Until recently, it was nearly impossible to hold national tattoo gatherings in Oregon -- a paradox for Portland, given its robust and growing tattoo industry.

But about six months ago, the legal landscape changed. And one figure emerged as the leader in efforts to amend the state's rigid license rules for tattoo conventions.

Fittingly, his full-time job now includes planning an annual tattoo expo, which was held Friday through Sunday in Portland.

"Every tattoo artist in the world wants to do work in Portland," said Brandon Ingram, 42, publisher of

. "We wanted to make that possible, so we were very persistent with Salem. The result was huge."

, held over the weekend at the Oregon Convention Center, is a testament to Ingram's tenacity. More than 4,500 people turned out over the three-day event, which was organized by Ingram and his business partner, Kevin Rasmussen, both of Eugene. The event, in its second year, featured exhibits, seminars and contests.

"Winter is a hard time for tattoo artists, so coming to expos keeps me inspired," said Jeremy Justice, 33, an artist from Seattle-based

. "I've done the same tattoo on four different continents. I'm traveling a lot. And Portland has a lot of talented tattoo artists. A lot of big names here. You don't find that everywhere."

Ingram agreed that Portland has a certain panache in the tattoo world. He estimated that the region has roughly 100 shops, twice the number that existed five years ago.

Local artists at the Expo confirmed the expanding market.

Ink lovers gather at Portland Tattoo Expo 5 Gallery: Ink lovers gather at Portland Tattoo Expo

"The past couple of years there's been a whole lot of new people tattooing in Portland," said Craig Brown, 31, an exhibiting artist from Portland. "It's a double-edged sword because you get a bigger audience along with oversaturation."

Several artists explained the growing number of tattoo shops in Portland by pointing to the popularity of tattoo schools. The schools, held in tattoo shops and state-regulated, serve as a fast-track to becoming a state-certified tattoo artist.

Since 1993, tattoo artists in Oregon have been required to have state-issued licenses. A departure, many artists say, from the days when the craft was mastered through long and rigorous shop apprenticeships.

But whatever the reason, tattoo shops are cropping up all over. And it's not just local artists who understand the booming demand. But state law had to change for outsiders to tap the Portland market. Before April, a tattoo artist had to obtain an Oregon license with the

to do work -- even short-term -- in the state.

After two years of lobbying the state agency, Ingram helped change the rules: Out-of-state tattoo artists can now obtain a 15-day permit to do work at "settings such as fairs, carnivals or bazaars," according to

.

Thus, the turnout for this year's expo.

"People come from around the world now. And they come for different reasons," Ingram said. "Sometimes to make money, as a social thing, to network, to get guest spots, to trade tattoos and ideas. We'll keep this going for as long as we can."

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