For Tattoo Trend, Beauty Is Indeed Skin Deep

Often filling the role of psychologist, pastor, guidance counselor, and best friend, Weller's customers pass through his door with as many stories to tell as they have reasons to seek out his services.

"Do this for fourteen years and you'll hear every tale under the sun," says Weller, carefully cleaning the instruments of his trade. "Guys talking about doing time in prison, kids going off on their parents, lots of stuff about regrets and lost loves. I've heard it all."

And done it all. Having illustrated nearly every section of the human anatomy with every conceivable symbol and slogan. "The very first one I ever did, this guy wanted 'Daisy' on his upper left arm, I figured it was his lady until he mentioned having to give her a flea bath - it was his dog!"

Wellers laugh booms through the studio, an imposing figure at over six feet and nearly three hundred pounds with a chubby face concealed behind a bushy black beard, the man with the artistic golden arm would seem more at home decked out in biker garb and riding a hog. "Oh, I've been asked to join. Guys come in here from all kinds of rival gangs." affirms Weller, pointing to where his motorcycle sits just outside the door, bartered by a cash-strapped biker as payment for a multi-color, full-back design. "He had another bike, I needed the wheels, it all worked out."

And business has never been better. Moving into the mainstream thanks to their popularity among pro athletes and celebrities, the age-old art form has welcomed a renewed interest. Tattoos are no longer taboo.

Drew Barrymore has six of them, including one of a butterfly just below her navel. Connie Sellecca sports a peach on her behind, and instead of wedding rings Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee had each others name tattooed on them. His on her finger and hers on his -ahem- nether region.

Even America's quintessential girl-next-door couldn't resist getting in on the action when Mattel introduced "Butterfly Art Barbie", the first doll in the series to feature a permanent tattoo.

Girls took immediately to Barbie's new image makeover but the outcry from parents, many of whom dread the thought of those very same girls one day coming home with the real thing, prompted the toy maker to pull the line from production and off store shelves. "We've just had some consumers who didn't like it." said Lisa McKendall, director of communications for Mattel. "We want to try and be responsive to our dolls' audience."

Go To Page: 1 2