by Jessica Pope*photos by Paul Leavy
Modern rise in the popularity of tattoos
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci recreated the final days of Jesus in The Last Supper using tempera on a dry wall and introduced generations to the Mona Lisa using oil paints on a poplar wood panel.
On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni created a fresco full of scenes from Genesis using pigments on plaster.
Vincent van Gogh painted Starry Night and Pablo Ruiz Picasso depicted the hopelessness, brutality and inhumanity of war in Guernica on canvas with oils.
These four Italian, Dutch and Spanish engineers, architects, painters, sculptors, drawers, scientists, writers, anatomists, inventors, poets, musicians, as well as mathematicians are likely to appear during any comprehensive study of art history. And most Valdostans, if not all, would consider each of them to be among the greatest artists of all time.
Professional Valdosta tattooists Craig Beasley of RNR Tattoos, Kevin Gomes of Ink Jammers Tattoo and Rio Davies of Ink Addiction Tattoo Studio are artists as well. However, instead of using brushes, temperas, oils, pigments, plaster, wood panels and canvases, they use needles, inks, steel tubes, tips and grips to create their original works of art on the human body.
Rio Davies of Ink Addiction Tattoo Studio
Age: 21
Status: Single
Hometown: Valdosta
• Rio’s very first tattoo: A little more or less than a year ago, she designed a pair of red cardinals for a tattoo on her upper back. She described it as her initiation into the world of the tattoo artist. At the time, she was studying the technical aspects of the art form under the direction of Russ Anderson and his team of tattooists at Ink Addiction but was not tattooed herself. “They told me that to be a tattoo artist, I had to be tattooed myself.” The cardinals were followed with a tattoo on her upper left arm. “I’m just getting started.”
• Rio’s decision to become a tattoo artist: An Art Education major at Valdosta State University with a passion for drawing and painting, she decided to leave the academic world behind when the folks at Ink Addiction selected her for an apprenticeship. That was more than six months ago. “I just figured tattooing would be the best way for me to have the most fun with my talent. Basically, I had to make a choice between teaching and tattooing. I chose the latter. I know teaching art would have been a great opportunity. However, I can go more places and do more things as a tattoo artist.”
• Rio’s thoughts on the ever-changing world of tattooing: Although she has witnessed the modern rise in the popularity of tattoos, she hopes the art form becomes even more accepted by mainstream society in the near future. “I would love to one day see really old grannies walking around with full-sleeve tattoos. I think my generation will be among the first to do that.” She said college students and women comprise the majority of her business with the occasional exception. She enjoys helping each one design an original work of art for their body. In fact, she prefers it. “I believe it’s a real honor to be able to put something you have taken the time to design on someone and have them carry it with them for the rest of their lives. I feel privileged to be able to do that. Each and every person walking through the studio doors has a story to tell.”
Ink Addiction Tattoo Studio
Location: 414 East Park Avenue, Valdosta
Telephone: (229) 333-9692
Hours: Open noon-8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Owner: Russ Anderson
Artists: Russ Anderson, Brett Cantrell, Bob Layne, Jason Changrien, Erik Salvatore, Rio Davies and Chris Hartsfield
Craig Beasley of RNR Tattoo
Age: 25
Family: Married to Heidi Beasley for 2-plus years; Two children, a 4-year-old daughter named Saryn Monroe Beasley and a 22-month-old son named Jett Danger Beasley
Hometown: Cairo but has lived in Valdosta off and on for the past 4 to 5 years
• Craig’s very first tattoo: He was 18 years old, a member of the United States Marine Corps and fresh out of boot camp. He allowed a friend who was learning the art of tattooing “at a shop I completely respected in Tallahassee,” Florida, to design and ink a nautical star on his upper right arm. A self-described free thinker and painter, his decision to get a tattoo was a natural progression of his longtime fascination with the art form.
• Craig’s decision to become a tattoo artist: It was 5 years ago when he completed an apprenticeship that taught him the technical aspects of tattooing. The rest he learned all by himself as he traveled to places far and wide and studied the work of other noted tattoo artists. He said he continues to learn something new every single day about both art in general and tattooing and enjoys “picking people’s brains” for knowledge and ideas. He told Valdosta Scene recently, “I absolutely enjoy it (tattooing). I am extremely fortunate to work with an amazingly talented group of tattoo artists. We draw together daily.” He also has a booth full of his paintings at City Market in downtown Valdosta.
• Craig’s thoughts on the ever-changing world of tattooing: He believes that people’s perceptions of tattoos and tattoo artists have come a long way in the past few years. The days of the art form being associated with crusty sailors, brawny prisoners or leather-clad motorcycle gangs only are practically over. In his shop, people from all walks of life walk through the doors each day looking to put a little ink on their bodies. “I’ve tattooed everyone from doctors to soccer moms and everyone in between.” Tattooing has created numerous opportunities for him, as well as his family and friends. He has both traveled across the United States and around the world and hung out with rock stars because of his tattooing skills. He likes that people are becoming more selective when choosing a tattoo artist and that people are requesting one-of-a-kind creations. “Tattoo artists are finally able to stand out as true artists.”
RNR Tattoo
Location: 2001 West Gordon Street (as of October 4)
Telephone: (229) 247-5028
Hours: Open noon-6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, noon-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Owner: Craig Beasley
Artists: Craig Beasley, Steve Bachman, Ken Wood and Misty Kilgore, with more joining soon
Kevin “Jammer” Gomes of Ink Jammers Tattoos & Body Piercing
Age: 41
Family: Married to Jessie “Cherry” Parker for 8 years; Has a 19-month-old son named Keenan “Skymac” Gomes
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland, but moved to Valdosta 10 years ago
• Jammer’s very first tattoo: The year was 1991, and he was 24 years old. He was interested in both decorating his upper body with a piece of artwork and paying tribute to his family heritage. Pushing up his sleeve, he revealed a Native American piece inked on his upper right arm.
• Jammer’s decision to become a tattoo artist: He had dreamed of working as an artist, particularly a tattooist, since he underwent his very first inking. However, he initially spent his professional days in kitchens and bathrooms and elsewhere working as a plumber — that is until he fell off of a two-story structure and broke his back. His body healed with time and rest, but he never returned to his former trade. His days of heavy lifting and maneuvering into tight places were over. Searching for a means by which to earn a living, he found himself at a crossroads. He could either learn another trade or pursue his passion for art. He chose the latter. In August of 1992, he entered an apprenticeship and studied the technical aspects of tattooing.
• Jammer’s thoughts on the ever-changing world of tattooing: Growing up, he believed, like so many others, that tattoos were only for sailors, prisoners and leather-clad bikers and that tattoo artists only worked in back alleys and on seedy you-might-be-a-victim-of-crime streets. But he will be among the first to admit that times have changed. In general, tattooists and tattoos are no longer surrounded by negative lore or “viewed as taboo by society.” His family-owned and operated studio tattoos a wide variety of men and women, white collar ones and blue collar ones, younger ones and older ones. He said more and more people are requesting one-of-a-kind works of art. “They are more interested in expressing themselves and are getting meaningful tattoos.” He said tattoos are pieces of artwork men and women can take with them every single day.
Ink Jammers Tattoos
& Body Piercing
Location: 1001 North Ashley Street
Telephone: (229) 247-4778
Hours: Open noon-7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and noon-10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Owner: Kevin “Jammer” Gomes and Jessie “Cherry” Parker
Artists: Kevin “Jammer” Gomes and Jessie "Cherry" Parker; Damon Williams and Brett Asbury, apprentices
