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Greenpoint Tattoo co. John Reardon Greenpoint Tattoo Company Opens on Meserole Jul 28, 2011 by Kevin Viani

John Reardon wrote the book on tattoos. now he wants Greenpoint to be part of the illustrations. Reardon, author of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to getting a Tattoo opened his new tattoo shop on Meserole Avenue on July 15th with a family and friends reception that Reardon could only describe as a blur of well-wishers. That momentum has continued with a steady flow of customers for the past two weeks.

Greenpoint Tattoo Company combines classic tattoos with originals designed by Reardon and his staff artists Chuck Donaghue and Hilary White. all three come from different parts of the city and bring their own clientele.

According to Reardon, opening a tattoo parlor in his adopted neighborhood is the perfect choice. “I live here and everyone I know is slowly coming over here. It’s calm, quiet, and cheap. There are so many positive things about Greenpoint.”

The location of the shop embodies the feelings Reardon has about his surroundings. the shop, nestled behind a gate, on the ground floor of a house, is tidy and has a large, open workspace. the walls are lined with displays of available tattoos, but Reardon encourages clients to have an idea of what they want.

“It’s easy when they come with a theme and we can figure something out. then we can give them exactly what they want.” Reardon enjoys creating his own designs but would like to do more flash tattoos (traditional, old school ink). Flash designs available to customers are featured throughout his store with numerous dragons, skulls and hearts with “MOM” strewn across the front.

Before opening Greenpoint Tattoo Company, Reardon worked on his clients in a private studio and at Saved Tattoo. he relishes being able to display his favorite creations on his own website and on the walls of his own studio, a luxury he did not have until he opened Greenpoint Tattoo Company. the entire shop is custom art by Reardon. the windows are inked with custom logos. His previous work is showcased on counters and a wall, leaving space for new creations. “This shop is a chance not only to tattoo but to display my work.”

In addition to body art, Reardon works on designs for local businesses, having helped to create logos for five Leaves, Huckleberry Bar and Pates et Traditions. he also sells tattoo type drawings and artwork. “I want to get to where I can sell tattoo related pictures. if I lose an arm or get arthritis then I have something to fall back on.”

Though he does work on other artwork, Reardon knows his calling will always be tattoos. he continues to push his paper and design work, but hopes his tats will become well known around the neighborhood. “I would rather tattoo people than paper. It’s what I do.”Greenpoint Tattoo Company 131 Meserole AvenueTuesday-Sunday from 12:30am-8:00pm

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Conan Blake getting at the tattoo removal clinic. Photo: Meredith O’Shea

CONAN Blake has never liked the thick black tattoo that swirls from the top of his right shoulder to just above the elbow.

Tribal in style, it was originally intended to cover a smaller tattoo but, Blake explains, the tattooist who did the job seven years ago botched the design. ”I’ve never been happy with it,” Blake, 34, says of the tattoo, for which he paid about $900.

So embarrassed was Blake, a surfer, that he rarely displayed it. ”Wouldn’t take my T-shirt off, wouldn’t swim.”

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When surfing, he always wears a long-sleeved rash vest. Three years ago he decided to remove the tattoo and embarked on an expensive laser treatment. ”Now I’ve started getting rid of it … people go, ‘What’s wrong with your tatt?’ when I tell them I am getting rid of it they are really interested because there’s a lot of people out there who have got tattoos they hate,” he says.

Removal is not for the faint-hearted. Experts say it hurts more than inking. Blake’s half-sleeve has cost close to $3000 for 10 treatments, and remains clearly visible. He estimates he has a few treatments to go before his arm will be ready for its next adventure: a vibrant new tattoo.

As a nurse prepares Blake by injecting local anaesthetic at several spots along the tattoo, Lynne Bekhor director of nursing at the Laser Dermatology medical clinic in Box Hill, says Blake’s plan for a new tattoo is not uncommon.

More often though, people regret the ink and want it gone. ”We are seeing lots of full sleeves,” Ms Bekhor says of the trend to cover half or all of an arm in ink.

Ms Bekhor, who sports a few discreet tattoos, says removal hurts much more. She says women tolerate the pain a lot better than men.

As tattoos have become mainstream, removal has become a booming industry. The process used to involve bleaching or, in extreme cases, skin grafts. these days lasers are used. dark tattoos are easier to remove than green, aqua or yellow inks.

In Victoria there is no regulation on who can use the lasers, meaning those who want tattoos removed choose between medical laser clinics or others – such as beauty therapists – who have the expensive equipment.

Each derides the other, though Health Services Commissioner Beth Wilson says she receives very few complaints about tattoo removal. ”There are turf wars but I have no evidence to show that one lot does it any better than the other,” Ms Wilson says.

She warns though that the lasers used are powerful and can burn and scar the skin. Blake echoes this. before this medical clinic he visited a non-medical clinic where he was burnt by a laser.

Hilary Quinn, of Melbourne Tattoo Removal in Caulfield, has seen a lot of burns and advises people to be careful in choosing first a tattoo parlour and then a removalist.

The big surprise for her is how many young women want recent tattoos removed. Tattoos on wrists and ankles – ”those you can see all the time” – are commonly removed.

”Under-25s don’t really understand that once into their 30s people tend to stop seeking attention in the same way they did prior to 25.”

It is difficult choosing a new tattoo. most people browse pictures of tattoos to get an idea of which style of tattoo they would like in the first place. you could probably guess that a quarter of all people have a tattoo today and are becoming increasingly common in this day and age.

It can be quite a challenge picking the tattoo you have always dreamed of. some people have an idea of what they want while others don’t know. All they know is that they want some ink. These people can research pictures of tattoos from magazines, books and websites. by browsing tattoo designs you will always find something that you are interested in. Once you have found what you are looking for you must book an initial consultation with your tattoo artist and they will help you with your dream tattoo. Remember to try and take pictures of tattoos that you are interested in for your consultation. it is also worthwhile to visit more than one tattoo parlour for more opinions.

Your criteria for choosing a tattoo artist should never be based who is the cheapest. the cheapest is usually a sign that they may lack quality in their work and this maybe the reason why they charge a cheaper price. by selecting the more expensive tattoo artist you will almost ensure the design and quality will be worth it. a high quality tattoo artist will always be in great demand and you may need to wait a while before they can see you.

With all that being said, a lot of your tattoo research will be entirely based on searching websites. the problem with this is that designs of free websites and forums start to look a little generic and there are not many designs and styles to look at. sometimes you can’t find a design which is truly unique. This is where tattoo subscription websites come in. on these websites you can browse through many thousands pictures of tattoos that will help you decide the design you want. Always take time selecting your ideal tattoo as it will stay with you forever.