Tattoo U

The Gooch stands outside the door to Skinquake Precision Tattooing And Body Piercing Inc., an imposing figure splattered with intricate, vibrant tattoos covering his arms, and chest. Two naked cartoon depictions of ex-girlfriends grace his arms, monstrous ear-plugs fill his ears, and a goatee and dark sunglasses hide his face. He has the markings of your typical tattoo artist, but his clientele and personal attachment to his ink is engraving a new mark on the tattoo scene.\nLike many fads, the tattoo boom peaked in the 90s and despite a post 9/11 drop off, one in seven Americans currently sport at least one tattoo. A number of shops operating in Bloomington have turned tattooing into a real art form. It's an expression of inner passion for some, a canvas for others, and a memorable experience for a few giving it the old college try.\n"When I first started it was horrible," The Gooch, said. "I got discriminated against; people assume you're a convict, or a thief or all kinds of things." \nWhile more people are getting tattooed, attitudes haven't totally changed. According a Harris Interactive survey, 42% of people think tattoos make people less attractive, 31% think they make people less intelligent, and 57% think it makes people appear more rebellious.\n"I tend to judge people that are covered with tattoos all over," said Jack Dvorak, IU journalism professor. "What if in five, 10 years you think it's stupid."\nThe Gooch disagrees. He says the tattoos are an extension of his personality and he couldn't live without them. \n "I get out of the shower, I don't even see my tattoos," The Gooch said. "At first you notice them a lot and then they become a part of you. They make me, me."\nIU graduate Bryn Davies spent $250 and seven hours under the needle in Indianapolis for a tattoo of his family's coat of arms, which is cheap for the intricacy of the tattoo.\n"It represents my family and my heritage," Davies said. "It embodies all the things I'm proud of, so, as corny as it sounds, when I look down at it I just feel proud. It's like a badge."\nDavies' Welch coat of arms has a wide array of meanings for him. The helmet is for invulnerability, blue for loyalty, gold for elevation of the mind, red for military strength, and the lion for courage and valor.\n"My family obviously didn't like that I got it done," Davies said. "I mean, what mother is going to like their son being tattooed." \nWell, there are some mothers. The Gooch put the needle to his mom, giving her a tattoo of Winnie the Pooh holding a balloon. \n"Nowadays, it's more mainstream," The Gooch said. "I tattooed my mom for Christ sakes."\nWomen are getting into the tattoo game more rapidly than any other group. Elizabeth Bienz got a black and white image of a tree and butterfly, she recently drew, engraved on her arm Sunday evening at New Breed Llc, without even wincing. She hopes the tattoo will provide her with comfort from a difficult time.\n"I've been thinking about it for a couple years," Bienz said. "I just got over a hard break up. It's part of the grieving process." \nShe knew she wanted a tree for a long time and just started sketching ideas a couple weeks ago for the tattoo, which cost $150. She said it wasn't as painful, as much as irritating, and grating. IU senior Justine Menter said it felt like a lot of cat scratches when she got hers done.\nWhile some parents get tattoos, others take issue with it. Menter said her mom freaked out a little bit, but couldn't get too mad because her brother has three in obvious places, while hers is hidden on the small of her back. Davies' parents weren't excited about it, but they're glad he got something he's proud of and won't regret.\n "I get a lot of positive response from it," Davies said. "A lot of people are intrigued by the fact that I have a coat of arms. It's not exactly normal."\nMost tattoo experts advise careful consideration before going under the needle. It's something you're going to have the rest of your life, unless you opt for expensive reversal surgery. IU Telecommunications Professor Mark Deuze said it's one of the only life-long commitments we have left in today's society.\n"No one commits to anything anymore- jobs, marriage, school," Deuze said. "So, in a way it's a post modern form of commitment. It's your body- it's almost the only thing you control."\nThe Gooch said most college students are "locked in on fast, easy, colorful tattoos," because they don't want to get tattooed for hours at a time.\n"The Chinese/Japanese character symbol is a good toe in the water tattoo," The Gooch said. "A lot of college students just want the experience of getting a tattoo."\nMenter falls into the typical college student category when it comes to tattoos. She hadn't planned on doing at all, but when she went to New York last summer she went to a parlor with a couple friends and decided to go for it. \n"I wanted something to represent my passion," Menter said. She got the Chinese symbol for 'perform' on her back to embody her love for dancing, saying "I'm on a high when I'm performing." \nShe said if she had planned it a little more, she would have something that represents her better, but overall she's comfortable with the decision. Most people are. According to the study done by Harris Interactive, 83% of people have no regret about their tattoos.\n"Make sure you know what you want before you get it," The Gooch said. "If you have a nice tattoo that represents a part of your life, it's something you'll look back on with pride."\nTattoos have an interesting effect on people who have them. Davies feels pride every time he looks down at his coat of arms; The Gooch says he couldn't imagine life without his tattoos, and Menter said it portrays some of her personality. \n"Sometimes it'll show a little bit and \npeople will be like, 'ooh that girl has a rebellious side,' Menter said." \nThe Gooch is a walking history pictorial. Ex-loves, good-luck charms, a butterfly, bad luck charms and a voodoo doll are just a few that span his body. Two cartoon women on his arm resemble ex-girlfriends he had inked on while he was with them, and though they've broken up, he has no regrets. A smile creeps across his face as he describes them. \n"I've got a cry baby because if I don't get my way, I bitch," The Gooch said.\nHe's proud of his September 11th tattoo which he got just a few days after the attacks. The Gooch said he knew the world would change after that day, so he and a couple friends all took turns giving each other an elaborate tattoo of the American flag with September 11th next to it.\nThe Gooch has been giving tattoos for eight years and is preparing to open up a shop in Merrillville. He said business was booming until 9-11, but since then people have become conservative with their money. \n"It's scary opening up a new shop," The Gooch said. "You don't know if the business is going to be there." \nHe is constantly thinking about a drum tattoo and has gone through thousands of drawings, but said none have turned him on. He's waiting for just the right one. \n "I'm 30 years old," The Gooch said. "I still have plenty of time to get tattooed"