Courtesy photoSan Luis Obispo’s Hep Kat Salon welcomes an art show of a different kind tonight.
The Tattoo Art Show will be hosted by Hep Kat Salon, a beauty parlor with what co-owner Brittany Brown called a 1950s-inspired interior, and Tiger Rose Tattoo from Pismo Beach.
For those who have never been to a tattoo art show, Terry Brown, co-owner of Hep Kat Salon, said the art for sale is different than the usual wall art.
“I don’t think you’re going to be seeing trees and mountains,” Brown said. “You’re going to be seeing artwork that either has been done or could be done on a person’s body.”
“There’s going to be raffles for prizes of tattoos, haircuts, piercings,” Tiger Rose owner Chuy said. “You can get your nails done and 50 percent of all raffles is going to Rancho De Los Animales. It’s a farm and it’s a non-profit organization (in Arroyo Grande). What they do is they have children come to the farm that are handicapped, blind, physically (and) mentally disabled and they basically stimulate their minds with the animals.”
Sam Velazquez, a body piercer at Lost Kings Tattoo in Lompoc, said the artists at his shop hope to make it to the show with a diverse plethora of their artwork.
“It’s mixed media styles of artwork. You’ve got oil pastels, you have watercolor, you have charcoal, there’s all kinds of stuff,” Velazquez said.
“The artists here are constantly drawing and painting even if it’s just for fun whether its going to be put on the skin or not. We have all kinds of different ranges. Anywhere from traditional tattoo art that’s been around since the sailors starting getting tattoos in the ’30s and ’40s all the way to new styles and designs.”
Brown said that although tattoo artwork stems from traditional tattoos, meant to be simple in order to last on skin, the artwork on display tonight will bring with it each artist’s unique interpretation.
“Each person has their own flair, kind of like the difference between Rembrandt and Monet,” Brown said. “What they will do is incorporate their own creativity based on maybe a nautical theme, a pin-up theme, an animal or a Japanese theme and they will incorporate their own style.”
Velazquez said that anyone, not just those with tattoos, can appreciate tattoo art.
“There is nothing specific that defers tattoo artists from any other artist, (whether it’s) a photographer or even just the casual painter,” he said. “It’s a society of artists who all have that same intention of putting good artwork out on paper as well as skin.”
The show will feature framed tattoo art, music, drinks and raffle prizes starting at 6 p.m.