When Chris Hummel became a tattoo artist in 1997, most people who got tattoos were bikers and military men—people he says were on the “outskirts of society.” Part of the reason he got into tattooing was because he grew up around that culture. Both of his grandfathers were in the military, and there was a biker bar behind his childhood home.
Now, as a father of five and grandfather of seven, he says he’s the opposite of what people once imagined when they thought of a tattoo artist: A family guy.
“It’s completely normal to be a regular artist who’s into tattooing and not part of this rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle,” says Hummel, who owns Satori Tattoo in downtown Loveland. “I’ve never been into hard drugs or that lifestyle. That’s a real common misperception for a lot of people.”
In fact, it’s common to see anyone, even doctors, teachers and grandmothers, with tattoos these days. Part of the reason, Hummel says, is the media.
“I think celebrities getting heavily tattooed, and TV pulling tattooing into the spotlight, made it more acceptable,” he says. “When you see these people getting tattoos, it makes your regular person who’s sitting at home be like, ‘You know what? I want to do that.’”
Tattoo by Erick Erickson, Tribal Rites Tattoo & Piercing.
Everyone is a rebel now
Even as tattoos have become more popular, they’re still an act of rebellion, says Erick Erickson, a tattoo artist at Tribal Rites Tattoo & Piercing in downtown Fort Collins who has been inking people since 2001. Putting anything permanent on your body is a big statement, he says, even the little stuff. Still, he’s seen more big tattoos, like sleeves, on people you wouldn’t normally expect to have them.
“I used to hear a lot of people say, ‘I need to do it above my elbow because of work,’ and I don’t hear that much anymore,” he says. “There is less of a stigma.”
There’s a reason for every tattoo, Erickson says, whether it’s to mark an event in time, honor a loved one or celebrate the birth of a child. Another reason is that you simply felt like walking into a tattoo shop that day, he says. It just depends on whether you’re someone who puts a great deal of thought and planning into the decision or you’re more spontaneous.
Erickson, now covered in tattoos, walked around with a design in his pocket for two years before getting his first tattoo at age 23. While his parents were both professional artists—his mom, a graphic designer, and his dad, an illustrator—and always encouraged his artistic expression, he wanted to make sure he really loved the design before committing. After all, tattoos are permanent, and anyone getting one should consider whether the design is something they might regret later.
“If I started getting tattooed when I was 16 or 17, I’d be covered in punk rock band logos,” he says. “I’m glad I didn’t do that.”
Hummel was 18 when he got his first professional tattoo: a yin-yang symbol covering up a “homemade” tattoo he’d gotten as an angsty teen. He says it made him feel like he’d transitioned from a punk kid into a young man.
“I walked out of there feeling 10 feet tall. I felt like I was no longer one of the regular people,” he says. “It obviously wasn’t as common back then, but it was life-changing for me. I get to see that all the time with people.”
Tattoo by Chris Hummel, Satori Tattoo.
Tiny and trendy
While Erickson and Hummel have seen many trends come and go, they agree that American traditional and Japanese styles have remained popular. But both have been doing fewer color tattoos and have seen a rise in fine line work with black, detailed designs. Usually these tattoos are on the small side, and some are truly tiny.
“I would say it’s almost a 99-percent female clientele,” Hummel says of fine line tattoos. “They want something more feminine, not so ‘tough,’ so to speak. They want it to represent them.”
Many tattoo artists offer fine line tattoos in their shops, though some have also begun offering small designs at events with mobile setups and single-use equipment. It’s even common to see them at bridal showers, holiday parties and networking events alongside other vendors, such as permanent jewelry artists and mocktail makers.
Bella Danieli is one of those artists, though she has never stepped foot in a traditional tattoo studio. She started tattooing two years ago after training with a fine line tattoo artist and getting certified as a medical tattoo practitioner to reduce the appearance of scar tissue, stretch marks and other imperfections. Her business, Picosa Ink Beauty Bar, operates out of Blue Mesa Salon and Extensions in Loveland.
Danieli has degrees in art and music and sees fine line work as an elevated form of tattooing. She uses a quiet, portable tattoo gun with a single needle to create very thin lines and intricate designs, which have become especially popular among those who don’t want a lot of ink on their body.
Dainty flowers and fonts, including loved ones’ handwriting, are two trendy tattoo designs that are easier to do with a single needle, Danieli says, likening it to drawing with a fine-tip pen. Her designs typically take five to 10 minutes to tattoo and come with a free touch-up session. It’s normal to need a touch-up session because the technique doesn’t use very much ink, she says, though they shouldn’t fade after that.
“I think these have been successful because the tattoos are so small that people are willing to commit to that, even on the spot,” she says. “If other people are getting it too [at an event], it ends up being a little party at the party.”
Danieli uses a brand of ink that’s certified in Europe, something she says is important to many Coloradans who are conscious about what they put in and on their body. For those who are still on the fence about getting a tattoo, she offers a plant-based ink called Ephemeral that completely fades within three years.
“I’ve had clients who really want to get a tattoo, but they’re not sure they’re going to love it, so we do their first tattoo with Ephemeral,” she says. “If they love it, I always say we can touch it up so it lasts longer. If you want to make it forever, then we’ll make it forever.”
Tatoo by Bella Danieli, Picosa Ink
Pot a plant, get a tattoo
One of the more popular events offering tattoos is Monica Aragon’s Plantiness parties in Fort Collins. “Plantiness” is the happiness plants give you, Aragon says, a term she created during the COVID-19 pandemic to spread cheer by propagating plants and giving them away. At her events, plant lovers pick out a houseplant and decorate a terra cotta pot to plant it in. For every ticket that’s purchased, Aragon gives a plant to someone in the community.
Those who attend the Plantiness events have the chance to get inked by Rachel Day, owner of Black Fox Tattoo, who has been tattooing for seven years and is about to open her own shop. Her tattoos at the events range from smaller than an inch to about four inches long and wide, usually taking 10-15 minutes to complete.
“The idea is that while you’re waiting to get your tattoo, you have the activity of painting your pot,” Aragon says.
Everyone gets a tattoo, and if they don’t want one, they’ll bring their partner or someone else who does, Day says. She offers a flash sheet with nearly 60 designs attendees can choose from.
While many people want plant-themed tattoos—orchids and bird of paradise are popular, Day says—she does lots of ornamental designs as well. She refers to them as “line work” (she doesn’t use a single needle like Danieli) as the line widths vary and are done only with black ink. The tattoos don’t include color or shading, but she offers a discount at the studio she works out of for those who want additional work done.
A lot of people who attend the Plantiness parties already have tattoos, but Day says there is always at least one person who doesn’t have any tattoos and decides to get one on the spot. Whether they come alone or with friends or family, it’s an experience they’ll never forget.
“At this last one, it was two sisters and their mom who came in,” Aragon says. “Their mom was 67 and got her very first tattoo with us.”
Couples Tattoos & Tattooed Wedding Rings
Couples tattoos have always been a mainstay of tattooing, says Hummel, who shares five tattoos with his wife, some identical and others varying in their design. He’s even seen couples tattoos done as part of a date night.
“It’s the intention that matters,” he says. “If you truly love somebody and put that into it, I think that’s great.”
Wedding and anniversary dates are popular tattoos for couples, Danieli says. Lots of couples get matching designs with a deep meaning that ties them together, while others choose something different.
“I think couples tattoos are beautiful,” she says. “Sometimes they’re not an exact match, but they’re similar, or one person chooses a design for the other.”
Danieli and Hummel warn couples who want tattooed wedding bands that they’ll require maintenance to stay looking good. That’s because when we move what’s called “working skin,” or skin that stretches, tattoos break down faster than they would on, say, a forearm or calf, Erickson says.
Hummel once tattooed an ampersand symbol on top of a couple’s ring finger at their wedding, a hardier alternative to wedding bands.
“We try to talk people into that kind of thing because it’s easier for the top of the finger to stay than the sides,” he says.
Pain Points
Everyone has a different pain tolerance when it comes to tattoos, but in general, the most painful areas are the bony ones, Erickson says. An artist he learned from long ago once told him that the more ticklish a spot is, the more it’ll hurt to tattoo.
“I have a lot of tattoos, and I’ve never had one that didn’t hurt,” Erickson says. “I also think that if you go into a situation thinking, ‘This is going to be the worst thing I’ve ever felt,’ then it probably will be. Breathing and relaxing is going to be the best thing as far as the pain goes.”
Luckily, many tattoo studios offer numbing creams to help with the pain—and to ease the anxiety people may experience as a result. While some tattoos are more painful and bleed more than others, Danieli doesn’t like to use the word “painful,” especially for women like her who have had children.
“I like to call it ‘spicy,’” she says, noting that her single needle tattoos feel more like a cat scratch. “The forearm is a good canvas for first tattoos because we don’t have many nerves there.”
Upcoming Tattoo Events
Plantiness Parties:
Cost includes plant, pot and tattoo—plus extras if noted.
March 15 12-8 p.m. at Mystique Lingerie (boudoir photoshoot included), $200
March 22 12-8 p.m. at Odell Brewing Company, $160
April 12 12-8 p.m. at Collective Vintage (talent show included), $120
May 2 12-8 p.m. at Gnebriated Gnome, $120
Picosa Ink:
Bella Danieli’s tattoos are $50 cash or $55 for other payment methods.
March 15 1-5 p.m. at Aglow Photography Studio
