They’re not just for sailors and bikers anymore.
That’s what prompted the opening of Downtown’s newest body art shop, Alaric Tattoo on West Adams Street at the Carling.
“One in three people has a tattoo,” said Edwin Kruer, one of the artists at Alaric.
Artist Jeremy Reed has been tattooing for 11 years. He said the age range of his clients is from young to not-so-young.
“I’ve tattooed teenagers, with their parents’ consent, and I’ve tattooed 70-year-olds,” he said.
Reed said reality television shows about tattoo artists helped bring the ancient practice of decorating the skin more toward the mainstream.
According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 36 percent of those 18-25 years of age have at least one tattoo. Among the 26-40 age group, 40 percent are tattooed and it’s 10 percent for the 41-64 demographic.
Men and women are about equal in the percentage of those who are tattooed and Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans to be “inked.”
Kruer said he specializes in duplicating images that are brought in by clients who know the tattoo design they want. He also creates new designs and designs that are based on an idea.
Reed works in the “color realism” style.
“I like to do really elaborate designs. It’s all about listening to what the customer wants and then drawing it,” he said.
Between them, Reed and Kruer have 19 years of experience in body art. Both said they learned from other artists.
“It’s a lot like blacksmithing. You can’t go to college and get a degree in tattooing,” said Kruer.
“But a lot of young artists have a background in the graphic arts,” said Reed.
The location was chosen because so many people work Downtown and because of events like First Wednesday Art Walk, said Reed. The shop is open for Art Walk and offers visitors the opportunity to enter a raffle for a tattoo gift certificate.
“There’s a lot of foot traffic and we’re the only tattoo shop on Art Walk,” said Reed.
Alaric is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday and by appointment.
356-2466