Ink tales from the DC Tattoo Expo

The DC Tattoo Expo is the area's largest tattoo convention.

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Bijay Shrestha traveled to D.C. from New York to be tattooed by longtime friend and Nepalese tattoo artist Mohan.

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Bijay Shrestha says Nepalese tattoos are defined by their religious and spiritual images, which incorporate Buddhist and Hindu images.

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An outline of Hindu deity Shiva by Nepalese artist Mohan.

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Richmond, Va.- based tattoo artists Charles Berger and Scott Sketo.

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Tattoo artist Paul Kirk hard at work.

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Prints by Charles Berger.

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Richmond, Va.-based tattoo artist Charles Berger.

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Charles Berger tattoos the side ribcage of a woman.

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The DC Tattoo Expo brought together more than 160 artists from around the world.

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The DC Tattoo Expo is held Jan. 17 through 19 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City.

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Customers could come in with their own design ideas or have some custom made.

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Tim "Fuz" Wagle has been in the tattooing business for 18 years.

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Halo from Black Lotus Tattoos in Severn, Md. will be on the upcoming season of Ink Master on Spike TV. He is also a testicular cancer survivor, who says that experience prepared him to battle other tattoo artists on the show.

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Vendors were also welcome to sell their wares, from handmade jewelry to tattoo ink.

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Tattoo artist Josh Payne says he has been waiting to ink this design, which he calls "Redneck Snake" on the perfect person. Jim Clements turned out to be that man.

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Kyle Dunbar was an audience favorite on Ink Master. He says he lost track of how many tattoos he has, but is working toward one, giant, full body design.

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Tattoo artists Kyle Dunbar, left, and Halo, right, flank DC Tattoo Expo emcee and former radio personality Carl Blasphemy.

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Gabrielle from "Zeina" on tattoo artist Sarah Miller's calf.

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Artist Kyle Dunbar tattooed this design on fellow artist Sarah Miller when he was a contestant on Ink Master.

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The mockingbird from "Hunger Games" on Sarah Miller's arm.

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A custom design by Sarah Miller. She got her start as an artist while studying graphic design in college.

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Richmond, Va.-based artist Sean Karn tattoos a ram, cougar and turkey on Jimmy Donovan.

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Artist Scott Sketo tattoos Boba Fett, a villain in "Star Wars."

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"Star Wars" was a recurring theme at the DC Tattoo Expo.

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Scott Sketo works on his Boba Fett design.
(Video/Alicia Lozano)(WTOP/Alicia Lozano)
The event is expected to attract hundreds of enthusiasts to Crystal City.

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Tickets are $25 per day and can be purchased at the event.

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