Prick Magazine - The 10th Annual Marked For Life Female Tattoo Artist Expo Feature

THE 10TH ANNUAL MARKED FOR LIFE
FEMALE TATTOO EXPO

by Chuck B. and John Dekkers
From the February 2005 issue of Prick Magazine.

Deana and Sharon give Judy Parker plaques and
kisses for being a tattoo icon and for being an
inspiration to female tattooers.

	The annual Marked for Life Female Tattoo Expo, held this year January 13-16 at the Radison World Gate Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, features the best female tattooers around the country. Deana and George Lippens of Deana's Tattoo in Orlando, Florida are the driving force behind it all and deserve much praise for all the hard work they put into it. As one of the pioneers in female tattooing, Deana has helped promote aspiring female tattooists for the last decade. Attendance was surprisingly low compared to the last four years we have covered the event. Despite the turn-out, though, most of the artists at the 10th annual convention stayed busy. For the tattooers, the expo is not only a chance to work, but more importantly catch up, meet, and share ideas with fellow female artists. This year's festivities included live bluegrass bands, belly dancers, art fusion projects and a tattoo celeb roast for Judy Parker. We had the honor to talk to some of the female artists in attendance, some who were veteran Marked for Life attendees while others shared their first time experiences.

	Darcy Nutt Slave to the Needle Seattle, WA www.slavetotheneedle.com Darcy has been tattooing for six years. This is her first year at the Marked for Life Expo. What are your impressions about the expo? I think it's pretty cool. I'm super impressed by the amount of female talent here. It's bigger than I thought it would be. What are your plans while Florida? I'm going to do the Disney thing and I want to see some alligators, maybe go to Gator World. What are your influences or inspirations? Water color painters inspire me and also Jeff Thrasher's stuff. What is your favorite tattoo style? Realistic black and grey, traditional Japanese and Americana styles, pretty much anything organic more than geometric. What are some female tattoo artist misconceptions? I've heard that people think girls don't use black in their tattoos and they are lighter handed. I use plenty of black ink and it still hurts even if a girl does it.

	Meghan Hoogland Cactus Tattoo Mankato, MN www.cactustatto.com Meghan has been tattooing for nine years. This is her fifth year at the Marked for Life Expo. What are some of the other conventions you have attended? I did the Salt Lake City show last year and this year's San Diego and Detroit shows. I'm getting tired of all the traveling, though. There are too many shows now. Nobody is making any money anymore. I'd rather guest spot if I'm going to travel. You make a lot more money and it's more fun hanging out in a shop environment. What do you think are the difference between the Female Expo and other conventions? [This show] is a lot more personal and we are all friends. There is a crazy artistic energy that's incredible. What are your influences or inspirations? Mostly my friends and people around me. What is your favorite tattoo style? Really exact reproduction work and realism.. I can put more into the technical side. I tried to get my own art out, but everyone is so particular in what they want. It's a lot harder to put so much energy into creating something out of the blue, stay up all night, get exhausted, bring it to the appointment and then have to redraw it for the customer. It's become easier to just perfect the reproduction of art they want and live a well rested life.

	Kirsten Padrosa Art Junkies Tattoo Hesperia, CA Kirsten has been tattooing for nine years. This is her first year at the Marked for Life Expo. What are your impressions about the expo? I've wanted to come to [Female Expo] for the last three years, but it's too close to the Mario Barth show to afford going to both. This year I planned better. I didn't want to come to make money; I came for the female vibe. Where I'm from there aren't too many female artists that you can talk too and learn from. It's weird. I wanted to meet other female artists. I thought that this convention would be the right place. I'm very happy that I came. I met Judy Parker. She is really super nice, but I was intimidated by her. She is amazing and she's been in the biz so long and she draws amazing. Laura, who was tattooing at her booth, was amazing as well. I'm going to keep in touch with them for sure. What is your favorite tattoo style? Pin ups, flowers, and I like to do demons and spooky stuff or black and grey, but since I have a lot of female customers, I don't get do it as much as I would like. I like to try new stuff all the time so I won't get stuck in a particular style. Any discrimination from men? At first, but that changed pretty quickly once my work started getting out there. At this point, men don't have much of a preference [for a male for female tattooer], but it seems to me women are generally more compelled to be tattooed by a girl. What are your wishes for the tattoo industry? I wish there were more female conventions. I think we could learn more from each other than guys in a shop environment. Sometimes I have felt that I have been held back in the past because some of the guys I've tried to learn from did not want to teach me certain things because I was a girl ... I wasn't part of their club. When women get together, they are more likely to share more ideas with each other.

	Jennifer Lynn Blue Devil Tattoo Tampa (Ybor City), Florida Jennifer has been tattooing for two years. She has attended the Marked for Life Expo twice – the first time five years ago and this year's 10th annual show... "I like to do it in fives I guess." How did you get your start in tattooing? I actually fell into it accidentally. I had a friend that owned a shop, Jim Curtis Tattoo in Jacksonville. He taught me how to tattoo and I worked there for a while. What is the best and worst thing about being a female tattoo artist? The best thing is I get a lot of customers because I'm not intimidating. They are more comfortable and relaxed so it's easier to make them happy. The flipside is guys come in and ask for the tattoo guy and I'm like 'You're looking at him.' They'll walk right pass me to talk to Blake who is our front counter guy. He'll just refer them to me. That makes me mad sometimes. Anything you would like to change in the industry? I can't speak for all female tattoo artists, but I think we should focus on learning to fix and build our own machines. I'm not mechanically inclined at all so I'm trying to learn more about that. Also to push the art and do great tattoos. Do things right the first time so there is no room for any questions about your abilities.

	Caroline Hedgepeth Skin Grafix Tattoo Studio Greenville, North Carolina www.skingrafix.com Caroline has been tattooing for 10 years. This is her second year at the Marked for Life Expo. How did you get started in tattooing? I took a semester off from art school and thought it would be a cool part-time job. I thought it would be easy. I thought 'I can draw. I can do this.' Not! When I got in to it, I was like 'Holy shit, there is a lot to this,' and I gained a ton of respect for the job. After my first tattoo, I was like 'Oh my God, this is what I'm destined to do.' What are your impressions about the expo? I think Deana has done a great job for the last 10 years, it's awesome. It's an amazing thing for women. It's so great to be in a room full of amazing artists that are all women. To be a part of that is really cool. What is the best and worst thing about being a female tattoo artist? The pro is that people commonly think we hurt less so it makes it less scary for people [to get tattooed]. That's silly. We do the same thing men do. As far as cons, I think it's really changed since the pioneers like Deana, Julie Moon and Judy Parker first got into it. Once people started seeing that we could do good tattoos and art and shows like the Female Expo, it has really lessened the stigmas.

	Miss Heidi Inkredible Ink Tattoo Orlando, FL www.inkredibleink.com Miss Heidi has been tattooing for 15 years. This is her fifth year at the Marked for Life Expo. What is the best and worst thing about being a female tattoo artist? In the beginning, there were far more cons. Now it's a lot easier. I was taught by a master tattooer in Pennsylvania, a full old school two year apprenticeship fielding customers, taking out the trash, scrubbing toilets and emptying ashtrays. It was gross, man. I learned about the machines, functionality, technical stuff and sterility issues before focusing on the art. That's one of the big differences these days. What are your wishes for tattoo industry? I would like to see it evolve to the point where gender is not an issue at all. Just be judged on your work ... nice clean tattoos, and more custom work. What are your impressions about the expo? It's a great showcase of female artists and a chance to get together and share ideas and create a feeling of unity within the industry. I think it's an awesome event that allows us to show that we have paid our dues and are creating great tattoos. To have an event just for us, it's kind of our just desserts.

	Tattoo Cat Tattooer from Germany Tattoo Cat has been attending the Marked for Life Expo for the last five years. How is your experience as a female tattooer in Germany? It's about the same [as American women's experiences]. What do you think are the differences between male and female tattooers? I actually think we are lighter handed and are more sensitive to our customers. What is the best and worst thing about being a female tattoo artist? The best part is that you get more attention just because you are female. It seems more men get tattoos and they like talking to women. I don't think there is any negative in being a female artist. What are your impressions about the expo? Deana does a good job for us. Her family is great and help us out a lot, especially coming from overseas. They are very accommodating. What are your highlights of the expo? Just being able to talk to all the famous people and make tattoos on people like Penny Funk from Philadelphia Eddie's and especially the toast they did for her last year. It was funny as hell! (Look for an article on tattoo history with Penny and Philadelphia Eddie in a future issue of PRICK)

	Lisa Schmoldt
	Level 5 Tattoo Port Charlotte, FL www.level5tattoo.com www.tattoosbylisa.com Lisa has attended the Marked for Life Expo from the beginning. What are your highlights of the expo? For me, seeing everyone and reconnecting with all the females who have helped me along the way. I have been attending the expo every year for the past 10 years. They taught me a lot those ladies, every one very different things. Also, reconnecting with past clients. I tattooed Penny, Philadelphia Eddie's wife, which was a very rewarding sigh of relief for me. Her energy – while the rest of the public may see her as boisterous and humorous – I think there is a beautiful quiet soft side of Penny and I was honored to have a chance to reflect that. What is the best and worst thing about being a female tattoo artist Deana's convention has allowed me to grow all these years and not feel like a simple novelty. It's made me feel not so isolated. In fact, it's only been in recent years that I have an incident that involved the 'not bad for a chick' mentality – I have experienced a taste of that mind set – but very few men in the industry behave that way these days and most are very respectful. Any shot outs to Deana, or any other female tattoo artists who have helped you out along the way? Mikki Crow: for teaching me how to focus and breathe through every aspect of life we have to face, recognize my ultimate responsibility as a human, artist and shaman, let go of the ego and allow things to flow through and not fight them. Julie Moon: I still haven’t acquired the patience and quiet stillness she permeates. Her radiant glow and ethereal aura and magical traits I wish some day to be able to reflect outwardly. Judy Parker: For going from 'Omigod, you're Judy Parker!' to 'What's up my homie!' I love her! She is by far my comedic best friend. Seeing her in a sumo wrestler suit at her roast was the funniest thing I had seen in a long time. Ten years ago I asked her to tattoo a koi on me at the first Marked for Life and her reply was 'Ronita gives good koi' and so it was her booth buddy that tattooed me. I could say something about every one of those ladies. I've learned so much over the years. If it wasn't’ from picking up a tattoo magazine while getting my first tattoo and randomly seeing a back piece done by Kari Barba, I would've thought tattooing to be an unartistic flash filled manly world.
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