Taking a leap into the ink

Young Chang

A former auto mechanic sits at the Orange County Fair for his 21st

year painting pretty pictures on stranger’s ankles, backs, wherever

they want.

He’s in a groovy little booth done up all Bohemian, with a tribal

torch spewing orange tissue paper flames and James Brown oldies

floating through a world you think should smell of incense.

Clark Cravey’s corner may be the only constantly shaded, yet

outdoor, spot in all of the fair, as his many Indian-printed rugs and

tapestries hang vertically and help further quiet the faint breeze.

The 56-year-old body artist from Twentynine Palms wears

skull-and-bones print pants, a black shirt and a cap that informs his

clients that he also goes by the title “Dr. Groove.”

His lap is where you put your ankle. His steady hands are where

you put your trust.

“When I look at these,” Cravey says, referring to the stencils, “I

don’t look at it like I’m painting a picture or anything. What I’m

doing is I’m protecting the lines.”

The body artist, an employee for the Ojai-based Captain Tattoo

Body Art, uses an alcohol-based paint that stays on between 10 and 14

days on the ankle, and five days, if taken care of really well, on

the back. He says he pretends to cry when customers want designs on

their back, which produces more body oil than areas like the ankle.

The oil erases the paint faster, as do shampoos and soaps.

“Originally, the paint was developed as a camouflage paint for

World War II so it wouldn’t sweat off when the guys needed it,”

Cravey said.

The most popular design nowadays is a band of stars and moons, and

the most popular body location is the back. Other longtime favorites

include roses. Cravey prefers an $8 piece called the Italian Rose.

The average design costs between $8 and $12, and the prices haven’t

changed in 20 years. The business carries between 150 and 200

stencils.

Cravey doesn’t think any of the patterns are particularly weird or

quirky. But he will admit that he was surprised when a young girl

came in the other day wanting a dagger with a cobra wrapped around

it.

“That’s about the weirdest thing to me,” he said. “That a little

girl would want a dagger with a cobra instead of an angel or flower.”

The most common reason people want to get non-permanent body

designs is shock value, Cravey added.

“To freak mom and dad or a boyfriend out,” he said. “Or if they’re

thinking about a tattoo.”

Sara Panley, who was getting a turtle painted on her ankle in the

next chair, said she gets body-art-ed from time to time because

they’re temporary and fun.

“They’re painless,” she said. “They’re interchangeable.”

Ask Cravey whether the process will hurt and he’ll say, “Only if I

step on your foot.”

* YOUNG CHANG is the features and arts and entertainment writer.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4268 or by e-mail at

young.chang@latimes.com.