(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Tattoo artist Emily Rodkey with High Tide in Juneau, AK said she is already booked for the weekend with some "pretty good sized pieces" at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Tattoo artist Josh Brown with Capitol City Tattoo in Olympia, WA shows of his gypsy girl at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Adam Hiatt winces as Salt Lake Tattoo Co. artist Landon Barney puts the final touches on his nautilus tattoo at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018. "Go big or go home," said Hiatt, 33, of his first tattoo, shown in a drawing in the background. Hiatt and his brother came to the show Saturday to get their first tattoos.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) "Ink therapy is an amazingly good way to relieve stress," said Kaitlyn Hansen who attended the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dennis Peterson of Boise, ID shows off his most prized tattoo on his hand that represents his service in the United States Navy from 1974-1978 at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vince Vargas shows off his most meaningful tattoo of Jesus Christ on his hand while admiring tattoo artist's work and their designs at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) David Hoffman of Salt Lake City shows off the veins, tendons and bones tattoo at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Christie Vargas' most meaningful tattoos are her sleeves that celebrate her Puerto Rican heritage, including the Puerto Rican flag, flowers, plants and a coqui frog at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Herb Auerbach, a tattoo artist with California Electric colors a head tattoo at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) David Hoffman of Salt Lake City shows off his "Comic Book Guy" tattoo at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kim Wright of Denver, CO attends this year's Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018 to see the work of artists whose work in the traditional style she admires.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jacob Lopez of Salt Lake City shows off his fresh ink of "Mi Vida" at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018. Lopez has 36 tattoos and attends the convention every year looking for new body art.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jacob Lopez of Salt Lake City shows off his "sink or swim" tattoo at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention, Saturday, March 17, 2018. Lopez has 36 tattoos and attends the convention every year looking for new body art.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) "I'm a free bird," said Dustin Bitton of Salt Lake City showing off his new tattoo on his chest to cover up the name of his soon-to-be ex-wife at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention Saturday, March 17, 2018. "The divorce is final at the end of the month," said Bitton.
As she sat for her third tattoo on Saturday — a tombstone with the inscription “There better be dogs” — Ellie Thomson said the only part that hurts is the outline.
“The rest of it is pretty easy,” the Salt Lake City resident said.
Thomson had set up an appointment to catch an out-of-state tattoo artist at the Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention. The setting meant thousands of prying eyes as guests passed by, but she was as unfazed by them as she was the ink-tipped needles poking into her left arm.
“This is my first time here — it’s awesome,” she said of the convention. “It’s really cool seeing all the different artists.”
The three-day tattoo convention, currently in its 15th year, culminates on Sunday at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
“It’s absolutely a family-friendly activity,” said Cristine Lewis, owner of Heavy Duty Tattoo in Ogden and a convention volunteer. “There’s opportunities to get tattoos, and there’s opportunities to meet some amazing people.”
A children’s area — with a bounce house, temporary tattoos, board games and coloring contests — offer diversions to guests not yet old enough for their first tattoos. And the many artists drew sporadic crowds of spectators as they worked, particularly Sulu’ape Keone Nunes, who employs the traditional Hawaiian kakau technique of tapping designs into the skin by hand.
Shae McAfee, owner of Tiger Claw Tattoo in Millcreek, said the convention has shifted over the years toward a more selective roster of artists. And Salt Lake City, he said, is home to a vibrant tattoo culture that sometimes surprises out-of-state guests expecting a more conservative stereotype.
“If you’ve never been to a tattoo convention, with the community, this is a good spot for that,” McAfee said. “Come in here and check out all these people’s work. You’ve got the best of the best.”
CJ Fishburn, an artist with Yellow Rose Tattoo in Sugar House agreed, describing Salt Lake City as a “tattoo town.”
“People here get tattooed a lot,” he said. “Our culture kind of has two polar opposites, which is perfect. It creates a great tattoo dynamic.”
And with a convention, Fishburn said, Utahns have access to excellent artists who wouldn’t otherwise be working in the state.
“We’ve got your dreams,” he said. “Come get them.”
Asked why she has tattoos, Thomson responded “why not?” She said she appreciates the artistry and the skill involved in creating the images.
“If you want something to last, I think you should just get it,” she said. “Go for it.”
SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL TATTOO CONVENTION<br> Continues Sunday from 12-8 p.m. at the Salt Palace Convention Center. <br> Single-day tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for teenagers, with children younger than 12 able to attend for free.