A local tattoo artist urged students to think before they ink.

Randy Stuff, owner and tattoo artist at Wea Ink, has 52 tattoos, but said it is important to take appropriate time before getting a piercing or tattoo.

The “A Living Canvas: Tattoos and Piercings” presentation was a part of the University Board’s “Cultural Arts: Teach Me Tuesdays.”

Stuff said he is a self-taught tattoo artist and has been tattooing since 1990.

Stuff said getting a tattoo should be a thoughtful and planned out decision.

“Don’t get a tattoo by a dumba–; that’s unclean,” Stuff said.

He said people who get a tattoo or piercing should always see the equipment coming out of a brand-new package or else it is probably not clean.

People getting tattoos also should always ask if the equipment is sterilized, Stuff said.

“When it comes to this, it is art and medical combined,” Stuff said. “You want to look for a license.”

Stuff said going to a clean tattoo shop is good but it is not good enough.

“Getting a tattoo is half the battle, the rest is on you,” Stuff said.

Stuff said the worst reaction to a tattoo that he has seen was in the early ’90s.

He explained that people would die from tattoos because they would give them to themselves with a hanger and a file.

However, Stuff also explained that now piercings are more dangerous than tattoos.

“There’s an entry and exit hole, it’s an internal wound,” Stuff said.

Stuff said people going to get a piercing should always ask for titanium because it is less irritating to the skin and it does not show up on a MRI.

Stuff said tattoos are common.

The star was the most common tattoo Stuff said he has done lately and explained that it changes with the times.

“I’ve learned a thousand different ways to do that star,” Stuff said.

At the end of the speech, Stuff’s brother, Terry Stuff, judged a “best tattoo contest.”

There were only three participants but Terry’s decision was slightly more difficult even with less choices.

Terry looked at the quality of lines, color, shading and overall quality of the tattoo.

Ultimately, Terry picked Hannah Ferris as the winner.

Hannah Ferris, a sophomore undeclared major, won a $75 gift card with her gumball machine tattoo on her left triceps.

Ferris said her tattoos do not have any significance behind them.

“They’re just pretty and I like them,” Ferris said. “They are another way to decorate myself.”

Ferris’ sister Molly was also in contending for the “best tattoo contest.”

Molly Ferris, a junior psychology major, said she thinks she gets tattoos because of the experience.

“We both got free tattoos on our toes and it’s just a fun story,” Molly said.

Hannah said people should not only take the time to research what tattoo they want, but also be willing to pay an adequate amount of money to get the best result.

“A good tattoo is not cheap and a cheap tattoo is not good,” Hannah said.

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or akwilkinson@eiu.edu.