Tattoo artist Doni Camp of Mt. Pleasant, Pa. does a design on someone’s leg Friday during the Peace, Love and Oddities Tattoo Convention at the Washington County Fairgrounds. The convention features tattoo artists and oddity vendors as well as a couple of 60s-70s cover bands. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

MARIETTA — It is all about the art and people expressing themselves, said the participants at the Peace, Love and Oddities Tattoo Convention in Marietta.

The three-day festival, which started Friday at the Junior Fair Building at the Washington County Fairgrounds and continues through Sunday, is a celebration of creativity and ink.

“Everyone is out tattooing for the weekend,” said organizer Shawn Alexander of Wonders Oddities Expo in Columbus.

The convention features over 80 oddity vendors and tattoo artists, including Emac who was on the television reality show Ink Masters. They had artists from Ohio, West Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Utah and elsewhere.

Alexander said people will be able to come out and get a tattoo from a variety of artists.

The Peace, Love and Oddities Tattoo Convention will continue Saturday and Sunday in the Junior Fair Building at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Marietta. There are over 80 tattoo artists and oddities vendors with many tattoo artists from around the company. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“I think people will like coming to this convention because there are so many different styles and so many different artists with so many different styles,” he said. “You would have to travel all over the country to get work done by some of the people we have here.”

Each artist applied to be able to attend the convention with specific artists being picked to participate. Alexander said they were judged on how long they have been tattooing, provide pictures of their work, and show the quality of what they do.

All of the artists have booths set up with pictures set up of their work available.

“People can see what style each one is good at and choose for themselves,” Alexander said. “We are looking for clean quality tattoos, clean line work, good color and more.

“You can look at a tattoo and can tell if it is a nice tattoo or not.”

Artist T.J. Stanley, owner of the 1863 Tattoo Studio in Ripley, was doing a portrait Friday on the leg of one of his employees for one of the competitions being held this weekend at the Peace, Love and Oddities Tattoo Convention at the Washington County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Tattoo Artist Doni Camp of Mount Pleasant, Pa., said he was asked to be a featured artist at the show.

Throughout the show there are competitions between the various artists. Categories can cover designs, color, black/gray and more.

“I travel around and do a lot of tattoo conventions,” Camp said. “I love competing. I compete against all my friends.

“I love meeting new people.”

Camp commended Marietta as being a “beautiful town” and liked all the old homes as well as the character of the area.

Tattoo Artist Billy Bolt does work on “D-Ray” Friday at the Peace, Love and Oddities Tattoo Convention at the Washington County Fairgrounds. There are a number of tattoo artists from around the country being featured at the convention this weekend. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Dustin, who goes by “D-Ray,” is part of Tattoo Custom Supplies from the Pittsburgh, Pa., area. He was having some work done by artist Billy Bolt of New Stanton, Pa.

For many people tattoos are creative creations just like any other artwork.

“It is unique and different,” D-Ray said.

He made the distinction between old-school artists and new-school artists where old-school will concentrate on an American traditional style while new-school goes into more realism in their presentation. Many of the artists featured have won awards for their work.

“It is all about bringing life to the arm depending on what you want,” D-Ray said. “It is no different than painting a picture or drawing digitally. They are just putting art on skin.

Tattoo artist Doni Camp of Mt. Pleasant, Pa. does a design on someone’s leg Friday during the Peace, Love and Oddities Tattoo Convention at the Washington County Fairgrounds. The convention features tattoo artists and oddity vendors as well as a couple of 60s-70s cover bands. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“Some of these artists take their time and really put all of their passion into it.”

Artist Pauley Corcoran of Sage Crystal Tattoo in Coraopolis, Pa., said many of the artists know each other and regularly hang out together. The convention is a chance to come together and see what others are doing and what is possible to do.

“It is a time when we can see our friends,” she said. “It is about learning different styles.

“It is networking for a lot of us. You get to improve your craft. Even if you are tattooing for 20 years you are still learning every day.”

Permanent Make-up Artist Shelby Wilkins of Sage Crystal Tattoo does microblading, combo brows and powder brows which are semi permanent to permanent. She consults with a client beforehand to make sure they can be a candidate for the service.

“It is usually a two-hour procedure I do with them to help with whatever insecurities they have with their eyebrows,” she said.

Many of her clients might have lost hair over time due to medical conditions or from other factors and she is able to help fill their eyebrows back in.

“I just enjoy making women feel better about themselves when they can be insecure. This can be life changing for them to get that confidence back. I enjoy that.”

Body piercer Haley Grey with the 1863 Tattoo Studio in Ripley was having a portrait done on her leg for one of the competitions by artist T.J. Stanley who is the owner of the studio.

“I am the canvas,” she said.

The convention is a chance for many people to come together who have a lot of the same interests.

“I think it is a place where we can all express ourselves, make connections and meet friends,” Grey said. “We want to sit back, relax and have a good time.”

As part of the event, Oddities Vendors are offering their strange creations. There will also be 60s & 70s cover bands, Tattooing Contests and a Tattoo Pageant.

The convention will be going on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds Junior Fair Building.

The cost is $20 per person to get in. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com