Coverage of the 17th Annual North Carolina Tattoo Convention

This year was the 17th Annual North Carolina Tattoo Convention, hosted in Greensboro, NC by Little John's Tattoo. This was without a doubt the best tattoo convention I have ever been to. There was a super vibe in the air and everybody was friendly and having good time. Check out my coverage of the event below, including pictures and useful links to content on various tattoo artists, shops, and related subjects.

The Annual NC Tattoo Convention happens every year in September. If you are tattooed, an artist, a vendor, a collector, or curious make plans to come to the convention next year. It is a good time you won't want to miss.

Creatures of the Night

--Wood Carvings by Otto Long

See pictures of Otto Long and his artwork at the 17th Annual NC Tattoo Convention by clicking, here.

Read my interview with Otto Long on Yahoo! Network by clicking, here.

One of the more colorful events at the 17th Annual North Carolina Tattoo Convention was the Art Fusion performances on Friday and Sunday. Little John's Tattoo hosted the event, gathering volunteer artists to create a series of artworks to be sold to raise money for charitable donations.

Four artists, using four easels, create pastel artwork by rotating through each station in five minute intervals. The resulting collaborations were silent auctioned, with the proceeds going to charity. Unfortunately, four volunteers could not be found to create art on Saturday. Saturday is the busiest day of the show, when most of the artists are tattooing, getting tattooed, or otherwise networking. Hopefully, next year there will be enough artists available for a Saturday session at next year's convention. The resulting artworks were beautiful, and I couldn't resist taking one home myself.

See pictures of the Art Fusion pieces, as well as the artists in action, here.

One of the great acts that entertained attendees at the tattoo convention was Captain Jim and his lady companion Sea Shel. Captain Jim and Sea Shel entertained the many convention-goers on Friday and Saturday with a variety of close up performances. They engaged the crowd with jokes, performed close up illusions, sang sea shanties and limericks and made balloon art.

On Saturday Captain Jim and Sea Shel performed a full stage show of "freaky illusions". After their stage performance, Jim and Shel enjoyed close up entertainment and mingling with the crowd. Captain Jim is a true performer, and has varied shows for any type of gathering. Jim is available for hire for a variety of performance events.

According to Captain Jim's website, he performs live, every Monday night from 6 to 8 PM, at Ham's in Kernersville, NC.

Visit Captain Jim on the web, here, to find out more about his public speaking and performance services.

See a video greeting from Captain Jim, at the 17th Annual NC Tattoo Convention" (Link coming soon)

My wife and I debated about taking my young son to the Tattoo Convention. Is it a safe and appropriate environment? What age is too young to take a child?

I discovered the answers simply by looking around the convention floor. Click here, to see pictures of parents, children and families at the 17th Annual NC Tattoo Convention.

Right: Tattoo artists and tattooed people have families, too.

Little John left a lasting legacy to North Carolina's tattoo community. Read about his work to advance the art, and see a tribute to the man,here.

See pictures of the contest winning tattoos from the convention weekend, here.

Click here, to see awesome black & gray, and color tattoos from the convention.

--Suspension displays by Holdfast (Pics & Video)

--The Tremors

--Art by Jack Jiang

--More pictures from the 17th Annual Convention Main Floor

So come back for more...