Exotic piercing and tattooing may seem daunting to the general population, but Bob Parr handles these works of art with ease, even making his shakiest customers feel comfortable.

Jaded Angel 2, 2406 Lincoln Way, where Parr performs his craft, offers customized tattooing, especially large jobs, and piercings almost anywhere. Parr also displays his art, which is for sale.

Parr said he has spent five hours on a single customer. It took two hours to draw and customize the tattoo, and three to ink it, he said.

“I usually try to customize everything I work on,” Parr said.

Parr, who graduated from Iowa State in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, said he has wanted to be a tattoo artist since he was 18 years old.

“I’ve always wanted to own my own business,” Parr said. “I’m an artist.”

Jerry Stubben, ISU Extension communication specialist, owns both Jaded Angel Stores — the one in Ames and a second in Ankeny. The success of the store in Ankeny prompted Stubben, and son-in-law Bob Parr, to open Jaded Angel 2.

“The students from DMACC are great,” Stubben said. “They come in with their own art or something they want to personalize from the Internet.”

Stubben said he believes piercers should be licensed.

“I really think that tattoo artists, and especially piercers, need to be under stricter rules,” Stubben said.

He said he wants piercers and tattoo artists to be tested for blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV and Hepatitis A, B and C on a regular basis.

“I really want to see the industry become more professional,” Stubben said. “The industry needs more people with degrees.”

There are a number of new innovations in tattooing, Stubben said. There are tattoos that are being developed that are invisible unless under a black light, he said. Also, Stubben said there are short term tattoos that last from three months to a year.

These are a way to “test” the tattoo, Stubben said, because regular ones are permanent.

“Most tattoos last longer than most marriages,” Stubben said.

Not only young people receive tattoos, Stubben said. About 40 percent of his clientele in the Ankeny store is over the age of 40, he said. Before some Iowa soldiers left for Iraq, they had names and pictures of their children tattooed over their hearts, he said.