Temple said part of the changing ’tude toward tattooing is thanks to shows such as A&E’s Inked and The Learning Channel’s Miami Ink — reality shows chronicling the inner going-ons of tattoo parlours, and the motivations of customers who decide to go under the tattoo gun.

Sitting in his burgundy tattooing chair, he points across the street to the professional centre on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Robie Street. He bets 80 per cent of the people working inside have a tattoo.

He says it was different 10 years ago. Back then, if you saw someone with a tattoo, they would have likely been stereotyped as a troublemaker or gang member.

“Another lady, who was native, got a canoe tattooed on her leg. I have a rubber chicken tattooed on my arm,” he said, pushing up the right sleeve of his T-shirt.

The tattoo is 12 years old, and only one of many he has on his body. He has Roman numerals on his forearm, a four-leaf clover on his right hand, and a Japanese-inspired goldfish on his left arm.

At 30 years old, Temple has been tattooing himself and his friends for the last 13 years. It started with needle and ink when he was a teen in Norman’s Cove, Nfld. He eventually bought a kit and started working in a shop.

“I am walking art,” said Temple. His latest creation is the goldfish, which is covering up an earlier tattoo he isn’t pleased with. Like fashion, television, and music — tattooing also has its trends.

Temple said a popular choice at the moment is to write on your body — in English and other languages. Chinese and Asian characters are popular, but Temple said he always asks people if they know what it means before he inks it.

He said you should get a tattoo because you want it. Not just so you can impress the guys at the gym, around the water cooler, school yard, and even the retirement home lounge.

Necks? Temple said they’re popular these days. He says women used to want their shoulder blades and upper backs done, now it’s either mid or lower backs and feet — maybe because of the Dixie Chicks, who have chicken feet tattooed on their footsies each time their albums go gold or platinum.

Silver hasn’t done a lot of necks. He said a trend he sees is larger works, which people aren’t afraid to keep hidden under shirts and pants.

Silver’s advice: before you get a tattoo, put thought in it and take time selecting an artist to ensure you get quality work. Don’t let other people influence what you want.

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