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By BOBBI DEMPSEY; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, January 20, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C 





HAZLETON- Bill Sherfield always wanted to draw on living flesh. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As a boy, doodling with temporary markers wasn't enough. He wanted to be
the designer of those permanent hula girls, skulls and roses that draw
attention to bulging biceps and even some private parts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I like to let my creative juices flow," said Sherfield, a beefy,
long-haired, chain-smoking 35-year-old who recently opened the Painted Owl
tattoo and piercing shop in Hazleton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield's first tattoo memory dates back to when he was 8. His
babysitter's husband had a tattoo of a hula girl that appeared to dance when
he moved his arm. Awestruck, Sherfield knew what he would do when he grew up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It just kind of blossomed from there," Sherfield said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That was thousands of tattoos ago, and now Sherfield's vocation is written
all over him- literally. He has more tattoos than he can count, although some
were done by artists he admits "weren't very good." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield and his partner, Tim Haynes, can paint and pierce virtually any
body part. Their shop walls feature hundreds of tattoo designs to chose from,
but Sherfield is glad when customers stray from those selections. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I like being creative, so it's more fun when people bring in designs." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield enjoys the more challenging projects, like portrait work and
designs that appear three-dimensional. Still, many customers stick to the
tried-and-true tattoos- roses, eagles, butterflies and hearts with loved ones'
names. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "A lot of them are the same style as 20 years ago, but the art and quality
are greatly improved." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield started tattooing professionally at 18, although he was doing
images for friends since he was about 12. He studied with world-renowned
tattoo artist Bud Pearson in Florida, but he was basically self-taught. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield of Tunkhannock worked for awhile at a Wilkes-Barre area parlor,
but decided to draw on his years of experience and expand into new territory.
"My partner lives in town, and a lot of my customers are from this area. Plus,
there are no tattoo parlors here, so why not corner the market?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield said he is lucky to have found a partner with whom he works well.
"If you get two tattooers with big egos working together, you'll have
problems." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The duo try to make their shop welcoming because, Sherfield admits, some
people can be intimidated at the idea of visiting a parlor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's the image that the media portrays of tattoo parlors, dark places with
creepy-crawly things in the corners and a burly bald guy" that scare most
people, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Painted Owl's customers shatter the image of a stereotypical tattoo
wearer: professionals, retirees and many women. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield knows first-hand the stigma attached to body art. His own mother
held out hope for years that he'd cut his hair, cover his tattoos and become
an art executive. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I told her I didn't want to make a billboard that would be up for six
weeks, and then be thrown in the garbage. My art lasts a lifetime. So finally
I said, `Give it up, Ma. It ain't gonna happen.' " &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Most people have no idea what to watch out for when they get a tattoo,
Sherfield said. "They usually are just worried about money, which is one of
the last things they should worry about." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of the most important qualities to check is cleanliness, Sherfield
said. His shop features a sterilizer, single-use needles and lots of gloves-
disposable rubber ones for piercings, heavy-duty ones for tattoos. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Once you get that tattoo, it's not going anywhere," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sherfield knows all about bad tattoos. He estimates half his time is spent
covering up or fixing other people's work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "A lot of guys have tattoo machines in their garages, and just because they
can draw, they think they can do tattoos. But it's a whole different medium
when your canvas is a living organism." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Depending on the difficulty, a tattoo can take from a few minutes to
several hours. But before he reaches for the needle, Sherfield tries to get
inside a customer's head. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You should always leave yourself the option of covering up your tattoos,
especially in the professional world where they're frowned on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If an 18-year-old kid comes in for a tattoo on his face," he said, "I ask
him where he sees himself in 10 years and how that tattoo will affect his
life." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you should decide to visit Sherfield for some body art, he has this
advice: Be sure, sober and sociable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&amp;nbs

Area Tattoo Artist Creates Designs To Last A Lifetime 
For Bill Sherfield, Owner Of Hazleton's New Painted Owl Tattoo And Piercing 
Shop, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

Area Tattoo Artist Creates Designs To Last A Lifetime For Bill Sherfield, Owner Of Hazleton's New Painted Owl Tattoo And Piercing Shop, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep