But the 39-year-old tattoo artist no longer competes. "Too much to dust," he says, of the trophies.

Yet, some people whom indulge in graffiti or tattoos don’t fit this profile. It’s called, the “monkey see, monkey do” syndrome — or just being copy cat, faddish or simply foolish.

Tattoo artist Eric Reyna is working on a tattoo reproducing the graffiti-covered Oceanwide Plaza on his friend's back, part of a celebration of L.A.