The Art of Ink: Self-Expression Through Tattoos

By Rivka Wolin, Webmaster ∼ 

Heading off to college means new challenges, newfound freedom, and new forms of self-expression. Penn State students have always found ways to share their individuality—whether through fashion, clubs, or art. But in recent decades, more young people have chosen to express themselves through tattoos.

Maggie Day, a sophomore double major in education public policy and Spanish, got a tattoo on her ankle with her sister to honor their bond.

“My love for my sister is a part of me,” Day said. “I got poppies because when I think of her, I think about how she had this orange dress that looked like a poppy. We all change and grow but that is the image of her in my head.”

Corrina Rosenfield did most of her 13 tattoos herself through the stick-and-poke method.

“I learned from my sister how to stick and poke tattoos. I have a smiley face on my hand in the same place she has a frowny face,” said Rosenfield, a junior telecommunications major. “Stick and pokes are very therapeutic and calming to me. I have really bad anxiety and would just go over the designs for days until I was happy with them.”

According to Rosenfield, “getting tattoos helps end the stigma. The first impressions you get from a person with tattoos, especially hand tattoos like mine, is that they are a bad person or that I am unmotivated. I want to be a lawyer and I can always cover my tattoos if I need to, but I find the people that are cool with tattoos are cool people I want to be around.”

Another student, Victoria, who just wants to go by her first name, has six tattoos in total, all are animals, and all were done by apprentices.

“I got all of them for fun. One has a meaning attached to it; a geometric bird,” Victoria said. “I found it on my grandfather’s Jeep wheel cover. It is not a memorial tattoo it was a cool story and he drew himself.”

Victoria (senior, advertising and public relations), said, “According to a tattoo artist, I have unusually good skin for tattooing; this makes it good for practice. Instead of only being able to go over a line twice you can go over mine at least 8 times.”

“I am happy I get to display others’ work. I get to be a canvas. When I look at a tattoo, I am happy, and I know the artist is happy if I am.”

Students are not the only people who think tattoos are important to self-expression. Local tattoo artists shared their experience with creating art in their profession.

Ethan Swancer from Ikonic Ink just loved the art of tattoos.

“I have always wanted to make a career out of tattooing. I love traditional inks in the sense of tattoos that look like tattoos,” Swancer said. “The classic designs had rules and aspects that made them powerful and strong. It is something I go for even with modern tattoos.”

According to Swancer, it is important to “think ahead after it heals and settles in general. I am just here to approve of your design and tell you that you are making a good choice for your mental health and feel better about yourself. That is why we do body mods–to feel better about ourselves.”

Justin Sellers, Co-owner of King Cobra Tattoo didn’t really see himself becoming an artist in any way.

“I always drew doodles,” Sellers said. “I didn’t have any aspirations to become an artist until tattooing happened.”

Sellers’ brother got him into tattooing after going to college at University Park and becoming a tattoo apprentice during school.

According to Sellers, it is important “take your time and do your research. Don’t care about the trend and what is popular. Do what you like and don’t get tattooed by just anyone. Do it right by yourself. And go to someone you trust.”

Jen Eisenhauer, Owner of Drip Studios has always wanted to be an artist.

“It has never been anything else,” Eisenhauer said. “My parents were like there is no money in it, but I am doing what I love.”

Tattoos, according to Eisenhauer, can tell a person lot about “you, your culture, the meaningful, and fun tattoos. You don’t judge a book by its cover, but you can tell a lot about if someone has a specific tattoo. You can see their story if they have a semicolon or a cancer ribbon or a Medusa.”

Eisenhauer shared a piece of advice for students that are looking to get tattoos.

“Speak up for yourself. First timers especially don’t feel like they can speak up and say, ‘hey that doesn’t look right.’ If it is the wrong size or the placement seems off let your artist know,” Eisenhauer said. “If you feel like you can’t give feedback or an artist is not listening to your feedback leave. Don’t settle, this is your body!”

---

Rivka Wolin is the Webmaster for KLIO. She is majoring in Digital and Print Journalism and is in her second year at Penn State. Some of her extracurriculars include: The Daily Collegian News Candidate, Social Media manager for the PSNtv Documentary. “Summer’s End” by Biosphere is a song that would best describe her.