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IMMORTAL IMAGES PUTS 'EM ON
AND TAKES 'EM OFF
by Clint Liquor
Photos courtesy of Immortal Images
From the September 2004 issue of Prick Magazine.
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 Immortal Images Tattoo Studio. |
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Immortal Images tattoo studio takes state of the art to a whole new
level. Located in Charlotte, NC, the 3,500 square foot facility is filled
with talented artists who use their skill for inking skin as well as
removing it.
Shop owner Steve Hunstberry has 10 years of tattoo artistry under
his belt. He spent five years at Immortal's first home off South Street in
Charlotte, NC and has been in his current labyrinth of a shop at 3814
Monroe Rd for the last five.
"We are not part of a chain of 'production' shops. We are just one
shop, with five custom tattoo artists: Andrew Trull, Troy Johnson, Hayley
Moran, Dave Scearce and myself." says Steve. They have an experienced
professional body piercer, Jessica Fraley, and two front managers, Rebecca
and Sandi.
Aside from the typical services offered at most tattoo and body piercing
studios, Immortal Images also offers in-house state of the art Medlite
Laser Tattoo Removal.
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 Steve Huntsberry removing ink from Caroline Hedgepeth's arm. |
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"We are the first tattoo shop - to our knowledge - to
offer this great service, and we really appreciate all the support
we've gotten from customers and other shops and
artists. People come from all around to get old ink removed,"
adds Steve.
For the last eight years, Immortal has offered this unique
service to its customers for a mere $150 per hour. Steve
knows first hand how costly and ineffective laser removal can
be when in the hands of doctors who know nothing about
tattoos. He first encounter cost him a whopping $1000 per
hour and "the doctor's lack of tattoo knowledge was evident,"
Steve remembers. "The doctor was just hitting the
tattoo randomly. It scarred up, it was financially draining with
shoddy results." Steve saved up enough to buy his own laser,
got trained on how to use it, and now offers this valuable
service to his clients. He uses his tattoo knowledge of putting ink into skin to better understand the process for removing the ink. He knows how deep the
ink was put in so he doesn't just annihilate an area just to be thorough.
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"I can take out one line of
a script letter with this machine. It's so accurate," explains Steve. "Dermatologists know a lot about
skin, but not much about tattoos. So who better to remove tattoos, but a tattoo artist? Even the
local Dermatologist send clients to us for the procedure." The before and after pics in his portfolio
speak volumes to his skills.
Steve's shop features a crew of talented artists including tattooer Dave Scearce. Originally from
Danville, VA, Dave has been tattooing for 10 years. He moved to Charlotte a couple of years ago to
work for Immortal Images: "In the past two years, I've worked hard to build a strong clientele, and
at the same time learn as much as possible. I enjoy both color and black & grey. Also I enjoy traditional,
new school, Japanese and realistic work. What I enjoy the most is (like all artists) doing my
own original art. Anything I design myself," explains Dave.
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Rounding out the crew is Andrew Trull, tattooing a total of nine years, the last eight with
Immortal Images. Troy Johnson has been tattooing for eight years and has been at Immortal Images
for over four of them. Hayley Moran, originally from Ft. Worth,Texas, apprenticed under Steve and
has been tattooing for the last three years. Jessica Fraley has been piercing for almost seven years
and began her professional career in Colorado. Since then, she has pierced in many cities across
the East Coast and now calls Charlotte and Immortal Images home. She has been at Immortal
Images for six months.
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The artists at Immortal Images Tattoo and Piercing can design a one-of-a-kind custom piece
just for you or you can choose from their wide selection of flash. And don't forget about the tattoo
removal. They've been doing it since 1997 with unbelievable results. Check them out if you
are interested in getting a great tattoo or piercing, or a crappy old tattoo of your ex's name removed
in a super clean and spacious studio. If you are not in the Charlotte area, it's worth the trip.
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Check out their website at www.immortalimagestattoo.com
Visit them at:
Immortal Images Tattoo Studio
3814 Monroe Road
Charlotte, NC 28205
704.347.2521
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