaverton, 503-672-9399 Captain Jack’s Piercer: Jesse 4601 S.E Hawthorne Blvd., 503-236-8022 ANDY Northwest ÌN'ort Invest Nfortlnvest Optic Nerve Arts Piercers: Tracy and Snakie (apprentice) 1829 N.E Alberta St, Suite 11, 503-287-0339 Adorn Body Art Piercers: Desta and Dana 9217 S.E Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, 503-292-7060 Expressions NW Piercer: Kelly 4903 N.E St Johns Road, Vancouver, Wash., 360-693-4339 \i ,rt liu esl —— >• W estover H eights Northwest Electrolysis Offering general internal medicine and excelling in sexual health care Serving the community for 17 yean 2330 NW Flanders Suite 207 Trans Friendly Private Office Since 1988 816 NW 23id Avenue Portland, OR 97210 Ph/Fx: (503) 295-7965 503-226-6678 ww.turioshimporh.net c°me fry «ur m«uf h uafering Vegefarian and vegan meals. We feafure a delicious Tofu 4 Pof af« Pvnrif« an4 a T«f u Suieef Tequila Burrifo.We can make any of our dishes Vegan. Jusf ask/ Beautiful Hand-Woven Collectible Rugs of Handspun Wool and Natural Dyes Naturally Hypo-allergenic Naturally Stain Resistant Naturally Fire Resistant Comer of NW 23rd & Johnson (across from Papa Haydn's I Joe Bar) 503-248-1771 www babikscom E*t Frah • E»t Hohhy • Eat Widow MexicanGrill in n . w . zm a * m * • eso» usmoo
