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Getting a tattoo is the in thing, according to Joe Burman, and his partner, Ellen Campson, both of Lehigh Acres. Burman is a tattoo artist who has recently moved from Oakland, Calif., to Lehigh to look after his mom. Campson is in charge of promoting the new Fatboys Tattoo Parlor at 1315 Homestead Rd.

“We’re just behind Radio Shack and beside the NAPA auto parts store, with plenty of parking,” said Campson. “We have been here only for a few weeks.”

In addition to Tattoo artist Joe Burman, there are three other young men who also work at the tattoo shop as artists and designers. They are subcontractors, but are certified, as is Burman, Campson said.

Burman is the main ink guy and he says tattooing has come a long way since over the years.

“Today it is much safer and better quality inks. Everything is sterile to prevent any medical problems,” Burman said. Hanging on the wall are all the credentials indicating Fatboys Tattoo has met all the requirements and is a safe place to have your skin tattooed.

“We wear gloves, we make sure everything is clean. We shave the area and make sure there are no problems,” Burman said. In the back of his shop is an old tattoo chair that he likes to use. He said is dates back several years but it is comfortable “and solid as a rock.”

More and more people are celebrating parts of their life by getting a tattoo and believe it or not, Burman said as many women come to get inked up as do men.

“People ask us for tattoos of things like their parents, or their spouse. Many want patriotic tattoos – in fact they are really in these days with many people,” Burman said.

Just a few weeks back, he said a soldier on his way to Afghanistan came in with a photograph of his mother and asked if we could tattoo her image on his arm.

“With the much better inks today, we are able to reproduce just about anything. Some people have come in to have the Towers from 9/11 tattooed on their body.

“People have asked us to tattoo trees in memory of a loved one. You would be surprised how many people have tattoos of their loved ones tattooed on their body.”

Domingo Del Tore, 24, of Lehigh, is one of Burman’s tattoo artists and he says the art is in demand today and “the girls think it is sexy” to see a guy tattooed.

You can bring in a drawing, your own design, a photograph or choose from the more than 7,000 designs that can be called up on their computers.

“And if someone designs something and wants us to make it look even better, more professional, we can do that, too,” Burman said.

In addition to Burman and his partner, Campson, and Del Toro, other artists include Marlon Chavarria and Luis Uriostegio.

They work under the direction of Burman, 40, who has several years under his belt in the tattoo business.

He said he worked in Oakland, California, and is still single and was in California since 1991.

“But my mom needed me to look after her, so I was more than glad to move here for her,” Burman said.

He said they also specialize in brightening up older tattoos that have faded and bragged that his shop can “fix up” any other tattoo that may have been blotched elsewhere.

“And we can fill in and shade and make present tattoos look different if that is what the customer wants,” Burman said.

The cost of a tattoo varies in cost. Burman said the charge is usually $75 an hour for a tattoo a little larger than the palm of your hand.

“But with hard times like they are today, we listen to the customer when he or she comes in and tells us what they would like to have. We can work out a deal for them,” Burman said.

He also said that they can put a tattoo on any part of the body and are discreet in many instances.

“We have made our tattoo parlor like being at home. We have plants, refreshments, TV and we want our customers to enjoy themselves while they are here,” Burman said.

“Some customers come in and ask us if we can tattoo them and make it glow in the dark. The answer is that we can do that for sure,” he said. “Glowing in the dark is a new fad in the tattoo business.”

“If a minor wants to be tattooed, we must have the parent or a guardian in here to give their permission, too,” Burman said.

Burman says he has always enjoyed drawing, ever since he was old enough to hold a pencil.

“And tattoos are an art form for sure. We have some beautiful designs or if the customer tells us what he or she has in mind, we can come up something that they will like, Burman said.

Fatboys Tattoo is open from noon to midnight every day of the week. They welcome walk-ins or appointments. You can call them at 941-883-1181.

“I always like to say that cheap tattoos aren’t good and good tattoos aren’t cheap,” Burman said. “But we are fair and will work with our customers.”

And they can tattoo everything from a small butterfly to a large piece of art that can cover the back or the chest or the complete arms.

“Oh year, I forgot, one of our most popular tattoo is something to do with the Florida Gators,” Burman said.

“You would be surprised today how many men and women have tattoos, it has become a trendy thing to do,” Burman said.

“And I promise that the customer will be well pleased with our work,” Burman said.

Captions at right:

Tattoo group: Here’s the group at the new Fatboys Tattoo in Lehigh. They are from left to right, Joe Burman, owner; Marlon Chavarria, Domingo Del Toro, Luis Uriostegui and business partner, Ellen Campson. MEL TOADVINE

Domingo Del Toro, seated, gets a tattoo brightened up by Fatboys Tattoo owner Joe Burman. The new tattoo shop is at 1315 Homestead Rd. in Lehigh. MEL TOADVINE