Todd Williams & Daniel Lara
You might say that the tattoo industry is leaving its mark. Today, about 32% of U.S. adults sport at least one tattoo.
Those who are already inked may be familiar with the ins and outs of tattoo artistry, but for the uninitiated, the journey of a tattoo artist can be as fascinating as the art itself.
Getting Started
In Mechanicsburg, tucked quietly into a residential neighborhood, is the historic Rakestraw building, an 18,000-square-foot-warehouse that appears deceptively small from the outside. This unassuming building is home to Rock Mill Industries—a haven for creatives.
Among those artists are Todd Williams and Daniel Lara of Laser Fang Tattoo Emporium Extrordinorium. The two Mechanicsburg residents—who also happen to be musicians with backgrounds in heavy metal—have been running their own shop since 2020 after working together at another studio.
Unsurprisingly, both men also share a deep passion for art. Williams described how his love for tattoos was inspired by fellow musicians and a well-known sports figure.
“I’ve loved art my entire life, and so many musicians have tattoos,” Williams said. “Dennis Rodman, one of my all-time-favorite basketball players, also has quite a few.”
Both men attended classes at HACC before starting tattoo apprenticeships.
“I took all the art courses, and, during summers, I practiced art in the park,” Lara said. “I would also sit in on model drawing sessions to learn.”
Both men agree that aspiring tattoo artists should apply for apprenticeships.
“There’s only one right way to learn, and that’s through an apprenticeship,” Lara said. “It’s akin to surgery and must be done in a sterile environment. You need proper training, including certification in bloodborne pathogens.”
Williams agreed.
“When you are an apprentice, they teach you everything—from dealing with clients to cleaning and sterilization techniques,” he said, adding that the typical apprenticeship lasts a year or two.
Rock Mill Industries isn’t just about tattoos. It’s a one-stop shop for musicians and those who want to look like them. In addition to Laser Fang, there’s the Rock Mill print shop, which turns out swag and other custom-made items for local bands like Honeypump and others. They specialize in screen printing, graphic design and apparel printing.
Logan Summey rented the space for a dozen years before purchasing the property last January. According to Summey, it’s fully leased and includes additional businesses like Hershey AV solutions and a recording studio where students can enroll in “The Rock Band Program” by Rod Goelz and more.
“We’re a one stop shop for all your creative needs,” Lara said
Personal Expression
As a tattoo artist, it’s almost mandatory to have your own tattoos—preferably many. Both Williams’ and Lara’s tattoos tell unique personal stories. Williams shone a light on two of his: a train and a lighthouse.
“My father was a train engineer, and my mother is my guiding light,” he explained.
And for the uninitiated, friends no longer have to be guinea pigs for those practicing the art of tattooing, and the old way of subjecting one’s own legs to the practice has given way to better protocols.
“Years ago, my mentor sent me to butcher shops to get pig skin,” Lara said. “It was the first thing I ever tattooed because it was the closest to human skin. I’d start with it frozen, then have to work on it and freeze it again. It was how I did my first couple.”
Nowadays, budding tattoo artists have the luxury of practicing on synthetic skin, Lara explained. He tossed me a synthetic, tatted-up foot before describing one of his more unusual requests.
“One guy wanted a depiction of Waldo crawling out of his butt crack,” he said, adding that concepts can range from serious memorial pieces to the downright wacky.
Williams agreed, adding that one of his more memorable requests included a tattoo of the Pink Panther wearing a leather jacket and a doo rag, riding a chopper and standing in front of a semi.
And if you want a professional tattoo, costs run about $150 an hour—on par with some lawyers.
“My parents weren’t altogether thrilled with the idea of me becoming a tattoo artist, but when series like ‘LA Ink’ and ‘Miami Ink’ went mainstream, they understood that it was an actual profession,” Williams said. “They became my best supporters.”
Laser Fang Tattoo Emporium Extrordinorium is located at 17 E. Coover St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page. For more on Rock Mill Industries, visit www.rockmillindustries.com.
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