Photos by L.G. Patterson

Tattoos. You’re probably skeptical about what this feature could possibly offer you, or why you’re finding it in Inside Columbia for that matter. But the reality is, tattoos, artists and shops are not slowing down. In Columbia alone, you can find numerous studios across the city, with artists and apprentices offering residents something permanent and special, right on their body. And being a tattoo artist is no simple job — they are artists as true to their names as someone who uses a paintbrush or pottery wheel. Instead, they use a needle and a much more unforgiving medium. 

Establishing a Tattoo Scene in Columbia 

Tattooing in Columbia can be dated back nearly 40 years, to a man from Arkansas who set up shop at a bus stop on the north side of town, just outside of city limits. When Dean Jones, owner of Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing, first caught sight of one of these tattoos, he was captivated. “My boss at a restaurant I worked at came back and showed me, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” he says. “I told him I wanted to go next time.” 

At 16, the artist would not tattoo Jones, but he went along and watched. The tattoo industry in the 1980s saw a much rougher crowd — bikers and convicts mostly. “I was at the bus stop one night with my boss and these two drunk bikers were causing a bunch of problems,” Jones says. “The tattooist didn’t even stop, he just looked at me and said, ‘can you handle that?’ I said, ‘sure can,’ and tossed them out.” The next thing he knew, he had a second job. 

After the restaurant closed in the afternoon, he’d go to the tattoo shop, selling tattoos and working security. On his 18th birthday, Jones had his first tattoo. “I was hooked – I got three tattoos in two months,” he says. “The artist and I became really good friends and he taught me the ins and outs of the business. I traveled with him, doing the convention circuit, getting photographed, published in my first tattoo magazine in 1989. For whatever reason, I became fast friends with tattoo artists.” 

Jones went from working with the bus stop tattooist to opening a shop with another artist. That shop was located on Locust Street, where Cafe Poland now resides. From there, Columbia grew and Jones transitioned into consulting at and owning nightclubs. But tattoos were his passion — several shops across Missouri later, Jones opened Living Canvas, which will celebrate 20 years in business this June. 

Over the years, the tattoo industry has changed drastically, but one thing remained the same: it all comes down to helping people. “For a lot of people, tattoos are healing,” Jones says. “(The artists) turn into counselors. You spend hours with a client and depending on the reason they’re getting tatted, there’s usually a purge that comes with it. You’ve got to be built different to handle that because you get a lot of weight dumped on you, but helping people through that journey is the best part of what we do.” 

While many shops can be intimidating at first, Jones’ counter staff makes it a welcoming experience. “They’re kind, courteous, patient … I have a pretty fabulous group of people that play the mediary between the artist and client,” he says.  

Another important factor in the success of the industry is understanding how to best meet the needs of the client. “Nobody here (at Living Canvas) has an ego so big or greedy that they bite off more than they can chew,” Jones says. “All they want is to put out quality work and give people a good deal and a great piece of art.” 

The Artists Behind the Art 

In the heart of downtown Columbia, several tattoo shops boast the best artwork, the best tattoos and the best customer service. But who provides these experiences? Let’s meet some of the tattooists who put ink to skin each day. 

Amanda Rose Johnson 

Since the age of 5, Amanda Rose Johnson has always carried a sketchbook with her. Art is her passion — she channeled it by doing hair, but it wasn’t enough. When she started working part-time at the counter at Living Canvas, it all came together. “I only had one tattoo at the time, but had always been in love with the culture,” Johnson says. “Becoming a tattoo artist happened very organically; I realized I could fulfill my dream of being an artist and stay in this world of alternative lifestyles.” 

In fulfilling that dream, Johnson works with many clients with different backgrounds. One client wanted a forehead tattoo, and it seemed like he had already asked around, and most shops told him no. “It’s very stigmatized that to get tattooed, you need to already be tattooed, especially for more extreme areas,” she says. “But a forehead tattoo and no other tattoos means something. I felt like he needed it.” Upon talking to him further, Johnson learned that the client was very self-conscious and struggled with balding. She started with some tattoos on the side of his head, then went for the forehead. “You could just see a different confidence in him, and it makes me very emotional … he just came alive,” Johnson says.  

Tattoos are deeply meaningful. Even if they happen as a result of a drunken night or a dare, the stories that come with them are a part of your life. But Johnson offers some advice given to her by her dad: “I wanted my first tattoo in high school right after my mom passed away, but he said to wait a full year,” she says. “If you still want it for a full year, that shows that it was a portion of you and it was significant.” 

Though she enjoys doing every style of tattooing, Johnson finds herself doing black-and-gray illustrative most. But more than anything, art is at the core. “It’s the only activity that really brings me joy,” she says. “If I was abandoned on an island, I would make mandalas out of leaves.” 

Corey Harness 

After starting his career working in molecular pathology, Corey Harness realized he wasn’t on a path that made him happy. So in 2019, when the opportunity came to begin a tattoo apprenticeship, he ran with it. “I love my job … I love tattooing,” he says. “It’s by far the most rewarding career I think I could have.” 

For Harness, being a tattoo artist is about more than money. “When somebody goes to look in the mirror and is happy with what they got, that pays me,” he says. “Yeah, we’re doing art on people and it’s awesome, but we’re really in the business of selling confidence and self-acceptance, helping people feel better about themselves or deal with things that have happened in the past. Tattoos have much more meaning than just something you wear on your skin.” 

As tattoos become more modernized, some shops fall into the trap of churning through people, doing as many tattoos as possible, as quickly as possible. Harness says Living Canvas does the opposite. “Some places feel like every tattooer is there for themselves to make money, but here, we’re all a team,” he says. “We’re honest with each other, and it makes us stronger, and none of our artists fall stagnant. I think that’s rare to have within a group of coworkers, much less in a tattoo shop. It means you’ll always get something high-quality here, no matter what.” 

Gabe Garcia 

Gabe Garcia, co-owner of Iron Tiger Tattoo, has been tattooing since 2003. But his interest in the art was piqued when he was 13 years old, listening to and attending punk rock shows. He started drawing tattoos for older friends a few years later. “I didn’t know you could do it as a career, but when I moved to Columbia, that was it,” he says.  

For Garcia, tattooing equals freedom. “We have freedom of expression and freedom of thought, but we’re also able to just be people,” he says. “Plus, if you’re trying, you’re constantly getting better, so there’s never a dull moment.” 

Many people enjoy their jobs, but they still wake up in the morning and have a sense of dread. Garcia has never felt that, saying he has never not wanted to go to work at the shop. “Every day is as good as the last or better,” he says. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. My life would be completely unfulfilled.”  

The staff at Iron Tiger is 100% tattoo, 100% of the time, according to Garcia. “We are all about living as a part of the true tattoo culture and authentic tattooing — nonstop,” he says. 

Tattoos aren’t for everyone, but they don’t need to be. Like most things, there’s a specific audience for it, and that’s okay. “If tattoos are going to remain cool, there needs to be a degree of people out there who hate you for having them,” Garcia says. 

Angel Bui 

From working on much smaller canvases as a nail artist to being a licensed tattooist at Iron Moe’s, Angel Bui has continued to establish himself in the industry. Nearly five years ago, Bui was offered a coveted apprenticeship, given to very few individuals. For Bui, this apprenticeship meant everything, so he advanced quickly to be able to tattoo real skin each day. 

Now that he has made tattooing into his career, Bui reaps the benefits of a job that doesn’t feel like a job. “How successful you are is all on you,” he says. “I love what I do so much that, to be honest, I would do it for free. This is more than a job to me. I’m here, chasing a passion, making money … it’s perfect.” 

Oftentimes, clients come to Bui with an idea of what they want and he works alongside them to develop a strong design, but they need to trust him first. Trust is built before the needle ever touches the skin — tattoo artists need to relate to their clients and talk to them in a way that feels natural. “It comes down to how you control the situation,” Bui says. “If someone is anxious, they don’t trust you yet. You have to build that trust just like with your friends, your puppy, anything else in life. You don’t just get it; you have to earn it.” 

Because Bui has worked at Iron Moe’s for the entirety of his tattoo career, he has seen the shop grow, bringing on new artists with a wide range of skills. Even though they all come from different backgrounds, one thing they all agree on is that they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. “This is not a place where you will walk in and see everyone completely miserable … it’s like a second family,” he says. “We love what we do and we stand behind our work.” 

Trent Tucker 

Trent Tucker grew up in Columbia, spending most of his life downtown. Tucker didn’t have to look very far to find his true calling: tattooing full-time at Living Canvas, in a building right next to what was formerly a restaurant owned by his parents. 

His parents, self-proclaimed tattoo connoisseurs, encouraged Tucker to be something more realistic – a motorcycle mechanic, for instance. But Tucker loved art, and got a taste for tattooing at a young age. One night, when his dad brought him to the tattoo shop, suddenly he was gloved and given a needle. “I wouldn’t leave them alone, so they said, ‘screw it’ and let me color for a bit,” he says. “I sat there and tattooed my dad’s foot, and honestly, I can’t remember ever wanting to do anything else.” So he got an apprenticeship, and over 16 years later, he remains on the corner of Broadway and 6th.  

 “As far as tattooing, I’d prefer to never retire,” Tucker says. “I literally want to be an old crotchety man that falls dead in this chair one day. (Tattooing) is like chasing the most finite razor’s edge of something. You can always improve and make things better, and there’s constantly a bar that you can raise for yourself.” 

From barrier walls, pillows and comfortable furniture to conversations with the client, building trust is one of the most important jobs a tattoo artist can have. “Keeping them as comfortable, safe and seen as possible is really important,” Tucker says. “One thing my mother has told me since I was young is that I would not be rough, tough or aggressive with people. I care a lot, and keeping them happy in the chair allows me to do my job to the best of my ability.” 

Jake Bailey 

Nearly four years ago, Jake Bailey opened True Heart Tattoo downtown with 14 years of tattooing experience. After beginning college in the engineering program, he quickly realized his passion lay elsewhere: art. He switched gears to study fine art and graphic design, worked part-time at the counter of a tattoo shop and later began his apprenticeship.  

After moving away for several years, he returned to Columbia and opened his own shop. “I wanted to create a welcoming environment where even if people have never dealt with us before, they feel comfortable to ask questions or bring up ideas,” he says.  

Though some may argue that Columbia is oversaturated with tattoo shops, Bailey says that isn’t such a bad thing. “People have a lot of options — everybody has the same opportunity to earn people’s business,” he says. 

Bailey’s specialty in tattooing is based in American traditional, but with every style he does, each piece results in a tattoo that will hold up and stand the test of time for his clients. Because clients make the job worth doing. “Getting to meet people from all different walks of life and hear their stories, what they do for a living … it keeps it interesting for me.” 

Oftentimes, clients walk in for their tattoo in transitionary phases of life, so Bailey and his team at True Heart ensure comfort throughout the process. “There’s some pretty emotional situations we come across,” he says. “People come in for tattoos at high points and low points in their life. But we strive to treat people well and if you do that repeatedly, word gets out there and that’s how we’ve continued to grow and succeed.” 

The Evolution of Permanent Beauty 

One of the biggest differences between this practice and traditional tattooing is that these are “semi-permanent,” typically lasting one to five years before needing a touch-up. “The industry has shifted to a less harsh technique so they look more natural, but the downside is that they don’t last as long,” Kinkade says. “It’s still going to last you years, but you’ll need to get them color-boosted or touched-up. Most women actually prefer it that way because as trends change, they still have some freedom.” 

Speaking of trends, this is part of why cosmetic brows popped up in the first place. “A lot of people my age went through the ‘tiny eyebrows’ era where they were overplucked and then wouldn’t grow back,” Kinkade says. “Many women also lose their eyebrows with age or menopause.” 

One of the most meaningful parts of Kinkade’s work is with breast cancer survivors. “A lot of people don’t think about when women have a mastectomy, they’re left with flat skin, so they often feel incomplete,” she says. “I am able to make a nipple that looks 3D and natural. I feel happy watching those women feel whole again, knowing it brought just a bit of normalcy back to their life.” 

People often tell Kinkade, “this is the best decision I’ve ever made.” As an artist who strives to help people, this is what it’s all about. “Anytime I hear that, it makes me happy because I know I’ve helped someone in their daily routine,” she says. 

The Stories Behind the Ink 

Tattoos are permanent reminders of a season of life, a person or pet, a phrase to live by and more. The same imagery or words could mean thousands of different things to different people, but only the person who bears the tattoo can explain the meaning behind it — and sometimes, words aren’t even enough. 

In 2017, Shane Harris and Jordan Mills, co-owners of One Seven Painting LLC, lost their son, Bronson. The third-born child after having twin girls, Bronson was diagnosed with anencephaly at his 10-week ultrasound, meaning he would be born with an underdeveloped brain, and a partial skull. “He only lived for about 20 minutes,” Harris says. “We saw him breathing, his heart beating, and then he wasn’t.” 

When Bronson passed, their daughters were just two years old, and they later had another son. When asked how many kids they have, Harris and Mills will always say four. In placing each of their kids on their body in some way, this opens up the opportunity to talk about them, Bronson included. “Even though it makes other people uncomfortable, knowing my first son died, it makes us feel better to talk about him,” Harris says. “Having the tattoos keeps Bronson in the forefront of our minds.” 

Quite literally, Harris and Mills both wear a forehead tattoo that reads, “folie á sicks.” The tattoo itself is a quadruple entendre. Harris explains it as this: “‘Folie á deux means mental madness for two. We dropped the ‘deux’ and replaced it with six to represent our family, but spelled it S-I-C-K-S because all five of us have trauma from Bronson’s passing. Also, one of my favorite wrestlers has a group called the Wyatt Sicks, spelled the same.” 

Harris and Mills together have more than a few tattoos for Bronson, including a photorealistic portrait of him when he was born, his name, a moose, a bull, his birthdate and his birth year. “The tattoos let me openly grieve while talking about him and what happened in a positive way,” Harris says. “Our kids also feel free to talk about their brother that died and not feel like it’s a topic they cannot discuss.”  

In a way, the tattoos have been able to externalize the internal pain felt by the couple. “You feel so much pain when something like this happens, and tattoos really hurt,” Harris says. “It gives you a physical sense of what you’re feeling emotionally at the time. It helped me, and I feel better afterward.” 

However, this is not to say that a tattoo is the answer to everything grief related. “I would never say, ‘oh, you lost your child, you should get a portrait of them,’ especially if they’re not already tattooed,” Harris says. “But if you are or you’ve had that loss and have always wanted a tattoo and never knew what to get, that would be the one.” 

Harris and Mills are easily defined as being heavily tattooed, from sentimental pieces for their kids to flowers and horror movie icons. Because of that, Harris and Mills are used to the extra attention they get while out in public. “They can be two years old or 100 years old, people do stare,” Harris says. “But if you are going to have the uniform on, you have to expect that … you can’t get upset. 

While tattoos have become much more normalized in pop culture, the couple says “real life” looks different. People often believe they are movie stars, in a band or have been to prison. “Depending on that person’s premeditated ideas of what tattoos mean, it’s going to determine how they look at you,” Harris says. “People are sometimes hesitant to speak to us … they think we’re scary, dangerous, a bad influence. There is definitely a reaction, whether it’s negative or positive.” 

For those who have negative connotations about heavily tattooed people simply based on how they look, Harris begs the question: have you ever met a terrible person who has no tattoos? The answer is nearly always “yes,” which is more than enough for him. “It all comes down to how you act, not how you look,” Mills adds. 

Harris says kids and animals love him because they lack preconceived notions, and is proud of the fact that he and his wife are raising their kids to not judge other people. “Their parents don’t look ‘normal,’ so when they see anyone who looks ‘different,’ they don’t even think twice.” The kids, who often sport purple hair or mullets, become more inspired by seeing the abnormal things that many people get judged for, according to Mills. 

The memory of losing a child will stick with them forever, just like the permanence of their tattoos. But through body art, Harris and Mills have been able to both be themselves and hold Bronson close, honoring the life he was supposed to have. 

We Asked Como’s Ink Masters 

Q: Are tattoos safe? 

A: Absolutely. With every other scientific thing, the more data you have, the better. Tattoos have been around for so long, back to the cavemen. Nowadays we have so much sanitation technology, so there’s nothing unsafe if done right. We use one-time-use cartridges and immediately put them in a biohazard bin, which cuts down on communicable diseases and bacteria. Everything has gotten much safer because of rules and regulations that have been put on.  — Corey Harness, Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing 

Q: How painful is getting a tattoo? 

A: The most painful tattoo is the one you’re getting right now. It depends on the person and location. I’ve heard people say the neck, hands, stomach and shin are really painful, but I’ve tattooed myself in each of those spots and they’re my least painful. For most people though, the forearm is the least painful and ribs are most painful. — Angel Bui, Iron Moe’s 

Q: How do I know a tattoo shop is reputable? 

A: Definitely look at portfolios, but it can be hard to judge if you don’t have a lot of experience in this world. Online reviews and cleanliness are big green flags to look for, plus a shop should reflect passion behind the work. — Jake Bailey, True Heart Tattoo 

Q: How much does a tattoo cost? 

A: It’s going to come down to the artist’s final design, where it’s going and what size it needs to be. Prices can range anywhere from $13 on a Friday the 13th special or $1,300 if you’re trying to fill a big space. But I think anywhere from $100-$150 per hour is pretty standard in the Midwest. — Amanda Rose Johnson, Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing 

Q: How do I choose the right artist? 

A: Look at portfolios. Compare notes, use your eyes as your best judgement and pick someone whose style and technique fill you with confidence. Then just hang out with the tattooer to see if you can tolerate them. Someone may be an incredible artist, but sitting with them sucks. Their attitude will last way longer than anything underneath the skin, so you may hate a tattoo just because your artist was a jerk. But at the same time, you could have a mediocre tattoo but had the best time of your life, so you’ll look down and remember a good experience. Hopefully you find the combination of someone who’s pleasant as well as talented. — Gabe Garcia, Iron Tiger Tattoo 

Q: Can you draw my tattoo for me if I just have an idea? 

A: Yes. We usually will look at some sort of reference to make sure it’ll function properly, then draw something and turn it into a stencil. We will consult with the clients to make sure they like it and if we need to make any adjustments, we’ll communicate that too. — Moe Rogers, Iron Moe’s 

Q: Can I bring in a reference photo for a portrait? 

A: Definitely, but you should know that not all photos will work. Most people that do photorealism portraits are going to be pretty picky, so be prepared for that and have several options. — Peter Tieman, Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing 

Q: What should I do to prepare for my appointment? 

A: Make sure you sleep good the night before, drink lots of water and don’t get tattooed on an empty stomach. And bring stuff that will make you comfortable like a blanket or pillow. — Kayli Haygood, Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing 

Q: Can I take breaks during my session? 

A: Totally, especially with the longer ones. If someone’s tattooing you for hours at a time, it’s important to get up, get a wiggle break, get your circulation going and have a snack. — Michael Moscoso, Iron Tiger Tattoo 

Q: How do I take care of my new tattoo? 

A: Using non-scented hand soap and non-scented lotion are the biggest two recommendations. If you’re out in the sun, wear sunscreen or keep it covered. — Trent Tucker, Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing 

Q: Do I need to tip my tattoo artist? 

A: This is still a service-based industry, so yes. It usually turns out to be about 10% of the total cost, but it’s not always done in money. Tattoo artists love to eat, so sometimes when a client builds a rapport with an artist, they’ll bring in coffee or food for the break room. If somebody is spending every dime they have on this tattoo, we understand if they can’t tip. We don’t live and die on tips … nobody’s got heartburn over it, but it is customary.  — Dean Jones, Living Canvas Tattoo & Body Piercing