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Lifestyles

Tattoos are changing: The once frowned upon artwork has become more mainstream
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:13 PM EDT Print this story | Email this story
The era of tattoos being unacceptable is waning as more people in all age groups have begun to embrace the once tabu artwork.

Just look around the next time you're out and you'll notice how many people now sport tattoos.

"Tattoos have changed a lot in the last 10 years," said J.J. Osman, owner of Dollstar Tattoo and Piercing in Maysville.

J.J. said the time has ended when only "sailors, prostitutes and bikers" had them and main stream Americans didn't. His client base includes men and women in their 40s, 50s and 60s, lawyers, doctors, police officers, nurses and young adults.

"I tattoo people from the '60s and '70s era, then I tattoo a lot of young people," said J.J. "I think the test of time has made it more acceptable. TV has helped a lot."

Whatever the reason, having a tattoo has moved from the shadows into the spotlight as tattoo artists themselves have taken the art into the 21st century.


J.J. uses computer technology to help him locate pictures of designs to serve as models for his artwork. He said if a customer wants a butterfly as an example, he'll use the Internet and graphic art software to locate clear, color pictures of butterflies, giving a selection for the client to choose from. He then creates that exact image on the skin.

But creating the image also involves knowledge of color theory and an understanding of artistic styles by such masters as Henri Matisse and Edgar Degas. Understanding this gives J.J. the ability to enhance designs by adding additional dimension, styles and color in and around the image, which gives the client a unique tattoo, not just something reproduced from a book.

"If it's art, I do it. You can anything you want; the Creation, a portrait of your son," said J.J. of his skill and passion for tattooing. He also points out that each tattoo is a reflection of a person's personality by the tattoos chosen to adorn their body.

J.J. and his manager, Ryan Case take pride in the fact they are the only professional tattoo studio in the area. J.J. and Dollstar employee Noah Childs do tattoos and Ryan, as well as J.J., does body piercing. Their customer base includes local residents from Adams and Brown counties, Mason, Fleming, Lewis, Robertson and Bracken counties. They also have customers come into the shop from Lexington, West Virginia and Cincinnati. Word of the local studio has grown through the Web site http://www.myspace.com/dstattoo, word of mouth and attending tattoo conventions in the United States and Canada.

Dollstar opened five years ago in downtown, moving to its current location at 154 East Second Street three years ago.

J.J. said not only has his business grown, but his ability as a tattoo artist has also grown, gaining him national attention in the April 2007 issue of "Skin and Ink" magazine, a leading trade magazine in the tattoo industry.


Skin and Ink writer Bob Baxter attended the Greater Kentucky Tattoo and Piercing Convention in Lexington in October 2006. While the convention was smaller than most Baxter covers for the magazine, he notes in his article the following "this may well be a small show that's just getting started, but it featured some pretty righteous talent." J.J. was one tattoo artist interviewed by Baxter who made the final cut for the April issue.

J.J's reaction to the attention was enthusiastic and exciting.

"You make it in there (Skin and Ink) ... yea ... it's respectable," he said.

As J.J. continues to grow his business, he has also established his own set of standards about what he will or won't do and who he will tattoo. While several of his stories were about unusual or funny incidents with customers and their tattoos, he's was also passionate about two points.

One, he won't tattoo anyone under the age of 18 without the consent of a parent.

"I think they should wait and have something to look forward to," he said of his age limitations.

The second point is more political and emotional: he doesn't do swastika tattoos. J.J. said not only will he not create a swastika tattoo, he won't do touch up work on an existing one. He said "there's nothing good" about the symbol and the hate it represents from Adolf Hitler's reign of power in Germany.

As with any artist, J.J. is passionate about his work and has incorporated it onto his body. His goal is to eventually have a full bodysuit of tattoos from his neck to his ankles; a collection of artwork that will reflect his music, his hobbies, his children, special occasions and his life.

"It's just real fun and I love doing it," he said. Contact Marla Toncray at marla.toncray@lee.net or 606-564-9091 ext. 275.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

a black man wrote on Oct 2, 2007 10:59 PM:

" Do not let a psycho like hitler and his followers ruin the oldest symbol of life and well being. The swastika is the oldest symbol known to man! It is found on all continents and pre-dates history. Check it out for yourself. www.swastika-info.com "

Don't misquote the Bible wrote on Sep 28, 2007 11:13 AM:

" To the person who said if you mark your body, you go to hell - you're wrong. The scripture actually refers to people who were marking their bodies with the images of false gods and idols. Those are the people who are going to have problems - it's not everybody who gets a tattoo. "

Shelbi Krasucki wrote on Aug 29, 2007 10:32 AM:

" i dont care what anyone says...jj has his own beliefs and he has a right to lay down the rules of what he wants to do and not do...i have one tattoo and that doesnt mean i will go to hell but whatever...if i go to hell, then i will have a spot for everyone that thinks that and i will show you...people can believe what they want and say what they want but if jj has his own beleifs and what he wants to do is up to him...peace, love, happiness...ShElBi KrAsUcKi "

Laurie wrote on Aug 18, 2007 2:12 AM:

" Oh, and "Jesus is the only way," thank you for your kind words. Once again, you've proven how truly forgiving and righteous true Christians are! Thanks! "

Laurie wrote on Aug 18, 2007 2:11 AM:

" Mr. Allin - I'm confused. Which flag are you accusing J.J. of burning? He needs to lighten up on the "Nazi hating"? You contradicted yourself in your comment. Perhaps think before you post. "

Jesus is the only way. wrote on Aug 17, 2007 1:57 PM:

" mark your body. go to hell. its in the bible. all you sinners will pay the eternal cost of your soul. you all make Jesus cry. "

Steven Torres wrote on Aug 17, 2007 12:11 PM:

" JJ is one big hunk of man meat. He gets cuter and cuter every time i see him. "

Rosco wrote on Aug 17, 2007 11:53 AM:

" i agree with Matthew. "

Matthew wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:34 AM:

" JJ is handsome. "

Pete Za-pie wrote on Aug 17, 2007 8:13 AM:

" Dollstar Tattoo may not be the only tattoo business in the area, but it is the only award winning, magazine featured, professional tattoo studio in the area. To Herman. there are so many, many things wrong with your comment. So many that i don't have the time of day to reach them all. thank you. Pete. "

Mr. Allin wrote on Aug 17, 2007 1:04 AM:

" I also know Brett personally, and I'll be darned if he ain't slinged, or maybe it is slung some of the finest ink I ever saw. He can do it with a machine, like, a lathe, or maybe even a mill, or even if you got one of those welding machines. He'll try to sling some ink through that, he ain't afraid, except, maybe, if you got a miter saw then he is a little timid. But if you give him some ink and he will find a way to sling it. He will put some tat's on you that you will never forget. What is going on here with all the Nazi hating, I thought this was America, free to think what you like. JJ needs to lighten up and quit burnin' the flag. Or else. "

james robertson. wrote on Aug 16, 2007 7:43 PM:

" guns shoot people. its called a tattoo machine. and as far as i know. concerning brett turner. he is aprentencing under jj. and he would love the practice haha. also come in for piercings! "

Laurie wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:30 PM:

" And Herman, if your friend Brett calls what he does "ink slinging," I'm going to doubt he's a true artist until I see his work. "

Laurie wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:28 PM:

" Although your history may be correct, Lisa, it still stands as a symbol for hate and racial prejudice, and I think that's the point J.J. is making. "

Leslie wrote on Aug 16, 2007 4:52 PM:

" It's spelled as "license" and I believe everyone needs one to operate a legal and professinal tattoo business. J.J. does great work, I myself have two pieces of his art and will be acquiring more in the near future. Keep up the great work! "

Herman wrote on Aug 16, 2007 1:55 PM:

" he ain't the only one that does tats in the area. my good buddy Brett does some real fine ink slinging. but he ain't got no fancy business lisence or shiny guns. He made his own guns out of practically nothing. who needs a lisence anyway. ain't them for driving? "

Lisa wrote on Aug 16, 2007 8:33 AM:

" Interesting point about the swastika. However, German National Socialists did not call their symbol a swastika. They also altered the symbol into a symbol of socialism. They turned it 45 degrees to the horizontal and pointed it in the S-direction to emphasize the meshed S-letters for "socialism" under the National Socialist German Workers Party. That is a recent discovery of the noted historian Dr. Rex Curry (author of "Pledge of Allegiance Secrets"). "


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