AKRON, Ohio — Something's abuzz in Akron, and it carries a bit of a sting.
It's the third annual Rubber City Tattoo Invitational, and things are always evolving in this most personal artform.
"We've seen in the tattoo industry a growth with pop culture, with video games, with athletes, with just everybody," show promoted Tony Urbanek told 3News.
Tattoos can be very personal, expressive, or just plain fun, not only for the customer, but the artists, as well.
Sarah Blazak works in a tattoo studio in nearby Cuyahoga Falls. She's seen the trend of cartoon and video game characters too, along with the less visible micro tattoos as well as her favorite: the fine-line tattoo.
"I do like doing the fine-line," Blazak said. "That's also really popular for people who want a more minimal style — that don't want to be heavily styled, but they still want tattoos."
There's something for everyone here at the Tattoo Invitational, such as contests covering every style, color, and size of tattoo. There's even an Olympic-style relay race where the winner gets a gold medal.
There's also a lot more going on here than meets the eye
"We just got married last night," Elizabeth Clay says.
That's right, Elizabeth and Tony are newlyweds. The new Mrs. Urbanek says the invitational's mix of artistry and fun can open the door to a whole new world to explore, with ink or not.
"It's just a welcome space for everybody," she added. "No matter what, you're welcome here, you know you're going to have a good time, and you know you're going to leave with a smile on your face."
The Rubber City Tattoo Invitational runs through Sunday at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron.