INKcarceration to draw dozens of tattoo artists, thousands of ink fans

Come for the music, stay for the tattoos.

Tattoos are a big part of the INKcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival July 19-21 at the Ohio State Reformatory.

“It’s a whole different experience,” said Autum Rook, co-owner of Envious Ink. “When you come in in the morning, there’s hardly anyone there, and then you walk out at lunchtime, and it’s just filled with people, all different styles.”

The ladies of Envious Ink, located on Lexington Avenue in Mansfield, will be there. Tattoo artist Tiffany Sutton has won multiple contests and awards at INKcarceration and other festivals. Her hardware decorates the lobby at Envious Ink.

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“I love being out there,” Sutton said. “There’s so many people. You literally meet people from all over the world.”

Sutton, who has been plying her trade for 10 years, is already booked with 12 appointments for the festival. She said the keys to a good tattoo are the design and the lines, which require a steady hand.

Sutton won’t be getting any ink for herself.

“No time, and I haven’t been tattooed in a while,” Sutton said.

The tattoo artists set up in the old prison and don’t have much time to see the bands. Both Sutton and Rook hope to see Bad Omens, set to play July 21 at 7:30 p.m., just before the headliner, Shinedown.

While Sutton tattoos, Rook does piercings. Last year was the first INKcarceration allowed piercings. Rook was one of only two people doing them.

“It is very busy,” she said.

Rook enjoys the setting in the old prison. If only the walls could talk.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “It gives you like a chill effect with the stories you hear from the prison.”

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Another local tattoo artist who will be at the festival is Nick Daugherty, who works at Embellish Tattoo Company in Wooster.

“I’ve done it every year. It’s a pretty cool show,” he said.

Like his counterpart at Envious Ink, Daugherty is already booked several weeks ahead of INKcarceration.

“I probably get more people wanting to schedule tattoos (there) than at any other show,” he said.

Daugherty has been tattooing for 22 years.

“I personally specialize in black-and-gray realism portraits,” he said.

The Wooster tattoo artist laments that he also doesn’t get much time to experience the music, though he is usually free when the headliners take the stage. In addition to Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin and Godsmack are the top bands this year.

Daugherty agreed with Rook about the old Reformatory.

“That building’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a pretty cool setting, a fun atmosphere for sure,” he said.

In addition to Envious Ink and Embellish Tattoo Company, the businesses that will have booths at INKcarceration’s Monster Energy Tattoo X are 1st Order Tattoo Co.; Annie Miao Tattoo; Bare Knuckle Tattoo; Black Horizon Tattoo; Black Label Custom Tattooing; Bleeding Black Tattoo; Casually Tragick; Darkside Tattoo; Divine Tattoo Parlor; Eve’s Ink Tattoo & Permanent Makeup; Felony Ink, and Foundation Tattoo.