Apr 14, 2017

Photos and text by Algerina Perna

: Carlos Macias, right, tattoos Keith Eby from Harrisburg, PA. Says Macias, 33, who has his own business, has been tattooing since age 12. He says, “I didn’t know it would take me across the world.” He was invited to Amsterdam for tattooing, and has been to German, Switzerland, Puerto Rico and Brazil for his art. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Pictured is a portrait of Jesus Christ on the back of tattoo artist Jesus Kolors Lopez, 21, from Southern California. Lopez began drawing when he was 9 years old. He says, “Tattooing came along my way when I as 17 years old. I took advantage of the opportunity. I’m proud of it…” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Honoring his Peruvian ancestry, Giordano Vittone, 21 from Toms River NJ, was tattooed with an Incan warrior, Machu Picchu and a sun symbol. He says the next tattoo will be the Virgin Mary to honor his Italian ancestry. Vittone says, “I always like the idea of expressing myself with art- my background, my heritage, so tattooing is the best thing for me. “The tattoo is by Jesus Kolors Lopez, 21, from Southern California. Vittone and his friend, Paul Samaniego follow Kolors and get their tattoos only from him. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Joshua “Two Bears” Carlton from Panama City, FL who expresses his Native Americn ethnicity in his name and by his tattoos, works on a client. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexandra Fische tattoos the forearm of Barbara Palacios, 26, from Woodstock MD. Fische, who began painting when she was 12, states on her website, “I’m not a tattoo artist, I’m just an artist who happens to tattoo.” This is the second tattoo Palacios received from Fische. The last one was a jellyfish design. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Customers peruse work by tattoo artists displayed at their booths. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Chicago Rivera, left, puts a lion and butterfly tattoo on Enriquez Lozano, 19, an active duty soldier from Ft. Meade, MD. Rivera, whose tag is “Chicago 475” says, “Ever since I was a kid, I was really into artwork.” When he was 12, he tattooed his last name on himself. Lozano says, “I wanted [a tattoo] to represent my parents and myself.” His first tattoo was a bear on his right arm to signify himself. Rivera is tattooing a lion and a butterfly on Lozano’s left arm to represent his father and mother respectively. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Troy Foote (cq), 21, from Easton, gets a tattoo of a 5.3 LS chevy motor on his leg by artist Robin “Punky” Lasky at the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention held this weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center for the 10th year in a row. It’s sponsored by Villain Arts. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Nicky Hennerez a tattoo artist from Crofton, works on a design. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Kolors Lopez, 21, from Southern California tattoos Paul Samaniego, 24, from Tom’s River. The quote on Smaniego’s chest reads: I see now that the circumstances of ones birth are irrelevant . It’s what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” Samaniego said, “It’s a quote since my childhood I’ve heard… I have a really strong feeling towards it… I thought of my dad and where he came from. I lived in Queens NY in a small apartment near a railroad.” The quote is a testament to his father who “worked hard” and then moved his family into a very nice home where the family had everything, he says. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Jake Hufnagle, 34, from Baltimore sits for a tattoo by John “Johnny Fitswell” Sanchez from San Antonio, TX. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Pictured is a portrait of Jesus Christ on the back of tattoo artist Jesus “KOLORS” Lopez, 21, from Southern California. Lopez began drawing when he was 9 years old. He says, “Tattooing came along my way when I as 17 years old. I took advantage of the opportunity. I’m proud of it…” KOLORS tattoos Paul Samaniego, 24, from Tom’s River. The quote on Smaniego’s chest reads: I see now that the circumstances of ones birth are irrelevant . It’s what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” Samaniego said, “It’s a quote since my childhood I’ve heard… I have a really strong feeling towards it… I thought of my dad and where he came from. I lived in Queens NY in a small apartment near a railroad.” The quote is a testament to his father who “worked hard” and then moved his family into a very nice home where the family had everything, he says. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Robin “Punky” Lasky, 38, from Glen Burnie, MD started and completed this Chevy motor 5.3LS on Troy Foote, 21, from Easton, MD in one 7-hour sitting. Says Lasky, “[It] was kind of fun & exhilarating & exhausting at the same time.” Lasky says the act of tattooing large-scale designs is, “kind of a personal because you have to get to an actual personal level w/ the client. I’ve got a lot of clients now that are friends of mine.” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Jessie Garcia, left, puts a tattoo on Tempest Collins from Laurel, MD while Carlos Macias, right, tattoos Keith Eby from Harrisburg, PA. Says Macias, 33, who has his own business, has been tattooing since age 12. He says, “I didn’t know it would take me across the world.” He was invited to Amsterdam for tattooing, and has been to German, Switzerland, Puerto Rico and Brazil for his art. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: From left Alycia Davis, 26 from Arbutus, Joshua Hamilton, 21 and Robin Mims, 28, both from Easton, look at work by Alex McFar, right, and the Art of War Tattoo Collective.(Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Dan Morin with Tommy Supplies which manufactures StarBrite ink, a vegan and natural product, brought the product to the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Harrison L. Crawford, a painter from Station North in Baltimore and the vice president of Art Monkeys, creates art at the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexandra Fische puts a tattoo on Barbara Palacios’ arm. In center is Barbara’s husband, Luis Palacios. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: A vendor at the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center displays some of her tattoos. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Tattoo artist Ashley Reynolds from Edgewater puts a jelly fish tattoo on Caitlin Clarke, 30, from Baltimore. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: People gather around the METRO ORANGE display to look at the posters. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Tattoo artist Alexandra Fische was booked with tattoo customers at the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center for the 10th year in a row. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: From left, Jake Hufnagle, 34, from Baltimore gets a tattoo of a woman’s head from artist John “Johnny Fitswell” Sanchez from San Antonio, TX, while Quince Lanford from Ft. Meade, MD gets a lion tattoo from artist Salvador Sevilla from Palm Springs, CA. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Nicky Hennerez from Canton, MD makes a template for a tattoo. He works as a tattoo artist in Crofton, MD. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Tony Maya alias Tig Quest is a tattoo artist from Brooklyn, NY. HIs hands spell “Gato Loco” (Crazy Cat). (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The ritual of making indelible pictures on the body by inserting permanent pigments in the top layers of skin dates back at least to 2000 BCE where archaeologists have discovered designs on ancient mummies. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Every tattoo tells a story… of honor or identity or religion or love or cars. The list goes on and on. The ritual of making indelible pictures on the body by inserting permanent pigments in the top layers of skin dates back at least to 2000 B.C. where archaeologists have discovered designs on ancient mummies.

At the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention recently held at the Baltimore Convention center, thousands of people converged to have tattoos imprinted on their bodies. Many of the tattoos they chose reflect more than just an appreciation of a beautiful flower, geometric pattern or movie character. The tattoos reflect something intangible, something meaningful from their lives which is then translated into a physical design by the tattoo artist. Through the collaboration of artist and subject, their stories are revealed. And just like their clients, the artists have their own unique stories.

Stories on skin: scenes from the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention

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