Jeff Gemma’s tattoo shop, named after Oak Bluffs icon Johnny Seaview, sits in the small alley that connects Circuit avenue Extension to the Oak Bluffs harbor.

Tattoo artist Mark Kito Fuentes prefers to stay away from names of boyfriends and girlfriends. The tattoo may last a lot longer than the relationship. But he won’t say no to a sister or an artichoke, or both.

Sisters Terri Lee and Katie received matching artichoke tattoos on their shoulders a few years back from Mr. Fuentes.

“It’s the first artichoke I ever did,” he said.

Terri Lee also has a seahorse by Mr. Fuentes and earlier this week she was back getting a crab with flowers.

When thinking about tattoos the old cliché of the tattoo dive in a port-of-call and the drunken sailor who staggers inside is never far away. The sailor wants an anchor emblazoned over his bicep on top of a heart with the inscription “Ruthie,” and he wants it now.