Oregon tattoo artists have to put up with a lot of nonsense.
Laws are stricter here than in just about every other state in terms of licensing and certification. The traditional means of scoring oneself a spot at a studio, via apprenticeship, has become more and more difficult as many parlors have found this an easy way to nab extra cash.
Despite trials like these, the Oregon Ink and Tattoo Convention is back in Eugene for a second round this year and looks to provide artists with venue for discussion.
“I go to conventions as a way to enjoy my lifestyle in tattooing and to be around other artists and enthusiasts,” said Peter Bogdanov, a tattoo artist currently based in San Francisco. “It is also very important to me to be around the best of the best so as to keep myself in tune with being world class, as well.”
For tattoo artists, work can be pretty solitary at times, especially if you’re self-employed like many of the artists coming to the convention. Artists coming from all over the U.S. can collaborate, hash out ideas, compete in the competitions or make some extra money by
tattooing people there.
“From a tattooer’s point of view, usually you meet other tattooers and hang out — share art,” said Erich Daoust of High Priestess in Eugene.
Styles vary widely, which gives artists ample fodder for tweaking and improving upon their
own styles.
“What I do most of is what I would call organic tattooing, which is just weird organic matter pretty much. It’s just strange,” said Reed Gaechter, also an artist from High Priestess in Eugene. “(It’s like) weird shit that flows cool on your skin and has lots of weird colors
and textures.”
One of the topics on the minds of all Oregon tattoo artists at this year’s convention is the stringency of the laws that go along with the profession.
“I have strong feelings about the whole licensing thing in Oregon, but I don’t really want to go there,” Daoust said. “I don’t like talking shit.”
An apprenticeship is the first step in becoming a licensed tattoo artist in the state of Oregon. Most other states don’t require artists to obtain licenses to tattoo, but in Oregon, if you don’t have a license and you decide to go at it with the needle, you may be looking at a felony charge and some jail time. And at the outset, it doesn’t seem like too irrational of a policy, but when apprenticeships run around $15,000 apiece, on top of state-imposed licensing charges, the game changes.
“To learn how to be a good tattoo artist in the real world, you have to go through an apprenticeship,” Gaechter said. “The only way to get an apprenticeship is one, by having art skills, two, by showing that you’re dedicated to the industry, and three, showing that you’ll work your ass off in order for them to teach you.”
Gaechter’s fear is that tattoo shops will start pumping out apprentices that are under-skilled and unattached to the profession itself; the numbers show he is probably right.
At the beginning of last year, there were 32 licensed tattoo artists in Eugene. At the beginning of this year, there were 70 licensed artists.
In the past 15 to 20 years, artists have had access to vibrant, bold colors that have altered tattooing. These, along with improvements in equipment technology like air-powered pneumatic tattoo machines, some running into the $600 range, have given artists like Gaechter much more creative license than old-school tattooers. Improved hardware has increased the definition on tattoos and lessened the pain that customers endure while under the gun. However, trends don’t necessarily affect everyone. Daoust’s style, although he has dabbled in a bit of everything for the sake of his portfolio, is rogue.
“I basically lean toward a darker, solid, more traditional style of tattooing,” Daoust said. “Real big, fat outlines, lots of black and lots of darker tones and anything really creepy.”
Daoust’s interest in the darker side of things stems from the same intrigue and curiosity that captivates most people.
These influences are readily displayed in Daoust’s water color paintings of different types of guitars and banjos hanging in the waiting room at High Priestess. The dark blends of black, navy blues and the contrasting guitar colors give a tip of the hat to musical genres of
similar taste.
Tattoo artists in Eugene coming from out of town can expect a milieu of idea-sharing and entertainment at this year’s convention. Burlesque performers, belly dancers, food and drink will all be on hand for patron and artists to enjoy. In a profession and state where all things tattoo-related can get pretty heated, everyone can be sure the atmosphere at the convention will be buzzing with tattoo needles and collaboration.
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