Published: May 11, 2008 02:14 am            

Art 4 Life Tattoos ‘making a memory’

FAIRMONT — When Eric Willard first held a tattoo machine in his hand, he knew he wanted to do tattoo art for the rest of his life.

Now, he is the co-owner of a new tattoo and body piercing studio in Fairmont.

Last week, Willard and Michael “Butch” Dilo opened World Famous Art 4 Life Tattoos and Body Piercings. The business, called Art 4 Life Tattoos for short, is located on Locust Avenue across from Fairmont State University. The shop does tattoos, body piercings and permanent cosmetics.

Butch, from Ohio, has tattoo and piercing shops in Parkersburg and Newark, Ohio, and a mobile unit to take to conventions. He has been in business since 1995, and his three sons are involved.

“We’re a family business, and we try to give people good deals,” Butch’s son, also named Michael Dilo, said.

He said the shop has fair rates. Art 4 Life Tattoos offers $25 piercings, with free jewelry included, and a lifetime guarantee on tattoos. All the tools that the business uses are disposable.

Willard, from Fairmont, has drawn his entire life. He has been tattooing for a couple years now, and he loves it.

“Once I started tattooing on the side, it was all I thought about,” Willard said.

While Clarksburg has several tattoo shops, Fairmont only had one until now, he said.

“I always thought that Fairmont was ready for another tattoo shop,” Willard said. “It seemed like the area was prime for something new.”

Willard said tattooing allows a client to mark something life-changing and commemorate an important event in his or her life. This artwork gives the world the chance to see an individual’s personality from the outside, he said.

“Tattooing is beautiful,” Willard said. “You’re making a memory for them. You get to help them express themselves.”

The owners and employees of Art 4 Life Tattoos follow a specific philosophy: “Customers aren’t lucky for us to get to work on them — we’re lucky to get to work on our customers.”

“This is a customer-based, customer-satisfaction business, and we are well aware of that,” Willard said. “You are only as good as your last tattoo. We take customer service very seriously.”

Art 4 Life Tattoos is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment on Sunday. For more information, call 333-TAT2.

E-mail Jessica Legge at jlegge@timeswv.com.

        

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