Posted on September 4, 2007
South Avenue is home to one of the premier tattoo parlors in Harrisonburg, Painted Lady. Nestled on the corner, the white building is accented with purple and teal trimming, and looks more like a doll house than a tattoo place. Once I stepped inside, however, the slight smell of sterilization set in. The place is simply decorated, with soft gray walls, a clean hardwood floor, a plush, beige leather couch and a glass counter filled with rings, hooks, studs, barbells and other body ornaments.
Several years ago, Eric Conley walked into the Painted Lady to get “some work done,” as tattoo aficionados like to call it. He has been the manager at the Painted Lady for more than five years.
“I came in for a second job, and six months later I became the manager,” he said.
A southpaw local from Elkton, Conley’s skin is tanned and branded with checkerboard sleeves and actual games of tic-tac-toe played by other artists inked on his arms. He also has a row of gold rings in both ears, and a silver labret stud peeks out from Conley’s blond beard.
Even though he manages Painted Lady, Conley is also a part-time tattoo artist, and does anywhere from 10-to-25 tattoos a week. Though he’s been drawing and designing tattoos for years, Conley has only been inking for four years. Tribal art and flowers are his favorite tattoos to do.
Conley is in the process of gaining ownership of Painted Lady from current owner Robin Hartman. Hartman, who is rarely present at the Painted Lady, offered Conley the place a few months ago.
Marty Tribble, a senior English major at JMU, has worked at Painted Lady for almost four months. Although he legally can’t touch the tattoo machine, Tribble works at the front desk and does other odds-and-ends jobs around the shop.
Though Tribble shies away at the idea of piercing his body, he has a number of interesting tattoos. His most intriguing is a sleeve on his calf that contains a gray-scaled Japanese-themed abstract with two green dragons and an alien from “Alien vs. Predator.”
Even though he doesn’t have a license to tattoo, Tribble feels he knows a lot about the art.
“You can be a guy that gives tattoos, or you can be a tattoo artist,” Tribble said. “We talk some people into getting really creative stuff instead of just trying to get their money. This is not just a job, it’s an art.”
Tribble, however, gives a word of advice to the weary:
“The initial threat of pain keeps some people from getting tattoos, when really it’s not that severe,” he said. He advises having a specific idea for a tattoo that means a lot to you and think about it thoroughly before getting anything done.
Jason Bradford, 30, the only full-time tattoo artist at Painted Lady, had just finished tatting a tribal eagle on what appeared to be a college student when I introduced myself in the lobby of the shop.
Dressed in a black T-shirt with a black bandana around his neck, khaki shorts and black old-school Vans, he takes quick drags from a cigarette while he tells me how much he loves his job.
His head is shaved to the skin, so others can see his skull tattoo on the crown of his head. He has two tiny nose studs, one in each nostril, and a lip ring in the center of his bottom lip.
When asked how many tattoos he has, all Bradford can do is shrug and say he’s lost count. He even adds that he’s given himself a couple tattoos, and proceeds to show me a few. He is certainly no betrayer of the business.
Bradford got into tattooing because of the scene he was in – he was a rebel, punk rock, skateboarding kind of kid. His favorite tattoo style is black and gray-scale shading with a liking to line-heavy art.
“So.Cal, Latino style” he said.
“People think [tattooing] is a big rock star, ‘Miami-Ink’-type lifestyle – it’s not,” he said. “But it is a blessing to be able to express myself.”
Bradford eats, drinks and dreams ink.
“I love tattooing,” he said. “I have no regrets and there’s nothing I’d rather be doing with my life.”
As the second oldest tattoo parlor only to T.J’s Demographics, which has been in business for 18 years, Painted Lady will soon be blowing out the candles on its birthday cake to celebrate 10 years of expertise and service to the Harrisonburg community. To thank everyone for keeping the inviting doors open at Painted Lady, they will be offering specials and discounts throughout November.
Prices depend on the piece, location and the artist. However, Painted Lady guarantees firm, non-competitive prices as well as the quality of their work. Gift certificates are available, but Painted Lady holds a cash, credit or debit only policy.
You can get work done by walking in or scheduling an appointment. If you make an appointment, there is a $20 deposit fee. Painted Lady is open on weekdays from noon to 8 p.m.. On Friday and Saturday, it’s open for two more hours, and on Sundays it closes at 5 p.m..
The majority of customers at Painted Lady are college students, not just from JMU but also from Bridgewater College, Blue Ridge Community College and Eastern Mennonite University.
The tattoo parlor has also had many others walk through her door, some of them quite unexpected.
“One woman was 78 years old and walked in here to get her first tattoo that she had wanted all her life,” said Conley. “That makes you feel awesome, man.”
The shop is open to apprenticeships, but it all depends on the inquirer. Style of the apprentice isn’t so much a determining factor as quality of work. Bradford offers this advice to the potential apprentice:
“Do it the right way. Get your license, learn proper sterilization, so you can keep you and others safe.”
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