He waited and waited and waited some more.

J.J. Osman waited for months for the first Cincinnati Tattoo Expo after hearing about the event on the Internet.

The waiting paid off in the end when Osman won the Top Three Artist Choice Best Black and Gray Small Tattoo Award at the expo.

The expo was held at the Holiday Inn in Eastgate, Ohio from Sept. 23-25. Hundreds of artists from all over the country submitted their tattoo work. Some traveled from as far as New Mexico to attend.

Osman rounded up a posse of nine people whom he had tattooed. The people Osman gathered made up a showcase of some of his best work.

A tattoo of a trilobite fossil, an extinct marine arthropod, was the tattoo that won the award. The tattoo was one of many judged by three world renowned tattoo artists. One tattoo was a portrait of the late Wendy's spokesman, Dave Thomas.

Osman has been a tattoo artist for eight years. As a beginner, he dreamed of having his own tattoo studio.

"I learned by trial and error," said Osman.

His first tattoo was a small tribal design on a friend who was brave enough to let the young artist practice.

From there, Osman said he learned more by getting tattooed. With 25 tattoes, he has had plenty of opportunity to learn.

Today, you can find the markings of the talented artist on many people of all ages residing in Maysville and the surrounding areas.

Osman's dreams found themselves in motion when he was able to open a studio under the name Dollstar Tattoo in Maysville. In November, Dollstar will celebrate its fifth anniversary. Osman said he plans to have a celebration next summer although the date and location of the celebration are unknown at this time.

"I'm getting there. I've made a name for myself outside of the Maysville area," said Osman of his accomplishments.

Contact Mariah Smith at mariah.smith@lee.net or 606-564-9091, ext. 271.