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July 10, 2008

Eton's ‘Tattoo Lady’ getting dressed — slowly

By Mark Millican

ETON — Evidently Jason Vineyard has had enough of the controversy.

Vineyard called his longtime friend Michael Taylor, who created the damsel causing distress in Eton, Tuesday night, and asked Taylor to come and alter the painted lady advertising Vineyard’s Lunatics Tattoo parlor on U.S. Highway 411 in the heart of the city.

“What if I had gotten two girls out here in bikinis holding up signs? What is the difference between this and kids going to the beach and seeing girls dressed like that?” Vineyard asked rhetorically, shaking his head and looking at the controversial artwork featuring a scantily-clad woman. “They see the same thing.”

Vineyard and the creative yet revealing method he’s used to advertise his body art business have caused controversy in recent days from at least one resident — Tracy Ballew called the sign “indecent and immoral” and filed a written complaint with city officials — and others who have now slowed down to see it and possibly had their sensibilities offended, even though Vineyard said he’s had the sign up for approximately half a year.

“He asked me to be a part of the tattoo business,” said Taylor, “but I don’t want nothing to do with needles. I said I’d draw the pictures for him, but I’m not going to put needles in anybody.”

Taylor, who grew up in Murray County, has been drawing all his life. He’s known Vineyard since school days at Murray County High, and said they’ve been “friends for years.” He said most of his artwork has centered around painting motorcycles.

“He’s the best I know of,” said Vineyard of Taylor, “and very good at what he does.”

“Good enough to be seen,” quipped Taylor.

Vineyard said the controversy has not increased his business.

“There’s just been a few people asking about it,” he said. “We’re still in a bad economy. But there have been a lot of rubberneckers slowing down to look.”

Taylor said he had apologized to his mother for being a part of the ad project that garnered so much attention.

“Yeah, I did, too,” admitted Vineyard.

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