AVON — Tattoo artist Tim McCradic says he has given tattoos to people ranging in age from 16 to 76 — and has loved every minute of it. He’s only been in the trade for a little over four years, but says he’s been interested in art his entire life.

“I have definitely gotten to do a lot of interesting stuff,” he said.

His oldest customer was in her late 70s.

“She came in in a wheelchair and wanted to get an anklet,” McCradic said. “I did talk her into getting a butterfly on her shoulder because I thought it would be much easier on her. She loved it.”

He said it can be more difficult to tattoo older people because their skin is looser, but that he enjoys having customers of all ages.

McCradic works at Artistic Skin Designs Inc., 9719 E. U.S. 36, Avon. The shop is owned by Ken Richmond who has four other stores around Indianapolis and a new one in Belize.

The shop has an array of designs for customers to choose from and also offers custom designs.

“I really prefer doing the custom art,” McCradic said. “We can also cover up old tattoos that need a little work or redone.

“A lot of times we get a group of friends come in together. Like a group of ladies who are out for the night. I have done a lot of lady bugs, stars, and hearts for groups like that.”

McCradic recently did a family of four who wanted similar tattoos. Barb Tompkins brought her children — Amanda Tompkins, 16; Stephen Desnoyer, 21; and Joseph Desnoyer, 24 — to Avon from their home in Camby.

“And it was worth the trip,” she said. “Tim is the bomb!”

She said the family had been talking about getting tattooed together for a couple of years. They eventually decided on a tattoo of a lion taking over the world with the Bible verse John 16:33 inscribed.

“We wanted something that would really connect us,” Tompkins said. “It is really symbolic of all the trials we have been through together.”

She said she called the shop and asked if they had family rates.

“He said we could probably work something out,” Tompkins said. “He did a great job so I’m going to go back to him for a few more things. I want all my kids’ names, a memorial tattoo, and then I just want something for myself.”

McCradic is just one of the artists at Artistic Skin Designs Inc. Other artists include Dave Sloan, Lainy Ballast, and Ron Fox. Chad Fearnow, who does piercing, rounds out the Avon staff.

For more information on Artistic Skin Designs Inc., call 273-8282 or visit the website at www.artisticskindesigns.com.



SIDEBAR:



OK, it hurt — it hurt a lot

This week I did something I had wanted to do for years — I got a tattoo.

Yes, I know, I’m too old to be getting my first tattoo. At 35, I had a co-worker say, “I thought you would be past this by now.”

I guess I’m not.

My brother and sister both had tattoos young in life. I was much younger and always looked up to them and admired their permanent artwork.

Years ago, I had discussed getting a tattoo and my mother asked me to wait until she was dead. I’m a good kid and I’ll admit that her request stuck in my head.

In March, my sister came home after being away for 14 years. She was my best friend and our long separation took a toll.

She and her three children decided to get matching tattoos and settled on a drawing created by one of our family friends. The tattoo is of a lion overcoming the world and its completed with the Bible verse John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

But my sister wasn’t content with having a tattoo that matched her children’s, she thought we should also get matching tattoos.

“We’ve been through a lot together,” she said. “This is our declaration of sisterhood. We will always have a bond and now we have something we can look at and remember our connection.”

But ... but ... I had promised mom that I wouldn’t.

When I talked to my mother about it again, she just laughed at me.

“I was just giving you a hard time,” she said. “You’re a grown-up. You can do what you want.”

Well, there is that. But I’m still a little girl when it comes to pain.

Since my nieces and nephews could take it, I finally decided that I could too.

I admit to being very nervous when the day of my appointment finally arrived, but when I got to the tattoo shop, my sister, nephew, and nephew’s girlfriend were all there waiting. They were there to offer morale support (or to see if I would actually go through with it).

After finding a design that I liked, I got my sister’s approval since she would be getting an identical one.

Who will be going first? Stupid question. I was going to put this off as long as possible.

I watched as my sister got her tattoo — never flinching or grimacing. I took several photos to document our day of sisterly bonding.

Before long, it was my turn and the camera went into my sister’s hands. From the photo above, you can see that I didn’t do as well as she had.

I didn’t cry and I didn’t faint, so I can take some pride in that.

And I now have a lovely original tattoo on the top of my foot that I’ve been showing off to everyone. I have even more in common with my sister — not only the matching tattoos, but our experience of getting them together.

— Brenda L. Holmes is a page designer and staff writer for the Hendricks County Flyer.

brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com