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�Bodies as a piece of canvas� Mail Tribune / Steve Johnson Megan Doherty, left, of Talent, helped Medford�s Frank Robles, right, organize a tattoo convention held Saturday outside Ashland. Tattoo convention draws attention to newly found respect By Paul Fattig The chameleon crawling up Frank Robles� left forearm watches the world with big bug-like eyes. The reptilian tattoo seems to be staring at Robles� other arm, where a larger tattoo is taking shape on Robles� right bicep. "When this is completed, it will include all the elements of the earth with water that will connect my whole arm with fish," explained Robles, organizer of the first Rogue Valley Tattoo Convention at the Jackson Well Springs in Talent on Saturday. "There will be a piece of coral on my wrist. "The chameleon will �sleeve� off my whole left arm," he added. Robles, 25, of Medford, organized the gathering to help shed new light on an ancient art. "We wanted people to know this is respectable art, and that more people are considering their bodies as a piece of canvas," he said. While several folks with tattoos compared illustrations, a punk rock band called "Muppet Baby Shotgun Slayers" banged away. By late morning, about two dozen young people were in attendance. Megan Doherty, 24, of Talent, who advertises her Ashland tattoo shop, "Galaxy Ink" with a galaxy on her left shoulder, is the tattoo artist doing the chameleon. It�s a work in progress, she said. "It�ll take a while to do," Doherty said. "He told me he wanted a chameleon. I drew a sketch of what he wanted then started on his arm." When it�s completed, the tattoo will be in full color, although this chameleon won�t be able to change colors. Doherty, a Seattle native who also has a tattooed sun rising in the center of her back, got her first tattoo when she was 14. "Mom and dad were a little disappointed at first, but they�ve gotten used to the idea of tattoos," she said, adding that her customers range from 18 to 80. "I always have people make appointments so they don�t do it on the spot and regret it later," she said. "Before I get a tattoo I think about it and make sure I�ll like it. You have to live with them for a long time." Popular tattoos today include the sun and moon, as well as arm and ankle bands, she said. "People are also interested in tribal designs, abstract designs � lots of bright colors," she said. Robles, publisher of a local alternative lifestyle magazine called "Get Some" that covers skateboarding, snowboarding and alternative music, believes tattoos are more accepted by today�s culture. "It used to be that tattoos were more of a rebel thing," he said. "We�re trying to show people that�s not the case anymore. "Yeah, you�ll see some stupid tattoos," he added. "But there is a lot of respectable tattoos." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.