Getting under the skin
Some say beauty is only skin deep. For two local business owners this is true.
James Zehna, the owner of Sailor Jim’s Electric Tattoo at 47 and one-half N. Main St., and Polly Peterson, owner of Liberation Studio at 15 E. 600 North, have brought the art of tattooing back to Logan.
“People have been really excited to see a shop up here,” Peterson said.
However, many people don’t seem to understand the art.
“Tattooing has been around – take it or leave it,” Zehna said. “I don’t think Logan’s been exposed to it much. A lot of people will come in and just ask questions. We are trying to educate people.”
James Zehna
Zehna said drawing has always been a driving force in his life.
“Basically, I’ve always been into art in one way or another,” he said.
He grew up in Roosevelt, Utah, and went to school there. At that time, tattooing was more of a practice than an expression for him.
“I always thought it was cool but never looked at it as artistic,” he said.
Soon after graduating from high school, Zehna joined the Navy. It was here he was finally exposed to the art of tattooing. While on the ship, he would draw up pictures for shipmates. He was also exposed to various styles around the world. One of those influences came in Hong Kong.
Once he was out of the service, he decided to take a look at tattooing as a way to support himself. He bought some equipment and started looking into the profession. He was taken on as an apprentice at Susie M’s in Salt Lake City.
“Tattooing is not taught in a school as a trade; it is more an apprenticeship with shops,” he said.
After working with Susie M’s for three years, he moved to Big Deluxe, also in Salt Lake City. He worked there for two years before deciding to start a shop of his own.
“I wasn’t ready to open a shop until I had logged about five years in the business,” Zehna said.
Though he still works at Big Deluxe, he spends at least three days a week in Logan working. Even after his shop is complete, he plans to continue his work in Salt Lake.
For Zehna, the work is always a new adventure. He said trends are returning to the ’40s and ’50s with the influence of Japanese art, as well as hearts and eagles.
‘That’s what keeps me interested in tattoos – the constant influx of ideas,” he said. “It keeps it fresh.”
Often, people will come into the shop with ideas of their own, which is something he encourages.
“I really try to get people to think on their own and come up with something that is them,” he said. “I work with people to turn their ideas into a good-looking, long-lasting tattoo.”
In October, Zehna traveled to New Orleans to work at his first convention.
“It gives you a chance to show,” he said. “A lot of people are surprised by the tattoo scene in Salt Lake.”
While at the convention, he said he was able to add to his network of associates and make friends from around the nation.
Back in Logan, he had begun small and is expecting to grow as his shop nears completion.
“It’s pretty low-key as of yet,” he said. “I think it will do very well.”
His grand opening is planned after all of the remolding is complete. He hopes to see this happen in the next couple of months. This will include two are three additional artists working the shop.
His biggest advice he offers to those looking to get work done is to visit the shop and the artist and make sure the work is quality. Clients should ask to see a portfolio of work.
“If one guy’s [work] is $50 and one guy is $20, there is probably a reason for that,” he said.
Polly Peterson
At 21 years old, Peterson is the owner of Liberation Studio. He is working on plans to open his second shop on Ogden’s historic 25th Street this year.
“I’ve been tattooing [professionally] for four years,” he said. “I did my fist tattoo when I was 15 – on one of my friends.”
It was about the same time he got his first ink work done and has been adding to his collection since then.
He also started his apprenticeship at Susie M’s after an employee there saw some of his work and suggested the shop hire him. After two years he left to start working full time.
Polly said he began working toward purchasing Susie M’s shop in Ogden, but the deal fell through. It was then a friend encouraged him to open a shop in Logan. In July he opened his first shop.
He said the response by the community has been very positive and the city was helpful in getting the shop up and running.
His main reason for getting into the business was to find a way to express his artistic side.
“I’m an artist and have drawn all of my own tattoos,” he said.
Polly’s older brother, Ryan, has also started at the shop as an apprentice. He has been tattooing for six months.
“I’ve always been into art, it’s been my main thing,” Ryan said. “It’s a way to make money.”
Polly said, “He inspired me to be an artist, now I’m inspiring him to be a tattooist.”
Owning his own shop has been a positive thing for Polly.
“It gives me the freedom to experiment with new things,” he said.
Some of those ideas he has learned from the conventions held within the industry.
“You never stop learning,” he said.
Polly said with a smile, people have hidden ideas about the art.
“Everyone needs a tattoo,” he said. “Everyone wants a tattoo whether they know it or not.”
His mother was not excited about her son’s tattoos, Polly said. Once his shop opened though, she has become supportive of his life choice.
“To be a tattoo artist, it’s not just a job – it’s a lifestyle,” he said. “It takes a strong person to wear tattoos.”
Polly said he gets a lot of funny looks from people when he meets them in stores or on the street. But once they get to know him, they see he is a nice kid.
He tries to keep the feeling in his shop warm and friendly.
“My studio is a lot different than the average tattoo shop,” he said. “We want people to be comfortable. I want to see people leave excited about their new tattoo.”
As for the pain of tattooing, Polly said the pain is not something the average person can’t take.
“Everyone is different and it hurts in different places,” he said. “It’s not a pain you can’t handle, it’s just an annoying sensation.”
He is excited about the work he is doing in Logan.
“Liberation is here to stay,” Polly said.
James Zehna, the owner of Sailor Jim´s Electric Tattoo works on a coverup tattoo that will cover half of the clients back when complete. (Amy Fuller )