'New School' technique available in McCook

New Image Tattoos and Piercings, 301 East First, specializes in the New School tattooing technique and is one of the few in Nebraska that has a cosmetology license.

New Image is owned by Brian Garcia of McCook. The 28-year-old opened the shop in October 2002, and employs five artists, including himself.

The tattoo artists are Beaux Snipes, Jon Harris and Garcia. Snipes of McCook and Harris, 22, of Indianola are apprentice artists training under Garcia. Harris began in April and Snipes started in January. Both men are in the licensing process of Nebraska.

Russell Jamison, 33, of McCook is the licensed piercing technician on staff. He previously worked for Point Blank in Kansas where he received his license. He is also in the process of getting his Nebraska license. Nicole Messersmith, 20, of Salina, Kan., is apprenticing under Jamison to do piercings. She is the newest addition to the staff.

The shop is licensed in cosmetology, is a health care provider and is certified under the OSHA Blood Bourne Pathogen program. New Image is one of the few shops in Nebraska that carries a cosmetology license. The artists use all new equipment and one-time-use needles. There is a wide selection of jewelry (one of the biggest between Kearney and Denver, Colo.) and flash art to choose from and the tattoo artists specialize in New School tattooing, a technique that involves more color in the design.

New Image Tattoos and Piercings is open Tuesday through Friday, 5-9 p.m., and Saturday from 1-9 p.m. For more information call (308)345-8676.