WORKING -- Donovan Andrews

-- Story by Jennifer Kho; photo by Don Leach

HE IS

painting on a living canvas.

A FAMILY TRADITION

Donovan Andrews, a tattoo artist at Autumn Moon Tattoo II in Costa

Mesa, said he became interested in the art form as a child.

The first tattoos Andrews saw were those worn proudly by his

grandfather and father.

“It’s something I’ve always been interested in,” said Andrews, 48.

“Tattoos are exciting. They just give you that adrenaline feeling.”

Andrews began his career as a graphic artist, then started turning

some of his artwork into tattoos. His first tattoo was a girl’s name, he

said.

Twenty-three years ago, when Andrews was a regular customer at Santa

Ana Tattoo, the parlor offered him an apprenticeship. Andrews began

working at the Costa Mesa tattoo parlor in 1997.

INSTANT GRATIFICATION

Although Andrews said everything about his work makes him happy, the

most satisfying part is the end result.

“You get to see your art walking around out there where everyone can

see it,” he said. “Seeing that people are excited and proud of the

tattoo, showing it to other people, is very satisfying.”

Andrews said getting to know the customers is also a big highlight of

his job.

He counsels the customers -- especially those getting large tattoos --

on placement and suggests different phases of tattooing if the designs

are too big to complete in one sitting.

“The canvas is alive, and there’s a spiritual connection when you’re

tattooing somebody,” Andrews said. “Even if you don’t know them when you

begin, you talk with them and get to know them by the time the tattoo is

done.”

THE UNCOMMON AND THE UNUSUAL

Andrews said it is rare for a customer to want a “common” or “usual”

tattoo, but said some tattoos are requested more often than others.

Tribal and neo-tribal designs are the current trend, but Andrews said

his favorite designs are Irezemi, a Japanese style that includes a lot of

background and a single subject matter, often a legend.

The most difficult tattoos are people’s portraits, Andrew said, which

customers often request. Small, detailed tattoos are also more difficult

than larger ones and can take more time to complete, he said.

A portrait of Cuban Communist leader Che Guevara is among the most

unusual tattoos Andrews said he has ever done. A tattoo of Winnie the

Pooh being crucified, which Andrews said was requested by a born-again

Christian, is another.