at 24 East Main St. specializes in custom tattoos and exotic piercings.
Cartersville Patch recently sat down with co-owner Hector Guma to learn more about what his small business has to offer the community. Here's what we asked and he answered:
Q: Tell us about your background.
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A: I have 16 years experience in tattoos. I have a four year college degree from New York City for illustration. In the tattoo world I’ve been in tattoo magazines like "Urban Ink," "International Tattoo Magazine," "Skin Art" and one called "Rebel Ink" that I’ll be in soon. My work is featured on websites too, such as tattoodles.com and tattoojohnny.com. Look under Hector Guma.
Q: What services do you offer at the shop?
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A: We offer body piercings, dermal anchors and custom work. We also do anything that has to do with art, whether it’s airbrush tattooing or real tattoos.
Q: What kind of custom work do you do?
A: Let’s say you come in the shop with an idea. You give us a subject, we take it from there and design it the way you want it. If an artist cannot perform what you want then there’s no purpose in having a tattoo shop.
Q: Do most people know what tattoo they want when they come in?
A: Ninety percent of the time they do come in with what they want. Ten percent don’t know what they want and are just like bewildered at the time. They just want a tattoo. I try to educate them and let them know it’s a permanent decision they’re making for the rest of their life. I don’t force anyone to get tattoos because it is permanent. I tell them to think about it. If they have an idea, I’ll draw it for them.
Q: How much back and forth is there in the design?
A: We go back and forth one or two times. Once I get their name and number I take a couple of days or a week, depending on what type of artwork it is or how big it is. Then, once I create a rough draft, I show it to them and from there, if they approve it, that’s where we separate the men from the boys.
Q: What’s the most popular image for women?
A: Flowers.
Q: For men?
A: Tribal work or dark work, like skulls.
Q: Do you find there is a stigma attached to your shop? Do some people view it negatively?
A: No, believe it or not tattoo has come a long way. It’s a form of expression nowadays, not just getting marked on the skin. People are doing it for personal reasons, whether it’s a loved one that passed away or a religious aspect. People get tattoos in so many different ways. Some people use tattoos to cover up scars. That helps a lot.
Q: What do you want people to know about your shop?
A: We’re a family-oriented shop. We’re very clean in what we do. We’re also very careful. If you’re getting a tattoo, trust your instincts. Make sure that whether it’s my shop or any other shop that there’s autoclave access and brand new needles in packages.
is co-owned by Hector Guma and B.J. King, who is the master body piercer. Misty Richards is a professional piercer and Jesse Fouts is the floor technician.
If you’re interested in getting a tattoo or piercing, you are invited to stop by for a consultation. Visit the shop's Facebook page for samples of its work.
