2013 Boston Tattoo Convention

Tattoo enthusiasts from around the country attended the 12th annual Boston Tattoo Convention at the Sheraton Hotel in the Back Bay on Saturday Aug. 31. The Labor Day weekend event, which runs until Sept. 2, features live entertainment, tattoo contests as well as new colors and designs from artists and vendors. –Matt Juul/Boston.com correspondent

Eva Huber, left, inked a tattoo that read “Stay Creepy’’ on Danielle Olsen’s thigh at the 12th annual Boston Tattoo Convention at Hynes Convention Center.

Shelly Chesson, a hair stylist and tattoo model added to her collection on Friday.

A tattoo artist reproduced a picture of a pet cat for a customer on Friday.

Artist Travis Brown inked a customer, Tara Larolque, on the first day of the convention.

Chrissy Clouthier, a shop assistant at Arrows & Embers Tattoo in Concord, N.H., said that she knew she wanted to have tattoos ever since she was 15 and received her first one as soon as she turned 18.

Clouthier’s arm tattoo of a ship is inspired by her brother who’s in the Navy. Many of her tattoos are inspired by family members who have served in the military.

Artist Mike Ledoux, right, tattooed Dan Paswell at the 12th annual Boston Tattoo Convention at Hynes Convention Center Friday.

A patron had ink done on the first day of the convention on Friday.

A close-up shot of an artist inking up a conventiongoer on Friday.

Artists, businesses, and enthusiasts gathered for this year’s convention.

A myriad of different tattoo colors were on display.

From left: Tattoo artists Nick the Barbarian of Precision Body Arts from Nashua N.H. and Dietsch of Always & Forever Tattoo Studio from Watertown showed off their ink. Dietsch said that the image of the tattooed outlaw inspired him to get into the body art culture and that he loves his job because he “gets paid to draw.’’

This statue of Yoda from “Star Wars’’ sported the same head tattoo as artist Nick the Barbarian.

A design of a female character created by Nick the Barbarian.

Lake, a model hailing from Morgantown, N.C., showed off her ink for Always & Forever Tattoo Studio in Watertown.

Lake, who also goes by “Lake-ness Monster,’’ said she was a big fan of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland’’ so she decided to get tattoos of the cartoon’s characters.

A close-up on Lake’s arm tattoo of The Caterpillar from “Alice in Wonderland.’’

Air Force veteran and tattoo enthusiast Eric Daigle of Providence showed off his tattoo of a Japanese hannya mask. Daigle, who was also getting some ink done at the convention, said that his brother got him interested in tattoos.

Various needles on sale by Needle Jig.

A convention goer got a tattoo on his leg.

From left: Convention goers Brenda Martin-Tousignant and Mark Tousignant of Westfield. Mark is a tattoo artist at Exodus Tattoo and Pierce in East Windsor, Conn.

A close-up on Mark’s hand tattoos.

A close-up of Zulueta’s tattoo.

Body piercer Saylor of New York City showed off his various piercings.

Saylor said that he likes humorous tattoos, like this tattoo of a bear on a unicycle done by Philadelphia-based artist Tim Pangburn.

Images of “Frankenstein’’ inspired tattoos by Lee O’Gorman Designs of Holdfast Tattoo from Dover, N.H.

A tattoo enthusiast got ink done at the Jesse Levitt and Steven Bahruth Needleworks booth.

The convention also had paintings and other pieces of art on sale.

A close-up of a painting from Jenny James Tattoos & Artwork.