Most people head to Main st. to get books from the library, but occasionally cars turn down the road to hit up an old looking two-story building which bears the name Outlaw Tattoo.
Open since Halloween 2008, Outlaw Tattoo has been providing the city of Commerce and students of Texas A&M University-Commerce a steady flow of fashion forward inking. But fashion is not the only reason owner and artist Russell Wood started tattooing.
“Tattoos have become so much more than fashion,” he said.
Wood started tattooing in south Houston at a parlor called Studio 13-and-a-half. He only spent a few years in Houston and quickly moved back to Dallas to be closer to his family and start a family of his own.
According to Wood, J.R. Smith, owner of Shotgun tattoos in Quinlan, is the man responsible for his start in east Texas.
“He is a good friend of mine and he got my foot in the door,” Wood said.
While working for Shotgun, Wood took on a second job working for his friend J.D. White, owner of Infinity Tattoos. Wood said he worked for both parlors for a few years before deciding he would chase an ambition common amongst tattoo artists.
“Every artists dream is to own their own shop,” he said.
With that in mind Wood said he came to Commerce and has been embraced by the community.
“This city has really embraced us,” he said. “Members of the city council have brought in their kids to be tattooed or pierced.”
Aside from tattooing those who went a fresh a design Wood said he plans to take tattooing to a new level by using the art in an unconventional manner.
“I can actually prevent cornea cancer in horses,” he said.
According to Wood, horses have light lower eyelids, which can cause the sun to reflect off the eyelid resulting in cases of cancer. Wood said he comes in and tattoos a layer of eyeliner on the horse, which acts as a preventative measure to cancer.
Burn victims also stand to benefit from Woods unconventional approach toward tattooing.
“We can actually can go back match up a person’s skin tone with ink,” he said. “We can then give them a tattoo which will be completely visible, but look like regular skin.”
Although he is unconventional Wood said he still wants his shops to be known for quality artwork.
Like any great artist Wood knows the importance of staying humble. He said none of what he has done so far could have been accomplished with out the help of his girlfriend Tiffany Arrington or his good friend KC. With there help and continued support from Commerce he said his shop should do well.
“We are not going anywhere,” he said. “I bought the building and we are here to stay.”
Outlaw does accept walk ins according to Wood but it may be easier to set up an appointment. The shop is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5-midnight and Friday and Saturday from 2 pm to 2 am. Wood said he is also willing to tattoo Sunday’s if set up by appointment. Those interested can call Outlaw at 903 886 – 4653.
Although Wood hopes for Outlaw’s success he has every intention of staying true to his vision as an artist and a benefactor for those in need.
“Tattoos are not just about skulls and dragons any more,” he said.