letters to the editors - Rochestermn.com

•
•
16 EXPOSED October, 2007
Some people – such as Javan Drugg of Rochester
– choose their tattoos based primarily on aesthetics.
Meaning they look cool. Drugg has got a nearly full
sleeve – tattoo speak for having his entire arm covered
– on his left arm, ink across his shoulders, on his upper
right arm and a tat on his leg.
Drugg’s girlfriend Jessica Nelson has four, and most
are related to her family. “Everything has a meaning to
it,” she says, showcasing the letters representing family
members incorporated into her foot tattoo.
Tattoos usually tell a story and it’s that personal aspect
of the trade that Grover likes. He specializes in portrait
tattoos and inks everything from people’s deceased
loved ones to their beloved pets or favorite musician.
One woman comes into Infinity this fall afternoon
saying she’s considering getting her first tattoo. “I’ve
watched a lot of Miami Ink,” she tells Grover, asking
if he can do portraits similar to the ones she’s seen
featured on the show. He tells her to bring in pictures
and he’ll get to work.
“Miami Ink brought her to me,” he remarks outside
the shop, taking a smoke break between clients. Earlier,
he’d said some tattooists fear that reality TV shows will
commercialize and, thus, ruin tattooing. He disagrees.
“If it’s going to create an awareness about custom tattooing,
then good,” he says. “Before shows like Miami
Ink, I don’t think people realized it was possible that
you could get something that looks this real.”
On Grover’s forearm is a portrait of a hard-core rocker
who died in a car crash. He’s done portraits of people’s kids
and grandkids. Clients include grandmas, cops, surgeons
and soldiers; gone are the days when only musicians and
construction workers plopped into a tattooist’s chair.
Typically, the process starts with someone calling or coming
in to talk about their idea. Paging through a tattooist’s
portfolio should be the next thing prospective clients do,
tattooists say, because no two artists turn out the same
work. Once the idea is hashed over, an artist will sketch it
out on the spot or have the customer return to look over
the sketch.
Some tattoos, like Ana’s and Etienne’s names, are quickies,
done in 15 minutes. Others require multiple visits, such as
the full back tattoo Grover spent four hours on one day,
arranging to continue another.
Drugg’s full sleeve has had him coming in for several visits
with Patrick Brittan, the owner of Infinity Tattooing and a
15-year veteran of the trade. He has a book portfolio showcasing
his work, but Drugg is a walking one with multiple
Brittan tattoos.
“Most times people have thought long and hard (about
their tattoo),” Brittan says. “I like giving them something
they’ve been wanting.”
Custom tattoos account for about 90 percent of Infinity’s
business. But customers can consult hundreds of tattoo designs
– known as flashes – or an artist’s portfolio if they’re
searching for inspiration.
“I hardly ever do flashes,” says Thomas Titus, owner of
Top Cat Tattoo down the drag from Infinity on Broadway
•
•
•
•
•
•