TATTOO enthusiasts were baring their skin and getting
inked this
weekend, as Melbourne hosted the 21st National Tattoo Convention.
Thousands of tattoo artists and their willing
subjects attended the convention, and tattoo needles were whirring all
weekend.
More than 30 local, interstate and international
tattoo businesses
were exhibiting at the event, held at the Carlton Crest Hotel from
Friday until yesterday.
While tribal tattoos, Japanese dragons and
traditional skulls
were all popular, other body modifications were also getting plenty of
interest.
"Dnash", from Connecticut, US, has been touring
Australia for
the past week, and has sold plenty of sets of his fitted vampire and
wolf fangs.
Dnash said he makes the eye-catching accessories
from dental acrylic, and colours them to match the customer's teeth
colour.
Frankston tattoo fan Ian Ralston, 41, decided to
get fitted with his own set yesterday.
"I just thought it looked cool -- and when you
hang out with this crowd, you're a lot more likely to take on new
fads!" he said.
"I'll probably only wear them to the one or two
parties, but they'll be good to have."
While you can take the vampire teeth in and out,
there were no commitment-phobes at the convention.
Organiser Patsy Farrow estimated more than 300
people had permanently added to their tattoo collections over the
weekend.
Ms Farrow, of Werribee, has been a tattoo artist
for 36 years, and said the convention was
a good way to get new ideas.
