A living canvas: Tattoo artists Renee Roark-Gordon and Lexi Whitten explain the artistry and emotion behind the ink

Renee Roark-Gordon has owned and operated Flesh Hound Tattoo Studio in Cape Girardeau for the past 14 years.

In those years, she has met an eclectic array of customers, many of whom she has since befriended.

"I really enjoy the multifaceted people that come from all different walks of life. I have met some of the most interesting people in this shop," she says.

Then again, it's probably difficult not to make a connection when the individuals are in such proximity for hours at a time.

"Since we primarily do custom work, most of that is pretty in-depth; it takes a while," she says. "So we get to know people, and I've just met some of the most amazing people and made some great friends through this shop."

Renee Gordon tattoos a customer at Flesh Hound Tattoo Studio in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

First and foremost, Roark-Gordon is an artist.

She and the other artists at Flesh Hound create custom works, meaning that when people come in asking for a certain design or have an idea what they want, the artists create an original sketch with the tattoo placement in mind, rather than making a copy of a previous design. Along with sketching and tattoo work, Roark-Gordon creates original oil paintings for customers.

"We draw most of our own references, so we'll have sketches and hand drawings, and a lot of the time people will ask for those. They want us to sign it, they want to keep it, our original drawings. And since we don't reproduce the tattoos ever again once we've done a custom piece for somebody, then not only do they get the tattoo, but they get this other piece of memorabilia," she says.

Throughout her time as a tattoo artist, Roark-Gordon has worked with customers to create a number of tattoos to help provide closure from past illnesses, scars, loss and other traumatic situations. Recently, requests for areola restoration tattoos have become more common from women who have had breast cancer, mastectomies and lumpectomies. With personal experience in her own family with thyroid cancer and breast cancer, Roark-Gordon says her shop is open to assist those affected by these illnesses in any way possible.

"If they're wanting to have [areola restoration] done, then obviously it's important to them. You know, we're just here to give them what they want, what they need," she says. "I can't really say why it's important to them, because I've never experienced that, but whatever they need from us, we'll do the best we can do to give them whatever they need."

Roark-Gordon says she first began doing areola tattoos after a regular customer who had breast cancer said her doctor recommended her tattoo artist do the work instead.

"When she went to her doctor -- they do [areola tattooing] in office -- the doctor told her that she had such nice tattoo work that whoever was tattooing her would probably do a better job than he would. So that's how it first started, is the doctor said, 'Hey, this person obviously is an artist, have them do it,'" she explains.

Lexi Whitten, a permanent makeup artist and owner of A Lasting Image, also offers areola restoration, as well as other permanent makeup options including eyebrows, eyeliner and lip liner.

Whitten, who has an art degree from Murray State University and is a licensed tattoo artist, offers services similar to those of a typical tattoo artist, the main difference being that she tattoos permanent makeup ink on women's faces, rather than artwork on their bodies. She says her services help create convenience in clients' daily routines, but she also is able to help many women who have been through illnesses gain back a sense of confidence and normality.

Her clients have included women who have gone through chemotherapy and lost a majority of their eyebrow hair. She also can do scar coverage and correction and areola restoration for women affected by breast cancer. She has even helped women who suffer from allergies or hay fever who don't want their makeup to run.

Renee Gordon tattoos a customer at Flesh Hound Tattoo Studio in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

Whitten says she has done bilateral and unilateral tattooing for her clients, and tries to personalize the areolae to look as natural and real as possible. She currently does areola restoration tattoos for free, but says she may have to begin charging because expenses are too high.

"I have clients that just burst into tears. I had one lady that said that she felt like she was an alien when she would look in the mirror -- she just couldn't stand to look at herself, and she sent me a thank you card and she said, 'You made [me] [me] again.' … I just cried," Whitten says.

Survivor ribbon tattoos are popular at Flesh Hound, including rape survivor tattoos and cancer survivor tattoos. Roark-Gordon says oftentimes, family members come in with the survivor and get a matching tattoo to show support and solidarity for their loved one.

"They'll all want to come in and get tattoos for that, because cancer doesn't just affect the person, it affects the families, the friends, the people that love them and the people in their lives. So we may get a group of people in here, and sometimes it can be a very emotional experience," she says.

In the end, Roark-Gordon says she enjoys her job because it allows customers to gain closure and become closer to the ones around them and the ones they've lost.

"I would say the most rewarding is any time that we do a tattoo and the people are so moved by it that they're in tears and we get a hug. … That's extremely rewarding," she says.