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![Courtney Schofe, 31, laughs while on her cell phone as Mike Hepler, of Dragon Skin Tattoo, applies the finishing touches to her latest body art. It was Schofe's 17th tattoo since her first homemade one at age 14. "Yes, it's addictive," Schofe said. "I promised my mother I wouldn't ever get my neck, hands or face done. That way I can always walk into a job interview." Corey Perrine/Staff](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/feed/msms/photos/4211527.jpg "Courtney Schofe, 31, laughs while on her cell phone as Mike Hepler, of Dragon Skin Tattoo, applies the finishing touches to her latest body art. It was Schofe's 17th tattoo since her first homemade one at age 14. "Yes, it's addictive," Schofe said. "I promised my mother I wouldn't ever get my neck, hands or face done. That way I can always walk into a job interview." Corey Perrine/Staff")
![Chris Earl, an Augusta Tattoo Expo promoter, describes the convention as being "like a big old barbecue for people who all are into the same thing." Jackie Ricciardi/Staff](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/feed/msms/photos/4222157.jpg "Chris Earl, an Augusta Tattoo Expo promoter, describes the convention as being "like a big old barbecue for people who all are into the same thing." Jackie Ricciardi/Staff")
"Because the stigma is fading"- oh no it's not.
It's a fad, and it will run its course.
I have never known anyone that, years down the road, says "I am so glad I got that tattoo"- they all say "I wish I hadn't done it"
In a long-sleeve shirt and a pair of slacks, Courtney Schofe would appear to be a typical Augusta mom.
But when she rolls up her left sleeve, a 1950s-era Elvis flashes his infamous lip curl.
When she pulls up her right pants leg, a buxom pin-up girl looks back with bedroom eyes.
Fifteen other artistic images are etched over the 31-year-old's body.
She received her first tattoo from a boyfriend at the age of 14, and Schofe said she will likely continue getting tattooed long after her 4-year-old reaches adolescence.
In Augusta, the tattoo "family" has welcomed her, and their love of the art binds them together.
"It's addictive. It's relaxing," she said. "It's really an art form, and the tattoo scene has become a family to me."
Inked-up residents say Augusta's tattoo scene continues to grow. The culture stemmed from metal music fans and bikers and grew into a group of art enthusiasts who choose to make canvases of their bodies.
The Augusta Tattoo Expo, an annual convention held at James Brown Arena, will draw tattoo and art lovers from around the country today and Sunday.
Promoters say the high turnout -- close to 2,000 attended the event last year -- proves that Augusta's tattoo culture is flourishing, and that the art form has evolved from its rebellious youth roots.
The collectors
Schofe and others in the tattoo community consider themselves collectors. They collect tattoos created by well-known artists and often create a theme. Schofe has several pin-up girl tattoos, a 1950s-themed style, she said. Though she now is selective about her choices, as a teenager she sported several low-quality tattoos with little meaning.
"It's a learning experience," she said. "A lot of mine weren't that bad, but a lot of it was not thinking it through."
Her tattooist, Mike Hepler, 32, said collectors, much like tattooed individuals from ancient times, view their first piece of art as "a rite of passage."
Hepler started drawing at a young age, and eight years ago became an apprentice to a tattoo artist. After a year of learning from an expert, Hepler began using a tattoo machine to display his artwork on others' bodies. He has tattoos on his chin, neck, arms, legs and just about everywhere else on his body, he said.
"We're just people that don't like normal things," he said. "They think we're criminals or drug addicts, but we're really just open-minded people, who love art."
Kyle Holt has more than 50 hours of tattoo work sketched on his body. The 23-year-old grew up in rural Harlem, where he was an outsider. At 18, he got his first tattoo after being inspired by the metal rock scene.
"I'm from the country. It's really taboo out there," he said. "I think it started as a rebellion thing, but it's how I identify myself now."
Holt and his friend Weylin Traugott are tattoo artists at Gunslinger Tattoo on Broad Street. Both agree the population of Augustans interested in tattoos has grown during the past couple of years, but few are collectors.
"There's a percentage of clients who want big-scale artwork, and there are those who just want the souvenir tattoo," Traugott said. "It's becoming more popular to do, so the tattoo culture is at a point where it can progress or we can completely mess it up."
Traugott got his first tattoo at 18, but did not get drawn into all things tattoo until he was a college art student. Traugott has a bachelor of arts in painting and plans to go to graduate school to further his artistic aspirations.
"I hope I can do shows all over one day," Traugott said. "The tattoos are just a part of it. I just always wanted to wear art. It's good to have a community here."
Getting inked
There's a growing number of people becoming a part of that community. Mike Ferguson used to have middle-aged women staring him down at every department store because of his dozens of tattoos. Now, Ferguson, a promoter of today's convention and the owner of First Amendment Tattoo, said women in that same age group come in his shop for their first tattoo.
"It's a mom or a dad who used to tell their kids not to get one that are coming in," Ferguson said. "That negative impression is going away."
Shows such as Miami Ink and LA Ink have popularized tattooing, and have attracted tattoo enthusiasts. Because the stigma is fading, people of all walks of life are getting inked, said Chris Earl, a promoter of the Augusta Tattoo Expo.
"The boundaries are gone. We have doctors, lawyers and other professionals getting tattoos every day," Earl said. "There are all these people that always wanted to get one but didn't feel comfortable doing it until now."
Because the business is booming, tattoo shops have cropped up all over Augusta, but not all are suited to do the job, Traugott said. In Augusta, only a business license and a tattoo machine are needed to open a shop.
"There are not enough regulations. People are tattooing that have no idea what they're doing," he said. "It's more accepted, but people still need to be careful where they're getting them."
Today's convention will give locals and visitors the opportunity to see what expert tattoo artistry looks like, Earl said.
Renowned tattoo artists such as Roman, Damon Burns and Oliver Peck will be featured at the convention.
"It's all about the art in Augusta," Earl said. "It's like a big old barbecue for people who all are into the same thing.
WHEN: Noon-11 p.m. today; noon-8 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: James Brown Arena, 601 Seventh St.
COST: $15, children ages 10 and younger are free
Comments
"Because the stigma is fading"- oh no it's not.
It's a fad, and it will run its course.
I have never known anyone that, years down the road, says "I am so glad I got that tattoo"- they all say "I wish I hadn't done it"
corgimom, you don't know what you're talking about. Have you talked to every person that has gotten a tat? I've gotten two years ago and love both. If it's a fad as you say, then the fad has been around for ages.
Tattoo's are a SIN.
Dorion, can you give me scripture that states that, Please. As far as I know it only states that our bodies are temples of the Lord. Doesn't say anything about how we can decorate them.
Leviticus 19:28 deals with this, but I believe since it's also mentioning cutting ourselves for the dead within the sentence, it may be referring to the practice of cutting and "tattooing" with ashes. If you also read some of the surrounding text, there are references to other seemingly mild practices today, but which were health related and/or ritual related at the time. I'm not saying God's word doesn't apply today, but if we are to see ourselves as doomed in that regard, any of us whose worn mixed-material clothing is a goner, had mold in their home, eaten sushi or tartare, and lots of other activities. By the way, I have several tattoos. Judge not and all that...
Can't folks find better things to do with their time? Celebrating tattoos...oh my.
MomInRC, you are correct about Leviticus. In context this verse is discussing preparation for death in which many bodies were tattooed with pagan religious symbols. Since God’s commandments prohibit Jews and Christians from worshiping other gods, it would be logical that God would prohibit these death preparation tattoos. Personally I believe it is a personal thing between you and God. As with anything, if you consult God's will and also the purpose of your tatoo, it is a personal thing whether it is a sin or not. Just as with drinking, some Christians feel it is a sin to take a drink, other feel as long as it is done in moderation. There is no clear scripture on these topics and everyone must interpret the scripture after seeking God's guidance.
the art of Tatu, or tattoo as it is now called in our culture is far from a fad.. it has been around since long before the birth of Christ and the establishment of your God as a religion...
dani Saturday, Jun. 5 10:51 AMnew ReportCan't folks find better things to do with their time?
You mean something like criticizing people for celebrating something they love?
corgimom you are such a prude and for the rest of you religuos fanatics sex before marriage is a sin bet that didnt stop ya and its a fact tattoos have been around for thousands of years even before jesus and this so called tolerant religion christianity...bell bottoms were a fad i know people 80 years old with tattoos god this bible belt town makes me wanta puke you can forgive a murderer but you think tattoos are a mortal sin and oh yeah im one of the tattooed have over twenty and guess what i make six figures a year
montega12, don't be angry at Christianity or Jesus, He's not the one who said a tatoo is a sin. It's individuals on here who have an opinion and that's their right but they use the Bible to make their point when in fact the Bible doesn't say that getting a tatoo is a sin. Focus your angry on people who are ignorant about the Bible.
freespeach, in your opinion tatoos are ugly, and that is your right. Other's think it's a beautiful expression of art. Being stupid and ignorant isn't illegal either.
Sure, montega, you make 6 figures a year. Got it.
And it has nothing to do with being a prude; it's called class and good taste. So sorry you don't possess that.
You might want to invest some of that "6 figures per year" in 1) an etiquette book, read the part where it's crass and ill-mannered to tell people how much you earn (not that I believe you) and 2) some English lessons, since you lack the basics of proper English.
And I'm wondering- what murderer have I forgiven?
(The part about me being a prude made me laugh- I also got called a social liberal on here, I don't know how I'm both, but ok)
You can't make this stuff up!
ICL, check back when you are old, and wrinkled, and the tattoos are faded and stretched out of shape and look awful. I repeat- I never have met anybody that, years down the road, say "I'm so glad I got this tattoo".
However, if you want to be the first, fine by me.
Oh, and montega- yes, I know people that are 80 years old with tattoos, too. They look awful, the collagen in the skin breaks down and it's like taking a Silly Putty picture and stretching it.
RAWR> Yes. Absolutely. ' SNL...Have you ever seen an attractive person with a tat?'
corgimom, I don't have to worry...I'm already old and if I continue to keep myself in shape I don't have to worry too much about wrinkles so I guess you can count me in as the first old person that has a tat and still not sorry I got it. Beside, they are in places that no one sees except me and my spouse so it's not a problem if gravity takes hold in a few years. Just wondering do you consider freckles and birthmarks disgusting too on old people? I find older people beautiful, wrinkles and all.
dani "Have you ever seen an attractive person with a tat?" Why yes I have.
I have never understood why someone, unless they are drunk and their judgement is out to lunch, would want to put permanent graffitti on their body. You know, those tattoos don't look so cool when the skin starts to sag. Imagine granny with a lower back tattoo. Well to each their own I guess.
Emerydan wrote:
You know, those tattoos don't look so cool when the skin starts to sag. Imagine granny with a lower back tattoo.
Also, imagine granny with a breast tattoo of a butterfly. One wing stretching into the areola toward the nipple.
Who's going to be looking at granny's lower back except grandpa?
I watched a granny get tattooed today.. it was pretty awesome!
ICL, personally, I don't care if you get 2 tattoos or 22 tattoos. Nobody is immune from aging.
As for your question about freckles and birthmarks- last I heard, those were natural. At least for everyone else they are.
I don't understand the thinking process of someone that equates freckles and birthmarks with tattoos, but that's ok.
I took my Granny for a tattoo for her seventy-third birthday-a little heart on her ankle. She loves it!
some people wear necklaces, earrings, or other jewelry as a means of self-expression; others wear tattoos. same principle to me. i think the only group of folks that could honestly weigh in on this and call both sides wrong are the Mennonites out in Jefferson Co.
a tattoo convention - wow, only in Augusta, if only the tee center was ready...
Corgi, Did I say I was immune to aging....Hmm don't remember typing that. I do believe I said that I've already have some age on me and hopefully I can keep myself in shape to keep minimal sagging from occurring. I'm glad you don't care how many tattoos I have because truthfully it's none of your business. As for the freckles and birthmark comment. I was trying to make a point about skin discolorations, whether man made or God made, all will sag in due time so if you are disgusted by one, how about the others. If you didn't understand the thought process of that, then maybe I need to start to simplify my comments to you so you can understand.
This stuff is very important today. We need more conventions like this one of people who really do something good for society. And thanks for bringing such an important economic input into the CSRA.
deRon: REALLY, you think a tattoo convention would only happen in Augusta? that only goes to show your small mindedness.. tattoo conventions have been happening in larger cities for years.. Atlanta has had one every year for the past 14 years, 13 years in NYC.. only in Augusta? step outside of your small town mind and educate yourself..
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