Left: Pakenham tattoo enthusiast Jeremy Wright and tattoo artist Rob Stanway are looking forward to the fifth annual Pakenham Tattoo and Piercing Show this Saturday. By Paul Dunlop
TOO much ain’t enough body art for tattoo lover Jeremy Wright.
Inked from his arms to his waist, Mr Wright said he expected his body would eventually be almost entirely covered in tattoos.
“From the neck down is the plan,” he said.
Mr Wright has portraits of his wife and daughter tattooed on one leg.
His arm and chest tattoos follow a fantasy theme featuring helmeted warriors, dragons and other mythical characters. The artwork was painstakingly applied over more than 60 hours by Pakenham tattoo artist Rob Stanway.
Mr Wright and many more tattoo enthusiasts will vie for a host of prizes at the fifth annual Pakenham Tattoo and Piercing Show this Saturday.
Hundreds of people from the local area, around Victoria and interstate are expected to enjoy a host of entertainment and activities at the show.
Mr Stanway said the event was getting bigger every year and earning a reputation as one of the best shows of its kind in the state.
“People come from everywhere. There will be some exceptional work on display, it should be a really good day.”
Mr Stanway has been tattooing people for 30 years and jokingly says he was starting to get the hang of it now.
A selfconfessed perfectionist, he said he was never 100 per cent happy with his work, but believes imagination is the only limit on the tattoo artist’s craft.
“There’s nothing that can’t be done,” he said.
“Tattoos have become more and more accepted in society, the artwork has got a lot better with improved technology, the colours and inks are much brighter.”
Mr Stanway said the oldest person he had tattooed was a woman in her 60s. Having a tattoo had become extremely popular in recent years, he said.
“If you stripped Melbourne for a day you’d be very surprised as to who had tattoos,” he said.
Mr Stanway said it was all systems go for the Pakenham Tattoo and Piercing Show.
Trophies and prize money are up for grabs for artists and contestants in up to 15 categories.
There will be food and refreshments, stalls, live bands, raffles and more.
The show, at 43 Bald Hill Road Pakenham, starts at noon with judging taking place from 5pm6pm.
