Students express personalities through body ink

Many people have a sweet tooth.

Kathryn Daugherty has a sweet leg.

The Northville junior’s left leg is a picturesque canvas of all things sweet.

Her leg includes tattooed images of a cupcake, Ring-Pop, an ice cream sundae and a piece of cake.

Midland senior Tom Bullock, right, stands with his arms crossed while tattoo artist Eric Ochsenkehl, of Heritage Tattoo on Mission Street, prepares multiple lines of colored inks to fill in the already black and white back piece he started about one year ago. Bullock said it’s tradition for him to stand before receiving a tattoo because he will be sitting for hours. “If I’m going to cringe, it will be in the first 15 minutes. That’s when the most pain is,” he said while being tattooed Saturday. “You just get used to the pain after that, especially if you get tattoos often enough.” (Jake May/Staff Photographer)

“You have to find the sweet things in life,” Daugherty said. “That’s literally something I’ve said my whole life. I’ve always loved cupcakes.”

Daugherty added a lollipop to her leg Tuesday at Heritage Tattoo, 1222 S. Mission St. She also plans on adding a candy cane, pie and a candy necklace.

Tattoos have become a form of expression for Daugherty and others. She has been getting tattoos since she was 18 years old and currently has 10. This includes a full chest piece of blue morning glory flowers.

Daugherty has hidden her tattoos from her parents ever since her first one, when she was 18.

Even amid scorching summer heat, she must be fully dressed at all times when she visits her parents, so they will not catch a glimpse of her ink.

But they will eventually have to find out — Daugherty plans on getting a full sleeve of ink to cover her right arm.

Life in ink

Tattoos are a way for Daugherty to show her personality.

Midland senior Tom Bullock feels the same way.

For Bollock, tattoos are a way to express his love of the outdoors.

Bollock has the scene of a woman camping in the woods covering his entire back.

“It’s like you’re looking through the brush and seeing her camp scene,” Bollock said.

The scene has a tent, river, fire and leaves. His back tattoo is still a work in progress, and he said it will take 60 to 80 hours total to complete.

He had some color added to the brush Saturday at Heritage Tattoo.

Even Bullock’s grandfather and mother have gotten tattoos from Heritage. Bollock’s mom made cookies for Eric Ochsenkehl, a tattoo artist at Heritage.

He said 70 percent of Heritage’s business comes from women. Women get tattoos much different and in different areas than men, he said.

“Full-grown men have broken down crying because of how happy they are because of how they’re tattoos have turned out,” Ochsenkehl said.

Daugherty said people can be judgmental toward tattoos, but that does not bother her.

“It’s my body,” she said. “I love the way tattoos look and feel. When you look at regular skin, it’s boring.”